Chic and cheerful: 15 hotels for affordable European glamour

Chic and Cheerful: 15 Hotels for Affordable European Glamour

Kastellorizo: A Coastal Escape with Artistic Flair

Chic and cheerful - Kastellorizo, nestled just 2km from the Lycian coast, offers a unique blend of Mediterranean charm and proximity to Turkey, making it a more accessible destination than mainland Greece. The island’s small harbor, framed by colorful neoclassical houses, is a bustling hub for ferries from nearby Kaş, Rhodes, and other Dodecanese islands. Among these historic structures stands Hotel Mediterraneo, a modest mansion with ochre walls and pistachio-green shutters. Its ground-floor suite is so near the sea that guests can literally step from their beds into the waves, a feature that defines its charm.

“She took over the quayside pension 25 years ago, painting the seven bedrooms in sunny colours and layering them with rugs, cushions, antiques and artworks.”

Mediterraneo’s owner, Parisian architect Marie Rivalant, has transformed the space into a haven for creatives. Her background in design is evident in every detail, from the curated collection of vintage textiles to the small boutique within the hotel that sells her personal finds. The breakfasts, a fusion of flavors inspired by her global travels, feature flaky Turkish börek pastries, Greek yogurt, and freshly baked croissants, all served on the terrace for a scenic start to the day. With doubles starting at €170 B&B, it’s a perfect blend of affordability and sophistication.

Symi: A Historical Haven with Culinary Distinction

On the 19th-century Greek island of Symi, wealth once flowed from sponge-diving, shipbuilding, and seafaring. These maritime industries brought merchants to the island, who traded silver, spices, and sponges in a neoclassical building on the Kali Strata—a stone stairway connecting the harbor of Gialos to the upper village of Chorio. Today, that same building is home to The Old Markets, a boutique hotel that honors its storied past with historic grandeur.

Inside, the seven rooms and three suites are spread between the original market and the adjacent Captain’s Mansion. Each space is adorned with antique maps, old globes, nautical paintings, and silverware, evoking the island’s seafaring heritage. While the hotel’s size is modest, its culinary reputation is vast, thanks to its rooftop tasting-menu restaurant, Agora, and the extravagant Greek breakfast feasts that include Symi orange blossom akoumia (rice doughnuts) and tsoureki (sweet brioche-like bread).

Like many islands, Symi is best experienced by boat, with travelers moving between Agios Nikolaos beach, St George Bay, and the monastery at Panormitis. The journey returns to the island’s picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbor, where the past and present coexist. Doubles here start at £150 B&B,