26 Most Beautiful Villas You Can Rent in Greece, From Zakynthos to Mykonos
There are dozens of lovely villas scattered across Greece, that if you look hard enough, you can actually rent and stay at. If you’re searching for somewhere specific, we recommend starting with Welcome Beyond and Plum Guide for handpicked houses in incredible locales, The Thinking Traveller for their exclusive range of curated properties available across the islands, or Airbnb Luxe for some serious blowout stays. To kick-start the search, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite villas, in no specific order, from Crete to Corfu.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Christos DrazosLesante Cape
Akrotiri, Zakynthos
A dream for families with little ones, Lesante Cape is where the space of a private villa and the perks of a hotel combine. Villas here spill down a 500-year-old hillside olive tree plantation (trees were moved, not cleared, to make room), and range from one to three bedrooms. All come with private pools, sea views, and fully equipped kitchens, as well as the option to order from room service. Outside there are three restaurants to choose from, all serving up authentic local fare—fruit is picked from the neighbor's garden, fish comes straight from the fishing boats that morning—as well a dedicated kid's menu. The farm-to-table cooking experience in the herb garden is a real treat, where children can pick at leaves and watch as the chefs rustle up plates of fresh salads and sea bass. Days are spent by one of three pools—the designated children's pool has a shady olive-lined meadow to one side, while the neighboring pool bar can bring over club sandwiches and watermelon salad, as well as warmed milk. At 4 p.m., families trundle back up from the pool, kids slung across shoulders, stopping for a ypovrechio (a sweet served in ice water) from the cobbled cafe on the way. —Charlotte Davey
Sleeps: 6
Price: $695 per night
Serayna, Port Heli
So secluded is this five-bedroom villa that the best way to get there is by sea—take a rib boat transfer from Hydra and arrive at the private jetty. The journey is well worth it too—between the almost private beach, infinity pool, tennis court, and vibrant gardens, there's very little reason to ever want to leave. The honey-hued house is the epitome of classic Mediterranean elegance, with white-washed interiors and numerous French doors that spill out onto a sweeping patio. Supper can be served in the dining room or al fresco on the terrace, with a private chef preparing homemade classics like meatballs and moussaka from the charming country-style kitchen. If you must venture elsewhere, take a trip to the Ancient theatre of Epidaurus to witness the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece. —Sophie Chai
Sleeps: 10
Price: From $31,564 per week
The Detailor
Tinos, Cyclades Islands
It's just a 15-minute boat ride from Mykonos, so no one can quite believe Tinos isn’t visited by more tourists. Those who do come discover dozens of tiny villages to explore, sandy bays, and even a crunchy, hippie surf scene. The relative peacefulness of the island makes it all the better for those who stay at The Detailor, a sweet Airbnb with buttery-smooth stone interiors and arches on the upper balconies that frame epic sunsets. All four of the bedrooms have sea views and, while there’s no pool, there’s a decently sized hot tub shaded by a lovely pergola.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From $601 for a three-night minimum stay
Cleonice
Spetses town, Spetses
There's an abundance of Bougainvillea-covered space at this 5.5-acre hilltop villa, and yet the charming town of Spetses, as well as a beach, are only a 15-minute walk. With multiple terraces across the estate, including terrace access from all seven bedrooms, the villa's breathtaking sea views can be admired from multiple vantage points. Even the infinity pool, with its own bar, overlooks the azure waters. Interiors are an elegant fusion of contemporary and classic Spetsian design, with breezy white bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, spread across the main house and two separate guest houses. A stay here includes a daily cleaning service as well as breakfast preparation. For lunch, head to Orloff on the harbor for Mediterranean-style grouper caught fresh that morning. Spetsis is a car-free island, so one of the best ways to see the sights, including the oldest lighthouse in Greece, is via bike. —Sophie Chai
Sleeps: 14
Price: From $28,561 per week
Emerald Oasis
Pelekas, Corfu
On a hillside of greenery and trademark olive trees alive with busy bees and singing birds, the aptly named Emerald Oasis could easily be mistaken for somewhere George Clooney might hide out on Lake Como. The sprawling farmhouse-style chateau oozes personality and goes beyond the typical white-washed walls and neutral furnishings. Here the interior has been expertly curated with eclectic art and furnishings sourced from around the world. Outside, the lush grounds are peppered with roses and banana trees and center around a secluded pool area with a hammock, sun loungers, and sounds of a nearby stream. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom bolthole has been a labour of love for its French owners. One that has paid off—the villa is available to rent on Plum Guide, where their meticulous vetting means only the top three percent of holiday homes are featured. Should you ever tire of the calm oasis, Corfu town is a 25 minutes drive away, plus there's a quaint local village and nearby beach just five minutes away by car. —Jessica Rach
Sleeps: 10
Price: From $726 per night
Villa Ines
San Stefano, Corfu
In the quiet hillside of North East Corfu’s undiscovered San Stefano region, Villa Ines is surrounded by olive trees and overlooks the Ionian Sea. With five modern bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an infinity pool, and an outhouse, this is the ultimate place to unwind with an intimate group of family or friends. You never have to worry about cooking or cleaning—the villa has a chef on hand to prepare breakfast and cook lunch or supper from an impressive menu designed for you. Those keen to stay active should rent a car to explore the nearby villages and hiking trails with undiscovered harbors and coves aplenty. A short and windy drive down the mountain lands you in a charming fishing village, where cafes boast fresh seafood and homemade delicacies while the waves lap at your feet. —Jessica Rach
Sleeps: 12
Price: From $9,822 per week including a private chef and cleaning service
Thomas ZikosVilla Nectar
Serifos, Cyclades Islands
In this calming Serifos hideaway, perched atop a rugged outcrop, a four-bedroom villa has been reimagined to combine traditional Cycladic architecture and modern design elements. The house is split across multiple levels with interiors purposefully laid bare to promote a sense of calm, while views are available from every corner. Apart from the house next door, the hillside location is wonderfully isolated. Spend days in or by the pool and you’ll never tire of those sweeping sea views.
