A private island in Greece for less than a one-bed flat in Londno? Sounds like a pretty crazy deal. In fact, the private island of Makri in the Ionian Sea is set to be auctioned off in November, reports the Greek newspaper THEMA. The starting price is reportedly €247,000.
Makri belongs to the Echinades, a group of islands to the west of mainland Greece. Anyone picturing the infinity pools, beach clubs, and luxury villas that are abundant on well-known, touristy Greek islands should lower their expectations immediately. The island apparently has only very basic infrastructure: a small abandoned house, a cistern, and a chapel.
Plus, there's a clear reason why the auction has been set to start at such a low price now. It was discovered that Makri is classified as a forest area and is also located within a Natura 2000 protected area. Therefore, large construction projects, hotels, or a new luxury resort are practically impossible. According to THEMA, only minimal, light infrastructure and agricultural use would be possible.
Meaning whether you could build a home on the island or not, it's unlikely you'd be able to implement many services or facilities, which makes living on an island like this particularly difficult.
The price is still intriguing, considering Makri was reportedly already offered for auction once before, in 2022, for around 8 million euros. A subsequent reassessment apparently made it clear how severely the conservation regulations restricted its potential uses.
For those who only want to dream of island life for a short time, there's an easier option: private islands can also be rented. In Greece, for example, there are exclusive island properties on the Athenian Riviera, and in the Balearic Islands, there's the well-known island of Tagomago, just off Ibiza.
Makri, on the other hand, is more suited to true adventurers, nature lovers, or people with a great deal of patience when it comes to obtaining permits. In return, you'll likely get peace and quiet, as well as abundant nature, alongside the many restrictions.
Location of the island (© Copyright OpenStreetMaps)
