Villas in Greece

• Wide villa choice: From cliffside Santorini retreats to family-friendly villas near Corfu's beaches, Greece offers private-pool escapes to suit almost any group size and budget.
• Best island picks: Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu and Zakynthos each suit a different kind of stay, from romantic getaways to lively family beach holidays.
• Guest-approved stays: Villa renters consistently praise private pools, sea views and spacious shaded terraces, with the best-located properties booking up fastest in peak season.
• Where to eat: Traditional tavernas and refined dining rooms across the islands serve fresh seafood, meze platters and locally pressed wines from small family vineyards.
• Top things to do: Highlights range from Athens' Acropolis and the clifftop monasteries of Metéora to Mykonos nightlife and Crete's pink-sand Elafonisi beach.

Greece's villa portfolio ranges from whitewashed Cycladic hideaways with infinity pools to traditional stone-built retreats surrounded by olive groves. Couples often choose compact villas with sea views, while larger groups favour multi-bedroom properties with private pools and shaded terraces for al fresco dining. If a villa doesn't quite fit your dates, apartments in Greece, beach houses in Greece and cottages in Greece make flexible alternatives, and it's worth checking last-minute villas in Greece for late-availability deals. Most villas across the islands share a set of amenities built for long, sun-soaked days, including:

• Private swimming pools, with villas with a private pool especially popular in the summer months
• Air conditioning to handle the peak-season heat
• Wi-Fi and workspace-friendly setups for longer stays
• Large shaded terraces and outdoor dining areas
• Pet-friendly options for travelling with dogs

With over 11,000 villas listed across the country, there's a strong match for nearly any group size and budget.

What are the best areas to stay in Greece?

The best areas for a villa stay in Greece include Santorini and Mykonos for scenery and nightlife, Crete for families wanting history alongside the beach, and Corfu or Zakynthos for a quieter, greener island pace. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Villa stays across Greece are consistently well-rated by past guests, who highlight private pools, sea views and generous outdoor space as the biggest draws. Families and groups of friends tend to book multi-bedroom properties with a shared pool, while couples often prefer smaller, more secluded villas in quieter corners of the islands. Whichever style you choose, it's worth booking early in peak season, as the best-located villas are reserved well ahead of the summer rush.

Greece sits at the southeastern edge of Europe, bordered by Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey, with thousands of islands spread across the Aegean and Ionian Seas.

🥗Where to eat in Greece?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Selene is the best-rated restaurant in Greece. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Charlotte and Henry recommend Brusco in Greece: a laid-back deli overlooking Pyrgos village square on Santorini, serving organic local specialities like a Greek plate of olives, cured sausage and tzatziki.

1. Explore the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens
2. Wander Athens' historic Central Market
3. Watch the sunset over Santorini's caldera
4. Dance until dawn in Mykonos Town
5. Swim at Elafonisi's pink-sand beach in Crete
6. Sample a traditional Greek meze feast
7. Climb up to the Metéora monasteries

1. Explore the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens

   Perched above Athens, the Acropolis is Greece's most significant archaeological site, built around 2,500 years ago. It's home to the iconic Parthenon and the elegant Temple of Erechtheion, both remarkably well preserved. Arrive at opening time, around 8am, and head straight for the upper terrace to enjoy the views in relative peace before the crowds arrive. The site rewards a slow visit, so allow a couple of hours to take in the temples, the Acropolis Museum nearby and the sweeping views back over the city towards the coast.

2. Wander Athens' historic Central Market

   To get a feel for everyday life in the capital, head to Athens' Central Market, housed in a 200-year-old neoclassical building. Vendors call out over stacks of fish, cheese and produce, and the narrow aisles hum with an atmosphere all of their own. It's a good spot to pick up ingredients for a villa-cooked dinner, or simply to wander and watch the city at work. Come mid-morning for the busiest, most atmospheric stretch, and pair the visit with a coffee at one of the small stalls tucked between the produce stands.

3. Watch the sunset over Santorini's caldera

   Few sights rival watching the sun dip below the horizon from Santorini's caldera-edge villages. Oia is the best-known spot for it, with whitewashed lanes filling up as the sky turns pink and gold, but quieter viewpoints around Imerovigli and Firostefani offer nearly identical views with far fewer people. Arrive an hour early to secure a good vantage point, especially in July and August. Many villa terraces around the island are angled to catch the same view, so it's worth checking this when booking your stay.

4. Dance until dawn in Mykonos Town

   Mykonos Town is the spiritual home of Greek nightlife, known worldwide for its beach clubs and open-air parties. Cavo Paradiso is the island's biggest name, where international DJs play until sunrise beneath the summer sky, while Astra offers a calmer lounge-bar alternative for those who want the atmosphere without the all-night crowd. Both sit a short taxi ride from Mykonos Town, making them an easy add-on to an evening that starts with dinner in the old town's winding backstreets.

5. Swim at Elafonisi's pink-sand beach in Crete

   Tucked into Crete's southwestern corner, Elafonisi is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece, its shallow lagoon streaked with pink-tinted sand and turquoise water. The beach is part of a protected nature reserve, so come early to find a quieter stretch of sand before day-trippers arrive by boat and coach. The shallow, warm water makes it a good choice for families with young children, and the surrounding dunes are worth a short walk for views back over the lagoon.

6. Sample a traditional Greek meze feast

   No villa holiday in Greece is complete without a proper meze spread — a collection of small dishes served in enough quantity to make a full meal. Expect to start with olives, crusty bread and dips like hummus and skordalia, before moving on to grilled seafood, vegetable plates, halloumi and skewered meats. It's a naturally sociable way to eat, well suited to a table of family or friends back at the villa, and most tavernas are happy to keep the small plates coming for as long as the table wants them.

7. Climb up to the Metéora monasteries

   Rising improbably out of the Thessaly plain, the Metéora monasteries sit atop sheer sandstone pillars and form one of Greece's most striking UNESCO World Heritage sites. Several are still active, reached by staircases carved directly into the rock, and each offers views back across the plain that make the climb worthwhile. It's a full-day trip from most parts of mainland Greece, so it suits villa stays near Athens more than island-based holidays, but the detour is worth it for anyone touring the mainland.