Are you dreaming of a home with panoramic views across a peaceful landscape of countryside, forests and mountains? Where houses cascade down a hillside to the sea? In Greece, the sea breezes are whispering the names of those havens of tranquillity where Greek homes are surrounded by landscapes full of natural wonders.
Property with sea views and breathtaking vistas of forests and mountains can be found at lower prices than you might expect. Two-bedroom properties with panoramic views across the Greek countryside towards the sea or mountains start at less than €100,000. So, if you are torn between sea views and the space and natural surroundings of the countryside, why not have them both?
There are villas and stone houses that offer privacy, countryside and incredible panoramic views of the sea. In Greece’s holiday hotspots, a three-bedroom villa with pool and sea views could cost you well over a million. However, if you drive along the coast and inland, you could find yourself a real bargain in a lesser-known area. Or, if you’re up for a challenge, an old house with character that requires some renovation.
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Greece’s panoramic sea views
With almost nine thousand miles of coastline (14,000km), and 227 inhabited islands, Greece has an abundance of great locations with panoramic sea views. A landscape that includes cliffs, terraces and hills that slope down to the sea, can provide uninterrupted views of the sparkling blue waters and coastline, as far as the eye can see.
The Peloponnese and the islands of Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Skiathos immediately come to mind for coastal scenery like this. Also those villages that cascade down hillsides, such as Parga (Epirus on Mainland), Oia (Santorini), Hydra island, Leros (Dodecanese), Plaka (Milos), Lindos (Rhodes), and Ermioni (Peloponnese).
Where can you buy a house with a panoramic sea view?
Crete
Agios Nikolaos
In elevated locations inland you can get panoramic views of the sea. On the Elounda hillsides and along the coast road between Elounda and Agios Nikolaos there are also wonderful views. See property for sale in Agios Nikolaos, Crete.
Chania province
Parts of Chania with sea view properties include Halepa, Agia Marina, Agios Mathaios, Kissamos, and Akrotiri. The tourist appeal of Chania old town and Agia Marina, does come with a fairly high price tag. A three-bedroom luxury villa with pool and panoramic sea views can cost around a million euros. But, explore further out and there are sea-view properties at lower prices. See property for sale in Chania, Crete.
Central Greece
Central Greece has some of the cheapest sea view properties, especially around Evia (Euboea) and the gulf of Corinth, although, they can be quite a long drive from an airport. Some of the most attractive seaside towns in central Greece are:
- Nafpaktos – with its fortified walls hugging the small harbour.
- Galaxidi – has lovely pastel-coloured houses and views of the Gulf of Corinth.
- Makrinitsa (Pelion) – has houses that flow down the hillside.
- Sparto – is a traditional village in the Amphilochia region, known for its peaceful natural surrounding and authentic atmosphere. It is also less than 30 minutes’ drive from Aktion (Preveza) International Airport. Explore this four-bedroom house with views across the village to the sea for €245,000.
- Akti Nireos – has detached villas that are scattered across a gentle slope. A villa in Akti Nireos with panoramic sea views is currently offered at €220,000.
Peloponnese
There are many hillside villages around the coast of the Peloponnese offering spectacular panoramic sea views. For example, Monemvasia, Nafplio and Koroni – all historic towns with fortresses – or the stone tower houses of Mani, and beach view villas of Tolo and Stoupa.
An example of a property with sea views is in Kato Verga village, just a few minutes from Kalamata. Currently this four-bedroom house with panoramic sea views costs €400,000.
Mykonos
Mykonos is an island famous for its sunsets, therefore a property with a view of the sea on the western and northwestern side of the island is very sought after. Top locations for watching the sunset include Little Venice, above Mykonos town, and the area around Aleomondra. You can also find luxury villas with spectacular sea views at Agios Lazaros, Aleomandra, Psarou beach, Platis gialos and Panormos. See property for sale on Mykonos.
Santorini
Whitewashed houses and blue domes set against a backdrop of blue skies and sea make Santorini a photographer’s dream location for panoramic sea views. At prime viewpoints you might have to queue behind tourists to get a great shot. But owning a sea view property gives you an exclusive position.
These properties are very in demand, and the high prices reflect this. But, if you have over a million to spend, take a look at the views you can get, and how much more house you get by looking outside the tourist hotspots. See property for sale on Santorini.
You can find more affordable sea view locations in my article Sea views and spare bedrooms in Greece for under €300,000.
Greece’s panoramic mountain views
Roughly 80% of the land in Greece is covered in hills and mountains. Therefore, there are many areas of Greece that offer breathtaking views of mountain scenery. You can even find houses with views that encompass the sea on one side and mountains on the other.
