Your Greek home with a view of olive groves may be among this selection of properties for sale. Next summer you could be sitting on the terrace of your own Greek house, with a drink and a bowl of olives, watching the setting sun turn the trees into silhouettes.
In this land of ancient archaeology, no monument compares to a grand old olive tree. Each ring, twist and knot in the trunk recalls a moment in its history. The Olive Tree of Vouves in Ano Vouves, west of Chania on Crete, is among the oldest in the world, with age estimates of 3,000 years or more.
Contents
- Green olive groves on Crete
- Olive groves of the Peloponnese
- Built to last
- 10 Greek homes with views of green olive groves
- House in Nestoras, west Peloponnese – €200,000 (£169,000)
- House in Kamaria, south-west Peloponnese – €195,000 (£165,000)
- Home in Aigio, Peloponnese – €250,000 (£211,000)
- Low-cost Greek home in Astros, Peloponnese – €65,000 (£55,000)
- Two apartments in Pigi, Crete – €330,000 (£281,000)
- House to renovate in Fioretzides, Crete – €22,000 (£18,500)
- Two houses in Tsivaras, Crete – €850,000 (£718,000)
- Olive grove properties for sale in other parts of Greece
- Why we love living near olive trees
- What should I do next?
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Green olive groves on Crete
There were olive trees on Crete as far back as the Minoan civilisation, around 4,000 years ago. Today there are said to be around 30 million on the island. Some of the most famous olive groves in Greece are here, growing mostly the Koroneiki variety. Between them they produce roughly a third of Greece’s olive oil.
Olive groves of the Peloponnese
The Peloponnese and Crete together produce around two thirds of Greece’s olive oil. The Peloponnese is about two and a half times the size of Crete, and its south-western area around Kalamata, called Messenia, is one of the country’s main olive-growing districts. It’s also home to the Kalamata table olives, which are known around the world. And it’s a good area to buy a property in the Peloponnese.
Messenia is also rich in history and culture, with ancient ruins and fine beaches. Interesting towns and villages include:
- Kalamata, with its castle views, waterfront, shops and market.
- Methoni, which has a Venetian fortress reached by a stone bridge.
- Pylos and Niokastro, with their naval history and Ottoman fortress. Pylos is also proud of its ancient olive oil heritage and offers tastings with a guide.
- Androusa, a village in the heart of the olive-growing area, where you can follow an olive route that takes in mills, cooking classes and tastings.
- Stoupa and Kardamili, two coastal towns with terraced olive groves and stone houses.
- Stavropigio, where you can see traditional olive pressing at the Skarpalezos mill.
Built to last
These ten homes may not be as old as some of the olive trees, but those built of stone are made to last. Greece remembers its ancient past, but it’s looking to the future too. The economy is growing and the country is investing in technology and green energy. New houses and renovations are increasingly designed with sustainability and energy saving in mind.
10 Greek homes with views of green olive groves
Prices were correct on our portal at the time of writing. Pound equivalents are approximate.
House in Nestoras, west Peloponnese – €200,000 (£169,000)
This detached one-bedroom house is surrounded by olive groves and offers peace and privacy. A recent renovation and photovoltaic panels mean it’s ready to use as a get-away-from-it-all holiday home in Greece.
Messenia
The location suits anyone seeking a quiet haven within driving distance of beaches and tourist facilities. Properties in the Messenia regional unit are becoming increasingly sought after. Gialova and Pylos are both less than 15km away, and Pylos has some year-round shops, cafes and restaurants. Nearby you’ll also find the ruins of the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor.
- Bedrooms: One
- Price: €200,000 (£169,000)
- Population: nearby Chora has about 2,609 inhabitants and Gargalianoi about 4,724 (16km)
- Nearest big town: Kalamata, 52km (32 miles)
- Nearest airport: Kalamata, about 50km
House in Kamaria, south-west Peloponnese – €195,000 (£165,000)
This furnished property on three levels has sea, island and mountain views, with olive groves close by. It’s arranged as two independent living spaces, including a self-contained studio on the lowest level. That could suit someone planning to rent out part of it, although you’d need to check the current short-term rental rules.
