Greece's sexiest summer villas

79 The Stonemason’s House, Crete
Sleeps 4

If you’re serious about finding “the real Crete”, this is where to come — a simple house, full of antiques and hand-sewn fabrics, in the tiny village of Embrosnero. The owners, Maria and Yannis, live nearby, and are part of the appeal, as Maria is an excellent cook. Chania airport is an hour’s drive. £625/£599; 01444 880404, purecrete.com

80 Villa Galania, Crete
Sleeps 4

It might lack architectural grace and Cretan atmosphere, but this well-equipped hilltop house near the north coast would make a superb setting for go-nowhere family holidays. It’s the array of outside spaces that make it special: a children’s pool next to the main one, shady terraces and balconies, a big deck with wicker armchairs and table football, a barbecue area with a traditional oven and a herb garden. Chances are you’ll never get bored. Chania airport is 45 minutes by car. £1,775/£660; 01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk

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81 Villa Koritsaki, Paxos
Sleeps 4

Set at the far end of a 500yd track near the village of Magazia, Koritsaki is a secretive retreat, cloaked in trees. It has a pool, a garden planted with jasmine, hibiscus and fruit trees, and cool flagstone floors indoors. Hang up a “Do not disturb” sign and enjoy. Paxos is an hour by hydrofoil from Corfu, the nearest airport. £2,680/£1,498; 020 8232 9780, greekislandsclub.com

82 Mansion Sophia, Santorini
Sleeps 4

Down a cobbled lane in the car-free village of Megalochori, Mansion Sophia keeps the rest of the world at arm’s length behind wooden gates and a high white wall. The courtyard is home to a small pool, and the high-ceilinged interiors are full of simple island character. The airport is a 15-minute drive. £5,240/£2,509, including car hire; 00 30 22860 82914, santorini-villas.gr

83 Haritakis House, Crete
Sleeps 6

It’s a simple proposition: a stone house in the middle of nowhere, with lovely sea views and a shady terrace for meals. There’s no pool, no air-con, no fancy sinks in the bathroom — and even in high season, it works out at less than £115pp a week. The nearest beach is at Ligres, five minutes away. Chania airport is two hours by car. £680/£385; 01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk

84 Villa Svega, Crete
Sleeps 6

In the 15th century, they used to store acorns and carrots here — under two arched stone vaults. Now one of those vaults provides dramatic high-ceilinged rooms on the ground floor, while the other is the perfect place for shaded alfresco meals. The house, in the middle of the village of Gallou, near Rethymnon, also has a pretty garden, a rooftop terrace and its own pool. Heraklion airport is 90 minutes by car. £1,450/£930; 0845 675 2600, www.islands-of-greece.co.uk

85 Villa Kastanida, Paxos
Sleeps 6

If you dream of having barefoot lunches beneath the shade of oaks and olive trees, this could be the perfect setting. It’s a restored Paxiot farmhouse at the end of a private lane, with an infinity pool and sunset views over the sea. The only drawback is that one of the bedrooms has no air conditioning. Paxos is an hour by hydrofoil from Corfu, which is home to the nearest airport. £2,089/£619; 0800 091 1601, sunisle.co.uk

86 Talenti’s House, Cephalonia
Sleeps 6

Fiskardo is one of the prettiest harbour towns in Greece, and Talenti’s House is right on the waterfront. It’s a no-frills property, without a pool or air conditioning, but when you can drink your coffee each morning sitting on a rock with your feet in the sea, who cares? The airport is an hour’s drive to the south. £2,650/£1,450; 020 8459 0777, www.ionianislandholidays.com

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87 The Dracopulos Residence, Cephalonia
Sleeps 6

Rescued from oblivion by an artist and musician, this handsome, four-square house is a long way from your identikit summer let. Inside, it has an historic, antiquey atmosphere, while outside the pool is sheltered by the ruins of another house. The absurdly pretty harbour town of Fiskardo is a 20-minute drive away, and the airport is an hour and a half to the south. £4,800/£3,210; 020 8605 3500, exclusiveescapes.co.uk

88 Villa Cape Luigi, Lefkas
Sleeps 6

This was a labour of love for its British owners, and they must be infatuated with the end result. Set above six acres of private land, it looks straight down to the sea and has an infinity pool and lots of deeply shaded terracing. The cool, lush interiors make extensive use of wood, marble and stone. Preveza airport is an 90-minute drive. £5,760/£3,400; 01580 765000, traveluxgreece.co.uk

89 Villa Voyatzis, Symi
Sleeps 8

This unfussy townhouse stands above one of the finest natural harbours in the Med. The sun-drenched balcony and elegant, high-ceilinged salon are the big draws — although it’s a stiff walk up 200 steps to get back from the waterfront bars and restaurants each night. Symi is an hour by ferry from Rhodes, which is where you’ll find the nearest airport. £1,750/£1,050; 020 8758 4707, hidden-greece.co.uk

90 Talisker, Crete
Sleeps 8

Got a bonus to spend? Then slap a deposit down on this palace near Elounda immediately. Everything about it is ravishing: the sharp, contemporary lines, the enormous, airy interiors, the terraced garden, the elevated sea views. You’ll never want to leave. Heraklion airport is a 75-minute drive. £8,500/£6,500; 020 8392 5858, simpsontravel.com

91 Del Cielo, Corfu
Sleeps 10

There’s really no need for a watchtower — from all parts of this upmarket complex, the views across the sea towards Greece and Albania are jaw-dropping. But they built one anyway, and the little terrace on top must be one of the island’s most stirring vantage points. The airport is a half-hour drive. £5,329/£3,333; 0800 783 1410, meonvillas.co.uk

92 Prosilio, Corfu
Sleeps 10

Oh, the view! It looks over the edge of an infinity pool, across olive groves, to the deep blue sea and the mountains of Albania. It’s Prosilio’s most spectacular feature, but the creamy interiors — offset by wood, stone and bright North African fabrics — will have you purring too. The airport is 25 miles away. £7,300/£3,950; 020 7401 1010, cvtravel.co.uk

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93 Karapoliti, Peloponnese
Sleeps 12

Low-rise and rambling, the accommodation is spread through three buildings and is backed by 30 acres of private land on a hillside overlooking the sea. Inside, the style is classic barefoot chic — the stone floors will be lovely to walk over on a hot summer’s day. Athens airport is a couple of hours’ drive (including the ferry crossing). £6,394/£3,848; 0845 618 2205, akvillas.com

94 Villa Olous, Crete
Sleeps 16

Here are some things you never thought you’d need on a Cretan villa holiday: grand piano, antique snooker table, tennis court, croquet lawn and private Greek Orthodox chapel, looking out to sea. Elegant and enormous, Villa Olous has the lot — topped off by magnificent sea views. Heraklion airport is a 55-minute drive. £24,545 year-round; 0845 618 2205, akvillas.com