The most popular holiday property destinations in Europe

The German coasts are popular holiday destinations. The Baltic Sea in particular offers the ideal conditions for a family holiday. Numerous leisure activities and beautiful sandy beaches delight young and old alike. All types of holiday properties are on offer. The North Sea with its tides is another fascinating landscape. One of the idyllic holiday resorts on the North Sea is the island of Sylt. Thatched beach houses, modern holiday homes and luxurious villas in a breathtakingly secluded location are all to be found on the North Sea island. The East Frisian island of Borkum can be reached by ferry or plane, which can limit the possibilities for renting out a holiday property. But the crossing takes holidaymakers to one of Germany's most beautiful islands. An investment in holiday properties on Lake Constance, in the Allgäu or in the German wine regions can be just as interesting. It is up to you to decide whether you prefer a holiday home on the beach, a villa on an island or a small holiday apartment in a holiday resort with shopping facilities. However, if you want to use your holiday property by the sea, in the city or in the mountains yourself and also rent it out lucratively, you should not buy a property in a location far from any infrastructure.

Pure luxury can be found in the upscale holiday properties in the top destinations on the Côte d'Azur. Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez are the top destinations on the French Riviera, along with Monaco. The sun shines all year round in the south of France, so the high-quality and luxurious properties make it possible to enjoy a holiday at any time of year. If you don't want to stay next to the crème de la crème, you can discover other picturesque holiday regions in France where there is plenty of privacy. 

The charming Alsace with its half-timbered houses and vineyards is suitable for weekend homes as well as holiday properties. Holiday apartments in Paris can be let all year round to city travellers and business people. Steep cliffs, picturesque harbour towns and idyllic beaches in quaint seaside resorts are the hallmarks of Normandy on the English Channel. Buying a holiday property in France is easy for Europeans, as any type of document will do. Therefore, even purported preliminary contracts should be carefully checked before signing.

Second only to Majorca, it is the Greek island of Crete that attracts the most German holidaymakers. This puts Crete even ahead of the other Balearic or Canary Islands. This popularity with tourists combined with the still comparatively low property prices make Greek holiday properties interesting investments. This is because the trend is moving away from hotel rooms and towards separate holiday apartments or a holiday home. Most holidaymakers prefer properties directly by the sea or with a view of the water. The largest of the Ionian islands is Kefalonia. Myrtos Beach at Asos is one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Xi Beach near Lixouri is also popular, known for its orange-red sand and crystal-clear water. 

Rhodes gracefully combines Greek culture with a relaxing beach holiday. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Rhodes is one of the sunniest holiday destinations in Europe. The mild climate in winter also attracts long-term holidaymakers to the fourth largest of the Greek islands. The holiday properties on Santorini in the southern Aegean exude an extraordinary flair. The houses and apartments are decorated in the white and blue typical of Greece and stretch out on the sunny slopes along the sea. This unmistakable charm and the spectacular panoramic views make the holiday properties on Santorini something very special. But Greece is not only made up of islands, the mainland also has a lot to offer. The Peloponnese peninsula has kilometres of coastline with very different landscapes. Here you will find a variety of holiday properties, almost always facing the sea. 

Fascinating culture, picturesque landscapes and a Mediterranean climate - Italy is the ideal place for a holiday property. Italian cuisine contributes to an all-round pleasant holiday, as does the Italian dolce vita. A modern holiday home on the Mediterranean in Sardinia or an idyllic holiday property on the hills of Apulia with a view of the Adriatic Sea, a romantic villa surrounded by pine trees on the gentle hills of Tuscany or a holiday home in the historic ambience of cities such as Rome, Venice or Florence - Italy offers the right landscape and holiday property for every taste. Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore are within easy reach. Both invite you to hike in the mountains in the north, while the south delights with sunshine and Mediterranean vegetation. If you prefer a less warm climate and winter sports, you can find your holiday home in the Alps or in the vineyards of South Tyrol.

A holiday home in the Netherlands can be reached quickly from most German regions. This means that the property not only serves for holiday purposes, but is also suitable as a fine weekend domicile. The province of Zeeland in the southwest of the Netherlands delights with its long and beautiful beaches and dunes, which routinely receive environmental awards for their cleanliness and water quality. The North Sea also offers all kinds of water sports. Picturesque towns such as Domburg, Middelburg or Veere invite you to stroll around or take a leisurely break. The historic harbour town of Goes with buildings dating back to the 17th century on the island of Zuid-Beveland is a picturesque sight and ideal for yacht owners.  The island of Texel, the floral seaside resort of Noordwijk with its tulip fields or the elegant seaside resort Scheveningen near The Hague are also suitable for unforgettable bathing holidays and dune walks. In the Netherlands, you will also find romantic holiday homes in quiet locations along one of the many canals or small lakes. Buying real estate is relatively easy for Europeans, and the demand for holiday properties in the Netherlands is correspondingly high. Nevertheless, real estate prices are generally slightly below what they are in Germany.

