Greek Islands villa holidays

Kayte Williams
(Holidays Expert)

James Villas - James Villas have a range of 214 properties in Greece & its islands. With 24yrs experience, they're one of the most well-established villa tour operators in the UK.

Cosmos - Cosmos have a great selection of villas with pools in the Greek Islands starting from just £149 per week. Save and extra 10% when you book online.

See more of our recommended companies

Crete villa holidays

Crete is the largest Greek island set in the Aegean Sea. Those taking villa holidays in Crete will find long sandy beaches, tiny mountain villages, rocky coves and lots of bars, restaurants and clubs. 

The majority of the popular holiday resorts can be found in the east of Crete - here you will find lots of golden sandy beaches and plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs.  However, if you're looking for something a little more laid back, head to the west where you'll find a more mountainous landscape and a coastline dotted with hidden coves and tiny beaches.  The resorts of Rethymnon and Hersonissos are ideal for families, who should avoid the area around Malia - a hub for wild nightlife and all night clubbing. But if you are looking to party the night away, then you'll really love it here!  For a romantic holiday head to the resort of Koutouloufari, which is perfect for couples,  or rent a luxury villa in Elounda!

During your holiday, if you can tear yourself away from the beach, you should hire a car and take a tour of the island. Drive across the mountains and take in the breathtaking views and stunning scenery as you pass through the friendly, welcoming authentic villages.

Corfu villa holidays

Corfu has been popular with tourists since the 1960s and parts of the island have now totally succumbed to the cheap package holiday market with huge hotels and rowdy bars and clubs blurring music out until the early hours - particularly in the town of Kavos.

However, if this isn't your thing, don't be deterred from taking a villa holiday in Corfu as there is much more to discover. Much of the island is still quite unspoilt, especially towards the north of the island in places such as Almiros, Old Perithia and Agios Stefanos-Kerasia.  There are also plenty of coves hidden along the coast that are ideal for a spot of sunbathing. Take a trip inland to discover some stunning scenery and the charming warmth of the locals. Dine at a traditional Greek taverna serving locally caught fresh fish and the ultimate Greek salad or take a boat trip from Corfu town through the crystal clear seas to discover more Greek islands.

Rhodes villa holidays

Rhodes is a great holiday destination and one of the most popular Greek islands - some say it's the sunniest place in Europe!  Famous for its beaches, this is one of the main draws to the island with such a huge choice from long golden sands to tiny rocky coves.

From your villa in Rhodes you can explore Rhodes Town, the ancient walled city with two harbours.  Here you can wander amongst the ancient ruins and check out the shops and restaurants.  Nightlife here is pretty great too!  Faliraki is the island's well known party town, ideal for those looking to dance the night away in its many bars and clubs.  Other popular destinations in Rhodes include  the beach resorts of Kalathos, Ladiko and Pefkos where you can enjoy plenty of sun, sand and snorkeling.

Kefalonia villa holidays

Kefalonia is a laid-back island set in the Ionian Sea and perfect if you're looking for a relaxing villa holiday.  The majority of the island is still pretty unspoilt with huge mountains, turquoise seas, sandy beaches and beautiful scenery.  The quaint fishing villages of Diskardo and Skala are popular with tourists - the main attraction here being the great seafood restaurants.  Over recent years, the island has seen a boom in tourism resulting from the release of the Hollywood Blockbuster 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' which was set here.

Zante villa holidays

Zante, also known as Zakynthos, is a beautiful Ionian island with white sandy beaches and famous for being the nesting grounds of the Caretta-Caretta sea turtles.  Tourism has boomed over recent years, particularly in Laganas, the busiest resort on the island with many bars, clubs, shops and restaurants. There's a great long sandy beach here, however, no water sports are allowed due to it causing disruption to the nesting turtles.  If you're looking for these, head to the nearby Agios Nikolaos Beach, just a short bus ride away.  Other popular holiday resorts on the island are Tsliivi, Argassi and Alykanas.

If you fancy heading away from the beach, head inland to the green forests and the pretty mountain villages.  Here you can meet the locals, eat at authentic Greek restaurants and explore the area in a bit more detail.

Skiathos villa holidays

With more beaches per square mile than any other Greek Island, you can try  a different beach every day on your villa holiday in Skiathos - particularly if you're looking for water sports as there are loads here!  The beaches are complemented with the lush pine forests that grow on the island and the ban on high rise building here makes the whole area extremely attractive.

Skiathos was always known as one of the quieter Greek islands, but over recent years, its popularity has increased and many of the little towns have become lively hubs with gift shops, tavernas and plenty of bars.

Kos villa holidays

As with many Greek islands, Kos is a highly popular holiday destination with lots of sandy beaches, mountains, blue seas and many typical holiday resorts.  The most popular resorts in Kos are Kos Town, Kardamena and Kefalos. 

The capital of the island is Kos Town which has a busy nightlife, lots of bars and restaurants and a beautiful harbour.  Boat trips to neighbouring islands can be taken from here. Kardamena is a lively town, very commercialised and popular with Brits.  There's a long sandy beach here and lots of water sports.  The nightlife here is buzzing with plenty of bars and clubs to suit all tastes.  Kefalos is a much more laid back resort with stunning scenery, an excellent standard of restaurants and is perfect for tourists looking for a villa holiday filled with rest and relaxation.

To gain some knowledge of the history of the island, take a stroll through the huge Roman ruins that include a theatre and three temples, the Archaeological Museum in Kos Town where you can view statues, ceramics and mosaics and the ancient castle that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1400 and then rebuilt 100 years later.

Who do we recommend?

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of options as well as some that are more specialist.  Browse our list below to find the right company for you, then click through to their web site for more information and how to book.  It couldn't be easier!

Further guides on villa holidays