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A new ranking crowned Santorini Europe’s top island for its dramatic caldera, cliffside towns, rich history, and unforgettable scenery.
Europe is blessed with some of the world’s most breathtaking islands. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Greek archipelago, where stunning coastlines have served as the setting for centuries of history. It’s no surprise, then, that Trip.com recently named Santorini Europe’s top island, drawing on search trends, booking data, traveler reviews, and user-generated content.
Few places are as instantly recognizable as Santorini, where whitewashed, blue-domed buildings cling to cliffs high above the Aegean Sea. Much of the island’s appearance derives from its volcanic origins. Around 3,600 years ago, one of history’s largest volcanic eruptions transformed the island, leaving behind the crescent-shaped caldera that defines its landscape today. The effects of that eruption are visible in the dramatic cliff faces that drop to the sea, the black-sand beaches along the coastline, and at Akrotiri, on the island’s southern end, where a Bronze Age settlement buried beneath volcanic ash thousands of years ago has been excavated into an impressive archaeological site.
Travelers visit Santorini year after year for its postcard vistas. Oia, at the northern tip of the island, is among the most photographed villages in Europe. Its marble walkways and steep stone alleys wind past striking old chapels, small art galleries, and terraces that frame sought-after sunset views. Fira, the island’s capital, is a livelier counterpoint with a broader selection of restaurants, cultural attractions, and its own sweeping caldera panoramas that rival Oia’s, but without the nightly crowds. Wine lovers shouldn’t miss Pyrgos Kallistis, Santorini’s highest village, where wineries like Santo Wines pair tastings of the island’s renowned Assyrtiko wines with spectacular scenery.
One of the best ways to take in the island’s sights is the 6.5-mile cliffside Fira-to-Oia hike, which passes through the smaller settlements of Firostefani and Imerovigli. The path provides a succession of caldera views that no road or cable car can match. Most walkers complete the trail in three to four hours, though the temptation to stop frequently can easily push that longer. Early morning departures are recommended for cooler temperatures, softer light, and less pedestrian traffic.
For travelers looking to experience Santorini from the water, the island’s coast has more than 20 beaches, including the iconic Red Beach, White Beach, and the black-sand shores of Perissa Beach. Catamaran cruises with operators like Vista Yachting provide a different perspective of the island, sailing past the caldera and hidden coves.
Across Santorini, luxury hotels amplify the island’s natural beauty while merging traditional Cycladic architecture with contemporary design and amenities. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection was named the top hotel in Greece in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, climbing from the ninth spot in 2024. This intimate property features 23 spacious rooms with private plunge pools and an upscale Greek restaurant, Varoulko Santorini. Other swoon-worthy spots include Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, with 42 cave-style suites and villas carved into the caldera cliffs; Canaves Oia Suites, set within a restored 17th-century wine cave complex; and Santo Mine, whose village-inspired accommodations offer uninterrupted sunset views.
To see a complete list of the world’s top islands and coastlines, visit Trip.com.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
