ALAS, three whitewashed homes on Livadi Beach, Astypalea

Three Homes, Five Meters from the Aegean

Astypalea has resisted the usual Greek island arc. Technically Dodecanese, architecturally Cycladic, historically Venetian, it has always been an island that refused to be categorized. These three homes share a design language (whitewashed plaster, tactile stone detail, spare island decoration) while each has its own character. A2's domed loft is the most distinctive gesture, a single arched volume that turns an upper floor into something else entirely.

Living rooms have built-in sofas that convert to sleeping space, and Smeg-signed kitchens well equipped for cooking. Each bedroom has Simmons mattresses and premium linen. Bathrooms are stocked with Naxos Apothecary products, delivered in reusable 300ml containers.

The front veranda is where the day starts and ends, with lounge chairs and an outdoor shower. A1 has an open bar with seaview and a dining table for eight. A2 and A3 both offer a dining table for six with a lounge area alongside. All three share the same back veranda arrangement: a private sofa and direct access to the lower-floor cave room. Livadi Beach itself is wind-free year-round, a rare thing on an Aegean island.

What we love

Five meters from your front door is the Aegean, and ALAS is designed around that fact from the ground up: three floors each one a different relationship with the water and the light. Unlike the more visited Cycladic islands, Astypalea moves at its own pace: whitewashed houses spilling down from a Venetian castle, eight windmills at the entrance to Chora, and Kafeneio o Mouggos just below the town hall. It's the oldest kafeneio on the island, and where to head for meze and rakomelo. To explore the islands' beauty, pick up an electric car and follow the dirt road to Kaminakia beach. You'll understand why this island has been quietly reinventing itself without losing any of what made it worth coming to in the first place.

Layout

There are three homes to choose from. Each has three floors, with front and back verandas on two levels. The middle floors are the main living spaces.

A1 — 150 square meters, sleeps eight guests. The upper floor holds two double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. The middle floor has an open-plan kitchen and dining area, living room with a sofa bed, and a guest WC with shower. The ground floor has a self-contained double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and kitchenette, with its own private access to the back veranda.

Bedroom 1 — Double, en suite

Bedroom 2 — Double, en suite

Bedroom 3 — Double, en suite, ground floor, kitchenette

Sofa bed — Double (living room) + 1 guest WC with shower

A2 — 140 square meters, sleeps nine guests. The upper floor has two double bedrooms sharing a bathroom; one connects to a domed loft with an additional double bed. The middle floor has a kitchen, dining area, living room with a built-in sofa sleeping mattress, and a guest WC with shower. The ground floor has a self-contained double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and kitchenette, with its own private access to the back veranda.

Bedroom 1 — Double, shared bathroom

Bedroom 2 — Double + loft double, shared bathroom

Bedroom 3 — Double, en suite, ground floor, kitchenette

Built-in sofa — sleeping mattress (living room) + 1 guest WC with shower

A3 — 130 square meters, sleeps seven guests. The upper floor holds two double bedrooms sharing a bathroom. The middle floor has a kitchen, dining area, living room with a built-in sofa sleeping mattress, and a guest WC with shower. The ground floor has a self-contained double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and kitchenette, with its own private access to the back veranda.

Bedroom 1 — Double, shared bathroom

Bedroom 2 — Double, shared bathroom

Bedroom 3 — Double, en suite, ground floor, kitchenette

Built-in sofa — sleeping mattress (living room) + 1 guest WC with shower

Experiences

Private boat tours to the uninhabited islands of Koutsomiti, Kounoupa, and Red Rock can be arranged on request. Electric car, motorbike, and all-terrain vehicle hire is available through a local partner. Grocery delivery to the home before arrival, private massage sessions, and port or airport transfers are all available with advance notice.

Good to know

Arrival is met by a host who walks you through the home. Sheets are changed every three days, towels every two. Pets may be accommodated, but please ask at the time of booking. Airport transfers, electric vehicle hire, boat trips, and grocery pre-stocking all require advance notice. Baby park and changing table are standard across all three homes.

Amenities & services

High-speed wi-fi (satellite broadband), smart TVs with gallery mode and streaming apps, Smeg kitchen appliances (fridge, toaster, boiler, squeezer), Nespresso machine with capsules, fully equipped kitchen, washing machine with detergent, solar-generated hot water, photovoltaic energy system, high-quality insulation, a/c units, safe box, wine storage cabinet with Greek wines, Simmons mattresses, premium linen, beach bags, beach towels, slippers, hair dryer, Naxos Apothecary toiletries (reusable 300ml containers), baby park and changing table, ironing board

On request: airport/port transfer, electric car/motorbike/ATV hire, grocery pre-delivery, curated Greek wine selection, private massage, private boat tour (Koutsomiti, Kounoupa, Red Rock)

Around

Astypalea is, technically, a Dodecanese island, but its Cycladic bones and the Venetian castle above Chora tell a more layered story. Livadi sits in a fertile valley where citrus groves and pomegranates run down to the beach. Chora is a 10-to-15 minute walk up through whitewashed lanes past the famous row of windmills. The Archaeological Museum in Chora holds artefacts from Bronze Age settlements through to the Roman period. Beyond Astypalea itself, the uninhabited islets of Koutsomiti, Kounoupa, and Red Rock are accessible by private boat.

The island is part of a live experiment: a joint project with Volkswagen has been converting Astypalea into Europe's first smart, climate-neutral island since 2021, with electric vehicle sharing via the astyMOVE app already in operation. A car is recommended for exploring remote beaches.