Sleeps: 8
Price: From $641 to $1,283 a night
Villa Ophelia
Corfu, Ionian Islands
Corfu is the green island—nowhere more so than in the sophisticated north, where expanses of rolling olive groves can make this place feel more like Tuscany than Greece. It’s high on the hills here, near the vibrant village of Kassiopi, that you’ll find this eight-person villa. The house makes the most of the leafy views, overlooking a thicket that rolls straight down to the sea. Carved out of local stone and surrounded by fragrant herb gardens, the three buildings are linked by a shady terrace for dinner outdoors. The pool juts out over the edge of the villa’s courtyard, dangling over the ocean, and there’s direct access to the beach for those with itchy feet. Bag the largest suite for your own private courtyard and a lovely outdoor bath.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From about $8,678 per week
Courtesy Five Star GreeceSkiathos RX
Skiathos, Sporades islands
With direct flights from several European cities, the Greek island of Skiathos was the glamorous star of the pine-fringed Sporades way before Mamma Mia. Poking out of the forest, this glass-fronted villa looks fairly unassuming from afar. Up close, however, the cutting-edge architecture makes a big impact. The modern interiors are so sleek they're almost austere, but it's the outdoor area that blows you away: a vast wooden deck with a palm-thatched barbecue, fire pit and open-air home cinema. At sunrise, seagulls swoop over the infinity pool. It's even more dramatic at dusk as the sun melts into the sea. Although completely secluded, the villa is only a five-minute walk away from three of the best beaches on Skiathos: Banana and Koukounaries, with their watersports and pumping beach bars, as well as the quieter, cooler Ampelakia. Tip: at the latter's Mystique Beach Bar, a plate of crispy calamari with chili and lime goes down extremely well with an ice-cold Septem pilsner. RH
Sleeps: 12
Price: Price on request
The Deep End
Oia, Santorini
Greek Island views don’t get much better than in Santorini. Or more crowded. But while the hordes of day visitors scramble to get the best vantage points for their Instagram, at this Oia villa you can take it all in at your leisure from the end of the plunge pool. Aptly named The Deep End, the cliffside bolthole is the perfect romantic hideaway for two. Wake up to striking Aegean Sea views from the bedroom, spend days lounging by the pool and evenings enjoying sundowners on the private rooftop terrace. When you’re in the mood to explore, the restaurants and buzzing bars of Oia are no more than 10 minutes away by car.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From $1,485 a night
Eolia Villa
Santorini
A traditional villa stay away from the coastline crowds, Eolia enjoys an unassuming location in the village of Exco Gonia, found in the center of Santorini. The high spot means there are spectacular sea and valley views to take in, as well as fresh sea breezes, especially from the terraced balcony off one of the bedrooms. White walls and rustic stone walls feature throughout the two-bedroom house. Choose to dine inside or alfresco with two dining area options available, plus an outside barbecue by the swimming pool.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From $737 a night
Santhia
Chrisi Akti, Paros
It’s easy to mistake parts of Santhia for a hotel—the infinity pool with an alfresco kitchen and bar in the background look like something out of a smart resort. You can enjoy it all to yourself though, along with the six exquisite bedrooms and six bathrooms, all resplendent in minimalist Mediterranean chic. The beachfront villa itself is outstanding but the outside is what you’ll remember most. You can sunbathe from the pool via the “floating” wooden platforms in the shallow end or take a dip in the plunge pool. Follow the winding path through the gardens and down to the gate where you’ll find a few steps that lead down to the sandy beach. It doesn’t get much better.
