Greece is having a moment—and Hilton is betting big on its enduring
appeal.
Just six years ago, the hospitality giant’s presence in the country
consisted of a single property: the iconic Hilton Athens, recently reopened
after a dramatic transformation as Conrad Athens The Ilissian. Today, the company operates more
than 50 hotels across Greece, spanning a range of brands—with several more on
the drawing board.
The expansion reflects Greece’s booming tourism industry, which welcomed a
record 43.3 million international travelers in 2025, and Hilton's emphasis on
distinctive properties that immerse guests in local culture.
Hilton’s growing Greek portfolio is exemplified by its trio of properties in
Chania, Crete—including the new Hilton Chania
Old Town Resort & Spa—and Conrad Athens The Ilisian.
An Athens Icon Reborn
When Conrad Hilton opened the Hilton Athens in 1963, he declared it “the
most beautiful Hilton in the world.” Exactly 63 years later, on April 23, 2026,
the property reopened as Conrad
Athens The Ilisian after a four-year reinvention.
“It closed as a hotel, but it reopened as a destination,” says Eva Batzaki,
commercial director of Conrad Hilton The Ilisian.
That destination is the mixed-use Ilisian, with Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad
private residences, the House of NYNN private members’ club, extensive wellness
facilities and nine dining concepts.
The Conrad Athens anchors it all. In the heart of the city, both culturally
and geographically, the hotel has hosted Athenians’ life events for
generations—weddings, first dates, engagements. “Back in the ’60s and ’70s,
this was the place to be,” says Batzaki, noting that the hotel represented “a
cosmopolitan window to the world.” The Conrad honors that heritage while
bringing contemporary luxury
and amenities to attract a new generation.
Spacious Accommodations with City Views
While the Hilton had 500-plus guest rooms, the Conrad offers 278 rooms and suites—some of the largest
accommodations in Athens. Most have private balconies with views of Athens and
the Oasis pool, while 18 suites offer Acropolis views. Guests in the
soon-to-open penthouse suite, with its private pool and panoramic views of the
capital, will “feel like Zeus,” says Batzaki.
The hotel's distinctive façade, decorated with motifs inspired by ancient
Greek art, will soon be illuminated by an Emmy-winning lighting designer.
Inside, original furnishings and architectural details mingle with contemporary
design, including a lobby fountain based on the original architect’s plans, and
lobby furniture from the Hilton’s former royal and presidential suites.
Balcony view: the city’s largest hotel pool at Conrad Athens The Ilisian. (Photo Credit: Sara Perez Webber)
Midcentury
Glamour Meets Modern Wellness
The Athenian Lounge captures the hotel's midcentury glamour, with a
circular bar, vintage chandelier and atmosphere reminiscent of the television
series "Mad Men." Don Draper would also feel right at home poolside
at the Oasis. Athens' largest hotel pool, it features a striking
blue-and-turquoise mosaic—especially dramatic at night—inspired by the hotel's
façade artist, Yannis Moralis.
“The whole concept of Ilisian is wellness and community,” says Batzaki, and Conrad guests benefit
from the shared facilities with House of NYNN. Adhering to the club's ethos,
the poolside Ancora Un Po' Italian restaurant serves a zero-sugar menu. The
extensive indoor wellness space includes a pool, hot and cold therapies, and
dedicated studios for Pilates, spinning, yoga and Gyrotonic training. Soon a
second-floor running track will debut, along with an outdoor gym and pickleball
court.
Of course, wellness is only part of the equation. With nine bars and
restaurants (four open now), the Ilisian offers plenty of room for indulgence.
Executive Chef Angelos Lantos—the first Greek chef with two Michelin
stars—oversees the property's culinary program. Notable restaurants include
Byzantino Grande Brasserie, marrying Greek and French cuisine, and Onuki, with
a modern Japanese menu and tables overlooking the pool.
Another celebrated feature, the Galaxy rooftop bar, will debut next year.
A New
Luxury Landmark in Chania
Opened as a new build on June 1, 2026, Hilton Chania Old Town Resort &
Spa marked the return
of the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to Greece following the
closure of the Hilton Athens four years ago for its renovation. “We’re proud to
say that we brought back the Hilton brand to Greece with this hotel,” says Aggelos
Antoniou, general manager.
Facing the Aegean Sea, the Hilton’s design tells a distinctly Cretan story,
drawing on an island steeped in ancient lore and tradition. The lobby's marble mosaic floor,
for example, depicts a traditional Cretan water jug—the hotel's symbol. As an
in-room card explains, "In Greek tradition, water is the first act of
hospitality." The 85-room Hilton Chania offers plenty of both.
Every spacious guest room boasts a sweeping sea view, with the Venetian
Lighthouse visible from most, plus the perfect perch to enjoy it—a private balcony with a
heated pool. Many also feature private saunas.
Rooted
in Cretan Traditions
The hotel’s Cretan interior designer emphasized locally sourced materials
in a sleek design combining clean lines with natural textures. On an island
where an estimated 35
million olive trees outnumber residents by more than 50 to one, the trees grow
in a garden behind the lobby alongside lemon trees and herbs. More herbs flourish
in the serene rooftop botanical garden overlooking the sea.
