On National Geographic’s list of the 25 best islands in Greece for vacations in 2023, Meganisi!
Meganisi was given an honorable mention by the well-known National Geographic, including our island in the list of the 25 best islands in Greece for holidays in 2023.
Greece’s numerous islands are best known for their idyllic beaches, taverns and laid-back lifestyle. However, those who are willing to explore more of the destinations they visit, should know that in Greece they will find, in addition to secret beaches, wonderful local products, historical buildings, hidden paths.
National Geographic has chosen 25 Greek destinations for 2023, urging travelers to discover them, and the list is as follows:
1. Crete
Walking in the gorges and mountains of Crete, in addition to its beauties, you will also get to know its myths. Wandering through its villages, you will try unique Cretan recipes. “According to Greek mythology, on this island Zeus was born in a mountain cave and Theseus defied the Labyrinth to slay the Minotaur,” reports National Geographic.
2. Kefallonia
Kefalonia’s rugged mountains and beaches have been attracting travelers for decades. Also, as Greek wine gains its own place in the international market, the island’s unique varieties are yet another reason to visit.
3. Spetses
For the perfect escape from busy Athens, go for Spetses, says National Geographic.
“The central square is paved with pebble mosaics and dominated by the statue of a woman, dressed in traditional costume, holding a pistol. This is Laskarina Bouboulina, heroine of the Greek Revolution of 1821. Nearby, her family home now houses a small museum dedicated to her legacy,” reports editor Dana Fakaros.
4. Santorini
Newlyweds love the Cycladic island of Santorini, where whitewashed villages and domed churches rest on blackened cliffs, offering stunning views of the bottomless caldera, which was formed around 1620 BC in one of the world’s most powerful volcanic eruptions. of the last 10,000 years.
5. Milos
West of Santorini, Milos, formed by a volcanic eruption. “You must take a boat round its most remote and white beaches.”
6. Hydra
Just two hours by boat from Athens, Hydra is known as the island of artists, with galleries, studios and cultural festivals enlivening the atmosphere. No cars are allowed on this island and you won’t see billboards or scooters.
7. Kastellorizo
It is the most remote island of the country, where the permanent residents are only 300.
“I am here to meet the grandmothers as part of my research for my next book, Yiayia, a collection of their recipes. The reason is simple: Greek and Turkish customs and cultures meet in Kastellorizo, which means that some of the most interesting dishes of Greece are prepared here,” says editor Anastasia Miari.
8. Mykonos
The beaches on the southwest coast of Mykonos are among the best in the Mediterranean for partying. If you’re not interested in that kind of fun, head east to discover a different picture of islets and sandy coves.
Walk west around the cape to the next beach, Mersini, which is the least crowded on Mykonos.
9. Karpathos
Immersed in the deep blue Aegean between Crete and Rhodes, Karpathos seems to belong to another era. This unspoilt, remote spot in the Dodecanese is known for its white sand beaches, fringed by pine trees.
10. Kythera
Kythera is reminiscent of “old Greece”, according to National Geographic. In the south of Peloponnese, the family hotels are right next to the sandy beaches and the tavernas on the streets. In the old cafes one can hear the sound of the dice on the backgammon.
11. Elafonisos
Simos Beach, where the two sand dunes form an “hourglass” in the turquoise sea, is irresistible, reports N.G.
12. Agistri
This tiny, unspoilt island is just 50 minutes from Athens. To explore it, one must walk it. June and September are the ideal months to visit, as it is less crowded then.
13. Skiathos
The “queen” of the Sporades is a magnet for beach lovers. It is also the ideal choice for those looking for alternative accommodation, thanks to the many new hotels that have opened and which stand out due to their particular aesthetics.
14. Rhodes
“In Rhodes, every child is enchanted by the Old Town, with its walls, moats and the Grand Master’s Palace built by the Knights of St. John.”
15. Ikaria
Isolated and wildly beautiful, Ikaria is known worldwide for its high longevity rates. More than 30% of Icarians live to the age of ninety, usually unscathed by chronic disease and dementia, with many reaching 100.
16. Skyros
In the Sporades island complex, Skyros is an island with deep blue bays lined with pine trees. It is known as the home of the endangered Skyrian horse. It is also famous for its thriving craft tradition, dating back to the Byzantine era.
17. Kos
Kos was the birthplace of Hippocrates, “father of medicine”, in the 5th century BC. His disciples founded the Asclepius, the most important healing sanctuary in the ancient world, where relaxation was part of the treatment. Today, the “therapy” sought by visitors to Kos is found on its sandy beaches.
18. Ithaca
Homer’s characterizations: “narrow,” “rocky,” “unfit for riding,” perfectly describe Odysseus’ Ithaca, says N.G.
19. Evia
Most visitors to the country’s second largest island are Greek, but few, even among the locals, know the Lihadonisia. Lush green and volcanic, these seven uninhabited islets off the northwest coast of Evia are nicknamed the “Seychelles of Greece” because of the blue and green hues of the shallow sea.
20. Meganisi
It is located next to Lefkada and between Corfu and Zakynthos. However, most people don’t take the time to discover this “unspoiled” island, reports National Geographic.
21. Ios
For decades Ios had a reputation as a hippie hangout and party island. “In 2014, however, all this began to change. Now, the tacky souvenir shops in Chora are a thing of the past, while the island’s bars stand out for their elegant design.”
22. Alonissos
Alonissos is only a short distance from cosmopolitan Skiathos, but it couldn’t be more different: rustic, sparsely populated, wooded and peaceful. The island is home to the endangered seal and falcons, while dolphins and whales swim offshore.
23. Corfu
The location of Corfu has always attracted both Greek and foreign tourists. Its heritage and history is “reflected” in every street of the island’s atmospheric Old Town. Its two fortresses and many mansions “witness” the four centuries of Venetian occupation.
24. Chios
The Greeks call the large island of the northern Aegean, Chios, “Myrobolo” (“Scented”) because of its citrus fruits and wild herbs, but mainly because of the mastic trees, which only grow there.
25. Naxos
The largest island of the Cyclades, for centuries it has had a large food production thanks to its fertile soil and fresh water sources. The temple of the goddess Demeter of the sixth century, is a symbol of this supremacy. In the villages of Naxos one will find mountain vineyards, taverns and markets.