50 of Europe’s best summer holiday villas
There’s something freeing about borrowing a home for the holidays and imagining yourself in another life. Villas are a place to indulge in a fantasy: one where you’re awoken by birdsong sonatas and the lap of the pool instead of the alarm, and you send the kids into the sunshine to pick fruit from your orchard for breakfast (rather than shouting at them to eat their Weetos while rain thrums at the double-glazing).
Whether you choose to indulge said fantasy in a spotless greige Kardashian-style pad or a characterful house with the pleasing patina of years of loving ownership, there’s a villa with your name on it in Europe. The problem is finding it: with so many self-catering pads on offer, knowing which one to book can prove problematic.
That’s why we’ve spoken to villa companies, tour operators and our contacts on the ground to sort the best from the rest. From love nests to huge party pads, there’s an option for everyone. In line with the enduring trend for holidaying with extended family, many companies have revealed that they are selling more villas for multi-generational holidays than ever before, so we’ve included a section just for those too.
With the cost of living crisis biting, some savvy holidaymakers are heading off the beaten track in search of bargains as well – so although many of the best properties are still to be found in Tuscany, Provence and the Balearics, we’ve widened the net to include Montenegro, Marche and more.
Here’s our pick of the best villas for a warm summer holiday with your loved ones in Europe – all with availability in the peak season and with some costing from as little as £26 per person per night.
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Family getaways
Oddone
Tuscany, Italy
Oddone’s location is hard to beat. Half an hour from Pisa airport, it’s the perfect base from which to see Tuscany’s sites. Inside it’s rustic, with stone walls, beamed ceilings and wooden shutters, while the pool’s pergola-style seating area is ideal for post-sightseeing slouching.
Sleeps 8, from £5,245 (0800 808 5830; onefinestay.com).
Waterside villa
Kotor, Montenegro
Its own jetty from which to swim, kayak or fish singles this no-nonsense stone house out from the crowd. Fig trees and grapevines create shady terraces for escaping the summer heat, while bedrooms have air-conditioning.
Sleeps 10, from £3,118 (p95120; vrbo.com).
Comporta Dune House
Comporta, Portugal
A series of squares hugging interior courtyards and linked by glass corridors, this minimalist villa near cool Comporta is a design-lover’s dream. Its roof terrace is perfect for sundowners accompanied by the swish of the sea, while the impressive infinity pool segues to sand.
Sleeps 14, from £14,973 (welcomebeyond.com).
Le Moulin sur Célé
Lot Valley, France
On the banks of the River Célé, this converted watermill and tower has tennis, croquet and ping-pong to play; figs, pears and apples to pick; and hammocks to swing in as the water burbles by. Owned by ex-hoteliers, it’s a 20-minute cycle from the medieval town of Figeac.
Sleeps 10, from £5,795 (00 353 87 7934466; lemoulinsurcele.com).
Villa Finca Nico
Ibiza, Spain
The bland mega-mansions of Ibiza come with eye-watering prices, so this rural home, just outside Santa Eulalia, ticks boxes for character and price. With colourful chandeliers, beamed ceilings and a large pool, it’s great for family holidays.
Sleeps 6, from £3,415 (0203 472 1085; uniqueibizavillas.co.uk).
Bellaro
Sicily, Italy
Set above orchards and olive groves, Bellaro in Noto blends Crittall-style windows, marble surfaces and landscaped gardens to elegant effect. Life here is about savouring the peace of the great outdoors: there’s an al fresco kitchen, scattered seating areas and, of course, a pool from which to soak in the tranquillity.
Sleeps 8, from £9,161 per week (020 8131 5646; thethinkingtraveller.com).
Villa Theros
Rhodes, Greece
A bijou dollop right by Lachania beach, this place opened its doors in 2023 and feels like staying in a very luxurious beach hut (complete with pool). It’s the perfect bolthole for young families.
