U.S. State Department Highlights Greece’s Growing Real Estate Appeal in 2025

For many people who own, or plan to buy, a home in Greece, the journey is part of the experience. Some fly directly to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, or Chania. Others prefer slower travel, combining trains, ferries, buses, and regional routes across Europe. Until now, however, planning a cross-border trip by train has often required patience, several booking platforms, and a healthy tolerance for uncertainty. A new proposal from the European Commission aims to make that process much simpler. The plan introduces a more unified system for booking cross-border journeys across Europe, especially train journeys involving more than one operator. The goal is clear: travellers should be able to search, compare, and book a complete journey through one platform, even when different transport companies are involved. For international buyers, second-home owners, and regular visitors to Greece, this could become an important step towards easier, more flexible travel across Europe.

Greece has long been associated with sun, sea, and unforgettable island landscapes, but Tripadvisor’s 2026 beach rankings offer a fresh reminder of just how powerful the country’s appeal remains. This year, Greece has made an especially strong impression, with four beaches appearing among the world’s top 15. Even more striking is the role of Crete. Two of the top three beaches in the world are located on the island: Elafonisi in second place and Balos in third.


A third Cretan beach, Falassarna, also appears in the global top 20, ranking 11th. Alongside them, Paleokastritsa in Corfu takes 14th place, giving Greece one of the strongest national showings in the ranking. At the very top of the list is Isla Pasión in Mexico, praised for its tropical scenery and distinctive natural shape. But while Mexico may hold first place, Greece clearly dominates the podium, with Crete claiming two of the three highest positions.

Law 5293/2026 introduces a framework that redefines the role of the notary in property transfers in Greece. The notary is designated as a “one-stop shop” for the completion of transactions involving the transfer of property rights. The provisions apply to transfers arising from sale, donation, parental gift, or inheritance.

HGTV’s new series World’s Bargain Dream Homes taps into a familiar idea: what if starting over somewhere new didn’t require an unlimited budget?

The show follows Americans searching for affordable homes overseas, typically working with a ceiling of around $150,000 — an amount that, depending on location, can stretch further than many expect. Premiered on April 14, the series spans a range of destinations across Central America and Europe, including Costa Rica, Panama, France, Italy, and Greece. Each episode pairs buyers with local real estate professionals, offering insights not only into the properties themselves but also into what everyday life might look like in each location. In the Crete episode, the property search is guided by Dion Gavriilidis, Managing Partner of Elxis.