Mountainous areas are also fantastic places to walk, with gorges, streams and villages to explore. Nature’s wonders are all around from wildflowers to birds. A property in an elevated position can also feel refreshingly cool after a hot day at the beach, especially as many homes are built of stone.
Where can you see panoramic views of the mountains in Greece?
- Arachova (Mount Parnassus), Metsovo (Epirus) and Karpenisi (Evrytania) have scenic mountain views and are near ski centres.
- Pelion villages, such as Tsagkarada, Portaria and Milies, in Central Greece, have stone houses with sea and mountain views.
- Mount Olympus is great for hikers and has villages around it with mountain vistas. For example, Litochoro and Old Panteleiom.
- Crete has remarkable inland mountains and gorges. Even from parts of Chania you can get mountain views, especially from the Akrotiri peninsula and Aptera. All around the White Mountains in western Crete there are villages with mountain views. In central Crete, you can also see the mountains from Rethymnos. Especially from stones houses in surrounding villages. And further east you can get coastal and mountain views in Agios Nikolaos.
- The Peloponnese is home to the Taygetos mountain range, which can be seen from Kalamata, Kardamyli and Neochori.
- North Corfu has inland villages with mountain scenery. At the highest point of 917 metres is Mount Pantokrator.
Can you ski in Greece?
Yes, there are ski slopes in Greece. The most well-known is Parnassos Ski Centre at Mount Parnassos in the Peloponnese. It is possible to drive there from Athens. Another ski centre in the Peloponnese is Kalavrita on Mount Helmos. In northern Greece there is a lively ski resort at Voras-Kaimaktsalan. However, if you prefer snowboarding head to the Vasilitsa ski centre in the Pindus mountains. The northern slopes of Mount Olympus and the Vermio mountains also offer skiing.
Greece’s panoramic countryside views
Houses inland can be much cheaper than along the coast, yet they tend to offer a more relaxed, quiet environment surrounded by nature. It’s not until you spend some time in Greece that you really start to discover some of the wonderful wildlife in the country. With all that fresh countryside air and slower pace of life, you will feel healthier too. Fewer tourists also mean the countryside villages are authentically Greek and restaurants are better priced.
In the Greek countryside you might see olive trees, grapevines, figs, pomegranates, nuts, oranges and lemons. The air is full of the scent of herbs, such as oregano, sage and rosemary, and you can grow them yourself to use on your barbeque. And while your steak is cooking, glass in hand you can gaze contentedly at the view from your terrace.
In addition, countryside properties often come with enough land to have your own pool and a vegetable patch of tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and zucchini. It’s wonderful to be able to have a big terrace with space for a long table. An idyllic spot where you can gather family and friends around the table and enjoy the view while chatting over dinner. If neighbouring properties are some distance away, you can relax about making a noise or of them overlooking your sunbathing spot.
Where can you see panoramic countryside views in Greece?
The Peloponnese
- The Mani Peninsula is known for its rugged landscape, dotted with traditional stone-built tower houses. Villages that offer panoramic sea and mountain views include Kotronas and Gerolimenas.
- Arcadia is mountainous but features forested villages like Dimitsana, that overlooks the scenic Lousios Gorge.
- Messinia has fertile hillsides near Kalamata and Kardamyli, with olive groves and great sea views.
Tinos (Cyclades), is covered in terraced hillsides, scattered with traditional villages (like Kardiani and Volax) that offer quiet countryside views, away from tourists.
Crete has inland villages and farmhouses amongst the olive groves with wonderful views, particularly around Chania and Rethymno.
Mount Psiloritis (Crete), also known as Mount Ida, has picturesque villages around it, such as Margarites, which is surrounded by olive groves and gorges.
Are there national parks in Greece?
Yes, there are ten national parks in Greece, which preserve the natural environment. These are mostly forested with interesting wildlife and plants. Homes in surrounding areas tend to be in relaxing tranquil locations with clean air. One of the benefits of living near a national park is being able to enjoy outdoor activities in a natural landscape. There are also two protected marine Parks.
In conclusion
In an age when most of us are spending a lot of time looking at screens, having a distant view can really benefit our health. When you see your dream panoramic view, you will immediately get that feel-good moment. So, imagine how it would be to own a property where you can enjoy that amazing view for as long as you like.
Properties with panoramic views can be found across Greece. However, Crete, Santorini, the Peloponnese, Corfu, the Ionian islands and Cyclades are all places most often associated with panoramic views. Therefore, they are a good place to start your search for that special panoramic view.
