The most beautiful villas in Greece
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There are dozens of lovely villas scattered across Greece, looked after by some of our most trusted experts. 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 favourite villas, tried and tested by our team as well as other addresses that we like the look of, from Crete to Corfu.
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Santa Marina, Mykonos
Tried and tested by Lauren Burvill
There's a lot of heart and history on this quiet seaside slice of Mykonos, one that dates back to 1979 when Elias Papageorgiou bought a couple of hillside guesthouses, a windmill and the namesake Santa Marina chapel with the aim of transforming them into the island's first luxury hotel. Fast forward to today and Santa Marina isn't just the oldest hotel on Mykonos, it's also undoubtedly the best – the property featured on our 2023 Gold List of the best hotels in the world.
Rooms and suites of various sizes are dotted about the idyllic Ornos Bay spot, leading down to the only private (and mostly wind-free) sandy beach on the island. Further back on the property are 12 villas, tucked away in manicured gardens or perched up high. I stayed in Villa Topaz, a charming three-bedroom, two-story bolthole with an extra room of kid-friendly bunk beds and a dreamy deck that overlooked the turquoise bay with bobbing boats. Amazingly, this villa is one of the original guests houses on the property, although almost all of them have been recently renovated – the last on the list being the largest, four-levelled Villa Diamond. Interiors are warm and effortlessly chic – bamboo beamed ceilings, honey-hued polished floors, rattan swing chairs and artisanal touches in the form of woven baskets and sculptural coral. All come with sprawling private pools, outdoor dining areas, views to die for and a butler to help arrange anything and everything you need, from dinner reservations to a private yacht or chef. All of the lush hotel-services are also at your finger tips – daily housekeeping, 24-hour room service, an impressive mini-bar plus a buggy service to ferry you down to the restaurant, beach club, or spa.
Sleeps: Villas range from sleeping 4 up to 16
Price: From around €2,300 per night
Sophie KnightThe Villas by Santo Collection
Tried and tested by Sophie Knight
Emerging from a rocky volcanic outcrop on the far north of Santorini island, the brand new Villas by Santo Collection offer uninterrupted views of the inky blue Aegean Sea (a very rare state of affairs on the crowded island). The complex is made up of two very private adjoining luxury villas that sleep 8 guests each and can be rented together for larger parties of 16. Each villa has a private infinity pool, jacuzzis, huge bedrooms with ensuites, a fully equipped gym and a sauna. The loveliest villa manager is on call to arrange in-villa spa treatments, a private chef for BBQ evenings in and fruit platters for lazy pool days, yacht trips around the island, helicopter rides and any other concierge requests. Interiors were designed by a Cretian architect who was influenced by the natural colours and materials of the volcanic island. From the indoor rock statement wall that runs from the stairway into the master suite, to the contemporary furnishings that were designed specifically for the villa – every detail has been considered.
Peeling yourself away from the villa isn’t easy, however should you wish, it's a convenient 10-minute walk through the adjoining hotel of Santo Pure until you reach the ever so popular town of Oia. Or head 10 minutes on the downhill foot path and you’ll find the idyllic Amoudi Bay which hugs the red cliffside and is filled with fresh fish restaurants.
Sleeps: Option to combine the two 4 bed villas and sleep 16
Price: From around £5,190 per night per villa
Christos DrazosLesante Cape, Akrotiri, Zakynthos
Tried and tested by Charlotte Davey
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, 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 neighbour'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, perfect for crawling around and practise walking, while the neighbouring pool bar can bring over club sandwiches and watermelon salad, as well as warmed milk. At 4pm, 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.
