THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE AIRBNBS REVEALED & AUSTRALIA’S SURPRISE ENTRY

From Italy’s $93,000-a-night villas to a $20,000 Bowral château, a new global ranking showcases the priciest Airbnbs available in 2026.

Airbnb is one of the most recognisable companies in the global hospitality and travel sector.

What started off as a home-swapping (or rather, air-mattress-and-breakfast) platform for travellers in 2007–2008 has evolved into one of the most lucrative short-stay accommodation marketplaces in the world.

Founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk, the short-stay letting platform now boasts over 8 million active listings across more than 220 countries and regions, and facilitates hundreds of millions of bookings every year.

Whereas homes were previously swapped in a spirit of sharing, many properties now on the short-stay letting market are effectively holiday homes for their owners—residences that are never fully lived in.

While expensive stays are nothing new, have you ever wondered what the most expensive homes on Airbnb are?

A new report from Tradingplatforms has collated listings across the world’s most visited countries, providing a snapshot of the priciest stays available for January 2026.

To compile the ranking, researchers analysed 86 countries with the highest inbound visitor numbers, identifying each nation’s most expensive Airbnb during the period of January 14–17, 2026.

Prices were carefully gathered inclusive of taxes and fees, with any unrealistic or inauthentic listings removed. The study produced a global leaderboard, along with regional breakdowns, and included details on property type, total cost, bedroom and bathroom count, guest capacity, reviews, and premium amenities.

The findings reveal that luxury is spread across multiple continents, with Europe dominating the list.

Italy tops the global ranking with a property priced at €51,921 (AU$92,783) per night, while the second most expensive listing, in Mexico, comes in at €27,474 (AU$49,096) per night.

Australia doesn’t make the top 10 list, but a home in Bowral in the Southern Highlands of NSW comes in at number 14. La Gemme Estate, a French château set on 100 acres of private grounds, costs €11,351 a night, or just over $20,000 based on the exchange rate at the time of publication.

The home, at the end of a long, tree-lined driveway which meanders past a private pond with a fountain feature and a bridge, has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a heated swimming pool, steam room, outdoor hot tub, and a library. The property can also host small weddings.

It is owned by Clayton Larcombe, the financial adviser turned fund manager, and his wife Kyara, who bought the “European Palladian style country estate” for $7.4 million in 2021, before undertaking a lavish renovation.

The World’s 10 Most Expensive Airbnbs for January 2026

Lake Garda View Resort, Gardone Riviera, Italy. Photo: Airbnb

Luxury Lake Garda View Resort, Gardone Riviera, Italy
Price per night: €51,921 (AU$92,783)

The priciest Airbnb in the world is the Lake Garda View Resort in Italy’s Gardone Riviera. The five villas, designed by internationally renowned architects such as David Chipperfield, Richard Meier and Marc Mark, can accommodate 84 guests. There’s even an internal hotel with high-end apartments pitched as being ideal for operational staff, productions, or guests.

Casa Tau: A Luxury Villa, Punta de Mita, Mexico
Price per night: €27,474 (AU$49,096)

Casa Tau is the second priciest Airbnb in the world for January. The 12-bedroom villa, on the beachfront of the prestigious Punta Mita Community in Los Ranchos, Mexico, can host 27 guests across five buildings. The focal point is the central swimming pool and hot tub with adjoining alfresco terrace. Casa Tau comes with twice-daily housekeeping, chef and laundry services, a 12-hour butler, and preference membership to the resort’s golf and beach clubs.

7-Bedroom Ultra-Luxury Villa, Dubai, UAE
Price per night: €25,728 (AU$45,976)

A new villa in Dubai, furnished with iconic pieces from the world’s most prestigious luxury brands like Fendi Casa, Versace Home, Bentley Home, and Roche Bobois, is the priciest in the UAE.

The seven-bedroom home features two private swimming pools — one infinity-edge, one indoor — and a fully equipped private lounge and entertainment club, complete with a bar, high-end audio-visual systems, and ambient lighting.

Country House, La Romana, Dominican Republic, Villa Cahey
Price per night: €25,055 (AU$44,773)

A private beach and a private chef, butler, bartender, and maids are just some of the inclusions at Country House in the Dominican Republic. The exclusive home, with uninterrupted views over the water, can host 24 guests across 12 bedrooms. Guests also have access to Casa de Campo amenities, including golf courses, dining, Minitas Beach Club, tennis courts, equestrian and shooting centres, and water sports.

Villa Riviera Serenity, Mae Nam, Thailand
Price per night: €24,536 (AU$43,846)

Thailand doesn’t have to be cheap. Villa Riviera on the popular island of Koh Samui is the country’s most expensive Airbnb. The five-bedroom villa is tucked into a jungle setting, but just 10 minutes from Bang Por Beach.

Villa Mirasol, Mali Lošinj, Croatia
Price per night: €20,305 (AU$36,285)

Villa Mirasol is an elegant Art Nouveau property boasting a spectacular location on the island of Lošinj, with a distinctive tower overlooking the idyllic Čikat Bay. The gated villa features five bedrooms and a spacious three-bedroom apartment with a separate entrance, as well as a secluded garden with terraces, ocean views, a private swimming pool, and a jacuzzi.

