Grounded in island life, two-story Villa Vido offers the best of rustic countryside living—fresh fruit and veg from the garden, outdoor dining surrounded by olive trees, visits from resident cats—without any sacrifice. Located a 10-minute walk from the beach, a 10-minute drive from Heraklion, and 20 minutes from the airport, you get a slice of rural living without having to forgo, well, anything. Sea views stretch across to uninhabited Dia island, and are best enjoyed over long lunches and dinners whipped up in the indoor kitchen, or outside on the grill.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Sea view, kitchen, washer, outdoor dining space, grill, cot, on-site parking
Location: Heraklion
Courtesy of the Airbnb photography community
If walls could talk, this 1930s neoclassical mansion would have a lot to say. This family home was a bastion of social and political life for many years before it was abandoned in the second World War, eventually becoming a shelter for those displaced.
Recently restored, 2026 is the first year it’s officially open to guests. You’ll understand why the light-filled space is so cherished the second you enter: High ceilings, grand archways, and a sweeping marble staircase emanate old-world aristocracy; framed paintings, book-filled shelves, and a mid-century piano add personal touches. French doors open to balconies with views across Chania toward the sea, and the citrus- and olive-filled garden is bound, in part, by the city’s ancient Venetian fortifications.
Rooms: 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathrooms
Amenities: Harbor view, kitchen, washer, AC, garden, travel cot on request
Location: Chania
Courtesy of the Airbnb photography community
