The Revival of Athens Riviera
/With the new Four Seasons opening a couple of weeks ago, in the most popular and expensive area of Athens as well as may other developments in the last couple of years, Athens is a prime holiday destination in its own right and aspires to be summer home again for the jet set biliioanaires and relive its 60’s glory.
A few kilometres outside Athens, the urban landscape gives way to a unique seaside resort. This gorgeous stretch of coastline with its green-blue water, organised beaches and rocky coves is teeming with five-star resorts, spas, esplanades, marinas, windsurfing and sailing. Combined with the ideal climate, the Athens Riviera makes you feel as if you’re on an endless summer holiday.
Your excursion to the southern suburbs begins from Faliro and reaches Sounion. Along the way, you’ll encounter seaside neighbourhoods and destinations full of temptations for you to stop and check out: Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Lagonissi, Saronida, Anavyssos are all perfect for swimming or a stroll, with shopping, dining and more.
In this corner of Athens you’ll find organised, emerald water beaches, and rocky coves perfect for a swim. There is certainly no shortage of inviting sand or Blue Flag awards on stretches of coast like Eden Beach at Mavro Lithari, the beaches at Anavyssos, Varkiza, Asteras Vouliagmenis, Kochilia in Lagonissi and many more. Five-star resorts with spas, esplanades, palm trees, sea sports, sailing and even golf at the modern Glyfada Golf Club await you. Traditional tavernas and gourmet restaurants serve freshly caught fish. The beat goes on at numerous beach bars and exclusive nightclubs where you will dance until dawn, barefoot on the sand. Here the sun shines bright and the laughter rings out loud all year round.
If you are a sailing enthusiast, the Athens Riviera has many marinas from which you can set sail for beaches and villages in the Peloponnese (Loutra Oraias Elenis, Korfo, Epidaurus), Sounion – cruising by Athens’ cosmopolitan beaches – as well as the islands near Athens, in the Saronic Gulf. Fully-organised marinas in the area can be found in Flisvos, at Faliro-SEF, in Alimos, Glyfada and Vouliagmeni. An overnight excursion to the nearby Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, especially when there is a full moon, is a majestic experience.
On the tip of this unique coastline, you’ll find Cape Sounion, where you’ll admire the Temple of Poseidon – one of the most significant monuments of Ancient Greece, and one of the most important attractions in Athens. The energy of the landscape is indescribable, and has inspired myths and legends. This is where Aegeus, king of Athens, jumped to his death, mistakenly thinking that he’d lost Theseus, his only son, to the Minotaur in the labyrinth. Every evening the sun’s rays play hide and seek between the marble columns, then dance down to add a sparkle to the sea below.
And finally, when night falls, you’ll enjoy the coast’s nightlife: in Alimos, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza the beach bars are filled with people enjoying their cocktails, dancing until dawn and making summer memories. Welcome to the Athens Riviera, where summer never ends.
The new Four Seasons Astir Palace
The history of Astir Palace dates back to half a century ago, in the early 1960s, when Greece emerged as an international tourist destination, and a new, robust middle class and upper middle class with cosmopolitan features were looking for a means -and a location- to express themselves. The Astir Palace legend is naturally associated with the VIPS that have visited it: legendary names of the international jet set, politicians, kings, princes, manufacturers and business people, actors, the children of important families and show biz stars composed a unique cosmopolitan puzzle
At times, many presidents and country leaders have chosen Astir Palace for their meetings, conferences or formal dinners since the hotel is a top security destination. NATO conferences, the renowned “Vouliagmeni agreement”, the Balkan Convention, the meetings of the Bilderberg Club members, the European Summit Meetings and other top political meetings and international fora are only some of the historic events of the modern “political history” of the hotel.
King Saud of Saudi Arabia would hand out gold watches instead of tips and reserve the entire floor of the Nafsika Hotel for himself and his harem, once also ordering a truckload of flowers to be brought in to decorate his private suite.
Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev could be seen boogying into the wee hours at the 9 Muses discotheque, while Tony Curtis was turned away at the door of the Club House one night and only allowed entry to the restaurant after putting on a tie.
