The 9 Best Vacation Villas for Summer in the Mediterranean

Whether you’re looking for a romantic break, a family escape or a beachfront getaway with friends in the Mediterranean, these exquisitely appointed and indulgently spacious vacation villas will make this summer a truly memorable one.

Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu

Create your personal oasis at Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu. (Photo: Marriott International)

One of the most relaxing places to stay in all of Corfu must be the adults-only Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu. Renovated with natural materials and decorated with contemporary art, this is an oasis on the island’s east coast — its one-bedroom seafront villas gaze out across the translucent waters of the Ionian Sea to mainland Greece.

The villas have contemporary interiors and sleek private terraces and enjoy access to the hotel’s Haute Living Room, an exclusive social lounge rendered in stunning marble and glass that is open 24 hours a day for your enjoyment.

When you’re ready to explore the island, the northeast corner is a delight. Since some of the most beautiful coves are only accessible from the water, you might hire a speedboat — if you do, pretty Agni Bay should be your first port of call.

Away from the water, hiking Mount Pantokrator — also in the northeast — will afford unforgettable views.

Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda

Savor your solitude at Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda. (Photo: Marriott International)

Enclosed by a grove of pine trees in the delightful bay of Liscia di Vacca, the exquisite private villas at Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda are some of the most sought-after on the Costa Smeralda.

Blending in beautifully with their natural surroundings, the spacious villas feature furnishings crafted by local artisans. Each villa enjoys its own heated pool, but it’s also just a few steps from the Pitrizza’s private beach. Start here and beach-hop your way around the coast to the Spiaggia del Principe, one of the best places to visit in Sardinia.

Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini

Swim forever in the Holistic Villa’s infinity pool at Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini. (Photo: Marriott International)

The only thing to rival the swimming pool at Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini is the infinity pool at the hotel’s Holistic Villa, which seems to drop off the clifftop and into the abyss of the caldera below. The villa’s interior is equally eye-catching, with sculpted walls and natural furniture made from repurposed driftwood.

There are countless enjoyable things to do on Santorini: stroll the lanes of Fira, perhaps, visit the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri, or take a dip at red-rock Kokkini Beach.

Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda

Pick a poolside spot at Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda. (Photo: Marriott International)

The ‘Emerald Coast’ is perfectly named. Lapped by waters of sparkling turquoise, this 12-mile stretch of white-sand beaches running along northern Sardinia is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy. The elegant two-story villas at Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda provide the ultimate setting for enjoying its pristine beaches.

Set in the scented gardens of one of Europe’s dreamiest resorts, the villas have three or five bedrooms and stunning views over Romazzino bay. Their sculpted, whitewashed walls are pure Mediterranean, the opulent interiors are a modern take on Sardinian tradition, and each villa has its own private pool.

The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama

Revel in island hues at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama. (Photo: Marriott International)

The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife guarantees that most precious of holiday essentials: sunshine, all year long. It’s also not short of style, either — particularly if you stay at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, a Moorish-influenced retreat on the island’s southwest coast. The Ritz-Carlton’s One Bedroom Suite Villa and Deluxe Room Villa are ideal for couples, although they can also host small families — and bear in mind that the hotel is home to the largest Ritz Kids in Europe.

Spend your days swimming and your evenings watching the sunset off Abama Beach. Beyond the resort, you could lace up your hiking boots to climb Mount Teide, the highest point in Spain, embark on a whale-watching excursion or go star-gazing courtesy of Tenerife’s beautifully clear skies.

Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mallorca

Experience luxury country estate living at Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mallorca. (Photo: Marriott International)

Whether you’re in the mood for a city break or a rural retreat, you have the best of both worlds at Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mallorca.

Located on the city limits of Palma de Mallorca, Son Vida is a Spanish country estate that dates back to the early 1500s. Overlooking the Mediterranean, the estate is surrounded by a golf course and yet lies just minutes from Mallorca’s beguiling capital.

The superb Villa Suite enjoys 300 square meters (3229 square feet) of beautifully furnished space, Hermès bath amenities and a private wellness center with sauna and steam bath.

When the urge to explore further afield takes you, the entire island of Mallorca beckons, from the Art Nouveau architecture of capital Palma de Mallorca to sunset dolphin-watching trips along the north coast.

Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos

Marvel at Mykonos views from a lounge at Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos. (Photo: Marriott International)

Set within lush gardens, the chic two- and three-story villas at Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos are either built majestically into the hillside or enjoy splendid views from the clifftops overlooking Oreos Bay.

With the Cyclades the home of island-hopping, you might take a boat trip to the Sanctuary of Apollo on nearby Delos, then party the night away at the world’s first-ever Buddha-Bar Beach — just one of the reasons why cosmopolitan Mykonos is home to some of the best nightlife in Greece.

Returning to your Santa Marina villa, you can recharge your batteries on the resort’s private beach.

JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Live in a dreamy villa in Venice at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. (Photo: Marriott International)

A villa in Venice? As surprising as it may sound, Villa Rose is exactly that — a two-story villa set in its own gardens within the award-winning JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. This is an oasis within an oasis, a secluded retreat with its own swimming pool on the hotel’s private island of Isola delle Rose.

The resort provides a regular boat shuttle from St. Mark’s Square and central Venice, meaning that you’ll be perfectly positioned for visiting the Venetian archipelago’s other islands, from Murano and its glass artisans to remote, atmospheric Torcello.

Back at the resort, you might take a cooking class at the Sapori Cooking Academy, which also welcomes children, and then see how the experts do it with fine-dining Agli Amici Dopolavoro Venezia.

The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino

Perch by a private pool for exclusive views at The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino. (Photo: Marriott International)

Gracing a classic Messinian landscape of olive trees and the azure Ionian Sea, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino enjoys a superb location.

This pristine coastline, running along the southwestern part of the Peloponnese Peninsula, is the Costa Navarino. It’s where traditional Greece — ancient cities, historic churches, hidden coves — meets a bevy of outdoor activities, from golf and tennis to watersports galore.

The resort’s immaculate two- and three-bedroom villas, each with its own infinity pool, are perfect for families, while Executive Chef Angelos Kallinteris’ sensational restaurants make creative use of ingredients picked the same day from the resort’s vegetable garden.

When venturing out of the resort, the Costa Navarino’s delights await, from the stunning Polylimnio Waterfalls to the turquoise waters of crescent-shaped Voidokilia beach and the rich birdlife of Gialova Lagoon.