Excellence Luxury Villas · Thessaly and Central Greece
Luxury Villa Rentals in Thessaly and Central Greece
Villas among the pines of Skiathos and Skopelos, and stone houses in the Pelion villages above Volos
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Pine-clad islands, a mountain of centaurs and the Aegean at the door
This is the green side of the Aegean. The Cyclades are bare and bright, but the Sporades are covered in pine right down to the water, and Mount Pelion, on the mainland opposite, is thick with chestnut and plane trees. Thessaly and Central Greece take in all of it: Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos offshore, the stone villages of Pelion above Volos, and the long island of Euboea running down the coast towards Athens.
Our collection runs to 90+ villas, most of them on Skiathos and Skopelos. There are hillside villas above the beaches with infinity pools and sea views, family apartments a short walk from the sand, and larger houses with up to 8 bedrooms. On the mainland there are houses in the Pelion villages and beach villas on Euboea.
Below, the islands and the mountain one by one, with a few notes on food and when to come.
Thessaly and Central Greece at a glance
- Villas
- 90+ across the Sporades, Pelion and Euboea, with up to 8 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,900 to £4,600 a week, from around £1,200
- Best areas
- Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos; the Pelion villages of Magnesia; the coast of Euboea
- Best time
- June to September for the islands; spring and autumn for walking in Pelion
- Getting there
- Direct flights in season from several UK airports to Skiathos; Athens for Pelion and Euboea
Browse all 90+ villas in Thessaly and Central Greece
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Villa Alonnisos Greece6 bedrooms
Villa Mourtia Skiathos: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Skiathos5 bedrooms
Villa Lysias Kastro Skiathos: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Skiathos5 bedrooms
Villa Aetopetra Euboea: Exquisite 8-Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Pool – Euboea8 bedroomsWhere to stay in Thessaly and Central Greece
Skiathos for beaches and an airport on the doorstep, Skopelos and Alonnisos for a slower island pace, Pelion and Magnesia for mountain villages and the Pagasetic Gulf, and Euboea for long, quiet coastline.
Pine woods, sand and a lively harbour
Skiathos is small, green and very well off for beaches, around sixty by the usual count, most of them sandy and many backed by pine. Koukounaries, on the south-west tip, is the best known: a long curve of fine sand with pine forest and a lagoon behind it. Lalaria, on the north coast, is a cove of white pebbles beneath cliffs, best reached by boat.
Many of our villas sit on the hillsides above the south coast, around Kanapitsa, Vromolimnos and Koukounaries, looking across to the islet of Tsougria. Skiathos Town is lively in the evenings, with tavernas around the old harbour and the house museum of Alexandros Papadiamantis, the island's great writer. For a quieter morning, the ruins of Kastro, the old medieval capital on a northern headland, are well worth the trip.
Browse villas on Skiathos
Slower islands, a famous chapel and the monk seal
Skopelos is greener and slower than its neighbour and only a short ferry ride away. It has no airport, which helps keep it that way. Skopelos Town climbs up from the harbour in tiers of white houses with slate roofs. Glossa, in the north-west, is a hill village above the little port of Loutraki. The chapel of Agios Ioannis sto Kastri sits on its rock above the sea and played its part in Mamma Mia! in 2008. The steep steps up are worth the climb.
Beyond lies Alonnisos, inside the National Marine Park of Alonnisos and the Northern Sporades, which was set up to protect the Mediterranean monk seal. Boat days around its uninhabited islets are some of the best in the Aegean.
Browse villas on Skopelos
Stone villages, a little train and the mainland coast
On the mainland, Mount Pelion rises above Volos. In myth it was home to the centaurs. Its villages, Makrinitsa, Portaria, Pinakates and Milies among them, are built of stone among plane and chestnut woods and linked by old cobbled mule paths. The little Pelion train, known as the Moutzouris, runs on a 60 centimetre gauge from Ano Lechonia to Milies. The trip takes around 90 minutes, mostly at weekends from spring to autumn.
South Pelion, around Chorto on the Pagasetic Gulf, is gentler, with calm water and olive groves. Further south lies Euboea, the second largest Greek island. It is joined to the mainland by bridges at Chalkida, and British travellers tend to overlook it.
Browse villas in Magnesia
Tsipouro, cheese pie and a long, warm summer
Volos is the home of tsipouro. Its tsipouradika serve the spirit in small bottles, and each round brings another plate of meze, usually seafood. In Pelion, order spetsofai, country sausage stewed with peppers and tomatoes. On Skopelos, try the coiled cheese pie fried until crisp, and the island's plums.
The island season runs from late May to early October, and July and August are the hottest and busiest months. June and September are the best months for swimming. Pelion is at its best in spring and autumn for walking, and in winter there is even a small ski centre high on the mountain. Our concierge can arrange boat charters, ferry tickets, car hire and tables in town.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Thessaly and Central Greece
Villa Kyanos Perivoli Skopelos: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Seaviews – Skopelos6 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £7,371 a week
Villa Aderfo Skopelos: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Skopelos5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,992 a week
Villa Pefkos Skiathos: Luxury 2-Bedroom Villa with Sauna & Sea Views – Skiathos2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £5,978 a week
Villa Meltemi Skopelos: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Beach Access – Skopelos5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,880 a week
Villa Chrysos Mandraki Skiathos: Elegant 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Skiathos5 bedrooms · sleeps 9From £5,537 a week
Villa Lysias Kanapitsa Skiathos: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Private Pool & Sea Views – Skiathos6 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,502 a week
Villa Aleppo Skiathos: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Skiathos3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £5,243 a week
Villa Kyanos Glossa Skopelos: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Skopelos4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,096 a weekWhy book your Thessaly and Central Greece villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Villas here range from beachside apartments on Skiathos to houses up winding tracks on Skopelos and in Pelion's villages, and we know which suit families, walkers and those who want to stroll to dinner. With 90+ properties in Thessaly and Central Greece, 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
Ferry tickets between the islands, boat charters to Lalaria and the Alonnisos marine park, car hire, Pelion train and walking days, restaurant tables and transfers from Skiathos airport. 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 should I stay in Thessaly and Central Greece?
Skiathos is the easiest choice, with the most beaches, a lively town and its own airport. Skopelos and Alonnisos suit those who want a quieter island. Pelion is the place for mountain villages and walking, and Euboea for long stretches of quiet coast.
When is the best time to visit the Sporades and Pelion?
Late May to early October is the island season. June and September are warm and less crowded than July and August. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking in Pelion's villages and woods.
Where was Mamma Mia! filmed?
Mostly on Skopelos, where the clifftop chapel of Agios Ioannis sto Kastri appears in the film. Some scenes were shot on Skiathos and at Damouchari on Pelion's Aegean coast.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Thessaly and Central Greece?
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 Thessaly and Central Greece cost?
Across our 90+ villas in Thessaly and Central Greece, weekly rates typically range from £1,900 to £4,600, with the most affordable from around £1,200 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 Skiathos and Skopelos?
Skiathos has its own airport, with direct flights in season from several UK airports, including London Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Skopelos and Alonnisos have no airport and are reached by ferry from Skiathos or from Volos. For Pelion, Volos is around three and a half hours by road from Athens airport.
Are there villas in Thessaly and Central Greece for large groups?
Yes. Our Thessaly and Central Greece collection includes properties with up to 8 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 Thessaly and Central Greece
90+ villas on Skiathos, Skopelos, Pelion and Euboea, with our concierge on hand to sort the ferries