The older staff members still remember Aristotelis Onassis, the Greek tycoon– whether with his children, Christine and Alexandros or Jackie, dining in the sounds of Hungarian violins– but also Brigitte Bardot, who had created chaos in the hotel and to several youngsters of cosmopolitan Athens, who had gathered to see her, when she appeared on the beach in a tiny pink bikini…
These are but some of the stories of some of the famous personalities to have graced the Astir Palace resort in the southern Athenian suburb of Vouliagmeni. There is simply not enough space to list them all: Richard Nixon, Mikhail Gorbachev, Francois Mitterrand, Helmut Schmidt, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Ari Onassis, Jackie Kennedy, Paloma Picasso, Princess Soraya of Iran, John Wayne, Telly Savalas, Sean Connery, Anthony Quinn, Ronaldinho, Lady Gaga and, most recently, Barack Obama. Businessmen, politicians, famous personalities of the arts and letters, athletes, Hollywood stars and starlets all enjoyed a sojourn at the “Athens Riviera” because Astir Palace was the place to be, a landmark and symbol of Greek hospitality: a private 30-hectare peninsula just a short drive from the city center, an oasis of pine trees and blooming flowerbeds, crystal bathing waters and gorgeous views, with services to cater to the most discerning visitor.
Heralding in a new era in a storied history and an exciting new chapter for a global brand, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is now open. Inspired by the historic glamour of the original Astir Palace Hotel, the fully updated 300-room hotel nestled amid 74 acres (30 hectares) of lush seaside landscape on the shores of the Athenian Riviera is also the first Four Seasons in Greece.
“It’s a landmark day in so many ways as we welcome our first guests to the new Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens,” enthuses General Manager Sam Ioannidis, a 27-year Four Seasons veteran who leads a team of 700 handpicked and highly trained staff. “So many of our people are locals or native-born Greeks returning to their homeland from around the world, or people who have deep roots in this culture and finally have the opportunity to live and work here. This heritage makes us even more excited to share it all with our guests – whether it’s your first time in Greece or you’ve been here many times before, we promise that we’ll give you an experience that only Four Seasons can deliver.”
Located on a peninsula just 30 minutes from the city centre and a half hour from Athens International Airport, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel is the ideal choice for travellers who want to experience the best of ancient and modern Greece, weekenders from Athens or the region, families looking for a holiday that can be both fun-filled with educational and couples who are beginning or renewing their lives together in one of the world’s most romantic destinations.
Best of Both Worlds: A Plethora of Seaside Fun Just Minutes from the City Centre
Three private beaches strung together by a thousand foot (300 metre) boardwalk, three pools (free-form family pool, sleek infinity pool and indoor lap pool), five tennis courts, myriad watersports from windsurfing to sea kayaking plus a sunset sail every evening, an onsite basketball court and a golf club just steps away, extensive trails for jogging and walking, a fully-supervised complimentary Kids for All Seasons program housed in its own facility, boat access and even a helipad … in the words of Hotel Manager Panagiotis Sopiadis, “need we say more?”
“If you’ve ever had to make the tough decision between staying in Athens or going to an island resort, Four Seasons Astir Palace has it covered in one seaside destination.
Your Greek Home Away from Home
Housed in two distinct buildings and a collection of private bungalows, accommodations options at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel range from light-filled rooms and suites to ultra-exclusive garden cottages.
At Arion with its modernist architecture and retro-chic design, guests will find a laid back vibe expressed in breezy rooms and suites. Four of the Hotel’s restaurants and lounges are also here, along with the Spa and indoor pool. At Nafsika, azure sea views dominate every room and suite – including some with private pool. The social hub Avra Lounge and Terrace is here along with two other restaurants, the fitness centre and several luxury boutiques. For guests seeking more space and privacy, and perhaps a little nostalgia, Four Seasons offers The Bungalows originally built in the early 1960s, and now reborn with a fresh look and up-to-date amenities for today’s travellers.