Finikounda
Kamaria is farming country, where most locals work the land and tend their olive groves. The nearest sandy beach is an 800m walk away, and Finikounda is 3.5km (about a seven-minute drive). In Finikounda you’ll find the basics for a typical Greek holiday, such as a bakery, supermarket, boat rental, clothes shops, bars and restaurants. Some restaurants are right on the beach.
- Bedrooms: Two
- Price: €195,000 (£165,000)
- Population: Kamaria about 109, Finikounda roughly 600
- Nearest big town: Kalamata
- Nearest airport: Kalamata, 51km
Home in Aigio, Peloponnese – €250,000 (£211,000)
This single-level home is a haven of tranquillity, surrounded by greenery and nature, just a few steps from Alykes Beach. It’s the sort of place that someone with vision will walk into and be inspired to put their own stamp on. The 2,500m² plot, which includes a pool, is large enough to create several areas for pottering in the garden and eating in the shade of the trees.
Aigio town
Aigio isn’t a touristy town. It’s a working local town spread over three levels, with the historic centre at the top. Its highlights include the “Twelve Fountains” and a plane tree thought to be 600 years old. There’s a folklore and archaeological museum too, and to keep fit you can try walking the 172 steps up to the upper town, where you’ll find traditional Greek town squares and views. It’s also big enough to have facilities that open year-round.
- Bedrooms: Two
- Price: €250,000 (£211,000)
- Population: about 19,857
- Nearest big town: Patras, a 37-minute drive, with a population of 173,600
- Nearest airport: Athens, about two hours’ drive
Low-cost Greek home in Astros, Peloponnese – €65,000 (£55,000)
Surrounded by olive trees and less than 2km from the sea, this affordable house needs general renovation, which gives you scope to put your own stamp on the two bedrooms, two bathrooms and kitchen. Outside, the 1,625m² plot includes a storage building with a second kitchen, a veranda and a traditional wood-fired oven.
Paralio Astros
Astros is in eastern Arcadia, an inland village not far from Paralio Astros on the coast. It’s a quiet, relaxed community with plenty of old stone houses full of character. Paralio Astros, on the other hand, is a typical seaside village with a ruined castle on the hill, sand and pebble beaches and a marina with cafes and tavernas. It’s also a good area for hiking and water sports.
- Bedrooms: Two
- Price: €65,000 (£55,000)
- Population: about 2,326 (Paralio Astros 1,059)
- Nearest big towns: Argos (39 minutes) and Nafplio (39 minutes)
- Nearest airports: Kalamata (1 hour 24 minutes) and Athens (2 hours 24 minutes)
Two apartments in Pigi, Crete – €330,000 (£281,000)
This detached house in the olive groves east of Rethymno is set up as two apartments, one on each floor, so you can live in one and rent out the other. It’s a clean, light property with balconies and terraces, a manageable garden and a vegetable patch. You could live here year-round, as it has central heating and a fireplace for cosy winter evenings. Because of Crete’s southerly position and mild climate, the summer tourist season is long.
Pigi
Pronounced “pee-YEE”, the name means “spring” or “source”. Pigi is a village in the Rethymno prefecture on Crete, with stone houses, a church, olive groves and locals sitting outside bars and tavernas. There’s also a newer part just to the north.
Rethymno
The city of Rethymno is a 9km drive away and is open all year round. As Crete’s third-largest city, with around 35,000 inhabitants, it’s a good size for a local town. It has a general hospital, supermarkets and shops, plus a weekly farmers’ market, flea markets and shopping centres. The Venizelou promenade is a long stretch of tavernas, beyond which you’ll find palm trees, a pier, cycle paths, a beach and a marina.