Sleeps 4, from £2,522 (00 30 22440 46100; mea-terra.gr).
Frangipani
Palmizana Island, Croatia
Barbie would approve of this all-pink wonder, hidden between pine trees just steps from the beach and accessible by speedboat from Hvar. Kitschy-cute, it’s next door to the acclaimed Meneghello restaurant, which makes up for the lack of kitchen facilities.
Sleeps 4, from £1,563 B&B based on two sharing (extra people cost 86pp per night; 01494 671359; croatianvillaholidays.com).
Villa Pops
Cap Ferret, France
This futuristic marvel looks like a UFO from the outside, with a curvy white exterior seeming to float above the pool. Inside, bedrooms are cheerily kitsch, with bright pops of colour.
Sleeps 6, from £5,740 per week (00 33 1 7303 0202; lecollectionist.com).
​​Villa Kala Petra
Meganissi, Greece
Marooned on its own hilltop with 360-degree views of the sea and surrounding mountains, Kala Petra is great for lazy holidays. Days are for splashing in the pool, before visiting the tavernas of the nearby villages for long dinners.
Sleeps 6, from £1,231pp including flights and car hire (020 8232 9780; gicthevillacollection.com).
Multi-gen mayhem
Landriou
Magescq, France
SJ Villas is touting France’s Pays Basque as the next big thing, with lots of new properties in the region. This fairytale, half-timbered hideout is the prettiest of the lot, set in forest around half an hour’s drive from Biarritz and with its own bar in a barn.
Sleeps 6 adults and four children, from £6,864 (020 8351 6384; sjvillas.co.uk).
White Cube
Puglia, Italy
Most Puglian villas are lost in the countryside but this towering property sits in the middle of a mediaeval village – just a stroll away from shops, restaurants and the beach. Its roof terrace is a great place to relax to the tune of birdsong and the tinkle of church bells while a layout spread across two buildings makes it a good bet for extended families.
Sleeps 10, from £5,385 (welcomebeyond.com).
Tamaricciu
Corsica, France
An impressively designed seaview villa in Palombaggia. With accommodation on the ground and second floors, and the living space sandwiched in between, this one is laid out with multi-gen breaks in mind. Early risers get the added bonus of watching the sun creep languidly over the infinity pool.
Sleeps 8, from £10,071 (020 8131 5646; thethinkingtraveller.com).
Andalucian oasis
Near Ronda, Spain
Far removed from the usual whitewash-and-tile Spanish villas, this low-slung, mid-century-inspired house has concertina doors that open almost entirely to the elements. Paths snake through its gardens past fountains, lavender-fringed seating areas and one of the region’s prettiest pools. Bedrooms are hidden in casitas in the grounds.
Sleeps 8, from £4,460 (stayone.com).
Villa Zephyros
Zakynthos, Greece
New to Peligoni, this minimalist villa has been designed to let its incredible sea views take centre stage. A terrace of bedroom suites lead to the infinity pool while Peligoni’s nearby hub is great for teens.
Sleeps 10, from £5,000 (020 8740 3001; peligoni.com).
Villa Aronica
Sicily, Italy
The only villa with its own pool within walking distance of the buzzy beach resort of San Vito Lo Capo, this has something for everyone. Kids will love the little playground, tweens can use the astro strip, and adults can snooze on the day beds by the pool.
Sleeps 16, from £6,970 (01483 497060; sicily4u.co.uk).
Villa Lumiere
Costa Tropical, Spain
It looks like the archetypal Instagram pad with bright white interiors, glittering views of the Med and soaring palm trees by the pool, but this family-friendly villa near Salobreña comes with Montessori toys and kid-friendly crockery too. And, as all the bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling vistas, there’ll be no fighting for the best one.
Sleeps 8 plus 2 children, from £4,500 per week (020 3903 9093; theluxuryvillacollection.com).
