Foreign Demand Moves Upmarket

Foreign interest in Greek property remains strong, although the buyer profile is becoming more selective following changes to the Golden Visa programme.

By June 2026, Greece had issued 24,976 primary Golden Visa permits, with Chinese nationals holding 11,921 permits, or 47.7% of the total.

New applications slowed to 2,551 in the first half of 2026, as the €800,000 investment threshold in prime zones and restrictions on short-term letting reduced participation from lower-budget buyers.

As a result, demand is increasingly concentrated on higher-value assets in Athens, which accounts for roughly 80% of pending Golden Visa applications. 

The Ellinikon Lifts the Athens Riviera

A major driver of this premium demand is The Ellinikon, the €8 billion smart city development on the former Athens airport site.

Lamda Development has recorded around €1.53 billion in cumulative residential sales, with 100% of coastal-front residences and around 85% of the Little Athens district already sold.

The project is also influencing prices across southern Athens. Asking prices in the surrounding suburbs have risen by roughly 19% year-on-year.

Vouliagmeni now averages around €7,333 per sqm, compared with €4,167 per sqm in southern Athens near The Ellinikon and €2,500 per sqm in central Athens.

Outlook

Greece’s property market is increasingly becoming a higher-value, location-driven investment story.

Prime Athens and the Athens Riviera are likely to remain the main focus for international capital, supported by lifestyle appeal, major redevelopment and continued interest in EU residency.

For investors, the opportunity is shifting away from broad market exposure towards premium locations, quality assets and long-term capital growth potential.

The contents of this article were contributed by Nikos Pratikakis, Head of IQI Greece.