The Burrow
Nov 24, 2025
Owning a holiday home not only offers a refreshing change of scenery for weekends or sunny holidays but can also provide a valuable income stream when you’re not using it.
But what are the best countries for those looking to buy a holiday home? The home loan experts at Compare the Market analysed more than 50 global destinations based on factors such as things to do, housing prices, and the local weather, and gave each a ranking out of 10 to find out the top places to buy a holiday home!
Here’s what we discovered.
Cyprus takes the top spot in our index with an overall score of 8.25/10. The country is renowned for its rich ancient history, its mythological ties to the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, its beautiful beaches, and its superb wines and produce.
The island, situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, scored particularly well for the number of restaurants (534 per 100,000) and average rainfall (31.89mm a month), meaning there’s numerous places to eat while enjoying the nice weather.
Cyprus also features in the top 10 for the number of things to do (334 per 100,000) and scored a low house price index (99.6) from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) real house price index.
Coming in second with a score of 7.46/10 is Australia. The land Down Under is renowned for its unique wildlife, iconic landmarks, laid-back culture, and its stunning beaches.
The weather is also fantastic, ranking third overall among the 50 countries we researched for average monthly rainfall (36.94mm) and seventh for average temperature of 22.8°C. Combine the sunny days with plenty of nice places to eat (405 restaurants per 100,000 people) and you have a great holiday home option!
In third place, with a score of 7.11/10, is another island country – Malta! With its rich history, stunning Mediterranean architecture, and beautiful beaches, Malta is an attractive destination for those seeking a holiday home.
The archipelago performed well, especially for such a small country, in terms of things to do (414 per 100,000 people). It also offers great weather with an average monthly rainfall of 50.24mm and an average temperature of 20.6°C, so that you can truly enjoy your days on holiday in Malta.
Europe’s dominance of our top five continues, with Italy (6.91/10) taking fourth place. The Bel Paese (AKA the Beautiful Country) scored well for the number of restaurants (487 per 100,000 people), meaning there are plenty of places to try Italy’s globally renowned food.
Housing is also comparatively affordable in Italy, with the country receiving a 92.59 score from the OECD’s real house price index, making it a highly attractive destination for holiday homes.
Rounding out the top five is the cradle of Western civilisation, Greece, with a score of 6.76/10. Greece is famous for its historical landmarks, beautiful islands, stunning beaches, and delicious cuisine, including an abundance of olive oil!
The southeastern European country has a plethora of activities (376 per 100,000 people) to work up an appetite for its amazing cuisine, which can be satiated at its numerous restaurants (405 per 100,000).
| Holiday Home Hotspots | House price indices | No. of Restaurants per 100,000 people | No. Things to do per 100,000 people | Cost of Taxi (AUD) | Avg Temp (C) | Avg Precipitation (MM) | Crime Index Score | Index Score |
| Cyprus | 99.60 | 534 | 334 | $10.02 | 20.2 | 31.89 | 32.99 | 8.25 |
| Australia | 122.14 | 405 | 115 | $5.80 | 22.8 | 36.94 | 47.31 | 7.46 |
| Malta | 171.93 | 319 | 414 | $8.95 | 20.6 | 50.24 | 43.09 | 7.11 |
| Italy | 92.58 | 487 | 77 | $8.95 | 14.6 | 85.23 | 47.18 | 6.91 |
| Greece | 144.44 | 405 | 376 | $7.18 | 16.1 | 67.56 | 46.35 | 6.76 |
| Spain | 129.98 | 404 | 99 | $6.80 | 15.1 | 53.74 | 37.67 | 6.70 |
| Belgium | 105.70 | 335 | 70 | $8.95 | 11.8 | 77.89 | 49.62 | 6.38 |
| Portugal | 179.97 | 426 | 411 | $6.28 | 16.9 | 60.85 | 32.86 | 6.32 |
| France | 103.87 | 297 | 72 | $7.16 | 12.7 | 94.93 | 55.86 | 6.12 |
