Greece: The best beauty and wellness spots in Athens
Fani Mari
Athens: There’s an Ancient Greek saying that derives from Latin and roughly translates to “healthy mind in a healthy body”. I think that truly embodies the country’s connection to wellness. Asclepius, the god of medicine, believed in seeing each patient as a person, not as their condition, which is the ultimate holistic medical approach.
The older generations in Greece take a similar approach to health and overall wellness, and they use practices like cupping to treat various ailments before seeking a medical alternative. Modern living often disconnects us from the things that truly centre us, like breathing in the fresh mountain air or being in nature and away from technology, so it’s no surprise to me that there’s been a rise in the number of wellness offerings in Athens as a result.
I am originally from Athens, but I lived in London for over a decade before moving back here in 2021. I see many similarities with the shopping habits of people in London and Athens; though their budgets may differ. In Athens, people care about their appearance and enjoy looking polished, but when shopping for beauty, they will usually opt for budget buys, with some higher-end brands for lipstick or perfumes. Many will visit their dermatologist/doctor and have laser hair removal, Botox, fillers or other ‘anti-ageing’ treatments done a few times per year. A standing appointment at one’s favourite hair salon and a bi-weekly manicure is the norm here. In terms of wellness, the average person in Athens may consider a massage or a day spa as the ultimate luxury (regardless of the pricing of the service).
In Greek culture, it’s well known that wellness can be free, just a walk by one of the many beaches, a refreshing swim or even a stroll in the mountains with your friend. But when you’re looking for another way to get your beauty and wellness hit, there are some incredible places in Athens to visit, from yoga studios, to luxurious spas overlooking the ocean and the best healthy brunch spots in town.
At the elegant and luxurious Athenian Riviera, surrounded by crystal clear waters, you’ll find the opulent yet minimalistic Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel. The spa is a calming space created with white marble and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea. Arrive early to enjoy all the facilities, like the hydrotherapy pool, rain shower, jacuzzi and steam rooms. Pick from uplifting or relaxing body and face treatments like the Armonia massage, which is truly incredible; it’s a tailor-made, full-body, medium-pressure treatment, using organic oils from Crete. The post-treatment tea, energy bar and view of the sea are equally as energising.
They’ve really thought of everything in the spa facilities; there are Diptyque toiletries, flip flops and even snacks of dried fruit and nuts if you’re hungry. It’s worth noting that their boutique also has a selection of premium Greek fashion and beauty brands too, and is worth checking out. As a warning, it is located 20 km from the city centre (roughly 30 minutes by taxi), but it’s well worth the visit, both for the spa and its exquisite restaurants, all overlooking the turquoise Athenian Riviera.
Must try: The Armonia Massage, €220/£187 for 50 mins, €300/£256 for 80 mins, is their most popular, signature treatment. Another must-try for summer is the Detox Body Polish, €180/£153 for 40 mins. You can also get a day pass, €80/£68 with full access to all the amenities.
Another Nail Studio, Koukaki: Located near the Acropolis, this is the only truly inclusive nail studio in Athens, and everyone is welcome in this fun safe space where they celebrate individuality. Founder Nefeli Lysimachou, opened the salon in 2021 after seeing the unethical working conditions many of the workers endure and being subject to a judgmental experience at a nail salon: “I never want anyone to feel othered for their choices or appearance” said the founder.
The interior is Bauhaus-inspired with a palette of primary colours, and even the playlist is different from your typical salon, with a mix of 80s, pop and indie. Lysimachou wants to be an ethical business that sets the standards; nail artists aren’t forced to work long hours, eight-hour shifts are the maximum, and everyone takes two days off a week. Their hand-drawn nail art really is guaranteed to put a smile on your face (I tried a 1970s-inspired design) and their progressive, positive attitude makes this salon a must-visit.
Must try: The gel manicure, from €17/£15 with nail art, from €3/£2. Prices from €13/£11 for a normal polish manicure and from €30/£26 for artificial nails.
Created by the founder of Korres, The Naxos Apothecary merges traditional Greek beauty and wellness in a modern environment. They combine homoeopathy, ethical production, Greek herbs and years of experience into luxurious formulas, and an amazing shopping experience. The exterior is very unassuming, and you might be slightly taken aback by the high ceilings and modern-meets-industrial interior, that’s clean but luxurious. With Korres being one of the biggest Greek beauty brands, it makes sense that this newer venture pays a lot of attention to detail, from the ingredients (that are all sourced from Naxos) to the packaging and the interiors.
