Santorini Wins 2015 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice #4 World Island and #1 Europe Island Awards

Santorini, one of Greece’s most popular destinations, has been honored this year as part of the 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Islands, ranking as the fourth on the list of top 10 islands in the world and top island in Europe for 2015.

The list of Europe’s top islands also includes Crete in the third place and Zakynthos in the fourth.

This year’s awards, announced on Tuesday, honor more than 100 islands worldwide including lists for Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, the U.K., and the U.S. The annual awards are based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers across the globe.

TripAdvisor on the Greek winners

Oia, Santorini. Photo © Region of South Aegean

Santorini: “Even if you’ve never been to this Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea, you’d still recognize it immediately – candy-colored houses carved into cliffs, sapphire waters, gleaming white buildings topped with half-spheres the color of a stormy sky. Here you’ll find peace as you roam the black sand beaches or the streets of a provincial village like Imerovigli. Beautiful Oia is world famous for its sunsets, which seem tinted with every shade of an artist’s palette.”

Chania, Crete. Photo © leoks / Shutterstock

Crete: “The island of Crete is a Greek jewel floating in a sea of melted turquoise. The beaches are godly stretches of pillowy sand and smooth pebbles. Its historical and mythological significance can not be ignored: Crete is said to have been to be the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the Gods, and was the site of Europe’s first modern civilization. Archaeological and historical sites abound and make an awe-inspiring break from a sun-soaked day at the beach.”

Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos. Photo © Facebook – Greek Islands

Zakynthos: “The Ionian Islands are splendid, cinematic paradise. The waters are bluest blue, the sands are achingly silky and smooth. Everything looks heavily Photoshopped. But that’s just Mother Nature, in all her unspoiled glory. Zakynthos is the largest of the Ionian Islands, and it’s as fruitful as it is beautiful, boasting a bounty of crops like olives and grapes. Music is a huge part of the local culture—you can catch a concert or festival almost any night of the week, and you’ll be captivated by the sights and sounds of Zakynthos performers.”

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions on islands worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.

“Our well-traveled community has uncovered the best islands around the world for that perfect island escape whether you want to lie on the beach or seek adventure,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Islands – World

1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
2. Maui, Hawaii
3. Roatan, Honduras
4. Santorini, Greece
5. Ko Tao, Thailand
6. Madeira, Portugal
7. Bali, Indonesia
8. Mauritius, Africa
9. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
10. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Santorini. Photo © Anastasios71 / Shutterstock

Knossos Palace, Crete

Zakynthos. Photo © Panos Karas

Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Islands – Europe

1. Santorini, Cyclades
2. Madeira, Madeira Islands
3. Crete, Greece
4. Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
5. Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
6. Jersey, Channel Islands
7. Majorca, Balearic Islands
8. Island of Capri, Province of Naples
9. Tenerife, Canary Islands
10. Corsica, France