High on a Greek island hilltop, overlooking ancient terraces, white-cube houses and endless blue horizons, are these two simple but perfectly restored Cycladic cottages. They sit in the scattered hamlet of Ano Meria, at the end of the only road on Folegandros, which itself is one of the tiniest and remotest islands in the Cyclades archipelago. This is a place to disconnect and unwind, with the breeze in your hair, the sun on your face, and your toes in the turquoise plunge pool.
They are also among the most sympathetically refurbished village houses that we’ve seen. (Truth be told, we haven’t seen them in person yet; but we’ve studied the photographs, we know the location, we love the people behind it, and guest feedback is great). Expect cool rustic-chic interiors, stone-and-beam ceilings, micro-cement floors, tasteful wood and wicker furnishings and a few pop-art touches. Each has a large sunny terrace with a private pool and sunbeds, a cosy double bedroom, a shower bathroom, a living room with sofabed(s), and a small kitchen with all you need for home cooking - or you can wander along the lane to authentic Greek tavernas. Both are perfect as a couple's hideaway, or with little one(s) if you're up for some adventure: Villa 1 has two sofabeds, Villa 2 has one. Come for a lazy, sunny week of beach hikes, boat rides, al fresco meals, and a back-to-nature island lifestyle.
Highs
- Sunsets are breathtaking up here at 220m (650ft): inky seas below, ochre skies above, distant isles breaking a silvery horizon
- The wide sunny terraces have dining alcoves, reading spots, sunloungers and a small heated pool with those giddying views
- The island’s best sand beach, Agali, is below the villas: snorkel, jump on a boat, dine at the lovely Blue Sand Hotel (run by the villas' owners)
- Although it feels super-remote, Folegandros is actually only a couple of hours by ferry from Santorini, which has direct flights from UK and Europe
Lows
- Be aware you're in a tiny village: there's a minimarket, a couple of restaurants and a bakery, but not much else
- It's a 3km drive (or a 45-min walk) down to the nearest beach, so you'll want a car (but not use it much)
- The houses retains their traditional footprint: some rooms are compact
- The pool terraces lack natural shade (but each has a covered part)
Best time to go
May, June and September are pleasantly warm, not too windy, and delightfully uncrowded - an island this size fills up quickly. October is lovely too: days are shorter, but the sea is still wonderful for swimming. In July and August, the tourists and the temperatures increase, but there's almost always a breeze up here - and if the summer meltemi wind is blowing, you can feel rather buffeted by it. The villas are normally closed from November through April.
Our top tips
If you fancy eating out, just wander along the lane to one of three authentic Greek tavernas - Irini currently gets our vote - and take a sea-facing seat for the dramatic sunset. Expect local matsata (noodles) with pork and grated goats’ cheese, home-cooked lamb with okra, delicious aubergine and chick-pea salads. Often as not, the ‘menu’ will be delivered orally and you just say yes or no. Irini also doubles up as a mini-market, or you can drive 5km into Chora, the island’s main village, for a wider choice of shops.
- Boutique Villas
- 2 houses for 2-4
- Self-catering
- All ages welcome
- Closed: 22 Nov 2024 - 30 Apr 2025...
- Plunge Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Laundry Service
Villa 1 (sleeps 2-4)
This traditional village house has thick stone walls with bright white interiors to offset the compactness, and tease it into the 21st century. Slate-slabbed roofs, bamboo ceilings and wonky oak beams combine with funky art and upcycled furniture to create a chic bohemian ambience, while air-con and smallish windows keep the house blissfully cool.
The sitting room comes with built-in L-shaped sofas (which double up as children's beds), a driftwood-style storage cupboard, low tables, dried thistles in tall vases. Two steps lead up to the dining room - where you’re greeted by a pair of psychedelic, goggle-eyed metal ostriches - and the compact kitchen.
Beyond this is the shower bathroom, with its eye-catching black tap fittings, sleek basin, pampering bathrobes and organic toiletries; and the cosy, white double bedroom, which comes with a wall-to-wall double bed, a trestle desk, natty “knotted rope” reading lamps and white storage niches. It’s simple, comfy and utterly peaceful.
