Revealing 10 of the top 1% homes around the world

From sporting events to natural phenomenons, this year has seen strong demand for travel. In Q1 2024 alone, we had over 130 million nights and Experiences booked—our highest first quarter ever. No matter the occasion, we want every guest looking to book a listing on Airbnb to feel confident that they know exactly what to expect before they book and be satisfied at the end of their stay.

To continue helping guests find great quality and reliable places to stay, Airbnb has launched a new highlight to help top listings stand out, based on ratings, reviews and reliability. Eligible listings in the top 1 percent, 5 percent, or 10 percent are highlighted with a golden trophy and Guest Favorites badge making it clear that these are the best homes on Airbnb according to guests.

We know guests often rely on other guests’ experience to determine the quality of a listing before booking a stay. We’re constantly working to provide new information from fellow guests, to help guests narrow and select the best listing for their needs – from Guest Favorites, to reviews, and now our new highlights for top homes. And these features are having a positive impact: Guest Favorites listings have seen over 100 million nights booked since we launched the feature.

Today, we are sharing 10 accommodations in the top 1 percent of homes worldwide. From stunning lofts in Spain and Italy to a variety of cottages and carriage houses in Mississippi and North Carolina, these homes are rich in history and character, feature stunning views, and are listed by some of Airbnb’s most hospitable hosts.

Artistic Loft in the heart of Seville (Sevilla, Spain)

Enjoy the city of Seville from this elegant and colorful loft located in a quiet and traditional neighborhood close to historical sites, restaurants, parks, and essential amenities – all the elements for a memorable trip. With easy access to different modes of transportation, guests can also visit Seville’s many vibrant neighboring cities.

The image portrays a bright, modern living space with an open layout incorporating a kitchen, dining, and living area. The scene includes a staircase on the left leading up to a mezzanine with a patterned leafy wallpaper and a bed.

Room in Cozy Countryside Cottage (Walesby, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom)

A quaint house with a red-tiled roof, pastel pink walls, and a wooden front door. The yard includes a seating area with a pink umbrella and a well-manicured lawn with flower beds.

Looking to get a taste of the countryside? This unique pastel pink cottage with accessibility features in a quiet village in the Sherwood Forest Countryside offers a fix. According to guests, this listing oozes quality – from the unique exterior, the fireplace, comfortable couches, to the well thought out breakfast spread provided by the host.

Converted Barn Room with a Lake View (Killarney, Ireland)

This picturesque converted barn is over 150 years old, looking out on Killarney’s lakes and mountains. The view is only made better by the hosts willingness to help guests plan their sight-seeing, and even entertain with traditional Irish music, if they wish.

A picturesque stone house set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a clear blue sky. The house has two stories and is made of gray stone with a dark gray shingled roof.
A well-maintained garden with vibrant pink and red flowers borders the gravel driveway leading to the house.

Historic Carriage House (Banner Elk, North Carolina)

For guests whose idea of a quality stay involves watching goats play, listening to the birds and reading their favorite book, this carriage house located in historic Valle Crucis checks all the boxes. A stay at this listing gives you the opportunity to explore the granite cliffs overlooking the Watauga river and valley or enjoy tranquil walks through the pine and spruce forest.

Rustic living room with stone fireplace, wooden wall paneling, built-in bookshelf, white couch with teal pillows, and light blue patterned rug.

The Laurel Cottage (Laurel, Mississippi)

A cozy cottage is nestled in the heart of Laurel’s historic district, on the grounds of a local landmark home, built in 1907. The newly renovated listing is the entire first floor of a carriage house that is original to the property, with all of its lovely old-world charm!

Two-story house with dark green shingles, yellow Adirondack chairs on a patio, and a wooden playset in the foreground.

Trevi Fountain Vintage Loft (Rome, Italy)

This nest of love in magical Rome is a romantic and delightful suite in a typical Roman style, offering guests easy access to the famous Trevi fountain and Spanish steps only a few meters away.

A well-lit, narrow hallway with a warm, rustic decor. terracotta tile floor, wooden dresser and wardrobe, gold-framed mirror, ornate decorations, and a view of a living area with a sofa and balcony.

The hallway extends to a living area visible in the background, furnished with a white sofa, a small wooden table with an orange lampshade, and a balcony door framed with green plants.

12 South Carriage House (Nashville, Tennessee)

This listing boasts the ideal location to experience the popular 12 South neighborhood and all Music City has to offer. The modern well-lit guest house also features an EV charger for travelers with electric vehicles.

A modern living room with a light gray couch, wooden coffee table on a red and white rug, and a wall-mounted TV above a wooden credenza. An adjacent bedroom is visible through an open doorway.

Private Spa Retreat with a Rooftop (Seattle, Washington)

Retreat to this private, architect designed apartment just miles from downtown Seattle. The colorful, light-filled space not only boasts bold accent walls but also a state-of-the-art Finnish sauna in your own private rooftop retreat. Plush robes, towels, and spa sandals await.

Contemporary living room with wooden ceiling, skylight, black fireplace in a marble wall, wooden cabinetry, glass dining table with white and orange chairs, teal armchair, wall-mounted television, and a wooden sculpture above a sideboard.

Suite in Georgian Brick Home (Salem, Massachusetts)

This 177-year-old Greek Revival brick home, nestled among Salem’s most prized architecture, is walkable to all the best Salem has to offer including the Witch Museum, pedestrian mall, and Salem Common.

cozy, well-lit living room with a mix of traditional and contemporary decor. The space features four skylights on the slanted ceiling, filling the room with natural light. Below the skylights is a large sectional gray couch adorned with decorative pillows. Directly in front of the couch is a polished wooden coffee table and two patterned armchairs. The seating area is positioned on a large, ornate oriental rug with red, blue, and beige floral designs.

Rural Bothy in Victorian Garden (Mid Sussex, England)

Brimming with history and elegance, this private, homey dwelling in a picturesque courtyard is set on more than four acres of Victorian gardens with stunning views. It is home to the beautiful and graceful Atlantic cedar, which is the oldest in Sussex at over 200 years old!

Brick building with red doors and white dormer windows, a flowering tree with pink blossoms in the foreground, and a white wall with an open passage next to it.

More on top quality homes on Airbnb, according to guests

Guests can find an array of high-quality homes across the more than 60 categories available on Airbnb, but those searching for top stays in the great outdoors will find a wealth of options, as Countryside, Beach, National parks, Amazing pools and Golfing are the top 5 categories featuring the most homes in the top 10% of all listings.

Wondering where most of the top quality homes are located? Among the top 20 locations with the most top 10% listings are:

London, Great Britain
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Paris, France
Florianopolis, Brazil
Melbourne, Australia
Rome, Italy
Cape Town, South Africa
Ubatuba, Brazil
Austin, Texas
Sydney, Australia

Taken from: https://news.airbnb.com/10-of-the-top-1-percent-homes-on-airbnb/