Sleeps: 12
Price: From $13,125 per week
Courtesy Onar, AndrosOnar
Andros, Cyclades Islands
Andros is unlike any of the other Cyclades—inland mountains conceal waterfalls and hot springs, while villages have marble streets lined with neoclassical mansions, laid down a hundred years ago by grand shipping families. The most beautiful beaches are on the northeast coast, where Onar sits—an off-grid estate with a handful of cottages to rent, shored up by local Mateo Pantzopoulos and his wife, Greek TV personality Eleni Menegaki. Our favorite is the four-person villa built into the hillside and crafted out of local stone. Roughly plastered walls the color of thick Greek yogurt keep things cool inside, while a glossy pool outback overlooks sugary Ahla beach.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From about $432 per night
Porto Zante
Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
Plush, private villas that also offer all the best bits about checking into a Greek Islands hotel—that’s the promise at these nine hillside houses. Each one looks out over the private bay below, on the north coast of Zakynthos—the island that’s shaking off it's party-hard reputation. Families are drawn here for the unbeatable kids’ club and on-hand babysitters, which mean parents can tuck into supper next to the sea without a fussy toddler in sight. Villas are separated by lush gardens and come with their own pool, so you’ll feel as though there’s no one else around—except, of course, for when you want them.
Sleeps: 4 to 14
Price: From about $14,212 per week
Villa Aleomandra
Aleomandra, Mykonos
Starting as a sprawling set of land with nothing else around it in 1998, today Villa Aleomandra is a slick six-bedroom Cycladic hideaway. There are several towns and restaurants within walking distance, and yet Aleomandra feels like a remote oasis, surrounded by landscaped Greek gardens, and with an outdoor cinema, saltwater swimming pool, and private beach. Large groups won’t feel cramped here—the Miami-style house includes guest rooms in the main building plus two guest houses. The kitchen has two big tables that can seat 20 guests and a resident private chef can prepare meals and take care of the shopping too. Most striking, perhaps, are the sea views, particularly at sunset, which can be enjoyed from almost every vantage point on the property, including all bedrooms.
Sleeps: 12 to 16
Price: From $6,219 a night
Villa Fleur de Sel
Mykonos
Climb up a hillside in Mykonos and land at Villa Fleur—a beautifully designed, six-bedroom stone house. Minimal interiors, natural elements, and white linens give the inside space a fresh, zen-like feel. Outside is where much of the holiday happens with a spacious al fresco dining area seating 12, plus outdoor living space, a rooftop terrace, garden, and a heated infinity pool. Housekeeping and airport transfers are included in your stay with the option to hire a private chef available.
Sleeps: 12
Price: From $4,350 a night
Bluewave XL
Kalafatis, Mykonos
As the name suggests, Bluewave XL is a supersized villa-bordering-on-compound with 18 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, spread across a palatial main building and four guest houses. Interiors are sleek and airy, with many of the rooms making good use of the Kalafati coastline views. The villa’s outdoor space is just as sprawling, with a vast infinity pool, long bar, alfresco dining area and all the day beds, hammocks, and hanging chairs your group could need.
Sleeps: 36
Price: From $12,524 per night
Sterna Residence
Nisyros, Dodecanese Islands
The 17th-century Sterna tower was meticulously restored by local architect Giorgos Tsironis using traditional material and methods. Whitewashed walls carved out of volcanic stone sweep through the open-plan spaces, revealing sunken sitting areas framed by arches, and a couple of cool, crumpled linen bedrooms. The upstairs terrace has one of the most extraordinary views on the little island of Nisyros, looking out as far as Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera.
Sleeps: 4 to 6
Price: From about $1,964 per week
Maistros
Skopelos, Sporades Islands
Set across three buildings amid two acres of private land on Skopelos, Maistros is less whitewashed and minimal than the classic Greek villa blueprint. Heaving bookshelves are propped against wood-paneled walls, original art hangs in the seven bedrooms, and there’s space-agey furniture designed by the villa’s architect, Marc Held, in the vast sitting room. Steps lead down from here to the hull-shaped terrace, which has uninterrupted views of the sea. On a clear day you can even spot Agios Ioannis, the church made famous in Mamma Mia!, from the wraparound deck.
