Every autumn, Condé Nast Traveller (CNT), the iconic travel media, reveals how its readers see the world – and, by extension, what they value most when they travel. The 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, now in their 28th year, reflect votes from the UK edition’s audience, each one, as CNT put it, “a little memento of your travels – a fridge magnet brought back from your journeys.”
The results form what the editors call “an outward-looking view of the world,” shaped by those who plan, host, and feed us along the way. This year, Greece featured prominently across several major categories, from Europe’s favorite hotels to the world’s best resorts and islands.
01
Favourite Hotels in Europe
Winner: Le Bristol Paris (Score: 99.83)
Greek hotels performed exceptionally well, with one Athens hotel (the Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, see more below) ranking as one of the top 12 hotels in Europe. CNT wrote, “Every year we ask you to rate your favourite European hotels according to a checklist of criteria, from food and location to design, rooms and service, as well as activities and, where appropriate, community investment.”
Leading the Greek list, the Hotel Grande Bretagne received a reader’s score of 99.83. It was followed by Perivolas Lifestyle Houses, Santorini (99.67), The Rooster, Antiparos (99.64), Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino (99.53), Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (99.47), Canaves Epitome, Canaves Collection, Santorini (99.15), Iconic Santorini (98.97), Grecotel Pallas Athena, Athens (98.26), The Dolli at Acropolis, Athens (97.88), and Acro Suites, Crete (97.75).
02
Best Resorts in the World
Winner: Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico
In the European resorts subcategory, Greece achieved near-total dominance: all 10 places on the list went to Greek properties, while other countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Ireland had only one or two each.
The rankings were as follows: Porto Zante Villas & Spa, Zakynthos (99.71), Sani Resort, Kassandra (99.00), Ikos Dassia, Corfu (98.74), Ikos Odisia, Corfu (98.73), One&Only Aesthesis, Athens (98.66), Grecotel Casa Marron, Peloponnese (98.61), St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas, Crete (98.38), Grecotel Creta Palace, Crete (97.50), Elounda Peninsula Luxury Resort, Crete (97.14), and Elix, Mar-Bella Collection, Karavostasi (97.04).
03
Best Cities in Europe
Winner: Valletta, Malta
Athens placed 12th out of 20 (Score: 89.63). CNT wrote that “thousands of years have passed and yet the many wonders of Athens remain unspoilt.” The Acropolis “is the obvious showstopper,” but the article also praised “plenty more ancient gems to discover across the city,” from the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium to the colossal Temple of Olympian Zeus, “once the largest in all of Ancient Greece.”
The editors added that “if history isn’t your scene, there’s also a fresher buzz sweeping over the city,” with “restorative wellness retreats, smart hotels, and fine dining restaurants with Greek tradition at their core” as well as “numerous sandy stretches and trendy beach bars along the Riviera.”
04
Friendliest Countries in Europe
Winner: Estonia
Greece ranked sixth out of ten (Score: 92.73). CNT wrote, “Philoxenia, the Greek word for hospitality, literally translates to ‘love for foreigners’, and so it comes as no surprise that Greece goes the extra mile when it comes to welcoming visitors.”
CNT lauded “a population scattered far and wide across 227 inhabited islands and a sprawling mainland peninsula” whose “generosity and warmth could not be more potent.” It also highlighted “deep-rooted traditions that revolve around socialising, like fiery sunset strolls called ‘volta’ in which entire villas reunite,” and concluded that visitors “can expect to be embraced by notoriously boundless Greek families wherever you go.”
05
Best Islands in Europe
Winner: Naxos, Greece (Score: 95.71)
Greek islands performed strongly, taking eight of the top 20 positions. The rankings were Naxos (95.71), Crete (91.42), Corfu (90.95), Rhodes (90.86), Skiathos (89.52), Mykonos (88.57), Folegandros (84.29), and Santorini (83.27).
06
Best Destination Spas in Europe
Winner: Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux, France (99.41)
Euphoria Retreat, Mystras, Greece, ranked sixth out of 20 (Score: 96.67). The spa has appeared in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards several times over the past few years, often praised for its design and philosophy.
Conde Nast Traveller has previously described it as “built into the Peloponnesian mountains, where Byzantine mysticism meets contemporary wellness,” and noted that its “large spherical pool forms the physical and spiritual centre of the retreat.” Its repeated recognition underlines Euphoria’s reputation as one of Europe’s most respected wellness destinations.
07
Best Villa Rental Companies 2025
Winner: The Thinking Traveller, with offices in Athens and London.
Among the world’s top 20 villa specialists, Five Star Greece placed 16th out of 20 (Score: 95.09). The villa-rental sector in Greece has become an essential part of the country’s luxury tourism market, reflecting the demand for privacy and authentic experiences among global travellers.
Exclusive seaside villas, restored estates, and contemporary homes across the islands and mainland have turned Greece into a leader in high-end private accommodation. Companies such as Five Star Greece have helped shape this market, offering bespoke services and personally curated properties that appeal to travellers seeking independence without sacrificing comfort or quality.
+ Other Award Categories
While Greece did not feature in categories such as airlines, airports, or train journeys, the global winners reveal the breadth of the awards: Qatar Airways was named Best Airline in the World, Singapore Changi Airport took Best Airport (World), London City Airport was Best in the UK, and the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, received Best Train Journey in the World.
