Where to buy in Greece for year-round returns

With unreliable British summers, one of the best places to head for guaranteed and extended periods of warm weather is Greece, which commonly sees average temperatures of more than 68F (20C) from May through to October.

Visiting outside peak season means fewer crowds, while there is still the opportunity for cycle touring or a round of golf.

The National Bank of Greece is predicting that last year’s record tourism will be broken yet again, but rising prices and overcrowding have seen figures for fashionable Mykonos and Santorini decrease.

Some areas have been afflicted by either forest fires (such as Rhodes and north-east Greece) or flooding (Skiathos and central Greece).

According to Greek estate agent Dion Gavriilidis, of estate agency Elxis, Crete and Corfu are the two most popular destinations for British property buyers right now – but there are plenty of other options, depending on what you seek.

Here are some ideas.

Best for... retirement

Retirees prioritise good access to healthcare, convenient amenities and an outdoor lifestyle in a great climate – and Greece’s largest island, Crete, is hard to beat.

“Along with the best flight connections with the rest of Europe, it has a large international community which blends well with the locals, and it can be affordable: you can buy a detached villa with a pool for less than €250,000 (£217,000),” said Mr Gavriilidis.

The island’s north coast, especially the capital of Heraklion, offers the most extensive amenities, and its new Kasteli International Airport will further improve access.

Crete sees loyal Brits return year after year.

“In recent years, homeowners have been spending longer periods of time on the island; helped by the rise of remote working, Crete’s healthy Mediterranean lifestyle, lower cost of living and well-developed infrastructure all contribute,” added Ricardo Severini, global sales director at Mirum Group.

Since June, Mr Severini has been selling new properties at Elounda Hills, a new 138-acre resort on the northeast coast’s Gulf of Mirabello, which has been sustainably designed.

The hilltop hugging development with a Camper & Nicholsons marina offers 90 sq metre one-bedroom Hilltop Residences from €495,000 and detached three-bedroom villas from €1.8m.

Best for... Airbnb rentals 

The southwesternmost of the Cyclades islands, Milos is loved for its 80-odd beaches and volcanic geology – check out the moon-like rocks of Sarakiniko Beach.

“Its beauty is incredible. It is quiet, with only two good hotels and small rentals. It has very few cruise ships, so it is calm and not overcrowded,” said Vicky Vamiedaki, tourism and travel editor at Greek news organisation News247.gr. However, the fact that luxury hotel brand Andronis announced they are opening on the island is a sign of its evolving status.

Milos has a reputation for being the island where visiting couples will either get married, or divorced – but maybe also some good rental income.

According to analyst AirDNA, of all the Greek islands Milos has the highest (72pc) occupancy over the last 12 months (meaning that 72pc of available nights are booked), above Santorini at 71pc, and Skiathos (66pc).

The bulk of the listings in Milos are one-bedroom flats – 94pc are either one or two-bedroom.

Many small traditional houses are being converted into apartments for holiday lets, especially around the popular main town, Chora.

You can find a two-bedroom house in need of renovation for €150,000 through agent Spitogatos.gr. Reach Milos by domestic flight from Athens, or ferry (this takes just over three hours).

Best for... sporting types

Many of the Greek islands are a dream for sailors, but for top-notch sporting facilities Costa Navarino in the mountainous southwest Peloponnese is hard to beat.

The cluster of five-star hotels and neighbourhoods close to the town of Pylos – 45 minutes from Kalamata airport – offer three golf courses, and 30 types of outdoor activities including NBA basketball coaching, an FC Bayern Munich football academy, cycling, Ironman events, kayaking and rock climbing. For tennis fans, there are 12 courts, including for padel and pickleball.

To access all these amenities you can buy a three-bedroom apartment from €770,000, two-bedroom villas from €1.4m, or a choice of other off-plan villas going up to €6.2m, through the area’s developer, TEMES.

In the local area of Messinia, you can find plenty of stone houses to renovate from around €120,000 (apropertyingreece.com), or a cute one-bedroom cottage surrounded by olive and fig trees for €170,000 (elxis.com).

Best for... investment

Buying in Greece has always been about lifestyle rather than returns, but its robust economy has helped change that: it’s now up to investment-grade status for the first time since the debt crisis.

Athens, which was then the most affordable capital in Europe for housing, remains the focus of much domestic investment, and property prices have been rising since 2018, according to the Bank of Greece.

A rush of investors from Turkey, the Middle East and China purchasing Athenian properties for golden visas have helped push up downtown prices.

Yet the world’s biggest urban generation project – the new sustainable “smart city” of The Ellinikon, on the beachside site of the old Athens international airport, has also been attracting investors – 79pc are Greeks, with UK and American the next largest nationality groups.

The 6.2 million sq metre project by Lamda Development will include schools, a marina, shopping mall and 9,000 new homes.

In a 200m high Foster + Partners Riviera Tower, the tallest building in Greece, 170 luxury apartments have now pre-sold, alongside phases of beachfront villas and apartments that are also due to be completed in 2026.

Current prices start from €450,000 for a one-bedroom apartment (theeillinikon.com.gr).

Best for... remote workers

Crete is a popular hub for digital nomads for its good internet, flight access and infrastructure – the island’s north-west city of Chania has an especially vibrant community. The same might be said for the mainland city of Thessaloniki, but Athens is most people’s obvious choice.

“The coolest areas to base yourself in are Koukaki, Kypseli or Pagrati,” says Katie Silcox, 38, managing editor of travel portal Citizen Femme, who’s lived in the city for four years.

“They have affordable accommodation and trendy cafés where it’s normal to nurse a coffee for a few hours. Opt for Koukaki or Pagrati to live like a local yet be within walking distance of the centre, or choose Kypseli for its arty and eclectic vibes; it’s home to the city’s creative community.”

In Koukaki, you can buy a large two-bedroom apartment for €500,000 from Engel & Volkers, or a two-bedroom flat in Kypseli for €135,000.

‘Crete: I can’t think of a better place to work remotely’

Janet Williams had never planned on buying a place abroad, but the psychologist from Bath visited Crete on holiday and was smitten.

She’s just bought a two-bedroom apartment at Elounda Hills that will be completed in 2026.

“I fell in love with the people: we had such a heartfelt welcome it was like Ireland in the sun,” says Janet, 50, who’s from Northern Ireland, where her partner lives.

“I can work from anywhere, and the arrival of the new airport [at Kastelli, 30 minutes away] I thought was crucial in improving access for the year-round community rather than just holidaymakers.

“I can’t think of anything better than sitting with a coffee looking over heavenly Mirabello Bay. I think we’ll end up spending a lot of time there.”