Our Story
Olive Tree Homes is run today by siblings Nikolas and Elisabeth Martsoukos. What you see here is the result of years of dedication, family effort, and—above all—love, all coming together in one special place on Ios.
The idea of Olive Tree Homes began many years ago with our father, Elias Martsoukos, who dreamed of creating a welcoming home on the island—somewhere calm, genuine, and closely connected to the land and the sea. Today, that vision lives on.
Our father first came to Ios from Athens at the age of 17 and quickly fell in love with the island and its rhythm of life. He chose to spend most of his life here and worked in many different roles over the years—bartender, restaurant owner, baker—always with energy, hospitality, and the instinct to make people feel at home. When our grandparents retired, they moved to Ios as well, and that was when the story truly took shape.
Our grandfather transformed the land into a thriving garden, planting flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, olive trees, and lemon trees. The garden followed the seasons and the sun, and for us as children it was a small paradise—where we could pick grapes straight from the vines, taste sun-warmed tomatoes, and cool off under the shade of the olive trees.
Our father later met the love of his life, our mother, who is from Sweden. Together they created a home where Greek and Scandinavian traditions blended naturally. Our summers were spent on Ios, growing up with our grandparents close by, swimming in the clear blue sea, playing on the beach, and returning home salty and sun-tired.
Every evening, the family gathered for dinner on the terrace. The table was filled with simple Greek food, local olive oil, fresh bread, laughter, and stories from the day. Many nights ended with singing and dancing—always to traditional Greek music—under the warm night sky.
Ios has always been our home. Even today, stepping off the boat in the small harbor brings a deep sense of belonging, the familiar smell of the sea and the sound of cicadas welcoming us back. As adults, we are deeply grateful for the childhood we were given here and for the strong family bonds shaped on this island.
Today, we run Olive Tree Homes with the same intention: to offer families and friends a place to slow down, share meals, reconnect, and create lasting memories—just as we have done all our lives.
In loving memory of our father, Elias Martsoukos, who poured his heart and soul into creating Olive Tree Homes.