Whether you’re dreaming of a classic white cube house overlooking the Aegean, a modern city apartment or a peaceful sustainable villa, Greece offers a variety of properties to suit every lifestyle. Here’s your guide to finding the Greek home that’s perfect for you.
There are so many different types of property in Greece, that choosing between them can be overwhelming. To help you decide, we’ll explore the key features and benefits of each option, so you can make an informed decision about which Greek home best suits your lifestyle and priorities.
A white cube house
We’ve all seen photos of gleaming white houses, perched on a hillside overlooking the sea. Blue doors, windows and church domes beautifully picking out the blue of the sky. Built at a time when donkeys were the only transport, the charming streets of these villages are narrow and paved in stone. Often, the houses have small terraces with stunning views across flat roof tops to the sea. Inside these homes, the smooth white curves blend harmoniously into arches, steps and seating, creating the feeling of being in an ice cave. Which is just what you need on a hot summer’s day.
Why buy a cube house?
This type of Greek property has become what many people picture as the quintessential Greek holiday home. Therefore, you should have no trouble renting it out to tourists, when you aren’t using it yourself. Cube houses are usually located in holiday resorts that cater well to visitors, providing restaurants, bars, gift shops and stunning sunsets.
Where can I find a cube house?
These sugar cube houses are mostly found in the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands. The ones we see in photos of Greece tend to be in Santorini. However, as the look is loved so much, you will find new villas in this style across Greece.
How much do they cost?
The price of a two-bedroom apartment in Santorini costs from €290,000. A two-bedroom villa can range from €330,000 to over a million. It’s all about location and views.
A city apartment
City apartments in Greece range from studios to large homes with many bedrooms. They may be in new modern blocks or part of a historic building. Some have balconies or roof terraces with city views, while those on the coast may even have sea views. There are some really ultra-modern apartments being built with all the mod cons.
Why buy a city apartment?
Many city apartments are conveniently located for transport links, restaurants and shops. Plus, you will have all the city attractions and nightlife on your doorstep. Services such as high-speed internet, public transport and medical care will also be better in the city.
Where can I find a city apartment?
Areas of Athens that are popular with expats include Glyfada, Koukaki, Exarcheia and Kolonaki. However, Athens isn’t the only city in Greece. You may also consider one of Greece’s other cities, such as Thessaloniki, Ioannina and Larissa, which are towards the north of mainland Greece. Patras in the Peloponnese and Heraklion or Chania on Crete are also great options.
How much is a city apartment?
In Athens you can find two-bedroom apartments from €80,000. However, to get one in good condition in a nice area expect to pay anything from €360,000 to over a million. The average asking price for a two-bedroom apartment in the Athen’s historic centre in April 2025 was 3,613 €/m² (less in the suburbs), whereas in Thessaloniki it was 1.958 €/m², in Patras 1,194€/m², Larissa 1,145€/m², Heraklion 1.524€/m², Ioannina 1,618€/m² and Chania €3,635/m².
A Venetian-style home
Venetian-style buildings are mostly seen on the waterfront of Greek ports. There are also some amazing Venetian style mansions, once owned by noble families and merchants. They are often fairly tall buildings with windows and shutters, arranged directly above each other. They have terracotta-tiled roofs and beautiful facades painted in various shades, such as pink, peach and yellow. They may also have a central balcony with metal railings and arches.
Why buy a Venetian-style home?
Due to their size and great locations, they have become a popular type of property among expats wanting to run a small hotel or B&B. Those that are on historic waterfronts benefit from being close to seafront cafes and restaurants, as well as having sea views.
Where can I find one?
From 697AD to 1797, the republic of Venice expanded into parts of present-day Greece. Particularly, the Ionian islands, Cycladic Islands, the Peloponnese and Crete. They built a series of fortresses to secure important sea trade routes, such as Palamidi Fortress in Nafplio in the Peloponnese and Fortezza in Rethymno on Crete. These wealthy seafarers influenced the architecture in these port towns. Good examples are the Venetian style houses found in Corfu, Assos on Kefalonia, and Chania and Rethymnon on Crete.
How much do they cost?
Venetian houses usually cost from €400,000, but the more luxurious Mansions around Corfu tend to be around €1.5m.
A village house
Traditional village house
A typical village house in Greece has thick stone walls, a red tiled roof and blue windows and doors. With louvered shutters on the outside and windows that open inward, it allows the sun to be kept out, while still allowing some air to circulate.
Greek village houses often have a shady courtyard, where families can dine outside. Incredibly, some old village houses still have outdoor paving done in a mosaic pattern using large black and white pebbles. You may also notice that where the house is painted white, the bottom of the wall curves out at the bottom, creating a white border to the road. At Easter, it’s traditional to give this white edging a fresh coat of whitewash along the procession route.
If the village is in an elevated location, the house might also have a balcony to make the most of the amazing views. This tends to be constructed of wood with metal railings and made all the more beautiful with a pink bougainvillea climbing up to it. Ceilings are generally high with wooden floorboards on the first floor. However, the ground floor is generally stone or tiled.
Why buy a village house?
