Excellence Luxury Villas · Peloponnese and Ionian
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Peloponnese and the Ionian
Sea-view villas on Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Lefkada, and on the mainland coasts around Pylos and Nafplio
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Green islands, ancient stones and the western light of Greece
Western Greece is a different country from the whitewashed Cyclades. The Ionian islands are green and wooded, ringed with pale cliffs and water of an improbable blue. Across the sea, the Peloponnese holds Mycenae, Epidaurus and Olympia, along with olive groves running down to quiet bays. Most British visitors stick to one or the other. The ones who know better do both.
Our collection here runs to 380+ villas and apartments. You will find family villas with pools above the bays of Kefalonia, sea-view apartments on Zakynthos and Lefkada, and larger houses near Pylos and in Argolis, the biggest with up to 12 bedrooms.
Below we cover the islands, the mainland and the best time to come.
The Peloponnese and the Ionian at a glance
- Villas
- 380+ villas and apartments, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,500 to £7,300 a week, from around £2,700
- Best areas
- Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Lefkada; Messenia around Pylos; Argolis around Nafplio
- Best time
- June to September for swimming; May and October for ancient sites and walking
- Getting there
- Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Preveza and Kalamata airports, with direct UK flights in summer
Browse all 380+ villas in the Peloponnese and the Ionian
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Kyanos Exomvourgo Argolis: Luxury 11-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Beachfront – Argolis11 bedrooms
Villa Kyanos Limani Elafonisos: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Private Beach & Tennis Court – Laconia9 bedrooms
Villa Meltemi Corinthia: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Tennis Court & Seaview – Corinthia9 bedrooms
Villa Lefkos Valtos Elios: 8-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Beach Access & Tennis Court – Elios8 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Peloponnese and the Ionian
Kefalonia for its bays and mountain, Zakynthos for turtles and sea caves, Messenia for Navarino Bay and Pylos, and Argolis for Nafplio and the great ancient sites.
A mountain, a sunken lake and Odysseus next door
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. Mount Ainos rises to 1,628 metres in the middle, dark with native fir. Myrtos, on the northwest coast, is the beach on every postcard, a curve of white pebbles beneath high cliffs. Near Sami you can take a boat across Melissani, an underground lake lit from above where the cave roof fell in.
The 1953 earthquake levelled most of the island. Fiskardo, in the far north, survived with its Venetian houses intact. Many of our villas sit in Livathos, the gentle south around Argostoli, close to the airport and the beaches. Ithaca, the home Odysseus spent ten years trying to reach, is a short ferry ride from Sami.
Browse villas in Kefalonia
Turtles, sea caves and white cliffs
The Venetians called Zakynthos the Flower of the Levant. Laganas Bay in the south is a protected marine park where loggerhead turtles nest on the beaches each summer. Keri, at the southwestern tip, is the place for a sunset drink above the cliffs. In the north, boats run to the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari, and Navagio, the famous Shipwreck Beach, can be seen from the clifftop above. The poet Dionysios Solomos, who wrote the words of the Greek national anthem, was born here.
Lefkada is joined to the mainland by a causeway. Its west coast has the steep white cliffs above Porto Katsiki and Egremni. Vasiliki draws windsurfers, and Nydri looks across to Meganisi and Skorpios.
Browse villas on Zakynthos
Navarino Bay, Nafplio and the oldest theatre in the repertoire
In the southwest Peloponnese, Messenia is olive country. Pylos looks out over Navarino Bay, where a famous naval battle was fought in 1827. Nearby are the Gialova lagoon, the half-moon beach of Voidokilia, the Palace of Nestor and the Venetian castle at Methoni.
To the east, Argolis is centred on Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, with Venetian lanes and the Palamidi fortress overhead. Mycenae and the theatre at Epidaurus are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and both are within easy reach. Our villas along the Argolic Gulf, around Kiveri, make a calm base for exploring them.
Browse villas in Messenia
Robola, meat pie and a long warm autumn
Each part of the region has its own table. Kefalonia makes Robola, a crisp white grown on the slopes of Ainos, and a hearty meat pie. Messenia is known for its olive oil and Kalamata olives, and Corinthia for the red wines of Nemea. Ancient drama is staged at Epidaurus on summer weekends as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival.
The sea is warm enough to swim from June to September. August is the busiest month, with the Assumption on 15 August a great feast across Greece. For the ancient sites, May and October are kinder in every way. Our concierge can arrange boat days, guided visits to Mycenae and Olympia, tables and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Peloponnese and the Ionian
Villa Prasinos Akra Elios: Luxury 7-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Elios Greece7 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £23,366 a week
Villa Auge Kaminaki Livathos: Exquisite 8-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Infinity Pool – Livathos8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £22,834 a week
Villa Notos Oleandro Poulithra: Luxury 12-Bedroom Villa with Private Pools & Sea Views – Arcadia12 bedrooms · sleeps 24From £21,861 a week
Villa Kyanos Agios Nikolaos Pylaros: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Pylaros Kefallonia5 bedrooms · sleeps 11From £20,370 a week
Villa Meltemi Porto Cheli: Spacious 8-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Argolis8 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £20,279 a week
Villa Boreas Kiveri Argolis: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Beachfront in Argolis6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £20,265 a week
Villa Zephyros Atokos Lefkada: Luxury 5-Bedroom Beachfront Apartment with Pool & Seaview – Lefkada5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £18,823 a week
Villa Ionio Livathos: 11-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Infinity Pool – Livathos11 bedrooms · sleeps 24From £16,961 a weekWhy book your Peloponnese and Ionian villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
This region stretches across several islands and two coasts of the mainland, so where you stay decides your holiday. We know which villas suit beach days, which suit the ancient sites and which ferry crossings are worth making. With 380+ properties in the Peloponnese and the Ionian, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Private boat days to the sea caves and Ithaca, guided visits to Mycenae, Epidaurus and Olympia, Epidaurus Festival tickets, car hire, ferry bookings and airport transfers. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Peloponnese and the Ionian?
Kefalonia is the best all-rounder, with beaches, walking and good food. Zakynthos is livelier and has the sea caves and turtles. If history is the draw, choose Messenia around Pylos for its quiet bays, or Argolis near Nafplio to be close to Mycenae and Epidaurus.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is best for swimming, and August is the busiest month. May, late September and October are warm and quieter, and much better for walking and the ancient sites.
Which ancient sites can I visit from a villa here?
Mycenae, the theatre at Epidaurus and Olympia are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mycenae and Epidaurus are easy day trips from Argolis, and the Palace of Nestor is close to Pylos. Ithaca is a short ferry crossing from Kefalonia.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Peloponnese and the Ionian?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Peloponnese and the Ionian cost?
Across our 380+ villas in the Peloponnese and the Ionian, weekly rates typically range from £3,500 to £7,300, with the most affordable from around £2,700 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Peloponnese and the Ionian islands?
Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Preveza for Lefkada and Kalamata for Messenia all have direct flights from the UK in summer. Nafplio and Argolis are around two hours by road from Athens airport. Our concierge can arrange transfers and ferries.
Are there villas in the Peloponnese and the Ionian for large groups?
Yes. Our Peloponnese and Ionian collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Peloponnese and the Ionian
380+ villas and apartments across the Ionian islands and the Peloponnese, booked direct with our concierge on hand