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5 of our favourite islands in the Mediterranean
Summer is a great time for island hopping. And there are fewer places as beautiful and accessible as the Med when it comes to holiday islands. For beach bums, sun queens and ocean dreamers, here are 5 of our all-time favourite islands in the Mediterranean.
1. Cyprus
The island nation of Cyprus is best known for its amazing white sand beaches, its rich and interesting history, and also its inner wine regions such as Akamas Laona, Pitsilia, Vouni Panayias and Limassol. The island is also divided by Turkish Cypriots in the North and Greek Cypriots in the South, so there will be language differences for those travelling across the country. Some of our favourite beaches to go to include AphroditeÂ’s Rock and Beach in Paphos, Konnos Bay or Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa (South and South West) and Burhan’s Golden Beach on Karpas Peninsula (North).
2. Corfu
Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands in Greece, is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Med. This island is a great place for every type of holiday maker because there’s so much to see and do. Defined by its rugged mountains and striking colonial architecture from French, British and Italian rule – including the UNESCO listed Corfu Old Town – plus its sophisticated restaurant and bar culture, Corfu is a great place for families and couples alike. For long stretches of sand, shallow water and secluded coves, head to Ayios Georgios or for party vibes and a festival atmosphere, head to the resort village of Kavos.
3. Malta
Quite often a forgotten destination, Malta is a tiny little archipelago set in the Med between Sicily and the North African coast. Its most notable attractions are the stunning Blue Lagoon on Comino Island and the wonderful historical sites from Roman times as well as historical and colonial sites from being ruled by the Moors, the Knights of St. John, the French and the British. Some must-see sights are the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum temple, the Ħaġar Qim ruins, the Tarxien Temples and the Rotunda of Mosta.
4. Hvar
Hvar really is an up and coming destination in Croatia, and after somewhere like Dubrovnik or Split, it’s probably one of the ‘trendiest’ places to go to. Summer attracts crowds in their hundreds of thousands so now is the time to go before the island becomes too busy. Hvar Town is where it all goes down; with a glamorous bay, striking 13th Century Walls and rich history, its beautiful cobbled and marbled streets made for leisurely walking, and its sophisticated restaurant and bar culture. For party beaches and young crowds, go to Carpe Diem Beach.
5. Kefalonia
This Greek Island in the Ionian Sea is one of our best kept secrets. Soft white powdery sands, azure blue coastlines, crystal clear waters perfect for swimming in, and magical caves and lagoons secreted from the rest of the world; Kefalonia is simply paradise. For families with kids or loved up couples, itÂ’s the perfect Greek island for relaxation. For the outdoorsy types and nature lovers, itÂ’s GreeceÂ’s finest destination for hiking and outdoor exploration. And for party animals, thereÂ’s an endless choice of lively resorts and nightlife spots.
Christos Hajipapas is Head of Business Development & Strategy at Cyplon Holidays.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
2. Corfu
Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands in Greece, is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Med. This island is a great place for every type of holiday maker because there’s so much to see and do. Defined by its rugged mountains and striking colonial architecture from French, British and Italian rule – including the UNESCO listed Corfu Old Town – plus its sophisticated restaurant and bar culture, Corfu is a great place for families and couples alike. For long stretches of sand, shallow water and secluded coves, head to Ayios Georgios or for party vibes and a festival atmosphere, head to the resort village of Kavos.
3. Malta
Quite often a forgotten destination, Malta is a tiny little archipelago set in the Med between Sicily and the North African coast. Its most notable attractions are the stunning Blue Lagoon on Comino Island and the wonderful historical sites from Roman times as well as historical and colonial sites from being ruled by the Moors, the Knights of St. John, the French and the British. Some must-see sights are the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum temple, the Ħaġar Qim ruins, the Tarxien Temples and the Rotunda of Mosta.
4. Hvar
Hvar really is an up and coming destination in Croatia, and after somewhere like Dubrovnik or Split, it’s probably one of the ‘trendiest’ places to go to. Summer attracts crowds in their hundreds of thousands so now is the time to go before the island becomes too busy. Hvar Town is where it all goes down; with a glamorous bay, striking 13th Century Walls and rich history, its beautiful cobbled and marbled streets made for leisurely walking, and its sophisticated restaurant and bar culture. For party beaches and young crowds, go to Carpe Diem Beach.
5. Kefalonia
This Greek Island in the Ionian Sea is one of our best kept secrets. Soft white powdery sands, azure blue coastlines, crystal clear waters perfect for swimming in, and magical caves and lagoons secreted from the rest of the world; Kefalonia is simply paradise. For families with kids or loved up couples, itÂ’s the perfect Greek island for relaxation. For the outdoorsy types and nature lovers, itÂ’s GreeceÂ’s finest destination for hiking and outdoor exploration. And for party animals, thereÂ’s an endless choice of lively resorts and nightlife spots.
Christos Hajipapas is Head of Business Development & Strategy at Cyplon Holidays.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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My knowledge on Mediterranean was pretty low.thanks for sharing this.love ur blog for all these treasures on earth.
Article title said “island hopping” hopping between this selection would be a nightmare if possible at all.
I lived in malta for 2 years, it is not all it is cracked up to be, sure there are many sights to see, if you can stand all the traffice and fumes, on a weekend or bank holiday your eyes sting with all the pollution, ther are only 3 decent sandy beaches, forget what brochures say, i call it a Marmite island, you either love it or hate it, me I hated it, but don’t take my word for it, go for it.
Malta does have rather a car and population density issue, being the size (316km2) of a city. If you compare it to other cities, say London, it’s population density compares well – Malta 1.3K/km2, London (LMR) 1.5K/km2.
It’s also crammed with historic sites, fascinating prehistoric temples which are older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge, some amazing fortresses and walled cities. It’s a matter of what you look for in a holiday.
Dunno who came up with these, but they’re deluded. Ah wait a minute … it’s the marketing director of a company that supplies package holidays to these places.
Been to Corfu a few times, it’s a hole mostly with a liberal sprinkling of decaying resorts overrun with drunk, ignorant Russian pigs, sure it has a few nice bits but so not many. I only went last time because my missus wanted to ‘try it again’ – never again and now she arees with me. Ditto Cyprus. No doubt Cyplon Holidays can sell you a package tour if you like that sort of thing.
In fact, of all the lovely islands in the Med – Capri, Santorini, Sardegna to name a few – these 5 are probably the least nice places to waste time and money on.
I like the sound of Hvar,ive not actually heard of it,but it loos like a meditteranean island i’m love to visit and exlpore x
I’m thinkig about visiting Cyprus next year,as my friend has a holiday flat there,so this read,has made me even more interested xx
I agree with some of the comments above – there are some other lovely islands in the Med. Majorca beautiful (yes Majorca!), particularly if you avoid the tourist areas and explore the north of the island. Ibiza is coming back onto the market and for the trendy, Hard Rock have a popular hotel there – with another opening in Majorca.
Agree that Sardinia is stunning as is Santorini.
Hvar also beautiful but can only be accessed by boat, though most would say it’s worth it.
There are also some lovely little islands off the Dubrovnik coastline which are well worth a visit – Korkula, Mijet and Lokrum – if you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik.
my most favorite There are also some lovely little islands ISLANDS beside Santorini such as Majorca, Ibiza, Elba, and Ischia.