| Sweden | 101.90 | 237 | 89 | $9.62 | 4.2 | 67.41 | 47.93 | 5.98 |
| Ireland | 139.02 | 256 | 283 | $8.97 | 10.3 | 96.23 | 48.83 | 5.86 |
| Israel | 138.70 | 69 | 116 | $8.10 | 21.0 | 17.75 | 31.84 | 5.83 |
| South Africa | 88.54 | 29 | 13 | $1.78 | 19.0 | 40.23 | 74.58 | 5.51 |
| Finland | 85.04 | 159 | 111 | $14.13 | 3.6 | 64.01 | 26.65 | 5.51 |
| Costa Rica | 108.17 | 148 | 141 | $2.84 | 25.2 | 277.33 | 53.82 | 5.48 |
| United Kingdom | 109.20 | 312 | 59 | $8.24 | 9.9 | 90.61 | 48.26 | 5.48 |
| Denmark | 120.30 | 234 | 167 | $11.98 | 10.0 | 72.39 | 25.97 | 5.45 |
| Norway | 107.68 | 197 | 164 | $18.32 | 3.1 | 105.90 | 33.06 | 5.25 |
| Germany | 115.78 | 206 | 43 | $8.41 | 11.2 | 73.15 | 38.42 | 5.22 |
| Brazil | 73.91 | 112 | 10 | $1.75 | 26.0 | 138.38 | 64.04 | 4.99 |
| Croatia | 151.27 | 298 | 491 | $5.38 | 13.8 | 90.36 | 24.47 | 4.98 |
| Austria | 122.91 | 305 | 155 | $8.77 | 9.3 | 105.67 | 28.35 | 4.98 |
| Switzerland | 130.50 | 323 | 149 | $12.60 | 7.8 | 133.74 | 27.18 | 4.95 |
| Mexico | 133.75 | 77 | 19 | $4.17 | 22.7 | 66.38 | 52.99 | 4.90 |
| Luxembourg | 131.34 | 96 | 111 | $8.95 | 11.1 | 77.55 | 32.99 | 4.81 |
| United States | 154.53 | 273 | 58 | $5.46 | 10.7 | 71.23 | 49.15 | 4.81 |
| Iceland | 173.49 | 355 | 725 | $10.00 | 1.2 | 121.59 | 25.52 | 4.55 |
| New Zealand | 135.04 | 97 | 355 | $3.52 | 10.9 | 131.36 | 48.75 | 4.54 |
| Netherlands | 147.06 | 263 | 93 | $7.22 | 11.8 | 75.38 | 25.78 | 4.52 |
| Hungary | 179.59 | 122 | 61 | $5.07 | 13.5 | 58.37 | 33.45 | 4.49 |
| Canada | 144.46 | 258 | 59 | $5.16 | -3.0 | 56.90 | 45.72 | 4.49 |
| Estonia | 135.88 | 168 | 185 | $5.38 | 7.6 | 61.93 | 23.48 | 4.40 |
| Korea | 92.14 | 160 | 26 | $4.85 | 13.6 | 102.90 | 28.72 | 4.37 |
| Colombia | 105.15 | 48 | 21 | $2.56 | 25.6 | 260.77 | 61.16 | 4.34 |
| Japan | 119.37 | 626 | 23 | $6.11 | 13.1 | 153.86 | 22.80 | 4.28 |
| Czechia | 146.92 | 185 | 169 | $3.69 | 10.6 | 67.11 | 26.50 | 4.22 |
| Slovak Rep. | 128.62 | 87 | 74 | $5.37 | 11.1 | 71.70 | 30.98 | 4.17 |
| Latvia | 138.75 | 65 | 125 | $4.49 | 8.5 | 62.83 | 36.38 | 4.17 |
| Singapore | 213.20 | 313 | 98 | $5.46 | 28.4 | 189.25 | 22.50 | 4.14 |
| Bulgaria | 141.08 | 86 | 55 | $2.26 | 13.2 | 61.54 | 35.51 | 4.08 |
| Romania | 97.512 | 53 | 33 | $1.40 | 12.3 | 63.52 | 31.17 | 3.82 |
| Poland | 139.69 | 111 | 61 | $3.81 | 10.9 | 62.91 | 28.62 | 3.82 |
| India | 98.56 | 11 | 1 | $1.40 | 25.4 | 103.66 | 44.21 | 3.79 |
| Lithuania | 155.02 | 84 | 72 | $5.38 | 9.2 | 62.51 | 33.27 | 3.76 |
| Türkiye | 174.96 | 76 | 42 | $1.65 | 13.2 | 58.38 | 41.49 | 3.63 |
| Slovenia | 154.46 | 150 | 183 | $3.50 | 11.7 | 113.19 | 24.46 | 3.47 |
| Indonesia | 91.97 | 14 | 5 | $0.93 | 26.4 | 279.25 | 46.42 | 3.37 |
| Chile | 134.45 | 88 | 51 | $1.29 | 9.7 | 119.71 | 60.68 | 3.35 |
| Russia | 186.13 | 63 | 28 | $3.40 | -2.6 | 48.81 | 38.31 | 2.91 |
| China | 133.38 | 7 | 1 | $2.16 | 8.5 | 67.57 | 23.27 | 1.92 |
General Manager of Money at Compare the Market Australia, Stephen Zeller, says there are lots of considerations when looking for your dream spot.
“Buying a holiday home is about more than just finding a beautiful location; it’s about making a smart financial decision.
“Affordability is a key factor, as is weather and lifestyle amenities. Italy, for example, offers accessible housing prices compared to other European nations, which can make financing more manageable.
“That’s where comparing home loan options becomes crucial. Understanding what’s available across lenders can help holiday home buyers look for a deal that suits both their budget and goals.
“Whether you’re purchasing for personal use, rental income, or a mix of both, comparing home loans can give you a clearer picture of your borrowing power and help you make informed decisions.”
We analysed more than 50 global destinations on the below factors, giving each a normalised mark out of ten before averaging the scores.
All data is correct as of 27/10/2025. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regard to the sources provided.