If you want to feel part of a Greek community, where everyone looks out for their neighbour, a village house is an excellent choice. They are usually within walking distance of a village shop, café, bakery and weekly market. Village houses in the mountains and by the sea may also have amazing panoramic views.
Where can I find one?
You can find charming villages all across Greece. Some of the most popular villages are on Crete, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Halkidiki and Mykonos. But there are many still waiting to be discovered by foreign house buyers.
How much is a village house?
The price of village houses can vary greatly, depending on location, condition and popularity with tourists. If property in your dream location is above your budget, simply spread your search to other villages nearby. By heading inland, the prices become much more affordable. It is in the more remote villages that you will find cheap houses to renovate.
A beach resort property
Types of properties in modern beach resorts tend to follow the blue and white colour palette loved by tourists, with the addition of bigger windows and covered verandas. Whether you choose a villa or an apartment, you will find modern shower rooms and a basic kitchen for preparing summer meals. A bonus feature is a terrace or balcony with a view of the sea.
In a modern resort complex, there may also be communal facilities such as a swimming pool, gardens, spa etc. with services available to take care of the property in your absence. There are also five-star resorts that have a golf course, world-class dining, sport facilities, a wellness centre and access to a private beach.
Why buy a property in a resort?
A beach resort villa or apartment is ideal if you want to use it just for summer holidays. If you dream of long days on the beach and then strolling back home for a shower before heading out to a bar or restaurant, this is the place for you. The properties can be quite modern and low maintenance, with property management services available nearby. They can also achieve good holiday rental rates in the summer months.
Where can I find one?
The bigger islands, such as Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos and Paros have smart beach resorts, as do the coast southwest of Athens and in the Peloponnese.
How much is a resort property?
Two-bedroom villas and apartments in a complex with pool and gardens can start from as little as €125,000. But for large luxury villas, the prices run into the millions.
A countryside villa
Countryside villas can vary in style, but generally have enough outside space for a large, covered veranda and pool. Facades are usually stone or painted white to reflect the sun, with big windows and tiled or flat roofs, plus a solar panel for hot water. Whether it’s an old or new property, the best villa designs are those using local materials in their construction that blend in with the surrounding landscape. The scent of wild herbs and the beautiful colours of geraniums and climbing bougainvillea add that touch of Greek charm to the most modern villa.
For something a bit different, take a look at the Mani tower houses in the south of the Peloponnese. These towers were constructed between the 17th and 19th centuries as fortified residences to protect families of great influence. Today some tower houses have been renovated and extended. In addition, new homes are also being built with towers.
Why buy a countryside villa?
A countryside villa can offer privacy and tranquillity in natural surroundings. They also have the space to park a car and have a garden, pool and outdoor seating area. This means you can totally relax in your own space, without having to fight for a sun lounger. Some villas also have stunning panoramic views of the mountains or the sea.
Where can I find one?
Mykonos, Santorini and Paros are among the top Greek islands to buy a luxury villa. However, there are beautiful villas dotted around the countryside all across Greece. Corfu, Kefalonia and Crete have some very stylish villas.
How much do they cost?
A two-bedroom villa with a pool can cost from around €300,000 and run into the millions.
A sustainable home
Sustainable homes with low energy costs have become increasingly popular with house buyers in Greece. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Greece is perfectly situated to harness the power of the sun. Solar panels for hot water are a top priority, and photovoltaics for electricity can greatly lower energy bills. Other features to look out for are windows with shutters, blinds or a covered veranda to help keep the heat out. The building should also be properly insulated and have windows on either side to get a through breeze at cooler times of the day.
Old stone houses are one type of property in Greece that already has many sustainable features, such as walls built from local stone. Some can be as much as a metre thick, which stops the heat radiating all the way through. High ceilings and the position of doors, windows and bedrooms can help maximise the use of the wind and sun to heat and cool the home. A real bonus is a house with a cool room located partly underground.
Why buy a sustainable home?
Eco-friendly houses both respect the environment and save you money on energy bills. A win-win for both the house buyer and the planet.
Where can I find one?
If you want a house that is built sustainably and is eco-friendly, it helps if the authorities and community around it think the same way. Many of the islands have recognised the need to reduce waste, cut down on the use of plastics and produce greener energy.
Tilos island was the first island in the Mediterranean to be entirely self-sufficient in energy and recycles 90 percent of its rubbish. The island of Astypalaia has replaced 1,500 engine vehicles with 1,000 electric vehicles. Even in the small town of Arkalochori, on Crete, a group of people have founded the Minoan Energy Community. Here, energy is produced by two photovoltaic parks, supplying around 300 members of the community with free electricity.
The tradition of building with stone is still very much alive in Greece, particularly in the north, Pelion, Crete and the Peloponnese. Even on the small Island of Tinos, a team of people have built stone “Ecolodges”, with the aim of becoming self-sustaining. In fact, greener homes are being built across the country, including ultra-modern apartment blocks in Attica and Crete.
Whichever type of property in Greece you choose, it’s worth investing in one that is built to last – just as the Parthenon in Athens has stood for 2,500 years.
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