{"id":24164,"date":"2026-10-23T11:49:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T11:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/23\/hydra-best-island-in-europe-in-conde-nast-traveller-awards\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T11:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T11:49:43","slug":"hydra-best-island-in-europe-in-conde-nast-traveller-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/23\/hydra-best-island-in-europe-in-conde-nast-traveller-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydra Best Island in Europe in Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-first=\"H\">\n<h3 id=\"h-hydra-has-been-named-the-best-island-in-europe-by-readers-of-the-british-edition-of-conde-nast-traveller-in-the-magazine-s-2026-readers-choice-awards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hydra has been named the best island in Europe by readers of the British edition of Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller, in the magazine\u2019s 2026 Readers\u2019 Choice Awards.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The small Saronic Gulf island scored 98.12 to take first place. It edged out Italy\u2019s Sardinia (98.01) by just 0.11 points, while fellow Greek island Naxos came third with 97.14.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-1024x683.webp 1024w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-300x200.webp 300w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-768x512.webp 768w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-scaled.webp 1200w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-450x300.webp 450w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-225x150.webp 225w,https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-20x13.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Picturesque view of Hydra island with white buildings, boats in the harbour, and mountainous backdrop, voted Europe's best island by Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller.\" class=\"wp-image-608493 sp-no-webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-225x150.jpg 225w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-20x13.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hydra\u2019s harbour. The island was voted Europe\u2019s best in Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller\u2019s 2026 Readers\u2019 Choice Awards. Photo: dronepicr \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results were published on 6 October 2026. The magazine said the awards, now in their 29th year, are based purely on votes from its UK readership. Israeli outlet Ynetnews reported that the survey was carried out between April and June, with participants asked to rate travel destinations and experiences.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-warm-welcome-to-drifting-travellers\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A warm welcome to \u2018drifting travellers\u2019<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller described Hydra as the island \u201cimmortalised by Leonard Cohen\u201d that \u201cstill offers a warm welcome to drifting travellers\u201d. The magazine said that quality was \u201ca criterion that helped it beat six other Greek islands this year\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gct-readmore\">Read more: Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Ios and Santorini remain top choices for international travellers<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cohen lived on Hydra in the 1960s and bought a house there, Ynetnews noted. The island has long drawn artists and creative figures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hydra lies within ferry distance of Athens, and ordinary car traffic is virtually non-existent. Locals and visitors get around mainly on foot or by boat. Life centres on the picturesque harbour, which is ringed by stone houses and historic mansions, while many of the island\u2019s swimming spots are rocky coves, some reachable only by boat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-naxos-loses-its-crown-but-greece-still-dominates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Naxos loses its crown, but Greece still dominates<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hydra\u2019s win means the top title stays in Greek hands. Naxos was voted Europe\u2019s best island last year, and Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller noted that it \u201clost first place and dropped to third place\u201d in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magazine said Greece \u201chas dominated the list once again\u201d. Seven Greek islands made the Europe top 20:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hydra (1st) \u2013 98.12<\/li>\n<li>Naxos (3rd) \u2013 97.14<\/li>\n<li>Sifnos (6th) \u2013 95.71<\/li>\n<li>Paros (9th) \u2013 94.01<\/li>\n<li>Santorini (16th) \u2013 90.00<\/li>\n<li>Mykonos (18th) \u2013 88.57<\/li>\n<li>Crete (20th) \u2013 87.81<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That makes Greece the best-represented country on the list, ahead of Spain with four entries: Menorca (7th), Ibiza (8th), Mallorca (10th) and the Canary Islands (19th). Corsica was fourth and Sicily fifth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of Greece\u2019s best-known names finished well down the rankings. Santorini placed 16th, Mykonos 18th and Crete, the country\u2019s largest island, rounded out the list in 20th place.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-strong-year-for-greece\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A strong year for Greece<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The island win caps a strong showing for Greece in this year\u2019s awards. In the same Readers\u2019 Choice Awards, Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller readers named Greece the best country in the world, with a score of 98.14. In that entry, the magazine singled out \u201ccar-free Hydra\u201d as one of the islands drawing more and more visitors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elsewhere, the Isles of Scilly were voted the best island in the UK. Palawan in the Philippines topped Asia, Fiji led Australasia and the South Pacific, and Barbados was the favourite in the Caribbean and Atlantic.<\/p>\n<p><!--[googlesitekit-end-of-content]--><\/p>\n<aside class=\"gct-related\">\n<h2>Related coverage<\/h2>\n<\/aside>\n<footer class=\"article-tags entry-footer\">\n<div>\n\t\t<strong>Tags:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\tbest islands in Europe, Conde Nast Traveller, Crete, greek islands, Greek tourism, Hydra, mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Readers&#8217; Choice Awards 2026, Santorini, Saronic Gulf, Sifnos, travel\t<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"category_container author-information\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<section id=\"authorpage\" class=\"authorpage\">\n\t\t\t\t<img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b09d62101923f4e7c72cc48247475a3102bae674ed5f359249fac5bb5c705260?s=164&amp;r=g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b09d62101923f4e7c72cc48247475a3102bae674ed5f359249fac5bb5c705260?s=328&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-164 photo lazyload\" height=\"164\" width=\"164\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/>\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-content\">\n<h5>Stella Mazonakis<\/h5>\n<p>Stella Mazonakis is a contributor at Greek City Times, covering Greek news, community stories, sport, culture, and current affairs for readers in Greece and the diaspora.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-x-twitter\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/2026\/10\/23\/hydra-best-island-europe-conde-nast-traveller-2026\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hydra has been named the best island in Europe by readers of the British edition of Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller, in the magazine\u2019s 2026 Readers\u2019 Choice Awards. The small Saronic Gulf island scored 98.12 to take first place. It edged out Italy\u2019s Sardinia (98.01) by just 0.11 points, while fellow Greek island Naxos came third with &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Hydra Best Island in Europe in Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller Awards\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/23\/hydra-best-island-in-europe-in-conde-nast-traveller-awards\/#more-24164\" aria-label=\"Read more about Hydra Best Island in Europe in Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveller Awards\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01-hydra-harbour-dronepicr-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24164\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}