Milos, Folegandros, Santorini on T+L’s 2021 World’s Best Islands List

Klima, Milos. Photo source: @Visit Greece

The Greek islands of Milos, Folegandros and Santorini are among the best in world as voted by the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine.

The best islands in the world, according to T+L, “are the kind of Instagram-perfect destinations that travelers fantasize about on winter evenings: dreamy, sun-drenched landscapes surrounded by the bluest waters”.

Milos, a popular Greek tourism destination, ranks first on the list of the “Top 25 Islands in the World” with a score of 95.50 points.

“Mílos rose from its No. 3 spot last year thanks to friendly locals who welcome visitors to explore the quaint villages, extraordinary tavernas, and dozens of picturesque beaches that vary in color depending on whether they are formed from shells, stones, or sand,” T+L said.

Meanwhile, Folegandros also scores high with 95.47 points, taking second place.

In addition, Santorini, a well-known international vacation spot, ranks 13th on the list.

Folegandros. Photo © jcfmorata, Shutterstock

Travel + Leisure’s list also includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines in third place, Madeira, Portugal in fourth, and Andaman Islands, India, in fifth position.

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting on January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting Covid-19 restrictions.

T+L: Top 25 Islands in the World

1. Mílos, Greece
2. Folegandros, Greece
3. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
4. Madeira, Portugal
5. Andaman Islands, India
6. Sicily, Italy
7. Koh Samui, Thailand
8. Bali, Indonesia
9. Island of Hawaii
10. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
11. Kauai, Hawaii
12. Maui, Hawaii
13. Santorini, Greece
14. Maldives
15. Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands, Croatia
16. Sardinia, Italy
17. Harbour Island, Bahamas
18. Aruba
19. Palawan, Philippines
20. St. Lucia
21. Mallorca, Spain
22. Anguilla
23. Eleuthera, Bahamas
24. Seychelles
25. Sri Lanka

Eight Greek islands Among Europe’s Best 

The T+L award for Milos. Photo source: GNTO

Meanwhile, a total of eight Greek islands are included on T+L’s “Top 20 Islands in Europe” list, based on the vote of its readers.

Milos tops the list, with Folegandros in second place and Santorini in fifth position.

Paros ranks 10th, with Mykonos in 10th place, Crete in 14th, Corfu and the Ionian islands in 15th, and Rhodes in 17th position.

T+L: Top 20 Islands in Europe

1. Mílos, Greece
2. Folegandros, Greece
3. Madeira, Portugal
4. Sicily, Italy
5. Santorini, Greece
6. Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands
7. Sardinia, Italy
8. Mallorca, Spain
9. Skye and the Hebrides, Scotland
10. Páros, Greece
11. Ibiza, Spain
12. Capri, Italy
13. Mykonos, Greece
14. Crete, Greece
15. Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Greece
16. Azores, Portugal
17. Rhodes and the Dodecanese, Greece
18. Corsica, France
19. Canary Islands, Spain
20. Malta