Seven Greek Islands Included on The Telegraph’s ‘Must-Visit’ List

Symi island, Greece

Corfu, Santorini, Symi, Mykonos, Rhodes, Lefkada and Crete are among the 20 Mediterranean islands that people must visit in their lifetime, according to a list released recently by The Telegraph.

The list reveals a pair of islands in 10 categories from beautiful beaches to family-friendly shores.

“With the help of our experts, we’ve created the definitive list – selecting the best island in each of 10 categories, with a runner-up in case you fancy somewhere different,” says The Telegraph.

“20 Mediterranean islands you must visit in your lifetime”

Corfu Old Fortress. Photo source: Ministry of Culture

Best for beaches

1. Winner: Corfu, Greece

“Corfu’s warm turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea are hard to beat,” The Telegraphs says.

“From tiny pockets of pebbled perfection hidden beneath firs and pines along the somewhat swanky yet still unspoilt northeastern coast to surprisingly long, wide swathes of golden sand to the west, there’s a beach to keep everyone happy on Corfu.”

2. Runner-up: Formentera, Spain

Best for luxury

3. Winner: Sardinia, Italy

4. Runner-up: Cavallo, France

Best for families

5. Winner: Majorca, Spain

6. Runner-up: Brač, Croatia

Best for culture

7. Winner: Sicily, Italy

8. Runner-up: Cyprus

Santorini island, Greece

Best for romance

9. Winner: Santorini, Greece

According to The Telegraph, the Cycladic island of Santorini is romantic almost to the point of cliché.

Views west from its caldera rim, whether at sunrise or sunset, reliably mesmerize couples from around the globe. At dusk, especially between Oia and Thirasiá, excursion schooners in full sail glide across the improbably cobalt-blue waters of the caldera, under a frequently orange-streaked sky.

10. Runner-up: Symi, Greece

Symi has one of the most picturesque harbors in Greece, crowded with pastel-colored houses, bars, tavernas and chic boutiques, and dozens of tiny beaches accessible only by boat.

The Telegraph also highlights the island’s “wonderfully authentic Greek experience” and unique gastronomy.

Symi island

Best for partying

11. Winner: Ibiza, Spain

12. Runner-up: Mykonos, Greece

“It feels as if the wider world has only recently ‘discovered’ Mykonos, now mentioned in the same breath as Ibiza or Miami – yet it has appealed to A-list celebrities and those who embrace an alternative lifestyle since the fifties and sixties,” The Telegraph notes.

“Back then, those stars included Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Onassis; today you’re more likely to find Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan.”

Super Paradise beach, Mykonos

Best for value

13. Winner: Malta

14. Runner-up: Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes is a classic bucket-and-spade destination, well served by both low-cost airlines and package tour operators.

According to the Telegraph, “its highlights don’t cost a penny, from days lolling on long, sandy beaches and strolls around its UNESCO World Heritage-listed capital to hikes across its verdant interior”.

Rhodes island, Greece

Best for watersports and sailing

15. Winner: Lefkada, Greece

The island of Lefkada is featured by The Telegraph as the best watersports and sailing destination due to its large bays and consistently strong winds that lure thousands of windsurfers, kitesurfers and sailors.

The newspaper also highlights Lefkada’s gorgeous fine shingle beaches backed by sheer white cliffs that can be found along the west coast (Egremni and Porto Katsiki are the most dramatic).

16. Runner-up: Menorca, Spain

Best for peace and quiet

17. Winner: Vis, Croatia

18. Capraia, Italy

Samaria gorge, Crete. Photo source: Visit Greece

Best for walking

19. Winner: Crete, Greece

“Crete’s wild west is where to find the island’s top walks, which compare with some of the best in Europe,” The Telegraph says.

The newspaper suggests that travelers fly to Chania and explore the hinterland behind Kissamos as well as take the 10-mile hike down the Samaria Gorge.

20. Runner-up: Corsica, France