Regional Guides

Ask what Corfu is known for, and the answer runs longer than for most Greek islands. It's the green one, lush and wooded where others are sun-bleached, and the cosmopolitan one, shaped by centuries of Venetian, French, and British rule rather than the usual whitewashed Cycladic look. Add a UNESCO-listed old town, some of the Ionian's loveliest beaches, and easy flights from across Europe, and you have an island that feels a little different from the rest of Greece. Here's what gives Corfu its character, and why it draws so many people to visit and to stay.

Lefkada is known, first and foremost, for its beaches, and they're among the most striking in Europe. Porto Katsiki, with its sheer white cliffs above impossibly blue water, is the postcard image, though it's far from the only one. What makes the island unusual, though, is how you reach it. Lefkada is joined to the mainland by a bridge, so unlike almost every other Greek island, you simply drive across, with no ferry required. That combination, a world-class coastline with easy access, is the heart of its appeal. Here's what else Lefkada is known for.

Anyone set on Crete tends to arrive at this question sooner or later, because its two biggest cities pull in different directions. There's no single right answer. Chania is the romantic one, all Venetian harbour and old-town charm, with a slower, more atmospheric pace. Heraklion is the practical one, Crete's capital and commercial heart, with the amenities and connections that come from being the island's main hub. The better choice depends on whether you're buying mainly for lifestyle or for everyday convenience, and on how you plan to use the home. Here's how they compare.

It's one of the most common questions from buyers comparing the mainland with the islands, and the answer is a fairly clear yes: the Peloponnese is generally cheaper. The reasons are mostly practical. It's on the mainland, reached by road rather than ferry, less swamped by summer tourism, and there's simply more land to go around than on a small island. Together, that keeps prices below the well-known islands, often by a wide margin, while still offering plenty of coast, history, and character. Here's how the two compare, and where the value lies.

Buyers comparing Greece's two big southern islands usually want the same thing settled: which is the better bet for a holiday home? Neither wins outright. They differ in scale and character. Rhodes is the more compact, concentrated option, with a famous medieval town, strong summer tourism, and generally gentler prices. Crete is far larger and more varied, with more to choose from, a longer season in places, and the depth that comes from being somewhere people live all year, not just visit. The right choice depends on your budget and how you picture using the home. Here's how they compare.

These two Ionian neighbours are often shortlisted together, and buyers torn between them want to know which comes out ahead. Neither does, really. They're close in spirit but different in feel. Zakynthos is smaller, busier, and better connected, with the headline beaches and a livelier tourist scene. Kefalonia is larger, greener, and more mountainous, with a quieter, more traditional character and standout scenery of its own. Which suits you depends on whether you want easy access and a bit of buzz, or space and calm. Here's how they compare.

If the famous islands have priced you out, Pelion is one of the first places worth a look, and yes, it's generally cheaper. This green, mountainous peninsula in central Greece sits apart from the island circuit, both literally and in price. It's reached by road rather than ferry, it sees far less mass tourism than Mykonos or Santorini, and that combination keeps property noticeably more affordable. What you give up in island cachet, you gain in value, forests, and a quieter kind of Greece. Here's how it compares.

Property buyers comparing Greece's two biggest cities usually ask this first, and the answer is a clear yes: Thessaloniki is generally cheaper than Athens. As the capital and the country's economic engine, Athens draws more demand, and prices follow. Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, offers much of the same urban appeal, a long waterfront, wonderful food, and a lively cultural scene, at noticeably lower prices. The main trade-off is on the investment side, where Athens tends to have the edge. Here's how the two compare, and where Thessaloniki's value lies.