The gardens' herbs find their way into signature cocktails served at
Celeste, the rooftop bar and restaurant adjacent to the garden. With an
infinity pool and wide, striped sun loungers, Celeste transforms from a
poolside retreat by day to a buzzing hotspot at night, popular with guests and
locals alike for its spectacular sunset views.
Elevated Traditional Fare, Served with Style
The emphasis on local ingredients continues at Poème de la Canée, the
hotel’s signature restaurant, where Cretan-born Executive Chef Stratos
Kalathakis adds contemporary flair to traditional dishes. A recent multicourse
dinner showcased the island’s culinary heritage, with visually striking,
flavorful dishes. Bread arrived with olive oil shaped to look like an olive,
and spicy feta dip like a red pepper; the thin potato and zucchini slices in
the Chaniotiko Boureki were arrayed like a delicate fan and served with mint
oil and tyromalaka cheese. “The local products have inspired me a lot,” says
Chef Stratos.
Clients can sample more Cretan specialties at the sumptuous
breakfast—included in the rate—with an a la carte menu as well as selections
from roaming carts, like giant pistachio and chocolate croissants.
A Retreat for Rest and Renewal
Hilton’s 2027 Trends Report
found that 65% of travelers actively seek experiences to calm the body and
reset the nervous system—they’ll find them at the Hilton Chania. The Spa
L’Occitane en Provence features four treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna, steam
baths and an indoor heated pool—complete with soothing underwater music.
Hilton Chania also features Greece’s first Fauchon Café Patisserie, the C
Bar cocktail and cigar lounge, a gym and meeting facilities accommodating
events of up to 200 people. Hotel management envisions the property as a
year-round gathering place for guests and residents alike, helping extend
tourism beyond Crete’s busy summer season.
Beyond the amenities, the hotel stands out for its hospitality. Staff greet
guests by name when they return to the hotel, while sales manager Maria
Syggenioti, a Chania native, is happy to share local shopping tips—such as what
to buy at the adjacent Thursday morning farmers market—and stories about
Crete's history, traditions and mythology.
Every guest room at Hilton Chania has a private pool facing the sea. (Photo Credit: Hilton)
Casa Delfino Offers an Intimate Connection to Chania’s Past
Just a short stroll from the Hilton Chania is the city’s famed Venetian
Harbor and Old Town. Tucked away in the heart of this atmospheric, largely
pedestrian-only historic district is Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa, where guests
arrive via golf cart from nearby Talos Square. A member of Small Luxury Hotels,
Casa Delfino started partnering with Hilton this year—a booking relationship
that has made “so much difference, even within a few months,” says Managing
Director Margarita Delfino Markantonaki, whose family owns the hotel.
The 24-room Casa Delfino occupies a collection of historic buildings dating
back to the Venetian and Ottoman periods, centered around a mansion that served
as the Delfino family’s ancestral home for generations. Another 18th-century
Old Town building from the Ottoman period is currently being added to the
portfolio, with two family suites slated to open in May 2027.
The hotel opened in 1989 with just 12 rooms, following a four-year
restoration undertaken by Markantonaki’s father—who painstakingly collected
the black and white pebbles that form a mosaic in the inn’s central courtyard. Here, guests gather in warmer months
for a lavish breakfast that includes Cretan pastries and pies Markantonaki’s mother makes daily.
Markantonaki shares stories with guests about her
ancestors, including her great-grandfather, a sea captain whose former bedroom
is now Room 9. From its small balcony, he would look longingly at the harbor
through binoculars. No two rooms are alike, with furnishings ranging from
traditional to modern—like the Executive Suite, blending purple and gold decor
with details that evoke Chania’s Ottoman era.
A small spa features two treatment rooms, a marble steam room and a large
Jacuzzi, while guests can enjoy the rooftop garden for sunset cocktails (from
mid-April through October) and magnificent views of the harbor, its lighthouse
and the surrounding pastel-colored buildings.
Chania Flair: Boutique Luxury Near the Beach
Another Hilton-affiliated option, the Chania
Flair Boutique Hotel—within walking distance of both the beach
and Old Town—has been part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton since December
2023. The property shares a management company with the nearby Hilton Chania,
with General Manager Aggelos Antoniou overseeing both.
Thanks to the hotel’s Hilton affiliation, up to 45 percent of guests during
the summer come from the U.S., says Antoniou.
The adults-only property (ages 14 and up) features 34 rooms and a
contemporary, stylish vibe. Guests can reserve complimentary loungers and
umbrellas at the nearby beach.
In fact, the Chania Flair takes full advantage of its waterfront
location, with a large fitness studio, rooftop heated whirlpool, rooftop
restaurant, and select accommodations all offering views of the Aegean.
At the Hilton Chania, Chef Stratos oversees the Chania Flair’s culinary
operations—which means guests are in for a treat. At the hotel's 360˚ rooftop
restaurant, a recent dinner with Greek wine pairings included a modern
interpretation of spinach pie, served on a waffle, and an inventive
amuse-bouche designed to delight American guests—it looked exactly like an Oreo
cookie, but instead of the expected sweetness, it delivered the savory flavors
of olive and feta mousse.
The dinner ended with baklava featuring prized Aegina pistachios and gold
leaf—a sweet marriage of Greek tradition and modern luxury that mirrors
Hilton's approach across its growing portfolio.
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