Have a quick skin analysis before choosing your face cream in three steps; first pick your base depending on your skin type, then add boosters for your skin concerns (like plumping hyaluronic acid, soothing aloe vera or vitamin-rich broccoli) and finally add your scent. You’ll leave with your perfect face cream combination. They also have a huge array of scents and perfumes, many of which are inspired by the Greek summer with ingredients like incense and sea foam. Of course, you’ll find your favourites from the Korres brand here too, with plenty of vitamins, remedies and tinctures. Don’t leave without heading upstairs to the tea room, where you can sip herbal teas, smoothies and Greek cocktails (or mocktails,) in beautiful industrial meets old-world apothecary surroundings.
Must try: Anything from the ‘Koronos’ range (from €18-98/£15-84 for the hand cream to the perfume) and the face cream (from €80-€120/£68-103) – booking in for the consultation is advised: “Shopping here should be an experience, we don’t want people to make rush decisions, we’d rather they enjoy the scents and shop when they’re ready,” a sales associate told me.
Located in an iconic Bauhaus building, Zen Center is a non-profit public benefit organisation, created following the 2600-year-old Japanese Soto Zen tradition, right down to the traditional wooden interiors. The space is dark and calming with a Buddha statue and many round pillows for comfort. They offer various classes from meditation and yoga to martial arts and therapeutic treatments, while focusing on “cultivating self-awareness, self-discipline and the development of the spirit”. In this inclusive space, you are invited to realign the body and mind, which are often disconnected in our busy modern realities. Yoga practitioner, Alexandra Sotiropoulou tells me that although the Zen and Yoga traditions come from different countries and cultures, they are intertwined as they lead to the same end goal; reconnecting your mind and body.
The yoga taught here is based on Satyananda Yoga (a holistic system of yoga, developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, that incorporates techniques from all the traditional branches of yoga) and is also Scaravelli-inspired (a method that aims to bring the practitioner in a direct relationship with the spine, the breath, and the force of gravity, developed by Vanda Scaravelli). I truly feel how mind, body and soul align during this practice and really enjoy how unique the class is and the calming feel of the space. As it’s located on the first floor of the Perianth Hotel, any guests can take classes for free, and they are also adapted for English-speakers.
Must try: Zazen (contribute as much as you’d like) and Yoga (€15/£13 for a drop-in, or €60/£51 per month for two classes per week)
T Salon by Thodoris Gionis, Kolonaki: Even though Thodoris Gionis’ hair salon is located in the heart of Kolonaki, an upscale neighbourhood in Athens, once you step foot in this space you’ll instantly relax. Housed in a modern, bohemian-style location, choose from hair treatments by Kerastase and Olaplex, highlights, a signature haircut or a dreamy blow-dry. Gionis’ motto is that he wants everyone to feel at home in his salon. The relaxing and luxurious interiors are paired with massaging hair wash chairs and the friendly staff and great music ensure you feel truly comfortable. The clientele is a mix of tourists who come in for blow dries and hair colour in between shopping and sightseeing, while locals love their balayage and highlights. They even have clients that travel from all over Greece to visit.
I tried the most popular hairstyle of the moment in Athens; mermaid-style waves, plus was advised to try the anti-frizz Fusio-Dose treatment, which left my hair much softer. It only opened last year, as a sister salon to his original location in Glyfada, in southern Athens, an affluent area with great boutiques and cafes but it’s fast becoming a very popular hair salon in the city.
Must try: Try a blow dry to get the popular wave-look that Athenians opt for (for prices call +30 210 3634672).
This store, located in a neoclassical building, is a multi-use space and boutique for the natural beauty brand Apivita, founded in Athens in 1979 by two pharmacists. The brand was set up with a deep appreciation for the bees (Apis = bee, vita = life), with their own bee hives around the country. Here you can shop for skincare, make your own Tonic Mountain Tea Spray, which is a cooling facial toner and buy Apivita’s own honey, royal jelly and bee pollen.
On the third floor, there’s an eco-friendly hair salon and barber shop, with a terrace. But the highlight is the Beehive Spa, created using recycled beehives on the walls, lots of natural materials and is bathed in a calming yellow light. The Mediterranean Skin Food facial is one of their most popular treatments, and it’s customisable to your skin type. I never thought I’d be this relaxed in the centre of Athens, but I always leave revived and with an instant glow.
Must try: The customisable Mediterranean Skin Food Facial, €30/£25 for 30 mins or €60/£51 for 50 mins, and the Apivita Aromatherapy Massage, €60/£51 for 60 mins which uses their own 100% organic essential oils. In the summer, the Lymphatic Drainage, €50/£42 for 60 mins, is very popular.
Even though hammams are of Turkish origin, Ancient Greeks were fond of them too and they are considered to be a “silent healer of daily life”. And these baths in Thiseio, an upbeat historical area near the Acropolis known for its cafes and bars, are one of my favourite places to relax with friends.
