Villas in Italy

• Villas for every group: Villas across Italy suit families and couples alike, with gardens, private pools and sea views for relaxed, self-catering holidays with plenty of space and privacy.
• Best regions to base yourself: Tuscany, Apulia and the Northern Lakes each offer a distinct backdrop, so you can match the setting to the kind of trip you have in mind.
• Highly rated by guests: Recent guests scored our top Italian villas 9.8 and above, praising private pools, garden terraces and warm, attentive hosts across the country.
• Where to eat well: From fine dining in Modena to family trattorias in Florence, Italy rewards food-lovers with wine pairings and unhurried, multi-course evenings.
• Things to see and do: Explore the Blue Grotto, the Trevi Fountain and Verona's Juliet's House, with culture, coastline and markets all within easy reach.

From hillside farmhouses in Tuscany to glamorous lakeside hideaways in Lombardy, villas in Italy come in every shape and size. Larger properties suit families and groups, whilst intimate boltholes work beautifully for couples. Many travellers also browse holiday apartments throughout the country or beach houses along the coast for a change of pace, but a villa is always a popular choice, thanks to its combination of space, privacy and a garden to call your own. Italian villas come generously equipped, and the most sought-after features include:

• Private gardens and shaded terraces for long, lazy lunches al fresco
• Villas with private pools to cool off on hot afternoons
• Beachfront villas within easy reach of the sea
• Air conditioning and Wi-Fi throughout

Whatever you choose, you'll find a self-catering base that turns everyday moments into unforgettable part of the holiday.

What are the best areas to stay in Italy?

The best area depends on your plans, though Tuscany remains the all-round favourite for first-time visitors. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Holidu guests consistently rate their Italian villa stays highly, with many properties scoring well above 9 out of 10. Reviewers single out spotless interiors, generous outdoor space, and hosts who go out of their way to share local tips. Private pools, garden terraces, and sweeping views come up again and again as the details that turn a good holiday into a memorable one.

Here are our top-rated villas from the past year:

1. Suite 'Masseria Latorre - Suite il Vecchio Pozzo' - 10.0+: A garden retreat in Locorotondo on the Adriatic coast, praised for its air conditioning, Wi-Fi and peaceful Apulian setting.
2. Room 'Salice - Antiche Dimore di Vescovado' - 9.9+: A charming Tuscan getaway in Murlo with a shared pool and pretty garden, perfect for a restful countryside break.
3. Holiday Apartment 'La Plates - Daduman' - 9.8+: A mountain-view bolthole in Lajen, Trentino-Alto Adige, with a sunny terrace and sauna for cooler alpine evenings.

Italy sits at the heart of southern Europe, a long, boot-shaped peninsula reaching into the Mediterranean, bordered by France, Switzerland and Austria to the north and ringed by sun-drenched coastline.

🥗Where to eat in Italy?

You'll eat well wherever you go in this country famed for its cuisine. To get your mouth watering, here's 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 La Pergola in Italy: boasting three Michelin stars, this refined rooftop restaurant in Rome offers sweeping city views and an exceptional wine list, ideal for marking a special occasion after a relaxed villa stay.

1. Take a boat into the Blue Grotto, Capri
2. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, Rome
3. Step inside the Pantheon, Rome
4. Visit Juliet's House in Verona
5. Marvel at the Basilica di San Marco, Venice
6. Glide under the Bridge of Sighs by gondola
7. Browse Campo de' Fiori market, Rome

1. Take a boat into the Blue Grotto, Capri

   Just off the coast of Capri, the Blue Grotto is a sea cave roughly 50 metres deep where sunlight filters through the water to bathe the whole cavern in an unearthly electric blue. You enter by small rowing boat, ducking low through a narrow opening before the magnificent cave opens out around you.

2. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, Rome

   Tucked in a small piazza, the iconic Trevi Fountain is the grandest of Rome's baroque fountains. Tradition says that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the waters, you'll be sure to return to the city.

3. Step inside the Pantheon, Rome

   Nearly two thousand years old, the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome. Originally a temple to the Roman gods and later a church, it blends millennia of history beneath one roof.

4. Visit Juliet's House in Verona

   In the heart of Verona, a short stroll from Piazza delle Erbe, stands the house associated with Shakespeare's Juliet, complete with the famous balcony. It's an unmissable, romantic stop for couples and a charming introduction to one of northern Italy's prettiest cities.

5. Marvel at the Basilica di San Marco, Venice

   Venice's most famous church, the Basilica di San Marco, is a dazzling example of Italo-Byzantine architecture, its façade and ceilings glittering with golden mosaics. Arrive early to avoid the longest queues, then linger over a coffee on the piazza to watch the city slowly wake up.

6. Glide under the Bridge of Sighs by gondola

   A gondola ride is the classic way to see Venice from the water, drifting along quiet side canals that most visitors never reach on foot. The route passes beneath the Bridge of Sighs, a graceful covered bridge with more than four hundred years of history and a wistful name. It's particularly beautiful at sunset.

7. Browse Campo de' Fiori market, Rome

   Set in a handsome square framed by ochre and yellow facades, Campo de' Fiori is one of Rome's most charming markets. Stalls overflow with fruit, vegetables, cheeses, flowers and local preserves, alongside souvenirs and kitchenware. Gather ingredients for a home-cooked meal back at your villa, pick up holiday mements, or just enjoy the lively atmosphere.