The Most Beautiful Islands in Europe: Our Top Picks

Looking-glass waters, sugar white sand and watercolour sunsets. Europe is home to some of the most beautiful holiday islands in the world - and don’t just take our word for it: many of our destinations were featured in Conde Nast’s recent list.

In this piece we’re going to focus on some of the best that Greece has to offer. So get ready to embark on a sensory odyssey - from the azure shores of Mykonos to the laidback elegance of Kefalonia, with some of the very best luxury villas in Greece as accommodation.

Mykonos: Decadent parties

Second place on Conde Nast’s list of the best islands in Europe, Mykonos is the perfect tropical paradise for those seeking either rest and relaxation or vibrant nightlife and fun. World-class beaches like Psarou and Paradise invite you in with their crystalline waters and chic beach clubs.

And as dusk descends, the lights come on and the music plays, with Mykonos Town, called Chora by the locals, transforming from quaint and homely to alive and buzzing.

Noera

Step into villa Noera and feel a wave of relaxation wash over you, as the gentle curves and soft whites of the architecture soothe you into a true sense of ease you can only feel on the most beautiful islands in the world, with the golden Greek sunlight shining through and the soft scents of aromatic shrubs and olive trees flavouring the warm air.

Liliana

With room for 12 guests and breathtaking views over the beaches of Lia and Kalafati and out over the sparkling Aegean, our villa Liliana is the epitome of the laidback luxury that makes Mykonos’s south coast one of the best island holiday destinations in the world.

Syros: Culture and off-season cachet

Less well known than Mykonos, but no less beautiful, Syros is located in the Cyclades island group, and home to the regional capital of Ermoupoli. It’s quieter than many of the other places you’ll see listed among the best island holidays in Europe - but it’s far from sleepy, with a wide range of cultural events taking place around the year, with festivals from everything from classical music to animation.

Fanya

Fanya is the epitome of meticulous design: as soon as you see it, you can’t miss its perfect fit with the coastal landscape around it, as it seems to emerge almost organically from the rocks and the grasses around. Its subtle grace is in perfect harmony with the natural beauty that marks Syros among the best islands in the world for the discerning traveller.

Laeticia

While it has more than enough space and luxury of its own, villa Laeticia also boasts a prime location above the charming coastal village of Finikas, where the white buildings of the quaint town roll down past the marina and into the bright blue waters of the Aegean.

Kefalonia: Laidback family holidays

Pride of the Ionian Islands, the stunning landscapes of Kefalonia are more than enough to establish it as one of the most beautiful islands in the world - and that’s before we even mention the cultural and historic sites you can visit, from St George’s Castle to the charming village of Fiskardo.

Odyssea

Perched high on the cliffs on Kefalonia’s south coast, gazing out over the sparkling Ionian Sea, Odyssea boasts a mix of wide-open al fresco spaces and generous living areas, with wooden floors and arched ceilings.

Ersi

With room for ten guests in five bedrooms across a trio of houses all gathered around a central pool, Ersi is perfect for multiple-family holidays. Shared terraces and gardens are ideal for social gathering, while the separate buildings give you some private space to retreat to whenever you need. To experience a tropical paradise on your own terms, look no further.

Tinos: Traditional villages and knockout tavernas

Famous for its marble and its long history of world-class sculpting, Tinos is both one of the best islands to visit in the world and one of the most distinctively Greek, peppered with picturesque villages and with traditional windmills scattered across the landscape. And, of course, its tavernas boast some of the best authentic Greek cuisine you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Thetis

Thetis sits on the island’s west coast, where it offers captivating views out over the Aegean sea as well as a startling list of amenities from an infinity pool to its own basketball court. It’s also just a ten-minute drive from the nearby town of Agios Sostis - and even closer to the beach at Agios Fokas.

Enyalos

The contemporary stylings of the interiors at Enyalos juxtapose beautifully with the natural stone exteriors, which help this beautiful villa feel like a natural part of the tropical paradise upon which it sits.

Patmos: Stark mystique and show-stopping villas

Patmos stands out among the most beautiful islands in Europe for its sense of spiritualism and mysticism. It’s home to the dramatically named Cave of the Apocalypse, where St John of Patmos received the visions that he recorded in the Biblical Book of Revelation. The cave has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, and pilgrims still come from far and wide to explore it. Our gorgeous villas offer the chance of a luxurious stay in this mysterious and beguiling place.

Pandora

The product of a loving and comprehensive restoration job, Pandora brings interiors dating as far back as the ninth century to the modern traveller, mixing tradition and present-day luxury in an intoxicating cocktail that is all its own.

Hydra: a long weekend with the art crowd

The Saronic Island of Hydra has built a particular name for itself as a haven for artists, from Leonard Cohen, who wrote songs including ‘Bird on the Wire’ and ‘So Long, Marianne’ on Hydra, to collector Dakis Joannou, who in 2009 opened a branch of the DESTE Foundation to support the island’s art scene.

Calthea

Built from the island’s local stone, Calthea offers stunning views of the surrounding harbours, with interiors of wood and stone housing antique furniture, and amenities including a private hot tub - perfect to feel the warmth of the bubbles against your skin under the gorgeous Greek skies.

Mirkella

The sense of seclusion afforded by Mirkella has seen it welcome guests over the years including prime ministers and kings, and when you see the 360-degree panoramic views it offers from its cliffside perch, it’s easy to see why.

Lefkada: Sailors, surfers, and superstar beaches

One of the many things that make Lefkada stand out is the excellent quality of water sports it has on offer. Its reliable windiness makes it especially popular among windsurfers and kitesurfers, while the deep greens of its pine woods and the chalky whites of its cliffs look just as beautiful from a sailing boat as they do up close.

Madreterra

With the waters of the Ionian on one side and the pine woods of Lefkada’s northwestern coast on the other, Madreterra is the perfect place to experience the sites and smells that help make Lefkada one of the best islands in Europe for those looking for a world-class luxury holiday.

Noiya

Noiya offers world-class views from its cliffside perch, with a choice of two swimming pools and a unique and appealing geometric design and a location just a stone’s throw from the seafront village of Vassiliki.

Corfu: character and lush landscapes

Corfu boasts a unique blend of classical Greek heritage, Venetian influence, and nineteenth-century British stylings that establish this tropical paradise as one of the best holiday islands anywhere in the world - cosmopolitan and European and still unmistakably distinct. From the peak of Mount Pantokrator to the winding streets of Corfu town, it’s got something for everyone.

Barbanichos

The gentle tang of olive trees in the air. The gentle wash of the waves against the shore far below. The rustic peace of the traditional stylings in the buildings and out on the terraces. All this welcomes you as you enter the warm embrace of Barbanichos.

Hanassa

If Barbanichos is classical in its design, Hanassa is resolutely, elegantly contemporary, with a brilliant blue infinity pool suspended among the greens of the surrounding trees, and buildings of crisp white and glass whispering of island refinement.

We hope this look at some of the most beautiful islands in Europe has got you excited to explore these tropical paradises with a holiday of your own. While we’ve focused on Greece here, this is far from all we have to offer - check out our list of luxury villas in Italy for even more inspiration.

And remember, here at The Thinking Traveller, our experts are always on hand to help recommend destinations for large group holidays and find the perfect luxury villa for you. Contact us to learn more.