6 Magical Spots to Enjoy Midsummer Around the World

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Waterside living, lush landscapes and plenty of room to entertain combine in the best seasonal retreats for summer’s longest days, writes Elizabeth Fazzare

Though earlier soaring temperatures may suggest otherwise, the official calendar start of Northern Hemisphere summer is Sunday, June 21, a solstice marking the longest day of the year. With the sun high in the sky, outdoor living develops extended appeal: there is more time to spend with friends and family in the pool, off the dock or in the backyard. And for homebuyers seeking seasonal retreats that take advantage of this midsummer joy, location, landscape and multigenerational amenities are top priorities.

“Landscape is an important factor in the marketability of a summer retreat, but water access, proximity to that water and the quality of water views are the most important,” says Alyssa Halisky, global real estate advisor at Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty in Massachusetts. Plus, she adds, “We are seeing more buyers looking for a vacation home where they can bring all their family.”

Hailsky’s current seven-bedroom, 14,780-square-foot listing in Chilmark is unique. Not only is the size of the property substantial, with room enough for the in-laws and then some, it can never be replicated due to planning bylaws. Beyond that, the house’s grounds have ample areas for all-ages recreation, from a tennis court to a deep-water dock, “a highly sought-after amenity that rarely comes to market,” Halisky says.

“There is particularly strong demand for properties that offer direct water access from the backyard, allowing owners to fully enjoy boating and other activities without relying on marinas or public launches,” she adds.

On northern Italy’s Lake Garda, a 10-bedroom villa set within a private park has its own dock, allowing the homeowner to cross the water in style whenever they desire. 

Meanwhile, in Finland, a nearly five-acre private-island property takes waterfront access up a notch. Whether traveling to the island by boat, car or helicopter—with a durable jetty as landing pad for safe passage—it offers three bedrooms across its main and guest houses, with large terraces to take in the almost endless summertime daylight.

If a private dock or island are not available, a swimming pool in a spectacular setting will do. Ladyswood House, a quintessential country home in Wiltshire, England, has a lush formal garden with a pool, wisteria-draped pergola, outdoor kitchen and pool house, all nestled within 60 acres of farmland in the covetable Cotswolds area. 

The landscaped surrounds are perfect for midsummer hosting, and with the estate so close to Stonehenge—Neolithic monument to the solstices and UNESCO World Heritage site—a celebration of the season’s pagan traditions would feel particularly appropriate.

Perhaps nowhere are midsummer parties more ubiquitous than in Sweden, where the annual Midsommar festival calls for dancing, drinking, feasting and bonfires, all around a flower-wrapped maypole. A 15-bedroom Stockholm home, located along 2,600 feet of private Furusund Fairway shoreline, has plenty of outdoor space to erect your own.

And thanks to the property’s charming seaside site—with a dock for several boats, natural coves and water views across expansive lawns—a seamless connection between home and landscape should keep the midsummer fun going all season long.