Buying a boutique hotel or resort in Greece and Europe
Unlocking institutional-grade hospitality investments across Europe's prime tourist destinations. Specialized in confidential hotels, urban assets, and beachfront resorts.
Strategic Hospitality Acquisitions & Asset Management
The European hospitality market is highly competitive and characterized by significant barriers to entry. Our specialized team operates as strategic advisors, bridging the gap between global capital and exclusive, off-market hotel properties. We focus on prime city-center assets and coastal resorts.
Boutique Hotels
Historic urban properties with high brand value and operational excellence in major European gateways.
Luxury Resorts
Beachfront and mountain resorts in premier tourist destinations, combining luxury amenities with high occupancy.
Hospitality Hubs
European Capitals
Focusing on premium hotel acquisitions in Paris, London, and other capital cities. High barrier-to-entry urban assets with robust institutional demand.
Major French Cities
Targeting boutique hotels and yield-generating hospitality properties in Lyon, Bordeaux, and key coastal hubs along the French Riviera.
Greece & Islands
Exceptional resort investment opportunities in Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Samos, Kos, Rhodos and Crete. Capitalizing on Greece's booming luxury tourism sector.
Strict Confidentiality & Off-Market Discretion
Due to the highly sensitive nature of commercial hotel transactions, we never publish our active hospitality listings online. Our mandates are managed under strict Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). To gain access to our institutional portfolio, please contact our lead commercial advisor.
Finding the right one among the boutique hotels for sale in Greece is only the start: buying a hotel means acquiring a building, an operating licence, a team, a client base and sometimes liabilities, all at once. Acropolis Real Estate advises private investors and family offices on the acquisition of a specific property, whether a boutique hotel in Athens, a characterful hotel in the Cyclades or a resort in Crete, from the search through to handover.
Why look at boutique hotels for sale in Greece now
Greece remains one of Europe's leading tourist destinations. According to provisional Bank of Greece data, international travel receipts reached around €23.6 billion in 2025, up roughly 9% year on year, from almost 38 million arrivals. These figures say nothing certain about any single property: profitability depends on location, length of season, positioning and the quality of management.
Overall strategy (regions, asset profiles, holding periods) is covered on our page about hotel investment in Greece. This page focuses on the practical process of buying one hotel.
Defining the hotel you are looking for
Before searching, we agree a written brief with you:
- Location: Athens and the Athens Riviera, the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Paros), Crete, Rhodes or the Ionian islands. Each area has its own season and clientele.
- Size and category: number of keys, star rating, facilities (restaurant, spa, pool, beach).
- Operating model: owner-operated, a management agreement with an operator, or a lease of the building to an operator.
- Total budget: price, acquisition costs, refurbishment programme and working capital for the first season.
- Timing: many island hotels open roughly from April to October, so a takeover is prepared out of season.
The search: listed and off-market
Good hotels rarely change hands through a simple listing. Owners, often families, prefer to sell discreetly so as not to unsettle staff, tour operators and guests. We therefore canvass the open market, specialist intermediaries, local lawyers and notaries, and the private investor networks built by Nicolas Milonas over more than twenty-five years of cross-border investment. Each opportunity is first reviewed on paper, under a non-disclosure agreement, before any visit.
Due diligence: what must be checked
This is the decisive stage. We coordinate the lawyers, engineers and accountants who review, among other things:
| Area | Checks |
|---|---|
| Legal | Title, registration with the Hellenic Cadastre (Ktimatologio), easements, pending litigation |
| Planning and technical | Building compliance (an engineer's certificate is required on sales in Greece), any regularisations, condition of services, fire safety |
| Operations | Operating licences, tourism registration number, star rating, health and safety compliance |
| Financial | Last three years' accounts, occupancy, average daily rate, share of tour-operator business, seasonality |
| Employment | Employment contracts, seasonal staff, obligations when staff transfer |
| Tax | Tax and social security arrears, VAT position, property taxes |
Building regularisations are common in Greece, particularly for extensions added over the years. An unresolved issue can block the sale or a future resale, so it must be identified before anything is signed.
Negotiation and deal structure
There are two main ways to acquire. Buying the property and business (an asset deal) lets you choose exactly what you take on; it is generally subject to real estate transfer tax of around 3% of the value for a resale property. Buying the shares of the owning company (a share deal) transfers everything, including past liabilities, which calls for robust contractual warranties. The choice is for your lawyers and tax advisers; our role is to build a coherent offer with them: price, warranties and indemnities, conditions precedent (financing, permits, due diligence findings) and timetable.
We negotiate on the basis of actual trading figures and the cost of identified works, not on the asking price alone.
Handover: getting the transition right
Signing is not the end of the project. Licences and contracts (suppliers, booking platforms, tour operators), retaining or recruiting staff and, if needed, appointing an operator must all be ready for the following season. We help organise that transition and, if you do not wish to run the hotel yourself, introduce you to hotel management companies.
A typical engagement
By way of illustration: briefing and search agreement; shortlist of files under confidentiality; targeted out-of-season visits; letter of intent; due diligence lasting a few weeks; final negotiation; signing before a notary; preparation for the season. The duration depends heavily on the complexity of the property and cannot be guaranteed.
Our fees start from 2% of the purchase price (VAT included), with a minimum flat fee on quotation. To go further, read our guide on investing in a hotel in Greece, explore our approach to luxury property investment in Europe or tell us about your hotel project.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy a hotel in Greece?
Yes. Both EU and non-EU nationals can acquire a hotel in Greece. Certain border areas, including a number of islands, require prior approval for buyers from outside the EU: your Greek lawyer will check this at the outset.
Should I buy the property or the owning company?
Buying the property and business lets you choose what you take on; buying the shares also transfers the company's past liabilities. The right option depends on the hotel's situation and your tax position, and is decided with your lawyers and tax advisers.
What costs should I budget for on top of the price?
Notably the transfer tax (around 3% for a resale property in an asset deal), notary, lawyer and engineer fees, the cost of due diligence, any compliance works and working capital for the first season.
How long does it take to buy a hotel?
Usually several months, covering the search, due diligence and signing. For a seasonal hotel the aim is often to sign out of season to prepare the next opening, although no timescale can be guaranteed.
Can buying a hotel lead to a residence permit?
Some investments can qualify for Greek residence, subject to conditions. The rules are set out on our page on the Greece golden visa; always have your situation confirmed by a Greek lawyer.
Do I have to run the hotel myself?
No. You can appoint a management company or lease the building to an operator. Each option has different consequences for income, risk and resale value.
Are hotel returns guaranteed?
No. A hotel's results depend on the season, demand and the quality of management. We base our analysis on the property's actual accounts and on prudent assumptions.