As you enter this old preserved building in downtown Athens, the spa-like scent of the space instantly calms you. The marble hammam room is relatively small, but the entry is timed, so it doesn’t ever feel too crowded. You are given olive oil soap, and a natural loofah and can add a face or hair mask too. If it gets too hot, you can exit the room for a few minutes, or splash some cold water on your head and body and return. You can also choose from just the hammam entry (‘self-bathing’), or pick treatments like deep exfoliation or try a signature Greek massage based on Hippocrates’ teachings.
Post-hammam you are given tea and can relax for a little longer in the adjacent room, filled with wooden furniture and plants. It’s a casual space that’s designed to be functional, and it’s open to all genders – just bring your bathing suit and get ready to relax.
Must try: The traditional Hammam, €30/£25 for 1 hour, plus €5-10/£4-8 for the face/hair mask (optional), or book a private space for you and your friends, from €330/£282.
This space opened a year and a half ago, by entrepreneur Alexandros Triantafyllou, who was inspired by the cult brunch restaurants and tiny artisan bakeries he found on his travels around the world. He noticed a gap in the market for good brunch spots that didn’t serve gimmicky drinks and novelty items, but just focused on good food. Located in the heart of Vouliagmeni, Sofi’s Eatery boasts a Scandinavia-meets-LA decor with vintage furniture, industrial details, aged hardwood floors and bright white walls that is truly unique here in Athens. Here, less is more and the food speaks for itself. You’ll find classic brunch options, New York-style sandwiches, salad bowls, fresh desserts and vegan chia puddings.
Everything from the granola to the bread is hand-made every morning and the rest is responsibly sourced and delivered to their kitchen daily. The quality of raw ingredients is of the utmost importance, Triantafyllou says and it’s obvious in every bite. Afterwards, head to Vouliagmeni Lake that’s a natural thermal lake, with healing properties, or walk up to Faskomilia Hill and take in the views.
Must try: Avocado toast with dinkel bread (made from a German-inspired spelt-based recipe), cream cheese, avocado, lemongrass and poached eggs, €8/£7. Triantafyllou tells me their bread is made fresh every morning, which is rare, as even in many Athenian bakeries you’ll barely find fresh bread made daily.
The SNFCC is a contemporary landmark funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation – set up by late Greek businessman and shipping tycoon, Stavros Niarchos in the 90’s. This Cultural Centre is a public space for all, with an array of cultural, educational, athletic, environmental and recreational activities and is home to the National Library and Greek National Opera. In terms of wellness, their outdoor classes range from kayaking to rollerblading, running, yoga and pilates in a beautiful environment and you can also do your own workout routine at the outdoor gym and running track. Most of the classes take place on the Panoramic Steps (by the Lighthouse building) all year round, which overlooks the luscious green gardens from above.
Workouts and activities are on a first-come, first-serve basis and many are suitable for the whole family (like kayaking and mini tennis). The fitness trainers are friendly, approachable and accommodating to English speakers. SNFCC also has a cafe, a double Michelin-star restaurant and magnificent outdoor spaces, complete with a long artificial lake and 21-acre gardens, with olive and carob trees and many indigenous Greek plants. Designed by famous architect Renzo Piano (who is behind the Centre Pompidou in Paris and The Shard in London) with floor-to-ceiling windows and industrial details, it is a feast for the eyes, and an incredible way to workout like an Athenian.
Must try: Mat Pilates and Yoga (free, on a first come first served basis). “The fitness and wellness programs are offered daily throughout the year. The most popular are Yoga in the Park & Basic Pilates Mat with the majority of attendees coming from the neighbouring areas” Dimitra Kritikou, SNFCC Programming & Production officer says.
When Pure Juice Bar opened eight years ago, healthy options were hard to find in Athens. It quickly became a beloved spot for locals in Kolonaki, for a healthy smoothie and a quick bite. The menu is filled with superfoods, delicious salads and unique juices, inspired by the Mediterranean way of eating. Freshness is top priority from the raw ingredients to the end product, and you’ll never find a pre-made salad here. Their focus is fruit and vegetables and a few animal products (like chicken, eggs and tuna), though the menu is largely vegan-friendly.
You’ll find your typical healthy eats, from delicious vegan smoothies to raw energy bars to salads and wraps. It’s also one of the few places in Athens that makes a proper açai bowl, using 100% organic Brazilian açai, guarana and fresh fruit. Additionally, you can buy ready-made healthy foods, mainly from Greek brands, reusable water bottles and cups. The interior is all-white and relatively small, but if you’d like to sit, they have a few tables outside. Otherwise, grab your juice and explore the Lycabettus Hill nearby, for great views of the whole city.
