The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
50 perfect villas for summer
Whatever your taste, budget or size of group, there is a European holiday bolthole for you, says Amanda Hyde
There is 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 are 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 is 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 have 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 is 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 have 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.
From a spectacular pad in Asturias that sleeps up to 22 to a romantic, tiny trulli made for two in Puglia, here is 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.
Oddone
Tuscany, Italy Sleeps 8
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.
From £5,245 (0800 808 5830; onefinestay.com).
Waterside villa
Kotor, Montenegro Sleeps 10
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. From £3,118 (p95120; vrbo.com).
Comporta Dune House
Comporta, Portugal Sleeps 14
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.
From £14,973 (welcomebeyond.com).
Le Moulin sur Célé
Lot Valley, France Sleeps 10
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 mediaeval town of Figeac.
From £5,795 (00 353 87 7934466; lemoulinsurcele.com).
Villa Finca Nico
Ibiza, Spain Sleeps 6
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.
From £3,415 (0203 472 1085; uniqueibizavillas.co.uk).
Bellaro
Sicily, Italy Sleeps 4
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.
From £9,161 per week (020 8131 5646; thethinkingtraveller.com).
Villa Theros
Rhodes, Greece Sleeps 4
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 is the perfect bolthole for young families. From £2,522 (00 30 22440 46100; mea-terra.gr).
Frangipani
Palmizana Island, Croatia Sleeps 4
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.
From £1,563 B&B based on two sharing (extra people cost 86pp per night; 01494 671359; croatianvillaholidays.com).
Villa Pops
Cap Ferret, France Sleeps 6
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. from £5,740 per week (00 33 1 7303 0202; lecollectionist.com).
Villa Kala Petra
Meganissi, Greece Sleeps 6
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.
From £1,231pp including flights and car hire (020 8232 9780; gicthevillacollection.com).
La Citaj
Corsica, France Sleeps 8
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.
From £999pp including flights (01489 866992; corsica.co.uk).
Casa Mana
Mallorca, Spain Sleeps 8
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.
From £6,802 (coolstays.com).
Château de Galaup
Beauville, France Sleeps 8
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.
From £4,286 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk).