On the Map

On the Map: Best Unusual Stays in Southern Europe

12 January 2026

Otherwise known as Mediterranean Europe, Southern Europe is characterised by its proximity to the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.

Specific areas include the South of France and northern Italy, as well as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Turkey… each famed for their beautiful beaches, diverse landscapes, intriguing history, and unusual places to stay.

Benefitting from the Mediterranean climate, summers in Southern Europe tend to be balmy – ideal for those who love lazing on pristine golden sand! Yet if you prefer a cooler holiday, you can explore the spectacular mountain ranges of Spain and Italy and be rewarded with truly incredible views (so don’t forget your camera).

Meanwhile, if you love natural, home-grown cuisine you couldn’t have picked a more delectable destination. The traditional Mediterranean diet isn’t just delicious, it’s also considered to be one of the healthiest ways to eat, so you can savour all that fresh fish, sun-ripened fruit and vegetables, home-baked bread, and sumptuous olive oils (relatively) guilt-free. Southern Europe is also, of course, home to some of the best wine-making regions, which means it’d almost be rude not to indulge!

We’ve selected some of the best unusual stays in Southern Europe especially to help you get up close and personal with these amazing countries, traditions, and cuisines.

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Seaside Villa Capo Zafferano | Sicily, Italy

Seaside Villa Capo Zafferano

Capo Zafferano, Sicily, Italy

A breath-taking, architect-designed family retreat secluded on an remote Sicilian reef that thrives with natural beauty, with a private bathing cove and spectacular sea-and-mountain views close to Palermo.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps: 8

From

£2,500 /week

Nine Olives Hvar

Stari Grad, Hvar, Croatia

An architect-designed Croatian coastal retreat with sea-view roof terraces, a Mediterranean garden and a shimmering pool, set close to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Stari Grad.

Bedrooms: 5

Sleeps: 10

From

£300 / night

El Puente Al Amor

San Jaime, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

A soulful, off-grid private villa on the island of Menorca, with a feature saltwater pool, magnificent sea views, and interiors curated in soft island tones for deep comfort and blissful reconnection.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps: 8

From

£4295 /week

Cycladic Private Island

Cyclades, Greece

A luxurious and versatile retreat for secluded holidays and large group celebrations amongst clear turquoise waters and soft sand, infused with the magical myth and legend of ancient Greece.

Bedrooms: 10

Sleeps: 20+

From

£59,725 (7nt)

Rifugio di Vino

Nr Rieti, Lazio, Italy

An exclusive collection of oak-crafted barrels with private facilities and a hot tub, surrounded by vineyards and timeless nature in the flourishing heart of Italy.

Bedrooms: 1 per barrel

Sleeps: 3

From

£127 /nt 2 guests

Cuevas Helena

Benamaurel, Granada, Andalucia, Spain

Cuevas Helena defines unique cave living for the modern age, set deep in the heart of the Andalucian countryside.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 6

From

150 / night

Art Hangar

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

Stray from the beaten Tuscan track at Art Hangar, in an industrial hangar transformed into a unique loft space that's perfect for creative dreamers.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4

From

£1,655 (7 nights)

A Terra

São Teotonio, Alentejo, Portugal

Secluded Portuguese eco-glamping, set beside a sparkling lake in the refreshing ‘slow lane' of life.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies (2-4 per tent)

From

£115 (2 nights)

Tainaron Blue

Mani, Peloponnese, Greece

Experience elaborate architectural design in a piece of history at Tainaron blue - a fabulous hotel in a converted Tower of Mani set by azure shores on the southernmost tip of mainland Greece.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps:

From

£200 / night

Casa Acantilado

Salobreña, Andalucia, Spain

An innovative, architect-designed retreat with an infinity pool and far-reaching Mediterranean sea views, set within the clifftops on Spain's breath-taking Costa Granadina.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 6

From

£540 / night

The Sunflower House

Port de la Selva, Catalonia, Spain

A unique, architect-designed Catalonian clifftop retreat, with spectacular picture-framed views across the Mediterranean to France, and the Cabo de Creus National Park.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps: 8

From

£375 / night

The Hidden Villa

Marbella, Andalucia, Spain

An architect-designed retreat with an al fresco swimming pool, rich in laid-back Scandi style and privately secluded in the Andalusian hills close to Marbella, for jaw-dropping forest, sea and mountain views.

Bedrooms: 5

Sleeps: 14

From

£7936 / wk

Desert House

Gorafe, Andalucia, Spain

An architect-designed, TV-featured eco-retreat crafted from thermally insulated glass, uniquely purpose-built in the heart of Granada's spectacular Gorafe Desert for incredible natural views.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£271 / night

Cabanes des Grands Cépages

Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

A sumptuous collection of eco-cabins, set amongst the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, for a wine-lovers' paradise!

