The Greek island Milos was rated the best island in the world, as well as Europe, in a World’s Best Awards 2021 survey staged by leading US travel publication Travel + Leisure, involving the participation of many readers, who gave the island a near-perfect score of 95.5.
Another Greek island, Folegandros, captured second place in the World’s Top 25 Islands category, while, in the Europe’s Best 20 Islands category, Greece took the lion’s share with seven islands making this list. More specifically, Folegandros was ranked second, Santorini fifth, Paros tenth, Mykonos thirteenth, Crete fourteenth, Corfu fifteenth, and Rhodes seventeenth.
These latest distinctions come just days after Greece and Santorini’s respective prizes in the “Favourite Country” and “Best Island in Europe” categories for the American tourism awards FXExpress 2021 Awards, based on the public’s voting, confirming that Greece remains one of the most popular destinations among American travellers.
“Astonishingly beautiful!”
Following up on the announcement of this year’s awards, Travel + Leisure writers noted, amongst other things, that Milos emerged as the winning island courtesy of its friendly locals, who welcome visitors and encourage them to explore the picturesque villages, the exceptional tavernas, as well as the numerous idyllic beaches, whose colours very depending on whether they are formed by shells, pebbles or sand. The Travel + Leisure team also noted that Milos may be renowned for its Aphrodite of Milos statue (Venus de Milo), but offers lots more beyond its archaeological discoveries such as numerous accommodation choices, prize-winning wineries, sunbathing at volcanic rocks, spearfishing in caves, and dining at exceptional restaurants. One voter summed up the island as “astonishingly beautiful”.
Voting for this year’s Travel + Leisure awards was held between January 11 and May 10. Close to 35 million votes were cast by readers of the magazine and users of various related platforms, who expressed their preferences in a variety of categories, such as favourite cities, islands, resorts, luxury tourism and wellness destinations, airports, hotels, airlines, cruise ship agencies, travel agencies and car rental companies.
The Greek awards were received by Konstantinos Harokopos, Head of the Greek National Tourism Organisation’s (EOT) North America office. The Travel + Leisure survey’s results will be presented in detail in the magazine’s October, 2021 edition.
