Hundreds of thousands of readers voted for the annual Travel+Leisure World’s Best awards– everything from hotels to beaches, islands and airports.
The list is considered a sense of some of the most discerning travelers in the world and an idea of what’s to come for tourism in the following year.
One of the most popular lists is the Best Islands of Europe– and there are many.
But the readers have spoken. Greece rules this list with four islands out of the 15 and those islands selected also take four out of the top five spots on the list.
And the winners are…
(15) Orkney Islands, Scotland
(14) Malta
(13) Skye and the Hebrides, Scotland
(12) Mallorca, Spain
(11) Ischia, Italy
(10) Lipari and the Aeolian Islands, Italy
(9) Sardinia, Italy
(8) Madeira, Portugal
(7) Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands, Croatia
(6) Sicily, Italy
(5) Santorini, Greece
(4) Páros, Greece
(3) Azores, Portugal
(2) Crete, Greece
(1) Mílos, Greece
One of the Cyclades, Mílos is known as the place where the famed Venus de Milo statue was discovered. But visitors today still find their own treasures while exploring this 58-square-mile island. Stroll its cobblestoned streets, hike volcanic craters, wander through ruins, or stretch out on the groomed white-sand beaches overlooking turquoise waters. Even the largest town, Adamantas, which has two museums and a multitude of boutique hotels, remains largely free of the crowds prevalent on the other Greek isles. And, as one fan pointed out, “it’s very affordable.” For embodying the finest qualities that European islands have to offer, T+L readers attest that one can do no better.
