Greece has been named the world's best country to visit by UK readers of Conde Nast Traveller, scoring 98.14 out of 100 ...

Greece has been named the world's best country to visit by UK readers of Conde Nast Traveller, scoring 98.14 out of 100 in the magazine's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. The result put Greece ahead of Japan (97.01) and Italy (96.48), with the magazine declaring that its readers' love affair with Greece had "reached fever pitch" this year. The win marks a step up from 2024, when Japan held the title. Turkey finished fourth, Portugal fifth, and the rest of the top 10 included Croatia, Indonesia, Kenya, and Thailand. Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete remain the most popular destinations, but the magazine noted a clear shift toward lesser-known islands, with Paros, Hydra, Ios, and Tinos drawing growing numbers of visitors. Athens also earned a strong mention, credited with transforming its post-debt-crisis energy into a wave of new restaurants, galleries, and hotels that now rank it among Europe's top capitals. Greece also placed second in the world for food with a score of 96.72, just 0.20 points behind Italy, with Cycladic tavernas and reimagined Athenian menus among the highlights. The country ranked eighth globally for friendliness, with the magazine pointing to philoxenia and everyday traditions like long family lunches and the evening volta. Greek beaches claimed eight spots in Europe's top 20, more than any other country, with Falassarna Beach in Crete placing highest at fifth. In the hotels category, Canaves Epitome in Santorini topped the list with a near-perfect 99.07, while Ikos Odisia on Corfu led the resorts with 99.82. Corfu placed four resorts in the top 10, more than any other Greek island. #Greece #Travel #CondéNastTraveller