Choosing the right location for your Greek retirement home

Greece has always been a retirement dream for Brits, but where‘s the best place to buy a home?

For lovers of Greek holidays, it’s just one small step to buying a retirement home, but this ancient land has so many perfect destinations to choose between, both in the islands and on the spectacular mainland, that making a choice can be difficult. Now that the Greek financial crisis is all but over and done with, house prices are certain to begin to rise again, making now the best time to fulfil your dream. British, Belgian and French retirees are the most active in Greece’s property market, and many who’d formerly have bought in Turkey have now decided on Greece as the safer, more friendly option.

Tourism is essential to the Greek economy and is one practical reason why Greeks are so welcoming to incomers, but the other reason is that friendliness is part of the Greek culture and therefore open to everyone, no matter where they’re from. In Greece, it’s not all about the money. There’s a wide choice of property styles and an even wider choice of stunning locations, from the historic capital of Athens to the fishing villages and small port towns of the even older Peloponnese and the islands set in their azure waters. Whether your dream is a traditional, white-walled village house, a modern villa complete with pool, a beachside apartment or an even more traditional mountainside home with views to the ocean, prices are still inexpensive and there’s a good choice of homes.

Of course, the islands are ever-popular, with Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini offering a choice of high-end villas at even higher-end prices, but the coastal fishing villages in the Peloponnese give huge value for money in equally lovely locations. Some, like Tolon, have become favourite tourism destinations, but the little town can’t stretch any further as it’s surrounded by mountains, fronted by the ocean and forbidden to develop around the ancient Mycenaean walls at the end of the bay. Nearby Nafplion is slightly more expensive, especially in the old town, but offers more in the way of shops and a great choice of eateries as well as a fascinating history and an established expat community.