In both summer and winter, Austria is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Majestic Alps, blue lakes and impressive glaciers change visually with the seasons. But the many opportunities for leisure activities in the Austrian mountains attract holidaymakers at any time of year. Ski-in ski-out holiday properties are within easy reach of ski lifts and allow skiers quick access to the slopes. In the high alpine ski area of Matterhorn-Zermatt, owners and tenants of the attractive holiday apartments can enjoy the ski slopes as they please 365 days a year. Skiing was practically invented in the Tyrolean Alps. The cradle of alpine skiing is Sankt Anton am Alberg. One of the internationally famous hotspots in Austria is the fashionable ski resort of Kitzbühel with its KitzSki ski area. The impressive holiday properties on the sunny slopes of the Kitzbühel Alps are certainly among the high-priced properties. 

Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, they are in high demand all year round and not only during the legendary Hahnenkamm race. Austria is just as suitable for a winter holiday as it is for all other seasons. If you like to hike, enjoy nature and also value culture and fine cuisine, you will find many holiday resorts to suit your taste. In Carinthia, Tyrol, Styria or in the province of Salzburg, there are many holiday resorts offering the typical and cosy Austrian ambience. In some holiday regions in Austria, apartments and houses used exclusively for holiday purposes require a permit. The short-term vacation rental ordinance obliges property owners in some places not to leave their holiday property empty, but to rent it out instead. If the owner wants to use his holiday property exclusively for his own use, a second home permit may be required, depending on the region.

The blue sea and the golden sun dominate the charming landscape of the Algarve in Portugal. Rugged cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches alternate along the coastline. Also impressive in the Algarve are the unique caves and the diversity of marine life. Some of the best golf courses in the world attract international golfers to Portugal. In the Algarve, you can enjoy teeing off all year round with an impressive panoramic view of the Atlantic. The Madeira archipelago is located southwest of the Algarve and west of Morocco. The main island of the same name with its capital Funchal has always been a popular meeting place for the European jet set. This is due to the subtropical climate, the alien-looking, misty laurel forests and the golden sandy beaches bordering the turquoise waters of the Atlantic. Holiday properties in Portugal are currently even more interesting for foreign buyers. Low or no taxes and a simple purchase procedure currently make it easier for investors to access the Portuguese real estate market.

Dream landscapes with snow-covered mountain peaks are almost synonymous with Switzerland. In addition, the Swiss score above all with a high standard of living and an excellent infrastructure. So it is not surprising that the Swiss resorts with their holiday properties are just as popular with international celebrities as they are with investors from all over the world. Ascona in the south of Switzerland, for example, lies in the mountains and at the same time on the shores of the Mediterranean Lake Maggiore. This is where the best of Italy and Switzerland come together. Dolce Vita and lifestyle complement each other perfectly at one of the most exclusive holiday resorts in Switzerland. Here you will find the whole range of property types to suit your every taste and need. Holiday flats in modern buildings with concierge and cleaning service are just as prevalent as romantically designed chalets, rusticos or luxurious penthouses. 

Villas in all sizes and architectural styles meet even the most sophisticated demands on a holiday property. Accordingly, property prices vary widely, which means that every investor can find a property in his or her price range. Switzerland's largest holiday region has a more rustic feel. The pristine fauna and flora of Graubünden offer the perfect setting for a nature-oriented holiday. Whether you prefer skiing, hiking or exploring the surroundings by bike, the holiday region of Graubünden is ideal for year-round holidays and rentals. Switzerland regulates its holiday properties and their sale to foreigners who do not have their main place of residence permanently in Switzerland. Some cantons even prohibit the sale of real estate to non-residents altogether. In the best-known Swiss tourist resorts, the few holiday properties for sale are therefore in particularly high demand.

Some call the island the 17th German state, because Majorca is the most popular holiday destination for Germans. Being the largest island of the Balearic Islands, Majorca has a diverse landscape and a distinct tourist offering. Holiday flats are rented out almost all year round to short-term holidaymakers and also to long-term holidaymakers in winter in the capital Palma de Mallorca and the popular holiday areas around Andratx or Alcúdia. In the sought-after destinations on Majorca, the property prices for the dream villas are high. Meanwhile, some fincas in the interior of the island are cheaper to buy, depending on their location. They are ideal for a quiet holiday in beautiful nature, far away from the crowds. The vibrant island of Ibiza is characterised by white sandy beaches, small bays and turquoise waters. The paradisiacal neighbouring island of Formentera even surpasses Ibiza's offerings. It attracts celebrities and the well-to-do alike, as evidenced by the luxurious holiday properties on Formentera. 

A holiday home in Hungary is much cheaper to buy than in many other European countries. Another advantage is the low utility costs, which make the maintenance of a holiday home and also the holiday in Hungary inexpensive. The most famous holiday region in Hungary is Lake Balaton. With a circumference of almost 200 kilometres, Lake Balaton offers an almost endless shoreline with beautiful beaches and harmonious hilly landscapes. In the north of Lake Balaton is the wine-growing region of Dél-Balaton, where Hungary's strong red wines come from. However, it is not only the lake region that is appealing, but also the picturesque landscape of the Hungarian hinterland, like the capital Budapest, which is about an hour's drive away, an inviting destination for excursions.