Sleeps: 14
Price: From about $6,052 per week
AMORGOS 1L
Amorgos, Cyclades Islands
Most people don’t bother coming to far-flung Amorgos—even the fast ferry from Athens takes six hours to pull up at the harbor, where a map invitingly states “Welcome to Amorgos. Nobody will find you here.” Pivoting around views of the silvery Aegean, five-bedroom house Amorgos 1L peers out to sea at every available opportunity. There are sheltered decks made for taking in the views, creamy sitting rooms with floor-to-ceiling shutters that can be propped open to create an indoor-outdoor space, and a horizon-edging pool. Best of all: the private cove that’s just a staircase away.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about $6,982 per week
Manuel ZublenaPegassus Private Island
Evia
There aren't many secrets left in the Mediterranean, but this is one of them. At the southern tip of Evia there is an archipelago of small, mostly uninhabited islands, one of which is home to this seaside villa, accessible only by speedboat and just an hour from Athens airport. Once the winter resort of the Ottoman pasha of Evia, the 1,200-acre estate is surrounded by olive, fig and pistachio trees, miles of walking trails and long private beaches. Renovated in 2014, the 100-year-old house has kept its old-fashioned charm, with patterned floor tiles, crocheted bedspreads and reclaimed marble sinks. There's a wood-fire oven for outdoor meals, with daily provisions from the organic farm and seafood delivered by a local fisherman. The semicircular pier is lined with sun-loungers strategically placed for sunset views. Paradise for children, the property has two Lasers for forays to the nearby islands of Andros and Kea. There are two housekeepers. —RH
Sleeps: 10
Price: Price on request
Cien
Crete
The shady outdoor kitchen at this vast villa pulls the center of life to the terrace. A long, pistachio-hued dining table set underneath a pergola has views of the pool, which seems to fall off the edge of the hill into pine groves and the countryside of Crete’s northeast coast, rolling across to the sea. Those tiring of sea-view suppers at the house can make the one-and-a-half-mile trip into Elounda, a pretty fishing village known for its smart hotels.
Sleeps: 16
Price: From about $15,716 per week
SIFNOS 4K
Sifnos, Cyclades Islands
In the prettily peeling village of Exambela, this manor house is surrounded by Sifnos’ trademark scrubby farmland, dotted with olive vines and tufts of sage and oregano. The pool in the garden has views over the countryside, backed by a shady terrace made for sundowner suppers—Sifnos is known as the foodie Greek island, so cook up local dishes of lamb soaked in red wine or crisp chickpea fritters. About three miles away is the pretty whitewashed village of Kastro, where the astonishing Church of the Seven Martyrs hovers precariously on a clifftop over the sea.
Sleeps: 12
Price: From about $8,644 per week
The Boat House
Corfu, Ionian Islands
Framed by green headlands with unbroken views across the straits to Albania, this huge, homely villa is a few steps from the sea. You can fall asleep to the sound of the waves and wake up to complete solitude as there's not a neighbor in sight. Days can be spent lazing beside the infinity pool or hopping in and out of boats moored at two private jetties. There's a sailing school on the adjacent beach and a diving instructor on speed-dial. The terraced gardens are full of shady nooks for meals prepared by an accomplished chef: ask for the seared sea bass with preserved lemons, chickpeas and couscous followed by mango tart with sweet chili syrup. For something more traditional, there are two excellent tavernas in Avlaki, a few minutes across the bay. If you're looking for action, the lively little harbor of Kassiopi is a 15-minute walk away. —Rachel Howard
Sleeps: 12
Price: From about $6,960 a week
Yiannis HadjiaslanisVilla Anema
Patmos, Dodecanese islands
From the Aga Khan to Prince Michael of Greece, the main town of Patmos, the best-preserved Byzantine settlement in the Aegean, has some pretty swanky residents. Manos Hatzidakis has persuaded some of them to open up their impeccable mansions to guests. The owners of this sun-drenched house run a successful gallery in London. Although the wooden ceilings, kilims and flagstone floors are typically Patmian, the decor is an eclectic mix of antiques sourced from around the world. The huge kitchen is made for entertaining, but you'll want to eat outside in the secret cobbled courtyard or on a balcony hovering between sky and sea. Opposite is Profitis Ilias, a tiny church on the island's rocky pinnacle. If you climb up here for sunset, Manos will be waiting with mezze and aperitifs. —RH
Sleeps: 8
Price: From about $6,398 for 7 nights
Lia Beach Hous
Serifos, Cyclades Islands
Camouflaged among tamarisk and bamboo groves, beside a stream that runs into a sandy bay, this boho beach house looks as though it's been here forever. The only other house nearby belongs to the owner and architect. He used to camp out here when he first discovered Serifos in the 1980s, so he designed this place to capture the freedom of outdoor living. A cluster of five typically Cycladic buildings contain the bedrooms and bathrooms, connected by internal courtyards that double as kitchen, dining and living areas. (There's also a rock-hewn indoor kitchen for when the blustery meltemi blows.) Interiors reflect the natural landscape, with brushed-concrete beds dressed in blues, grays, and greens, and mobiles fashioned from flotsam and jetsam. Flagstones lead to pristine Lia beach, usually deserted until midday even in August. This is the very definition of barefoot chic, with a sense of simplicity that feels quintessentially Greek. —RH
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about $5,352 for 7 nights
