6 luxurious long stays in Europe

One of the ways in which travel can be most enjoyable and rewarding is when you get to live like a local; escaping the tourist trail to find a family-run restaurant or making friends while shopping at a local market. And when you book a long-stay (an accommodation offering guests stays of up to 90 days) in one of these six European homes-away-from-home, you’ll be able to get a taste of local life – with a dose of luxury thrown in, too.

For a sunny, cultural and delicious food-filled long stay in Europe, look no further than Madrid. More specifically – Amor de Dios 17 Boutique Hotel, set within a Madrid townhouse in a quiet street in the centre of the city. It’s located between must-visits Plaza Mayor (Madrid’s expansive and atmospheric main square) and The Prado Museum (housing Spain’s largest national collection of art, and one of the largest collections in the world). You’ll likely spend the first few days sightseeing, while settling into local life with siestas and late-night dinners – try beer and tapas bar, Cervecería Restaurante Plaza Mayor, with al fresco seating on the plaza itself that’s perfect for people-watching. In the morning, wake up, step onto your soft mauve rug, draw your plum curtains and saunter outside for a strong coffee like the average Madrileño – just 15 minutes’ walk from the hotel, Santa Eulalia Boulangerie Patisserie does great coffee, freshly baked breads and pastries.

Munich has many strings to its bow; surrounded by easily accessible, resplendent nature, and known for its great beer, bakeries and pleasant pace of life, the Bavarian capital is a great place to try to settle into the local scene. Treat yourself to a little luxury while doing so and spend your long stay at Schwan Locke. Here, studio apartments boast modern, playful interiors in a soothing pastel and earthy colour palette, and are bookable for stays of up to 90 days.

Named after its Roman-built baths, this elegant city is home to a multitude of world-class spas, making it an extra relaxing and idyllic location to spend a month or so away. And at Hiding Space - Trim Street Apartments, guests even have a hot tub on a rooftop with amazing views of the city in all its architectural grandeur. Bath’s cultural calendar is always teeming with festivals, exhibitions, performances and more, while lovers of fine food and drink will appreciate the many tearooms, gastropubs and sophisticated restaurants. Return home after days spent exploring the city, to your Trim Street Apartment to check out the glittering nighttime view featuring Bath Abbey from the rooftop.

Base yourself at Lisbon Art Stay Apartments in Lisbon’s Baixa district for a month or two in the Portuguese capital and you’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of local cafés and scenic spots from which to watch the world go by. Sleep deeply in your spacious suite featuring ‘Azulejo’ (Portuguese ceramic tilework), before a morning ‘Pastel de nata’ (traditional Portuguese custard tart) and coffee. Spend your days walking the city’s hilly streets exploring markets, bookshops and bars, or go for a walk, swim or surf on one of the many beautiful beaches that pepper the Portuguese coast.

Stay too long in Dublin – experiencing the super friendly locals, and the pulsating pub and live music scene – and you won’t want to leave. But in the meantime, make the most of the Irish capital by staying at Zanzibar Locke, a collection of glamorous studio apartments exceptionally well-located right by the river and moments from the Temple Bar neighbourhood. Despite being in the thick of it, behind the building’s Georgian façade lies a serene and Scandi-style interior that’s minimal and plush. The relaxing lobby has a bar (though you’ll be unlikely to need it given the array of local pubs) and is also a nice place to enjoy breakfast each day before heading out for a stroll around the city.

Though often overlooked by visitors in favour of larger Dutch cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam, The Hague is an infinitely charming option for those looking for a more local than touristy experience. This walkable (though to truly experience local life, you’ll have to hire a bike) seaside city is relatively quiet but quirky, with everything from cocktail bars and ‘kibbeling’ (fresh fried fish) stands on the beach in summer, to exceptional art collections; The Hague’s Mauritshuis museum is home to Vermeer’s masterpiece, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Stay in a chic studio suite at COVE Centrum right in the heart of the city and enjoy having all the city’s must-sees on your doorstep.

Check out Booking.com’s top places to stay for up to 90 days, featuring over 900,000 properties – choose from homes, hotels and everything in-between.