Sleeps: Up to six
Price: From about £533 per night
Serayna, Porto Heli
Tried and tested by Sophie Chai
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.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about €31,630 per week
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Emerald Oasis, Pelekas, Corfu
Tried and tested by Jessica Rach
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. A mishmash of floral and geometric prints adorn the floors and walls throughout while the heart of the home, the kitchen, cleverly contrasts a grand chandelier with a large wooden table and a latte-coloured Smeg fridge. Outside, the lush grounds are peppered with roses and banana trees, and centre 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 3% of holiday homes are featured. Should you ever tire of the calm oasis, Corfu town is 25 minutes drive away plus there's a quaint local village and nearby beach just five minutes away by car.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about £647 per night
Cleonice, Spetses town, Spetses
Tried and tested by Sophie Chai
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 within only 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 20-metre-long 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 harbour 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 with a cycling tour. Sophie Chai
Sleeps: 14
Price: From about €38,760 per week
Porto Zante, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
Tried and tested by Becky Lucas
It’s the steps down to the stone-clad spa here that I remember most clearly. Perhaps because I was eight months pregnant, and hyper-aware, but mainly because they were straight from a fairy tale: so dinky and intriguing, paved into the hillside and bordered by lush Mediterranean foliage. I’d walk down them to a different treatment every day, as per the family-owned hotel’s advice – gradually unwinding, resetting, reviving, listening and watching the waves of the Ionian Sea through huge open windows. Porto Zante is ideal for a babymoon. The villas are vast, design-driven but ultra-comfortable, with a temperature-controlled pool and a personal concierge, who embraced us and said, “You are our babies now”. Few places in Europe are as private or have service levels to match this. Want to eat from the Japanese-Asian menu at Maya, but in the Greek-Mediterranean Club House so you can listen to the resident pianist? Done. Need some time out from your toddler, but they’re resisting the kids’ club? The determined staff will have them giggling in no time. Are you keen to explore the surrounding sea and villages or the nearby city? Itineraries can be arranged on the day and then adapted from the four-by-four or yacht. It’s no wonder that presidents, royals and cultural icons come here to disappear down those magical steps whenever they need to lighten their mental load. Becky Lucas
Sleeps: Four to 14
Price: From about £12,660 per week
Villa Ines, San Stefano, Corfu
Tried and tested by Jessica Rach
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 harbours 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 £8,750 per week including a private chef and cleaning service
Villa Jasmine, Tsilivi Bay, Zakynthos
This pretty modern villa, set among well-manicured wildflower beds and fluffy grasses, is a haven for beach lovers. It’s just seconds from Tsilivi Bay, where snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing all await. Sit out on the veranda for breakfast overlooking the sea then set up poolside for dinner while the sun goes down over the ocean. The heated pool can be used year-round, and there's decent air conditioning in summer, too.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £1,653 per night
Villa Dikoarch, Lagomandra, Sithonia
Atop a pure cape in the bijou Lagomandra region, the scent of olive trees and Mediterranean herbs hangs in the air above this architecturally impressive villa, which makes a quiet, private oasis surrounded by expansive private gardens. Sweeping curves, huge glass windows and towering columns cast reflections into the infinity pool, which stretches out to the cliff’s edge before melting into the horizon as though bleeding into the sea below. There are five ensuite bedrooms, a terrace for dining al fresco, plus a sauna and plush cinema room to retreat to after a day on the beach.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about £3,173 per night, with a seven-night minimum
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: Eight
Price: From €571 to €1,143 a night
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-panelled 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 £5,391 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 landscape Greek gardens, and with an outdoor cinema, saltwater swimming pool and private beach. Large groups won’t feel cramped here – the Miami-style house is spread across 900 square metres, and 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 £5,540 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 supper 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 master suite for your own private courtyard and a lovely outdoor bath.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From about £7,731 per week
Santhia, Chrisi Akti, Paros
It’s easy to mistake parts of Santhia for a hotel – the 20-metre infinity pool with 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 beach front 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 Jacuzzi. 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 £11,692 per week
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, 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 £1,116 a night
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 here – taking over 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 £546 for a three-night minimum stay
Montse GarrigaOnar, 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 north-east 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 favourite is the four-person villa built into the hillside and crafted out of local stone. Roughly plastered walls the colour of thick Greek yogurt keep things cool inside, while a glossy pool outback overlooks sugary Ahla beach.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From about £385 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: Four to six
Price: From about £1,750 per week
Jenny ZarinsSYROS CMN, Syros, Cyclades Islands
The laidback, sun-soaked Aegean island of Syros was, curiously, once a serious maritime kingpin, and this villa is a hangover from that prosperous time. Built as a merchant’s mansion, the 10-person CMN has its own dock that peeks over the inky-blue sea, leading to a private deck that seems to hover out over the water. Inside, the old merchant’s house has been completely revamped, with glossy hardwood floors and eclectic art on the walls. And most of the windows have a sea view, looking out over the buzzy harbour and towards the public lido.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about £17,240 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 centre 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 north-east 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 £14,000 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 harbour, 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 £6,220 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 £7,700 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 neighbour 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 chilli 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 harbour of Kassiopi is a 15-minute walk away. Rachel Howard
Sleeps: 12
Price: From about £6,200 for 7 nights
Paul Ott/VITEOSkiathos 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 75-square-metre 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 chilli and lime goes down extremely well with an ice-cold Septem pilsner. RH
Sleeps: 12
Price: Price on request
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 £5,700 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/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, greys 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 £4,768 for 7 nights