Finding an incredible family-friendly Airbnb in Europe can be tricky. It takes dedicated research to uncover the best properties and even if you find one available on your dates you might rock up to find all is not as it seems.
Luckily for you, we have stayed in some of the best Airbnbs in Europe for families that offer sensational views and incredible local experiences, without any nasty surprises.
From a traditional trullo in Puglia, to a stone house on the Bay of Kotor, and an apartment with the best view in Sicily, these are the best Airbnbs we’ve ever stayed in that you can book too.
Best Airbnbs in Europe for families
Beachfront apartment in Taormina, Sicily
I had to start with the apartment that has had 3 million views on my Instagram and rising! This Airbnb has one of the best views in Europe and it’s much more affordable than you might think.
I began researching holidays to Taormina, Sicily after binge-watching season 2 of White Lotus and discovered that all the luxury hotels in the area were super expensive. So I took my sleuthing to Airbnb and stumbled across what has to be the apartment with the best view in Taormina and at approx. £175/night it was ten times cheaper than anywhere else around it.
It’s called the Vulcano apartment by Residence Degli Agrumi & it’s found directly on Mazzaro Bay in Taormina. The sea is so close to the living room’s picture window you can almost touch it.
It’s not the most modern apartment but the decor is charmingly Sicilian with a zingy citrus colour scheme. It’s quite old fashioned but well-cared for. We loved the character and quirkiness, even if the beds could have done with being a little bit comfier! (My pet hate about Italy in general is hard beds!)
The apartment sleeps up to 5 with 2 double beds (1 in a separate bedroom and 1 just off the living room) & a sofa bed. There is a travel cot & high chair available but some of the furniture (glass table, ceramics everywhere) would make me nervous with younger children. Our son is 4 and thought it was great watching the boats from the extensive balcony & having the beach at the bottom of the stairs.
Check out my Taormina travel guide for more information on this apartment and what to do in the local area.
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Trullo villa in Puglia, Italy
The most characterful Airbnb we’ve ever stayed in is Trullo Roverella in Puglia and it also has one of our favourite swimming pools too.
Designed to look like the traditional trulli Puglia is famed for, Trullo Roverella is a modern, stylish villa with an annexe that houses a freestanding bathtub and a giant private swimming pool that it perfect for entertaining.
Inside the trulli’s cone, you’ll find a generous kitchen, dining & living space, including a sofa bed for little ones on the ground floor and a master bedroom on the mezzanine level. The décor is chic with Apuglian touches; I loved the giant vintage pots and exposed stonework.
In the annexe you’ll find the generous bathtub that overlooks the pool from floor-to-ceiling windows. If floating it in while sipping a glass of wine at the end of the day is not absolute goals, I don’t know what is! (A bottle of local red wine is left as a welcome treat.)
The huge private pool with outdoor dining & lounging areas was a massive selling point for us. As was the privacy that comes with being nestled amongst olive groves.
We thought the location was brilliant too. Found just outside Castellana Grotte, many of Puglia’s highlights (including Alberobello, Monopoli & Locorotondo) are an easy drive away.
Castellana Grotte itself is a charming town that doesn’t get swarmed with tourist crowds but has some wonderful family-run restaurants and the delightful Sugar Gelateria.
For a detailed review of this property click here. You can also find our full Puglia family holiday itinerary here.
Book this trullo on Airbnb or booking.com
Rural villa in Provence, France
Looking for a stylish, family-friendly villa for a self-catering holiday in Provence? Let me introduce you to the superb The Mas Clément in Sorgues.
Nestled amongst a vineyard outside Avignon, this 2-bedroom property has everything you need for a relaxing holiday, right down to a washing machine and board games.
We loved the generous-sized rooms with rural views, but it’s really the private outdoor space complete with plunge pool, sun loungers and outdoor dining that makes this Airbnb in Provence so appealing.
At approx. £140/night this Airbnb is far more affordable than anywhere else we found to stay in Provence but it is a little tucked away – you definitely need to hire a car as there is nothing within walking distance.
The owner Frederic has lots of super helpful suggestions on where to shop for food though and even leaves a folder on all the best local bakeries, markets and take away options in the villa.
The Airbnb also comes with a Tesla charging point, which was perfect for us as we hired an electric vehicle for the week and recharged for free.
There are so many wonderful things to see and do around Sorgues. We visited L’Isle Sur-La-Sorgue, St Remy de Provence, Carrieres des Lumieres in Les Baux, Pont Du Gard, Avignon, and more, while staying here.
Read: Must-visit places in Provence
One thing to note is that there is a busy motorway on the other side of the vineyard that you can hear if sitting outside of an evening. You can’t hear anything inside the villa or while the little ones are making noise during the day, but I just wanted to make you aware that it’s there.
