The highlight of many Mediterranean homes is a roof terrace, ideal spots for enjoying a sundowner. As these ones show, your own solarium could be more affordable than you thought …

If you’re buying a home in the sun, you probably want to sit outside catching some rays. Fortunately, while gardens can come at a price, many apartments come with roof terraces, often with 360-degree views of the seaside or mountains.

Here are five top tips for creating the perfect Mediterranean-style roof garden plus five gorgeous properties with sun-drenched solariums.

One: Check the rules and neighbours. Before buying, have your lawyer ensure that you are allowed to make a roof terrace garden – some developments might have in-house rules about this. And consider how much it might affect any neighbouring properties.

Two: Plan for your lifestyle. Some like breakfast in the sunrise, others prefer a cocktail at sunset, so organise your seating plan accordingly. Plan planting so you have colour throughout the year.

Three: Use pots or create raised beds. Think about drainage and suit the size and depth of pots to the flowers you want to enjoy. Don’t be too ambitious – that ancient olive tree that looks so nice in the garden centre might not be suitable!

Four:  Wind and water. Roof tops by the coast can be blowy, so consider windbreaks. Think about how you’ll get water up to the roof. An automated irrigation system is usually best.

Five: Stay shady. The wind will soon shift a lightweight gazebo, so buy something robust enough to be stable. A wooden shade with a lattice effect should be enough to keep you sheltered but enjoying those rays.

For more information about buying a home in a Mediterranean destination, download one of the our free Buying Guides.

Now check out these five amazing homes, just waiting for you to get your green fingers to work:

Estepona, Spain
Just three kilometres from the family resort of Estepona on the Costa del Sol, this solarium comes with a two-bedroom apartment on a small complex near the beach.

The stunning 360-degree views take in the sea, Rock of Gibraltar and mountains. The development is new and apartments come with underground parking and access to a communal pool.

For more information, click on the image.

 

Calpe, Spain
The third floor of a duplex apartment comprises this roof terrace which looks over the rooftops of Calpe to the beautiful Bay of Calpe in the northern Costa Blanca.

It is reached via an external staircase on the large terrace of the three-bedroom apartment’s second floor – the property boasts ample outdoor space and is made for al fresco living. Its location is hard to beat too, being just 200 metres from the sea and a quick 10-minute walk from the centre of the resort.

 

Albufeira, Portugal
Breakfast, lunch or dinner – you’ll never want to eat indoors again if you owned this roof terrace, which sits atop a smart five-bedroom villa in the Algarve. A fabulous use of space, the solarium’s panoramic views take in the pretty countryside and the Parra Valley.

The property, situated on the edge of Albufeira, is in excellent condition and includes a private pool and garden. If you can drag yourself down from the rooftop, the beach and restaurants are both within walking distance.

 

Paphos, Cyprus
Year-round sunshine comes as standard in Cyprus and where better to enjoy it from than this huge 107-metre terrace overlooking the sparkling sea. You’ll find it attached to a three-bedroom penthouse apartment in a prime waterfront location in the resort of Paphos, a resort especially popular with British buyers and with direct flight connections with the UK.

Just 200 metres from the beach and 400 metres from amenities, it would be hard not to slip into the laid-back lifestyle this Mediterranean island offers

 

Provence, France
Countryside views can be just as appealing as sea panoramas, if you are somewhere as inspiring as the spectacular Luberon, a region in the south of France known for its picturesque hilltop villages surrounded by vineyards and striking countryside.

Who wouldn’t enjoy a glass of local wine gazing at the views of the Vaucluse mountains and distant villages from this terrace? It’s the cherry on the cake that maximises the elevated position of a three-storey, three-bedroom village property that has been carefully renovated and oozes local character.