The thin galley kitchen squeezes in everything you need for home cooking: oven, hob, sink, coffee-maker, toaster, retro fridge-freezer, sharp knives (but no dishwasher, note). There are plenty of utensils, glasses and crockery stored in handy niches within those thick walls; but limited surface area means you need to stay tidy. Next door, the dining room has a table for 4 beneath hanging wicker-basket lamps, but our bet is that you’ll eat all your meals outside, either in the reed- and wind-shaded dining alcove or at one of the village tavernas.
Villa 2 (sleeps 2-3)
This newly refurbished, slightly smaller cottage follows a similar pattern: stone walls, compact but chic interiors with top-quality fittings and no clutter, and an expansive paved terrace with private plunge pool and sunbathing deck.
There are four rooms: a living room (with single sofabed), a kitchen (with hob, oven, sink, toaster, kettle, Nespresso machine, plus a table for two), a snug double bedroom (whose kingsize bed takes up the full width of the room), and a shower room. We love the artisanal touches, such as wicker lampshades, driftwood mirror frame and whitewashed wall niches: it all contributes to a beautiful 21st-century Greek cottage look.
If the interiors are compact, the terrace is huge, with a good-sized plunge pool (including hydromassage feature), outdoor sofas and beanbag chairs, a covered 'lookout' area and two restored circular wheat threshing floors for you to top up your tan. As often in Greece, there are unprotected drops so you'll need to keep a close eye on younger kids.
Activities
- Relax on your villa's sunny terrace, with its (heated) plunge pool, deck chairs and plunging views over the coast
- Walking trails cover the island - some descend to the coast, others cross old terraced fields - but there’s little shade, so be prepared
- Drive or walk down to beautiful Agali Beach, where the clear blue waters look good enough to drink
- Book the owners' RIB boat (with skipper) to explore hidden coves, coastal cliffs and top snorkelling spots
- Drive to the main village of Chora, one of the loveliest in the Cyclades: whitewashed pedestrianised lanes, tumbling pink bougainvillea, mewing kittens and bustling open-air tavernas
- Tucked into the cliffs below Ano Meria is a beautiful and totally secluded cove called Livadaki: you can catch a boat from Agali beach, or hike there from the villa in an hour (more on the way back up!) using the Anavasi map to guide you
Kids
We think these houses work best for older kids who like a bit of adventure, or young children who can splash happily in the small pool (but mind the strong sun and unprotected edges). Both houses have TV and WiFi.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
Villa 1 can accommodate a family of 4 in reasonable comfort. You'll be using the sitting room as the kids' room (there are 2 single sofabeds) so it will feel a bit cramped indoors; but most of your downtime will be spent outside on the sunny terrace and the dining patio.
Villa 2 can sleep a couple with 1 child, again using a sofabed in the sitting room. This cottage is smaller, so you won't have a huge amount of room to spread out.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Folegandros Hideaways are in the tiny hilltop village of Ano Meria, on the small Cyclades island of Folegandros. Chora, the little island capital, is a 10-minute drive away.
By Air and Ferry:
There is no airport on Folegandros. Instead, fly into Santorini (30km) then take a ferry / hydrofoil / catamaran to Folegandros (1-3 hours). Alternatively, fly to Athens and take a ferry / hydrofoil from Piraeus (4-8 hours). Ferries are daily during summer; typically 3 times a week for the rest of the year.
From Folegandros Harbour
The hotel provides complimentary transfers to and from the harbour (a 15-minute drive).
Getting Around
We advise hiring a car or jeep on arrival at Folegandros, or perhaps a quad bike if you're feeling brave. The villa is in a small village (seasonal restaurants, minimart, no bus connections), and it's a 3km / 45min walk to the nearest beach. Having said that, if you're a keen walker looking for a remote getaway, you could get taxi transfers from the port, and explore on foot.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Santorini 30.0 km JTR
- Athens 250.0 km ATH
Other:
- Beach 2.0 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape