From the Italian countryside to the Greek islands to the French Alps, we’ve picked our favourite destinations for an unforgettable autumn escape.
As autumn rolls in with its milder weather, its crunch of leaves underfoot, and its scent of crisp apples in the air, it’s the perfect time to visit Europe. School holidays have ended, taking swathes of international and local tourists back home, temperatures have dipped slightly yet remain perfectly pleasant, and the prices have dropped too, making September the perfect time for a luxury villa holiday.
Sardinia, Italy
With temperatures still comfortably in the mid-20s, autumn is the ideal time to visit Sardinia. Enjoy hikes and cycle tours across the countryside, dotted with ancient nuraghe, meander through lush city parks, or head to the beach for a swim as it’s still warm enough for a dip in the crystal-clear sea. September is the month for mushrooms, so scour the broad-leafed woods and chestnut forests for precious porcini and truffles to enjoy back at your villa.
The festival of Autumn in Barbagia begins in September, offering the perfect opportunity to experience the region’s traditions, arts and crafts, and - of course - food and wine. The festival moves to a different village every weekend, providing opportunities to explore the region to the fullest.
Where to Stay: Villa Smeralda
Explore villas in Sardinia
Anna - Porto Cervo
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 16,000
to 45,000 EUR
per week
Villa Azzurra
Bedrooms: 3, Guests: 6
From 60,000 EUR
per week,
to price on request
Villa Farfalla
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 16
From 20,000
to 45,000 EUR
per week
Villa Margherita
Bedrooms: 4, Guests: 8
From 72,000 EUR
per week,
to price on request
Villa Marzia
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 17
From 41,200
to 94,120 EUR
per week
Villa Smeralda
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 15,000
to 49,000 EUR
per week
Provence, France
September is the start of the grape harvest season in Provence, so a visit to a winery for a tasting is a must. Local markets are teeming with grapes, plums, figs and aubergines, along with the first of the season’s orange squashes and pumpkins, perfect for creating an autumnal feast.
Along the coast, you can enjoy the annual Septembre en Mer (September at Sea) festival, a month-long celebration of all things maritime. There are around 200 marine-themed events taking place along the coast near Cassis and Marseille, from water sports, coastal walks, and sailing events to exhibitions and culinary displays.
Where to Stay: Villa Fito
Explore villas in Provence
Bastide Margui
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 145,000
to 180,000 EUR
per week
Chateau Margui
Bedrooms: 18, Guests: 36
From 215,000
to 270,000 EUR
per week
L'Etoile des Baux
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 15
From 19,000
to 49,000 EUR
per week
La Bastide de Flechon
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 17,500
to 24,150 EUR
per week
Le Mas de Chabran
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 16
From 28,700
to 46,900 EUR
per week
Le Mas Estello
Bedrooms: 4, Guests: 8
From 17,500
to 25,200 EUR
per week
Les Hauts de Gordes
Bedrooms: 7, Guests: 15
From 21,000
to 49,000 EUR
per week
Villa Clos Mireille
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 80,000
to 80,000 EUR
per week
Villa Fito
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 12,425
to 30,000 EUR
per week
Villa Jasso
Bedrooms: 3, Guests: 6
From 7,350
to 18,000 EUR
per week
Villa La Bergerie
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 16
From 63,525 EUR
per week,
to price on request
Villa Vanado
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 11,900
to 26,000 EUR
per week
Santorini, Greece
You may think of Santorini as a summer destination but autumn has plenty to offer visitors as well. It’s still t-shirt weather during the day, warm enough to dine al fresco in the evenings, and the sea temperatures are still perfectly pleasant, ideal for diving off the side of a yacht or enjoying the host of water sports the island has to offer.
You’ll be able to wander the streets of the island’s villages in relative calm, restaurants don’t need to be booked weeks in advance, and you’ll be able to score a prime location for the iconic Oia sunset without jostling thousands of other tourists. The villages are still lively but have a much more authentic feel than when flooded with the summer tourist swathes, and it’s the perfect time of year to visit a local winery for a tasting.
Where to Stay: Villa Erosantorini
Explore villas in Santorini
Erosantorini
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 55,920
to 79,883 EUR
per week
Erossea Villa
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 16,800
to 26,600 EUR
per week
Kamini Estate
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 15,400
to 36,400 EUR
per week
Nafsika Estate
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 42,000 EUR
per week,
to price on request
O'Santo Villa
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 16
From 35,000
to 63,000 EUR
per week
Villa Ftelari
Bedrooms: 3, Guests: 6
From 14,000
to 18,200 EUR
per week
Apulia, Italy
A sense of calm settles over Apulia after the summer crowds have departed. The villages feel more authentic with fewer tourists around, and the beaches – with waters still mild enough for swimming – are much more enjoyable when you’re not fighting for a space on the sand.
September is the perfect time to stroll along the cobbled streets of historic villages, purchase fresh produce in a bustling local market, or cycle through the vineyard and olive grove-dotted countryside before heading back to your villa for a glass of local wine.
Where to stay: Trullo delle Dame
Explore villas in Apulia
Casa Badra
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 8
From 10,000
to 18,000 EUR
per week
Casale la Nota
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 16,261
to 20,867 EUR
per week
Dimora Biancarancio
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 14,000
to 25,000 EUR
per week
Masseria Antonio Augusto
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 21,000
to 49,000 EUR
per week
Masseria Lamacoppa
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 55,000 EUR
per week,
to price on request
Masseria Pezza
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 7,000
to 10,500 EUR
per week
Pettolecchia La Piccola
Bedrooms: 3, Guests: 6
From 8,000
to 20,000 EUR
per week
Pettolecchia La Residenza
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 15,000
to 45,000 EUR
per week
Tenuta Castione
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 9,500
to 20,900 EUR
per week
Trullo dei Pumi
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 13,500
to 30,240 EUR
per week
Trullo delle Dame
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 16,500
to 31,360 EUR
per week
Villa Baraquiel
Bedrooms: 4, Guests: 8
From 8,750
to 15,250 EUR
per week
Villa Dusenszky Vitale
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 16,800
to 30,100 EUR
per week
Villa Ludovica
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 12
From 8,750
to 17,500 EUR
per week
Villa Ostuni Art
Bedrooms: 9, Guests: 18
From 14,000
to 30,800 EUR
per week
Villa Serra de Citris
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 8,580
to 19,950 EUR
per week
Villa Tafuri
Bedrooms: 5, Guests: 10
From 9,375
to 14,375 EUR
per week
Megève, France
Megève may not be your first thought for an autumn escape but there’s a lot more to the charming alpine town than its – albeit excellent – ski fields. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric location as the forests change from verdant green to shades of red, yellow and orange, and morning mists skirt across the bottom of the mountains.
Spend your days hiking or mountain biking across the alps, playing a round of golf at the town’s 18-hole course, or hunting for porcini and chanterelle mushrooms on the forest floor, before heading back to your chalet to enjoy a tasty autumnal feast beside a crackling fireplace.
Where to Stay: Chalet Ultima Megève
Explore villas in Megève
Chalet Aspen
Bedrooms: 7, Guests: 13
From 100,000 EUR
per week,
to price on request
Chalet Izoard
Bedrooms: 7, Guests: 16
From 73,630
to 185,430 EUR
per week
Chalet Ultima Megeve
Bedrooms: 8, Guests: 18
Price on request
Le Chalet Privè
Bedrooms: 7, Guests: 15
From 31,500
to 133,000 EUR
per week
