Helen Iatrou

This week, Lonely Planet contributor Helen Iatrou, who considers herself a full-blooded Greek islander, shares some ideas for planning an island hopping trip.
Question: I’m planning a vacation to the Greek islands this summer but don’t know where to start. Which islands should I visit, and how many can I fit into a week-long trip?

New year, new beginnings. 2023 is all about the freedom to live large and live well. If there’s one thing to be learned from the Greeks, it’s to live life to the fullest.
Consider kicking off a year’s worth of exciting new opportunities with a cosy winter beachside getaway at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens that promises to reenergise mind, body and soul.

Possessing possibly the best views of Hydra's cosmopolitan town from up high, this inviting hotel retains many features of a typical Hydriot neoclassical residence. Its 11 contemporary minimalist rooms, tended to by discreet caretakers, are named after artists like Leonard Cohen who found inspiration on the island.

Milos is one of our favourite of all the Greek islands – a luminous Cycladic island that somehow still gets overlooked in favour of neighbouring Santorini and Mykonos. All the better for those that make it here. The island has more than 70 beaches, volcanic landscapes and cool places to stay hidden among its coastline and interior.
But where should you eat on a visit to Milos? To help you plan your trip's best meals, here an island insider gives the lowdown on the top tables to book for classic Greek food, waterfront dining and fine-dining suppers. These are the best restaurants in Milos.

Two of my articles on the Cycladic island of Milos feature in Conde Nast Traveller's The Big Greece getaway.

British Columbia yacht charter itinerary for Engel & Voelkers' GG magazine

Summer has well and truly arrived in the Greek capital, with long, sun-filled days and balmy nights at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens on the captivating Athens Riviera.
As the warm weather takes hold, the iconic beachfront Hotel, located on a secluded peninsula in the resort area of Vouliagmeni, is the perfect setting to celebrate the freedom and spontaneity of the season. From June through mid-October expect live music, good food, fine wine, champagne and tropical cocktails.

Chef Luca Piscazzi met small-scale artisan producers, fishermen and fellow chefs in Tinos, Lesvos and Kalymnos to gather inspiration for his eco-conscious Pelagos on Tour tasting menu
Three of Greece’s lesser-known Aegean islands form the conscious cuisine backbone of Michelin-starred restaurant Pelagos’ ingenious new summer season menu launched this month at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.

With sunny days and blue skies reigning in Athens, the heady days of summer are literally around the corner in the ancient yet constantly-evolving Greek capital. At Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, located in an unrivalled location on the sparkling Athens Riviera, an inviting array of exciting new sports and recreational activities awaits guests.

As temperatures in Athens start to gently rise, signalling that the life-giving season of spring has well and truly arrived, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is preparing to celebrate both Western and Orthodox Greek Easter in exuberant fashion over two weekends in April.
Make the most of the holiday by gathering with loved ones at the family-friendly Athens Riviera hotel situated at the edge of a private peninsula in the Saronic Gulf.

Up until the last few years, the luminous Cycladic island of Milos was a secret destination surreptitiously shared among Greek couples. With more than 70 beaches, considered among the best in the Aegean, the isle where the Louvre’s prized Venus de Milo was found has a fascinating history and spellbinding volcanic landscapes like lunar-like Sarakiniko. With fresh new places to stay, a raft of exciting restaurants and classic waterfront bars, Milos is evolving into one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after vacay spots.

There’s nothing like immersing yourself in a new-to-you destination with all five senses from the get-go — literally the moment you check in at your hotel. Here are eight places to stay where you can soak up the local culture, sights, sounds and flavors before you’ve even unpacked your suitcase.

In need of a reflective seaside staycation to review 2022 plans, considering the Mediterranean for a February half-term family holiday or simply pining for precious moments to revive mind and body? Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens delivers effortlessly, whatever the reason.
Situated on the Saronic Sea at the edge of a pine-clad peninsula in the Athens Riviera resort suburb of Vouliagmeni, the Hotel is a rejuvenating, island-like refuge that prioritises peace of mind and comfort above al...

This is no ordinary love, so why not go all out with the grandest of romantic gestures by booking a stay at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens this Valentine’s Day?
Get in the mood for love with a sumptuous seaside getaway for two in the Athens Riviera’s lushest location. Unwind with a sensual spa treatment then dress to impress for a memorable Michelin-starred dinner date or magnificent Italian multi-course spread.

Don’t Tell Me I Can’t is a Kopa series designed to celebrate all the ways you can forge your own path well in midlife and beyond.
I was 46 when I decided to finally pursue my dream of learning to sail.
I’ve lived by the sea, in Australia and then Greece, my entire life and always loved anything involving the water.
For years, I had put off the idea of acquiring a sailing license, as I was somewhat obsessed with building my career and assumed I didn’t have the time for such “frivolities.” But I quickly learned that sailing is deeply fascinating in that it’s both an art and science.