Luttrellstown Castle, Dublin, Ireland
Price per night: €19,090 (AU$34,114)

One of the oldest homes on this list is Luttrellstown Castle, which dates back to the 15th century. The 567-acre property has its own 18-hole championship golf course and a state-of-the-art alpine lodge-style clubhouse, alongside the iconic castle that takes its name from the Luttrell family, who held the estate for more than three centuries until 1811. It is another property well suited for large weddings—it’s where David and Victoria Beckham tied the knot in 1999.

Fantasia Villas, Katastari, Greece, The Imperial Spa Villa
Price per night: €18,880 (AU$33,739)

The Imperial Spa Villa in Katastari, near the island of Kefalonia, has its own private spot on the Greek coastline. The four-bedroom villa spans more than 2,000 sqm of living space and includes three heated swimming pools set among private tropical gardens.

Middle Cay, North Eleuthera, Bahamas. Photo: Airbnb

Middle Cay, North Eleuthera, Bahamas
Price per night: €18,040 (AU$32,237)

A private two-acre island in the Bahamas makes the top 10 list of most expensive Airbnbs. The island is home to coconut tree groves, two private docks, a natural island swimming spot, and two open-concept villas that can sleep 19 guests. Guests can also use three underwater sea scooters, with likely sightings of bright tropical fish or a sea turtle or two.

Villa Tomazo, Marrakesh, Morocco
Price per night: €14,978 (AU$26,766)

Villa Tomazo in Marrakesh rounds out the list. The 10-bedroom villa features a large swimming pool, a hot tub, an outdoor fireplace, and a massage service.

A landmark beachfront home in Balgowlah Heights has sold for $17.5 million, setting a new residential record for the tightly held Northern Beaches suburb.

The six-bedroom residence at 30A Beatty Street changed hands on July 21 through Clarke & Humel Property, eclipsing its own previous benchmark by $5.7 million.

The property last sold for $11.8 million in October 2017, a result reported as a Balgowlah Heights record at the time. Its latest sale represents an increase of more than 48% in almost nine years and places it well ahead of other known sales in the suburb.

It is not the first time the address has reshaped local expectations. The home sold for $3.15 million in 2013 before extensive alterations and additions transformed it into the substantial trophy residence seen today. From that transaction to its latest sale, its recorded value has increased more than fivefold.

Occupying 1,074sqm in an exclusive no-through pocket, the property backs directly onto the golden sand of Forty Baskets Beach. A gate at the bottom of the garden opens to the beach and surrounding foreshore walks, creating the kind of direct harbour access rarely available on the Northern Beaches.

The home’s elevated, cascading design takes full advantage of its position. Walls of glass frame panoramic views across North Harbour, while a succession of indoor and outdoor living spaces follows the slope towards the water.

Arrival is suitably dramatic. The four-car garage—complete with harbour views—is connected to the residence by a lift. From there, a covered walkway leads through tropical gardens to an entrance framed by a koi pond, stone flooring and soaring ceilings.

At the centre of the home is an expansive living and entertaining level. A stone kitchen fitted with Miele appliances steps down towards the view, incorporating an integrated refrigerator and freezer and a built-in breakfast bar positioned to overlook the harbour.

The adjoining formal dining room opens through a bi-fold wall to a landscaped side courtyard. A substantial living room, anchored by a gas fireplace, also connects to the main terrace, creating a continuous relationship between the interior, gardens and water.

An electrically operated roof allows the terrace to be used in different weather conditions, while automated internal blinds and ducted airconditioning add to the home’s extensive technology and comfort features.

Outside, the entertaining areas continue around a swimming pool and spa. A built-in barbecue, steam room and generous terraces give the property the atmosphere of a private resort, with the beach only steps away.

The accommodation has been arranged to suit a large or multigenerational household.

Four bedroom suites occupy an upper level, while the main bedroom commands an entire floor. The private retreat includes sweeping harbour views, a large walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious ensuite.

On the lower level, a billiard room and bar are accompanied by two bedrooms and a bathroom. A separate self-contained studio provides further flexibility for extended family, guests or live-in staff.

The residence also includes a private home office, yoga room and extensive storage—features that allow it to function as both a secluded family home and a large-scale entertaining destination.

Sustainability and energy resilience have also been incorporated through solar panels and a Tesla battery.

Despite its rare waterfront setting, the property remains close to the conveniences of the lower Northern Beaches. Bus services are approximately 450 metres away, while Balgowlah Village, local schools and North Harbour Reserve are within easy reach. Manly is about three kilometres from the home.

The sale underlines the scarcity premium attached to Sydney homes combining substantial land, direct beach access and uninterrupted harbour views.

Balgowlah Heights has a median house value of about $4.23 million, according to PropTrack data displayed on realestate.com.au. At more than four times that figure, the Beatty Street result sits in a different tier from the suburb’s conventional prestige market.

Its price is also $6.65 million above the $10.85 million paid for neighbouring 30 Beatty Street in December 2025.

While conventional luxury features helped support the result, the defining asset is one that cannot be readily replicated: a private rear gate opening directly onto Forty Baskets Beach.