The Top Ten Islands in Europe
2 minute read
The Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award winners for 2016 have been announced - here are the top ten islands in Europe according to their voters. There's more to these islands than drinking and beaches and, as it happens, we can recommend many them for some excellent walking...
1) Santorini
Also came in second place in the Islands of the World category. The mountains of Greece are ideal for experienced walkers and some of the day walks can be combined to create longer treks. Sadly, Harris and Lewis did not stay in the top ten, despite winning Number One position in the past.
2) Majorca
Also placed sixth in the Islands of the World category. Majorca is wonderful for walking and the GR221 Drystone Route is a nine day trek through mountain villages and forests.
3) Madeira
The volcanic island of Madeira makes for dramatic walking along coastlines or sheltered exploration through dense forests.
4) Crete
There is so much walking to be done on Crete - from the High Mountains of the Lefka Ori and the E4 Trail to day walks past archeological wonders in Western Crete.
5) Tenerife
Offering strolls along the black sand beaches to long distance walks along the GR131, Tenerife has much more than bars.
6) Rhodes
Another winner from Greece, Rhodes is renowned for ancient sites as well as the standard tourist pulls.
7) Gran Canaria
Another of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria also has routes forming part of the GR131 as well as plenty of peaceful and rural day walking.
8) Corsica
The GR20 on Corsica is known as the toughest GR route in Europe, completely traversing Corsica's high mountains. However, there are also plenty of options for shorter treks and also day walks.
9) Jersey
A small island, packed with potential. The 48 mile Jersey Coastal Walk is easily divided into shorter sections or can be completed as part of the Channel Islands Way. The other Channel Islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm also offer lovely walking.
10) Capri
The idyllic islands of Capri, and nearby Ischia, just off the Amalfi Coast of Italy, make a perfect destination for a walking holiday. The routes vary from family strolls to strenuous treks but the scenery is uniformly magnificent.
Other notable winners include:
London - Best Destination in the World
Really? Best? In the World?? I mean we've got the Queen (Happy Birthday Ma'am) and The Thames Path but....
Cusco, Peru - 22 places behind London.
22 places behind London? Sorry Peru. We'd prefer to be hiking and biking in Peru any day.
Kathmandu, Nepal - the 23rd Best Destination in the World.
We can't say anything about Nepal that Kev Reynolds hasn't said in a better way in Abode of the Gods.
Budapest - 25th Best Destination or 10th Best in Europe.
The centrepoint of the Danube Cycleway, it is worth taking a day or two to explore Budapest.
Goreme, Turkey won 15th Best Destination in Europe
Cicerone's Sarah was just there for a hiking and mountain biking trip and can testify to its beauty.
Zermatt won the 20th Best Destination in Europe.
It's a trekking mecca, with the Chamonix-Zermatt trek being one of the most popular in the world, and deservedly so.
Reykjavik came in at 25th place.
Iceland is getting easier and easier to explore but still provides challenges for walkers and trekkers. If you are well prepared then the Laugavegur Trail is a classic.
Sadly, Harris and Lewis were bumped from the list, but we still love it!
(All photos from the Tripadvisor Awards article.)
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