A decade ago, Greece was bankrupt. Today, it is building the US$8 billion smart city of tomorrow.
A fleet of cranes and diggers toil away on a vast 6.2 million sqm construction site along the Athens Riviera, 20 minutes south of Athens. It’s the former home of Ellinikon International Airport, which closed in 2001 when Athens International Airport opened. Several structures from the old airport remain, including hangars, terminals and signage, but soon the area will be unrecognisable, transformed into The Ellinikon – the largest smart city in Europe.
The US$8 billion project, led by LAMDA Development, is the kind of thing you might expect to see in the Middle East or China – not the sleepy coast of one of Europe’s ancient capitals. But the futuristic city will be a major boost for Athenians and visitors alike, and a gleaming testament to modern Greece. The first phase of The Ellinikon is due to open in 2026, with the project due for final completion in 2037.
At three times the size of Monaco, the new ‘city within a city’ will encompass everything from luxury accommodation and superyacht marinas to schools, shopping centres and an enormous green space bigger than Hyde Park, with a 50km path network for pedestrians and cyclists.
Driving around the dusty site by car – it’s far too large to wander in a hard hat – gives you a sense of the scale. The first floors of the 50-storey Riviera Tower (Greece’s first skyscraper) are already visible, along with the foundations of a new state-of-the-art sports centre.
Further along the coast, a cluster of luxury waterfront villas are starting to take shape. The 115 seafront villas in the Cove Residences have already sold out, but a further 1,115 residential units under construction in Little Athens offer exciting real estate opportunities.
Inside the Ellinikon Experience Centre, housed within a repurposed aircraft hangar, the future city is brought to life even more clearly. Interactive displays help to showcase the destination, complete with a virtual reality speedboat ride (which takes place as the sun sets over the Aegean Sea), while also passing on valuable lessons for modern sustainable living.
The project aims to incorporate the highest sustainability credentials and cutting-edge smart technology. All buildings will be designed to prioritise natural ventilation and lighting, while being covered in vegetation to help with natural cooling, as well as solar panels to make the most of Athens’ year-round supply of sunshine. Cutting-edge water, waste management and smart energy systems will also be employed to improve sustainability.
Meanwhile, modern technology such as the Internet of Things, AI analytics, fibre optic networks and high-speed 5G public wifi is being embedded into the foundation of the destination. This will mean smart mobility, such as sharing schemes for bikes, e-bikes and scooters, while park benches will feature built-in charging panels for devices.
The Ellinikon is also poised to attract plenty of business travel, with event spaces, a business centre and plenty of accommodation. Three luxury hotels are set to open, including the Mandarin Oriental (scheduled for 2027) and a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the luxury Riviera Galleria retail outlet and numerous dining outlets.
New openings in Athens
In further testament to Greece’s rebounding fortunes, there’s been a spate of exciting new openings in and around the capital. In October 2023, One&Only Aesthesis opened on the Athenian Riviera’s Glyfada seafront, a protected beach and forest reserve. Offering the peace and seclusion of an island-style retreat, the resort offers 95 stylish bungalows, 18 residences and two villas, each with a private pool, sunny garden and atmospheric outdoor showers. Dining concepts range from fresh all-day
Mediterranean fare at Ora to signature olive cocktails at Alelia bar. There’s also an indulgent spa, fitness hub and the adults-only Beach Club with stylish cabanas and live music.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Athens, luxury boutique property The Dolli opened last year. Housed in a 1920s neoclassical mansion, the property has 46 beautiful rooms and apartments, along with a rooftop restaurant and infinity pool with panoramic city views.
Inside the property, guests can lay their eyes on original art works by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, alongside 18th-century antiques, custom-made furniture from contemporary designers such as Pierre Augustin Rose, and a collection of ancient Greek ceramics.
Greek hospitality brand Domes has introduced two offerings that upgrade the city’s luxury lifestyle credentials. Taking glamping to the next level is 91 Athens Riviera, The Resort – a luxury cabana experience for guests and private members that opened in June.
There are 28 spacious “luxents” (luxury tents) at 43 sqm, most with their own private plunge pool and furnished like a Domes hotel, including all the mod cons – from a 50-inch TV and Marshall speaker to a super-king bed and well-stocked minibar. Plus, the added benefits of a garden or lagoon views for the calming influence of nature. On-site activities include tennis courts, sunrise yoga, personalised coaching, a swimming pool, fitness centre and the signature Domes Soma Spa, as well as upmarket restaurant and bars.
For dinner, however, it’s another Domes offering that needs to be top of your list. Makris, located in the heart of Plaka with views of the Acropolis, offers a new fine-dining experience that is bound to get Michelin attention soon. The exquisite Utopia menu (€140 per person; other tasting menus from €80) from chef Peter Dimas is a masterclass in art, creativity and cooking. With the restaurant boasting its own organic farm, sustainability plays a central role in its ethos and is also a visible part of the meal, with brightly coloured flower petals throughout our dishes.
I can’t emphasise the playfulness and creativity of each course: a stupendous mushroom “cappuccino”; a squid ink-latticed fish skeleton; a literal bouquet of flowers; chocolate chess pieces… the two-hour experience flew by in a whirl of delicious delight. Add expert service, from synchronised plate clearing to detailed descriptions of the olive oil and water menus (yes, menus for both), and it was a singularly impressive experience.
With the Acropolis looming dreamily in the background and my senses tingling from the innovative menu, it became clear that Greece is reinventing itself for the modern age. From vast forward-thinking smart cities to molecular gastronomy, Athens is firmly stepping into the future.