- Bedrooms: Three
- Price: €330,000 (£281,000)
- Population: about 950
- Nearest big town: Rethymno
- Nearest airports: Heraklion (1 hour 10 minutes’ drive) and Chania (1 hour 13 minutes)
House to renovate in Fioretzides, Crete – €22,000 (£18,500)
This is a big renovation project, but it comes with stone walls and a traditional Cretan setting in a hillside village by the valley of Lakonia. It’s just two minutes from the village of Lakonia, and there are many more villages to explore. Village life can cost less than life on the coast, yet you can still enjoy the beaches, the scenery, fresh local produce and summer entertainment in the coastal towns.
Agios Nikolaos
From Fioretzides you can drive to the sea and the town of Agios Nikolaos in just 15 minutes. Here you’ll find shops, banks, doctors, a hospital, a theatre, gyms and more. You can stroll by the harbour, dine on the waterfront or by Lake Voulismeni, which connects to the seafront by a canal. There’s a growing expat community in the area who enjoy summer events alongside the locals.
In the Agios Nikolaos area you can swim at several beaches, visit a museum or explore ancient sites. For days out there are boat trips, water sports and trips to Elounda and Plaka, where you can relax with a meal on the waterfront. The Physis of Crete olive oil park is a short drive from the Lakonia valley villages, with free tours and product tastings.
- Bedrooms: Two possible after renovation
- Price: €22,000 (£18,500)
- Population: about 25
- Nearest town: Agios Nikolaos (population 12,000)
- Nearest airport: Heraklion (1 hour)
Two houses in Tsivaras, Crete – €850,000 (£718,000)
Why have one home in Greece when you can have two? This 5,000m² olive grove estate includes two properties, each with its own pool. Through the large windows your gaze is drawn across the pool and the olive groves to the sea beyond. The larger house has three bedrooms and has been renovated. The other has two bedrooms and is newly built in stone. The rooms are light and airy.
Chania
The nearest city and airport to Tsivaras is Chania. Located on Crete’s north-west coast, it’s a popular area for foreign house buyers. It has everything you might want from a city, both for holidays and year-round living. Its history has left its mark: a stroll around the city reveals Venetian mansions and shipyards, an Egyptian lighthouse, a mosque and Byzantine walls. There are street markets and harbourside restaurants, ice-cream parlours, bakeries and live music.
- Bedrooms: Five
- Price: €850,000 (£718,000)
- Population: about 170
- Nearest big town: Chania (30 minutes’ drive)
- Nearest airport: Chania (35 minutes’ drive)
Olive grove properties for sale in other parts of Greece
Messenia farmhouse – €280,000 (£237,000)
New detached house on a fenced 5,500m² farm on the edge of Chora, Messenia, with olive trees, grapevines, fruit trees and a pool.
Zakynthos house – €240,000 (£203,000)
Two-bedroom house in Tragaki, Zakynthos, in a green valley of olive groves and vineyards, with sea views from the upper floor.
House near Thessaloniki – €349,000 (£295,000)
Renovated five-bedroom property in Epanomi, 500m from Potamos Beach and around 40 minutes from Thessaloniki city centre.
Why we love living near olive trees
To look out of the window of your own house in Greece and see green trees waving in the breeze makes you feel good. There is a deep-rooted cultural connection between people and olive trees. In Greece they represent historic strength, mythology, a healthy diet and thoughts of autumn days when the family comes together to pick the olives. Then in spring they’re encircled by wild flowers and the scent of herbs.
But olive trees don’t just look good. They also absorb carbon dioxide, provide cool shade on a hot day and give you wood for the fire when it’s cold. On top of that they produce olives to eat and golden olive oil.
You may love exploring towns and villages and spending days at the beach. But at the end of the day, it’s wonderful to come home to a house in Greece surrounded by nature.
What should I do next?
If you’re thinking about buying in Greece, these steps will help you move forward:
- Get our Greece buying guide for a clear overview of the buying process.
- Plan your trip with our Greece viewing trip guide.
- Find a trusted professional through our Greece experts page.
- Search more Greek properties for sale on our portal.
Because Greek properties are priced in euros, exchange rates will affect what you pay in pounds. Our budgeting tools can help you plan, and a forward contract lets you fix a rate for a future transfer.
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