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 2-6 per cabin

From

£170 / night

iHouse

Paliouri, Halkidiki, Greece

A sustainable, custom-created wooden retreat, overlooking the crystal-clear waters and soft sand of Halkidiki's beautiful Kassandra Peninsula.

Bedrooms: Open plan

Sleeps: 4

From

150 / night

GoOutside Naples

Procida, Campania, Italy

Sleep under the Italian stars, on a gorgeous green island perfectly positioned for you to explore the Bay of Naples.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps:

From

£135 / night

Eco Fisherman's Cottage

Arrieta, Lanzarote, Spain

A quaint and historic off-grid retreat, featuring soothing sea views and an authentic slice of rustic village life in Lanzarote.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps:

From

£110 / night

Glamping Canonici di San Marco

Mirano, Venice, Italy

A pioneering taste of nature and luxury await, in a glamping paradise set just 20 minutes from Venice.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 2-6 per tent

From

£108 / night

El Caracol

Lledó, Aragón, Spain

A cutting-edge Spanish mountain holiday home and swimmers' paradise, nestled within a Mediterranean pine forest and surrounded by unspoilt villages.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 8

From

£230 / night

Koza Cave Hotel

Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Set inside a historic cave house among the magical ‘fairy chimneys' of Cappadocia, Koza Cave Hotel offers a wonderfully indulgent, eco-inspired hideaway - a true Turkish delight!

Bedrooms: 10

Sleeps: 2 per room

From

£150 / night

DDG Retreat

Casares, Andalucia, Spain

The ultimate in unique Andalusian luxury; a peacefully private glamping haven featuring the world's most opulent tents.

Bedrooms: 1 per unit

Sleeps: 2 per unit

From

£300 / night

La Esperanza

Granada, Andalucia, Spain

A grand, authentic hacienda with luxury suites, a swimming pool, and a designer courtyard inspired by the Alhambra, nestled amongst private flower gardens just 35 minutes from Granada.

Bedrooms: 6

Sleeps: Up to 14

From

£394 / night

Ermita del Carmen

Carcabuey, Andalucia, Spain

Ermita del Carmen is a stunning 15th century chapel conversion, set within the soul-soothing natural heart of Andalucia.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps: 8

From

£477/ night

Attrap'Rêves

Allauch, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Attrap'Rêves is an incredible, unusual and romantic retreat in the French countryside, which will certainly have you and your loved one bubbling over with excitement...

Bedrooms: Studio

Sleeps:

From

£133 / night

Windmill Villas

Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Scenic tranquility amidst the cool Aegean breeze awaits you from your private, sun-soaked Santorini home from home.

Bedrooms: 2 per unit

Sleeps: Up to 5

From

£279 /night

Casa Modesta

Quatrim do sul, Algarve, Portugal

Award-winning rural luxury in a contemporary Portuguese country house hotel, where you will feel immediately at home.

Bedrooms: 9 suites

Sleeps: 2 or 3 per suite

From

£152 / night

Refugio Marnes

Benissa, Alicante, Spain

Indulge in a luxurious Bedouin tent fit for royalty, found within the refreshing rural retreat of Refugio Marnes, on Spain's breathtaking Costa Blanca.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

110€ / night

Oasyhotel

San Marcello Piteglio, Tuscany, Italy

An award-winning sustainable sanctuary, deeply immersed in protected Tuscan nature with luxury lodges, home-grown cuisine, and al fresco activities designed to re-acquaint you with the natural world.

Bedrooms: 1 or 2 per lodge

Sleeps: 4

From

£344 / night

Paradiso Ibiza Art Hotel

Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

A vibrant, wow-factor, Ocean Drive-style Art Deco retreat on the shores of San Antonio, with Instagrammable outdoor pools, live music, and jaw-dropping art everywhere you look

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£199 / night

Mala Vila

Stari Glog, Zagreb, Croatia

Eco-friendly mirrored Tiny Homes-for-two, beautifully secluded among peaceful forest land that thrives with nature, in a small Croatian village close to Zagreb

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£199 / night

The Hive

Akoursos, Pafos, Cyprus

'Bee’ surrounded by comfort in a hand-built wooden dome with a stargazing hot tub, surrounded by peaceful nature in northwest Cyprus, close to the ancient coastal town of Peyia

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4

From

£189 / night

Faro Capo Spartivento

Chia, Sardinia, Italy

A historic working lighthouse complete with indulgent Jacuzzi and an infinity pool, surrounded by unspoilt nature on the sun-dappled Sardinian coast.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2 (+1)

From

£597 / night

Macaronesian Eco Suites Caves

San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

Live in harmony with the natural world in a Tenerife cave suite steeped in rustic luxury and just a short drive from the beach.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4

From

£145 / night

VIVOOD Landscape Hotel

Benimantell, Alicante, Spain

A sumptuous selection of adults-only cabins, with a window-walled spa and two shimmering infinity pools, beautifully secluded in Spain's pure, rugged Guadalest Valley.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£149 / night