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Stone house on the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Our weekend in Kotor was made all the more special by staying in this stone house by the sea in Muo. Offering incredible views of the Bay of Kotor from all 3 floors, Kucica Muo is the best place for families to stay in Montenegro if you want to feel like a local.
This family-friendly Airbnb is a 3-storey, 2-bedroom stone house with waterfront views from the living room balcony, ground floor kitchen and private jetty.
It’s another really well-equipped Airbnb with the host going above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. We arrived to a huge basket of fruit, local beer, wine and cheese, plus handy little extras like beach towels in case we wanted to go for a swim. (Spoiler: we didn’t as the water was too cold in April but I wish we had!)
You have private parking just outside the Airbnb and we do recommend hiring a car as it’s the fastest way to see all the beautiful places in this part of Montenegro including Kotor Old Town, Perast, Budva and Tivat.
There are a handful of family-run restaurants, bakeries & mini markets within walking distance though, and even a little playground with the most sensational backdrop.
Check out our 2-day itinerary for Bay of Kotor or read this post to discover all the best things to do in Montenegro.
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Hilltop villa in Corfu, Greece
One of our favourite places we’ve ever stayed in Greece was this delightful hilltop villa called the Artist’s House at Villa Rastoni in Corfu.
Perched on a mountainside in-between Kalami and Kerasia Beaches in north Corfu, this 2-bedroom traditional villa has jaw-dropping views from the huge outdoor terrace and stunning infinity pool.
The villa itself is surprisingly generous, with 2 en-suite bedrooms, an open plan kitchen, living and dining and another loo/ laundry that is all decorated simply in traditional Greek style.
We paid £175/night at end of September and thought it was a great price for the amount of space and privacy. There are a couple of other villas clustered on top of the hill but they are each gated and have their own private pools and parking so you don’t tend to see anyone else coming and going. (Apart from the cats who pop by, much to our son’s delight.)
The main bathroom has a bathtub so you can bathe little ones and the second bedroom has 2 single beds and an en suite, which is handy for families with older children.
One thing to note is the drive to the villa is rather hairy (think: narrow windy road with sheer drops!), so you want to be a confident driver to book this property. You can book local taxis to get around but this adds up quickly so we only did it on a couple of evenings.
Overall we loved our stay, soaking up the privacy and peacefulness that comes with having our own pool, but with all the great restaurants and beaches of this area just below us. Check out my guide to north Corfu to find out more about Kalami and why we love it.
Book this apartment on vrbo or booking.com
Gorgeous apartment near Cinque Terre, Italy
When I was originally planning our family holiday to Italy’s Cinque Terre I booked to stay in one of the 5 towns. Struggling to find parking, however, I cancelled our booking and secured a stay at this apartment in Levanto, which turned out to be the best decision ever.
Found in a period building in the heart of Levanto, the Portovecchio Apartments are 6 self-contained studios set amongst gorgeous gardens that sleep between 2 to 6 people.
We stayed in Totano, which is a 1-bedroom apartment that sleeps up to 4. (There is a sofa bed in the open plan living area.) The apartment itself is compact but well-maintained with the private terrace being an absolute showstopper. After busy days exploring the touristy Cinque Terre towns we loved coming back to this peaceful jasmine-scented terrace with views of Levanto’s medieval church and castle.
The location of this apartment is absolutely perfect for families. You are mere minutes away from the beach, a playground, supermarkets, numerous well-priced restaurants and a highly rated focacceria. (You must go to Focacceria Dome!) Literally everything you need is within walking distance.
While still somewhat touristy, Levanto has a much more laid-back vibe than the Cinque Terre towns and you see just as many locals in the parks and restaurants as you do visitors.
At check in we were met by an agent who gave us a fantastic list of recommendations for the area including the train and ferry timetables, which was much appreciated. From the apartment, the train station is an approx. 11-minute walk through town (you can stock up on focaccia on your way!) and the first Cinque Terre village is just a 5-minute ride away. (Journeys from Levanto are included in the Cinque Terre rail card, so you can buy one pass and hop on and off the trains all day.)
There is also a ferry from Levanto to the Cinque Terre towns, the pier for which is an even shorter walk away from the apartment.
The apartment also has parking and EV charging, which was perfect for us as we drove there from Genoa and headed onto Tuscany afterwards.
We absolutely fell in love with Levanto and these dreamy Ligurian views. If you’re planning a trip to the Cinque Terre, I’d absolutely recommend staying here.
Book the Totano apartment on Airbnb or explore all the Portovecchio Apartments here
I hope that gives you some ideas for your upcoming trips.
Find my top tips for finding stylish and characterful accommodation for family trips here.
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