Nine Greek islands were elected by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine among the top twenty European islands for 2023, according to greekreporter.com.
These are the best islands in Europe according to the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023. The scores below are percentages indicating overall average satisfaction levels.
Greek islands in reverse order
19.Paros. Score 79.69
This island has built a reputation as one of the friendliest Greek destinations in the Cyclades: the beaches are secluded and the fishing villages are largely free compared to its neighbors Santorini and Mykonos, according to the magazine.
18. Corfu. Score 79.73
“Corfu is the green island of Greece – lined with pine trees, mountains and olive trees. Part of the territory is protected by UNESCO and the beaches are among the most beautiful in the country,” notes Condé Nast Traveler.
17. Rhodes. Score 79.93
“Breaked by wildfires in the summer of 2023, Rhodes is one of our readers’ favorite destinations,” says the travel magazine. The beaches are beautiful, of course, but there are also ancient towns and tiny Byzantine mountain chapels dotted around the interior.
13. Kos. Score 82.79
Kos, one of the Greek Dodecanese islands, is known for its magnificent beaches, some of the best in this corner of the Greek islands. Much ancient architecture has been preserved here, from 14th-century castles to the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, where the philosopher once taught.
12. Skiathos. Score 83.10
The smallest of the Sporades islands is also the most popular. “Beaches like Koukounaries are very popular for their turquoise sea, while those on the west coast, like Elia, are calmer,” says the magazine.
11. Sifnos. Score 83.25
Sifnos has earned the reputation of being the most delicious Greek island. “More than 60 miles of trails run through the island of Sifnos in the Western Cyclades,” wrote Lydia Bell, editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Traveler, in our July/August 2023 issue.
“Old mule trails winding between rocky hills and down to fishing piers. It is a tiny, rocky world, a little over nine miles across and less than five wide. Inland villages, labyrinths and flowerbeds are perched on the island’s spine. Sifnos is the Cyclades, but not as you know them.
7. Santorini. Rating 84.71
The sunset from Santorini is considered the best in the world. Credit: Giuseppe Milo/CC BY-SA 2.0
“Of all the Greek islands, Santorini is perhaps the most famous – a romantic and spectacular landscape practically imagined for honeymooners,” the magazine notes. The whitewashed villages actually float on the edge of the volcanic caldera; the beaches are really carved out of black sand; and the sunsets truly shine bright orange, pink and red.
He warns, however, that Santorini is also prone to overtourism. “Visiting Santorini in winter is a great way to practically have the island to yourself.”
4. Crete. Rating 86.95
Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, has a rugged interior and, perhaps surprisingly, is not heavily built up, while the towns in the north and south of the island are more cosmopolitan, explains Conde Nast Traveler.
“Chania is our favorite of the two main metropolises – a surprising urban outpost that hugs the port,” he adds.
2. Mykonos. Rating 87.35
“Splashy Mykonos is the Greek island where you go to see and be seen.”
“Glittery beach clubs are the perfect place for long, lazy lunches that can turn into rowdy afternoons, while the town is full of trendy boutiques. Meanwhile, scorching summer nights are best spent in the island’s hedonistic clubs.
According to the votes of readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Mykonos is located just behind the first island in Europe which is Sardinia, Italy, with a score of 88.08.
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Photo source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Julieta39