La Citaj
Corsica, France
La Citaj’s location in the mediaeval port of Florent is good for restless grandparents (there are markets and cafés a stroll away). A pool overlooking the town’s ancient stone buildings adds to its charm as do cosy interiors, though steep stairs mean this isn’t one for toddlers.
Sleeps 8, from £999pp including flights (01489 866992; corsica.co.uk).
Casa Mana
Mallorca, Spain
A downstairs bedroom means grandparents get their own space at this restored farmhouse in Binissalem, which comes with green and gold views towards the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range (admire them from the shady outdoor seating area, complete with boho swing chair). Meanwhile, kids will love picking fruit and olives in its tree-scattered grounds.
Sleeps 8, from £6,802 (coolstays.com).
Château de Galaup
Beauville, France
It’s been a labour of love to bring this 15th-century chateau in the lot-et-garonne region back to life. Expect huge fireplaces, thick stone walls and contemporary raffia accents, as well as a pool and tennis court.
Sleeps 8, from £4,286 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk).
Escapes for two
Villa Dalla Sirene
Sicily, Italy
Set on a beautiful stretch of sand at Santa Maria Focallo, this recently refurbished villa is just steps from the sea. There’s a plunge pool for calmer dips too, as well as a shady terrace overlooking the waves.
Sleeps 4, from £4,170 (020 3868 6514; sicily4u.co.uk).
Trapezaki Beach House
Kefalonia, Greece
There are plenty of villas near Trapezaki beach, but this new house is angled so that couples feel they have the coastline to themselves. There’s a proper pool in its garden, while the sand is a short stroll away.
Sleeps 2, from £2,425pp including flights and car hire (020 8003 6557; simpsontravel.com).
Villa Los Tendales
Galicia, Spain
As Spanish summers heat up, Galicia is gaining in popularity thanks to its relatively cool climate and lush landscapes. Between farms and fields inland, this stone hideaway is 15 minutes’ drive from the sweeping sands of the Rías Baixas coast.
Sleeps 2, from £1,398 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk).
La Petite Maison des Artistes
Pays de la Loire, France
Wisteria-clad with a winding staircase, this character-packed house in the grounds of a grand manor has sole use of a pool in fairytale gardens. The castle-clad town of Saumur is ten minutes’ drive away.
Sleeps 2, from £1,060 (ref 49023; purefrance.com).
Master Villa, Blue Sky Villas
Santorini, Greece
For proposals and honeymoons, this new one-bed overlooking the sea from the highest point on Santorini is a safe bet. With an infinity pool and Jacuzzi, it comes with breakfast for extra lazy mornings.
Sleeps 2, from £7,000 (01572 755041; santorinivillas.co.uk).
Villa Trulli Isabella
Puglia, Italy
A teeny trulli made for two. Surrounded by fields, it comes with a little pool (and a ping-pong table for competitive couples). Explore the towns of Alberobello and Locorotondo, half an hour’s drive away, then return for spectacular sunsets on the terrace.
Sleeps 2, from £1,233 (01727 836686; villaplus.com).
Kalathos Blue Dream
Rhodes, Greece
The standout star among Jet2’s smaller villas, this is a bijou, blue-shuttered pad with its own pool and outdoor oven in the sleepy resort of Kalathos (home to one of the island’s quietest beaches).
Sleeps 4, from £956pp (0800 408 5593; jet2holidays.com).
A Piccirrida
Panarea, Italy
It’s impossible not to love this tiny hideaway on the Aeolian island of Panarea. A whitewashed sugar cube with a wraparound terrace and the local cobalt-patterned tiles for floors; its views towards neighbouring Stromboli and the smoulder of its volcano are mesmerising.
Sleeps 2, from £1,832 (0117 204 7810; sawdays.co.uk).
Villa Mathilde
La Croix-Valmer, France
One-beds don’t get more glam than this studio-style hideaway, part of the sprawling Domaine Louise estate near St Tropez. It’s one of seven villas on the site, surrounded by 10 acres of private parkland and with its own speedboat to explore the glittering coast.
