The History of Greece’s Tallest Buildings

Greece has not yet seen the development of true Skyscrapers in any of its cities, but the history of the country’s few tall buildings is both quite interesting and unique.

Hilton Athens

Located in the commercial district of the city, just 1,650 feet from the National Art Gallery, the Athens Concert Hall and the Kolonaki shopping area, the iconic 18-story, 65-meter-high building was constructed between 1958 and 1963. In 2003, this tall building underwent a minimalist renovation, with the further addition of a six-story wing.

By the end of 2025, the rejuvenated Hilton Athens—now rebranded as “The Ilisian”—will begin a new chapter as an innovative multi-use complex, featuring the Conrad and Waldorf Astoria brands of hotels and residences.

Athens Towers

Built in 1968, with the passing of a new law which allowed for the construction of high-rise buildings, it marked the beginning of a new construction era in Greece. The building is a complex of two towers, one standing at 103 meters tall and the other at 65 meters tall, intended for office and retail use.
The Athens Tower, a 28-story building located in the Ambelokipi district, remains the tallest building in Greece, with another smaller 12-story tower built next to the first.

OTE Tower

Following this, the OTE Tower in Thessaloniki was constructed in 1970, standing at 76 meters tall. This tower hosted the first broadcasts of Greek State Television in black and white, and to this day, it is Greece’s only building with a revolving floor.

Difros Complex

In 1971, the Difros residential complex was constructed in the Athens suburb of Chalandri, featuring four interconnected buildings of varying heights. The buildings’ architectural design was influenced by Japanese Brutalism and Metabolism. The 18-story complex includes 43 apartments and underground parking.

Piraeus Tower

Around the same time, construction of the Piraeus Tower was completed, rising to 88 meters. However, it remained unused for nearly 50 years. The 22-story building, with 19,000 square meters of office space, 7,000 square meters of retail space, and 700 square meters of dining areas, was recently revived by a consortium. The city of Piraeus receives 1.01 million euros annually from its leasing, annually.

Apollon Tower

Located in the busy district of Ambelokipi, Apollon Tower is the tallest residential building in Greece, standing at 80 meters with 25 floors. Completed in 1973, it famously lacks a button for the 13th floor, following the superstition common in American high-rise constructions. The top floors and rooftop pool were abandoned for decades but were renovated in 2023 for use by a restaurant.

OTE Headquarters

The OTE Administrative Building in the Athens suburb of Marousi, standing at 72 meters high with 18 floors, is the largest workplace in Greece, with space for 4,200 employees. Built over a decade, starting in the mid-1960s, the building recently underwent a major renovation, completed in 2023.

EYP Building

The Ministry of Citizen Protection’s (former Public Order) building, located at 4 P. Kanellopoulou Street and nicknamed “Lady Katechaki,” stands at 65 meters tall. The building has housed the Greek Intelligence Service (EYP), since 1978.

President Hotel

Set amidst the urban landscape of Athens, the landmark building of the President Hotel stands at 68 meters tall and 22 stories high. The President Hotel holds the record as the tallest hotel in both Athens and Greece. Construction on the building began in 1974 and finished in 1978.

Atrina Center

Finally, the Atrina Center, completed in 1981, is located in the suburb of Marousi standing at 80 meters tall. The building is one of the “glass towers” developed by Babbis Vovos, once known as the “king of glass towers.”