Three Exceptional Villas to Rent in Europe This Summer — and How to Get There
Knight Frank’s Wealth Report found that over 68 per cent of ultra-high-net-worth individuals now prioritise privacy and controlled environments when selecting leisure properties. The European Short-Term Rental Association, meanwhile, recorded a rise of more than 27 per cent in high-end villa bookings across Southern Europe between 2022 and 2025. Together, the message is clear: the private villa - staffed to exacting standards and shared with nobody beyond one’s own party - has become one of the defining luxuries of the age.
The properties that below were chosen because they represent the highest expression of that ideal, each in a destination that has earned its place among Europe’s great retreats: a showpiece new-build on Mykonos commanding the full panorama of the Aegean; an ancient hilltop estate above Lake Como, reborn from a medieval watchtower; and a grand 18th-century Catalan mas, overseen by Mandarin Oriental.
Paradisia, Mykonos, Greece
Some 2.2 million visitors descend on Mykonos every year, generating an estimated €1.4 billion in tourism revenue. The boutique hotels of Psarou command rates of €3,000 and above per night. Property values in the island's premium zones have surpassed €10,000 per square metre.
Yet Mykonos, for all its glittering reputation, has not always been well served by its private villa stock. There is a difference between a villa that is merely expensive and one that is genuinely extraordinary - and Paradisia, a brand new seven-bedroom estate commanding arguably the finest vantage point on the island, falls emphatically into the latter category.
The property sits in the elevated Paradisia area, a position that places guests above the fray of the beach clubs, surrounded by nothing but the sound of the Aegean wind and the shifting light on the water below. From almost every vantage point — the living areas, the bedrooms, the great sweep of terrace, the view is simply breathtaking.
The centrepiece of the grounds is a 26-metre infinity pool, one of the longest on the island. Two kitchens, including a fully equipped chef's kitchen, serve guests across two master suites with private lounge areas, two independent guest apartments and seven immaculately appointed bedrooms in total, accommodating fourteen guests with effortless grace.
For those who choose this property, the staff come with it. A daily chef prepares three meals per day; a butler is on hand for eight hours daily; night security runs from ten in the evening to six in the morning. Concierge assistance is available around the clock. An indoor and outdoor gym, a massage room and a home cinema complete an amenity list that leaves little reason to leave the property at all - though the beach at Agios Stefanos is less than three kilometres away, and the boutiques and restaurants of Mykonos Town just under six.
Getting There by Private Jet
Mykonos International Airport sits just 8.6 kilometres from the property - a transfer of under twenty minutes. The airport accommodates a full range of private aircraft, and the runway and handling facilities are well accustomed to the heavy summer demand from the island's jet-set clientele. Helicopter transfers from the Athens to the property, or day excursions to neighbouring Delos, Paros or Naxos, can also be arranged.
Argegno, Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como has long been one of Europe’s most enduring destinations, and the numbers still support the mythology. Prime lakefront values remain among the highest in Italy, while demand for secluded hillside estates continues to outpace supply.
This villa, above Argegno, occupies a rarer position still. Built on the site of a former medieval watchtower, it sits 881 metres above the lake with no immediate neighbours and 4.5 acres of landscaped gardens. The result is not simply privacy, but genuine removal from the movement and visibility of the shoreline below.
Eight bedrooms are arranged across three floors, each with balconies oriented towards the lake and mountain range. A 22-metre infinity pool runs the length of the principal terrace, while a separate pool house with its own kitchen and island bar creates a second entertaining space away from the main residence. Inside, the house balances formal and informal living well: a dining room, pergola terrace, multiple lounge areas and an upper-floor salon with pool table all make the property work as easily for family stays as for larger hosted weekends.
The villa comes fully staffed with a manager, concierge, chef, housekeeping and waiter operating throughout the week, with lunch and dinner prepared daily. The inclusion of the house boat is particularly useful here, turning the lake itself into part of the estate experience - whether for lunch in Bellagio, afternoons on the water, or simply using the boat as the most civilised way to move between villages. A cable car located 500 metres from the gates drops into Argegno in four minutes, while six mountain bikes extend the sense of range beyond the waterline.
Getting There by Private Jet
For most private jet arrivals, Milan Malpensa is the recommended gateway, offering the best flexibility for everything from light jets to long-range cabin aircraft, along with the smoothest onward connections to the lake. The villa is typically around 45 to 60 minutes by road, depending on traffic and final routing along the western shore.
Lugano remains an excellent alternative in good weather, particularly for smaller aircraft, with the villa approximately 40 kilometres away. Its shorter runway and Alpine positioning make it a more conditions-dependent choice, but when available it provides a notably elegant approach.
Mas Mateu, Girona, Spain
The Costa Brava and Girona corridor’s reputation has expanded beyond its medieval core into the surrounding estates, coastline and vineyard country. Villa Mas Mateu captures that wider appeal better than most. Set within an 18th-century Catalonian estate in Les Gavarres, with the Mediterranean less than ten kilometres away and the Pyrenees visible to the north, it offers the scale and depth of experience that increasingly defines modern group travel.
The accommodation spans ten bedrooms for up to twenty-two guests, combining en-suite doubles, additional guest rooms and flexible family spaces. Interiors preserve the estate’s historical identity - stone arches, antique furnishings, curved ceilings - while introducing the comforts expected at this level: cinema, games room, gym and extensive entertaining areas.
What sets the property apart is the operational standard behind it. Managed as part of Mandarin Oriental’s Exceptional Homes portfolio, the service structure is closer to a private hotel than a villa rental. A full-time villa manager and activities manager are supported by a chef brigade, butler, sommelier, waiting staff and concierge, with menus tailored around guest preferences and seasonal Catalan produce.
The surrounding landscape does much of the rest. Some of the Costa Brava’s best beaches, including Calella de Palafrugell and Aigua Blava, are within easy reach, while Peratallada and Pals offer the kind of preserved medieval atmosphere that continues to draw international buyers and second-home owners into the region. The estate’s equestrian facilities, cycling routes and access to outdoor activities give it genuine breadth beyond the house itself.
Getting There by Private Jet
Girona–Costa Brava Airport is the natural gateway, lying 55 kilometres from the estate or around 45 minutes by road. Its runway length and 24-hour operational flexibility make it particularly well suited to private aviation, from light jets to large cabin aircraft.
Barcelona remains a useful alternative for intercontinental arrivals, with a 90-minute onward drive or short helicopter connection up the coast.
As a Victor member, you’ll earn double Alto points every time you book a StayOne holiday home – allowing you to make the most of every trip. (Please note that you don’t have to book an accompanying flight to claim your points from our Alto partners.)