Sleeps 2, from £3,450 (01978 368 531; worldwidedreamvillas.com).
Casetta Angeli
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Fifteen minutes’ walk from glitzy Positano, this two-bedroom house clings to the cliffs of a private estate, with a romantic terrace overlooking the sea. There’s a communal pool and a semi-private beach accessed via flower-trimmed footpaths.
Sleeps 4, from £2,300 per week (020 30193722; vitabrevis.travel).
Big group gatherings
Villa Giancarlo
Tuscany, Italy
It’s hard not to love this ochre-coloured historic house just south of Siena, where painted ceilings and plenty more period features exude homely grandeur. Set in the sprawling Montestigliano Estate, with its olive groves and cypress-lined thoroughfares as well as two pools, it’s a great place to let kids run free.
Sleeps 10, from £4,720 (020 8444 9500; invitationtotuscany.com).
Villa Saturea
Istria, Croatia
Could this place have Croatia’s dreamiest view? Set on a hillside in the Gornji Rabac region, it overlooks the zigzag of coastline around Kvarner Bay from its floor-to-ceiling windows and saltwater infinity pool. Interiors are simple but slick and there’s a gym too.
Sleeps 8, from £4,740 (00 385 91 333 6616; istria.villas).
Villa Alara
Kalkan, Turkey
New for 2024, this five-bedroom villa is a 15-minute walk from Kalkan’s restaurant-packed Old Town – that’s if you can tear yourself away from the infinity pool, outdoor games area and cinema room. The seaview terrace was made for celebratory sunset dinners.
Sleeps 10, from £1,116pp including flights (020 8003 6557; simpsontravel.com).
Mas Pla de Cala Buig
Catalonia, Spain
A stalwart of Spanish interiors magazines, this luxurious estate sits in gardens punctuated by pencil-shaped cypress trees. Three houses, a studio and a saltwater pool dot the grounds, making it perfect for groups of friends with kids.
Sleeps 14, from £10,810 (00 34 655 959 641; maspladecalabuig.com).
Hvar House
Hvar, Croatia
Bedrooms on separate floors and a one-bedroom annexe make this stone villa a good choice for friends or extended families – and the gated pool is a bonus. Hvar Town is a short walk away so there’s no need for a hire-car crush during excursions either.
Sleeps 10, from £1,118pp (020 3993 0736; cvvillas.com).
Domaine de Menerbes
Languedoc, France
Huge get-togethers demand huge houses. Step forward this recently refurbished duo of buildings on a wine estate in the Languedoc. The grand manor and attached barn are big enough to house everyone, but the gardens have plenty of private corners in which to seek peace.
Sleeps 18, from £11,760 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.com).
Villa Ponderosa
Algarve, Portugal
A new addition to the Wow House portfolio, this polished option is near some of the Algarve’s best beaches. It’s set up for socialising, with an outdoor kitchen and large shaded terrace. Kids will love the rockery-style pool and mini waterslide.
Sleeps 12, from £8,486 (01242 220006; thewowhousecompany.com).
Vergiliano di Sopra
Tuscany/Umbria borders, Italy
There’s much to love about this posh pad – including a Steinway grand piano for sophisticated singalongs. Teens, meanwhile, will appreciate the pool house games room, separate from the grand spaces of the main villa.
Sleeps 8, from £4,000 (020 7261 5400; cvvillas.com).
La Casa en el Pinar
Menorca, Spain
The pool’s the standout star in the gorgeous grounds of this villa near the whitewashed village of Torret. One of the island’s best restaurants is a stroll away while there’s a safe footpath into town for teens who want to explore.
Sleeps 10, from £3,598 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk).
Casa do Carmo
Algarve, Portugal
A roomy house with palm trees by the pool and a lovely outdoor terrace for al fresco dinners, this villa is 10 minutes outside the town of Olhão, with its faded merchant’s mansions and excellent restaurants.
