Europe's beautiful little island is frozen in time but reaches 28C in June

The Greek island of Meganisi is one of the country's Ionian islands, and is situated just off the coast of Lefkada. The island is widely acclaimed with many lauding its "unspoilt" beauty
A breathtaking European island has defied the march of time, remaining virtually untouched in a country brimming with tourists. Meganisi, nestled among Greece's Ionian islands, lies off the west coast near Lefkada. Despite welcoming over 200,000 visitors annually, nearly 100 times its local population of around 2,300 permanent residents, Meganisi remains a "hidden" gem compared to its more frequented Ionian counterparts.
The island's pristine beauty is widely acclaimed, with many lauding its "unspoilt" environment. Situated away from Greece's bustling tourist hubs, there's no motorway ferrying crowds to Meganisi, reports the Express. Access is limited to a car ferry from Lefkada, setting sail from Nidri port.
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The scarcity of traffic means that Meganisi's inhabitants live free from the influence of large-scale private developments and enterprises catering to tourists.
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Consequently, the island lacks the amenities that have popularised other destinations – such as nightclubs and bars.
Meganisi, which enjoys temperatures around 28C in June, boasts quaint hotels, tiny shops, and intimate beaches where jostling for sun loungers is unheard of.
Travel writer Nancy Roberts cherishes the lack of these commercial trappings, asserting they contribute to the island's unique charm.
In her review for Map and Family, she emphasises that the allure of Meganisi lies in its tranquil retreat. She stated: "These days there isn't a lot happening on Meganisi – and that is the whole point of visiting.
"It's a quiet little island community. But it also happens to have a fringe of lovely small beaches, dazzling blue seas and glorious Greek weather.
"It's the perfect place to not do very much at all."

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Metro

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The most beautiful European islands that aren't in Greece

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Sign up here. First up, Harry Dinn flies the flag for both Madeira and the Azores. The former – an autonomous region of Portugal – sits off the northwest coast of Africa, and is known for its namesake wine and a subtropical climate. The latter, also belonging to Portugal, is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic. Its dramatic landscapes of crater lakes, lush greenery, lava caves and hot springs make it the perfect destination for adventure seekers. For James Smith, any of Norway's 239,057 islands are worth a trip. While you're there, you can also see the fjords, long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs that sit along the Norwegian coast (mostly in the west). Two of the fjords, Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Many visit by boat; the cruise season runs from May to September. 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In fact, he loves the island so much that he even has a holiday home there. Also belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark are the Faroe Islands, which David, Erjona Mehilli and Rose Magalona all rave about. Metro's Travel Editor Alice Murphy just returned from a trip to the Faroe Islands, she'll be writing about that very soon, so keep an eye out. Over in the Baltics, Mikko Haapanen suggests travellers make a trip to Ruhnu in Estonia. The tiny island is home to around 100 permanent residents. In the summer, it slightly increases to about 150. The landscape is mostly flat, with sandy beaches and forests. This makes it the perfect location for outdoor lovers, who can hike, birdwatch, and go wild swimming. Historical sites like St. Madeline's Church and Ruhnu Lighthouse are top attractions, as is the Ruhnu Museum, where you can learn about the island's history. 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Daily Mirror

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Daily Mirror

10 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Beautiful island less than 5 hours from UK boasts 13 hours of sunshine every day

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Our refuge is the community cafe with blue gingham tablecloths over old wooden tables on a covered veranda. I'm corrected when asking for a Greek coffee. Schoolboy error! A very proud and fortunately smiling lady insists her brew is 'Cyprus coffee' and is best served with village ladies' sweetly preserved walnuts, quince and citrus apple. An excellent recommendation and all for a few euros. Having a car is essential for the full Cyprus experience. At Limassol Salt Lake we tentatively follow others driving on to the salt flat called Lady's Mile, named after a horse called 'Lady' who belonged to a British colonial governor. It is a little adventure on the smoothly packed salt surface, and in the distance, there are hundreds of flamingos from Africa searching for shrimp. Our next journey is to Coral Bay. En route we take in another archaeological park, which echoes the once-thriving city kingdom of Kourion, with spectacular sea views from the magnificent Greco-Roman theatre still used for summertime musical and theatrical performances. In the Gladiator's House a beautifully restored mosaic depicts the valor and bravery of two fighting men wearing armoured helmets and facing each other with shields, clubs and swords – probably commemorating a famous battle to the death but there are no signs of who prevailed. Coral Bay's sweeping crescent-shaped 600 yards of soft sand, enclosed each end by limestone headlands, makes it easy to walk into the sea to swim safely in crystal water. Blood-red sunsets are spectacular. Locals run the publicly owned value-for-money beach cafes serving sandwiches and salads, Cypriot coffees (I get the order right this time) brewed with pride, cold beers and ice-creams. Two sunloungers and a parasol cost €7 a day. There are showers for €1 but I am caught out when the water supply turns off. With shampoo in my hair I have to go to the bar to get change for the slot. Not a pretty sight. Cali Resort & Spa, our accommodation near Paphos, is a short walk from the beach and the lively Coral Bay strip of bars, pubs and restaurants. Cali is an adults-only place, beautifully renovated, exuding serenity to rejuvenate mind and body around the large pool and spa. There's lavish buffets in Aria all-day dining for alfresco breakfast, lunch and dinner with show cooking stations where chefs use fresh Cypriot ingredients. Different cooking themes are provided each evening. In nearby Paphos old town, Koutourou restaurant is in a splendid building. It is full of old relics with a basket bike hanging from the beamed ceiling and very battered travelling cases. There are pedal-powered Singer sewing machines, old serving trays and hefty black typewriters. Demetris Nicolau, the owner and chef, along with two ladies, creates wonderful Mediterranean dishes for diners in three rooms where every marble-topped table is crammed. While walking through the narrow streets we can hear live Greek music which draws us to the Tavern Pagkratios where Lakis is playing the bouzouki and Michalis the guitar as they sing about love and world travel. The meze looks delicious. We return another night and have a great time. The orange-soaked cake for dessert is heavenly, so the gods are still with us.