Sleeps 10, from £2,813 (p11420013; vrbo.com).
Bargain breaks – from £26pp/pn
Le Jardin Secret
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
One of Oliver Travels’s top recommendations for families, this village house near Carcassonne is good value for money too. Perfumed by lavender and rosemary bushes, its secret garden and pool are hidden a few steps away down a deserted road.
Sleeps 8, from £1,580 (£199pp; 0333 8880205; oliverstravels.com).
Casa Carmen
Carvoeiro, Portugal
The Algarve’s villas offer some of Europe’s best value and this family home (new to Solmar Villas) is a steal. Surrounded by pine-strewn gardens, it has a main bedroom with a sun terrace overlooking the pool – perfect for morning coffees.
Sleeps 8, from £1,293 (£162pp; 0808 1898951; solmarvillas.com).
Villa Tan
Bodrum, Turkey
Offering good value in Bitez, within easy reach of Bodrum’s buzz, this villa’s main selling point is its cute courtyard pool trimmed with lemon trees. Inside, homely air-conditioned interiors make it a good choice for families.
Sleeps 6, from £2,345 (£293pp; 0808 1898951; solmarvillas.com).
Villa Agostini
Marche, Italy
Roomy, bright and set in the mountainous Montefeltro region, this farmhouse is brilliantly priced for big families. Views across the landscape invite exploration: luckily, the lynx populated National Regional Park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello is right on the doorstep.
Sleeps 10, from £1,545 (£154.50pp; 00 39 0578 1901639; emmavillas.com).
Chateau Lignol
Brittany, France
Faded grandeur comes at bargain prices at this 14th-century hunting lodge. Expect chandeliers, sleigh beds and roll-top baths, as well as four acres of grounds (complete with pool and trampoline).
Sleeps 10, from £3,225 (£322.50pp; 0333 8880205; oliverstravels.com).
Super-spendy sojourns
Villa Punta Paloma
Tarifa, Spain
The owners of the Marbella Club hotel have poured their know-how into this villa, an hour’s drive from the hotel. Opened in 2023, it’s a stunner: an infinity pool segues into the Med, while interiors are the kind of boho beige-and-white combo that demands plenty of staff to spot-treat stains.
Sleeps 10, from £42,000, including breakfast (+34 952 82 22 11; marbellaclub.com).
Cecilia Estate
Corfu, Greece
Resembling a five-star hotel, this grand estate on the unspoiled west coast has an infinity pool that looks as though it has been taken straight from The White Lotus. There are four sleek bedroom suites and space for staff to stay over too. Views to the island of Kiradikea are a highlight.
Sleeps 8, plus 2 children, from £29,775 (020 8351 6384; sjvillas.co.uk).
Rocca delle Tre Contrade
Sicily, Italy
Straight from a period drama, this pink palazzo sits amid lemon groves and orchards overlooking the sea in Santa Venerina. Inside this very grown-up pad, there’s modern art, antique furniture and soaring arches while the grounds resemble a private park.
Sleeps 24, from £63,919 (020 8131 5646; thethinkingtraveller.com).
Palacio de Figuras
Oviedo, Spain
A painstaking 11-year renovation earned this Asturian palace a medal from the local Chamber of Commerce. Grand rooms drip with chandeliers and historic portraits while the gardens are stately-home worthy.
Sleeps 22, from £33,500 (00 34 911 118 161; vestigecollection.com).
Forte San Giorgio
Tuscany, Italy
There are private villas and then there are private national monuments – like this converted fortress on the Tuscan island of Capraia. With two pools and its own footpath to the sea, the 16th-century building comes with intricately painted ceilings and shady colonnades.
Sleeps 20, from £34,000 (fsgcapraia.com).
Prices are per property per week, based on the lowest cost for seven-day stays in the peak season months of June, July and August unless stated otherwise. All had some summer availability at the time of publication.
