Santorini is the Most Popular Destination in Europe

A map produced by researchers has revealed that the Greek island of Santorini is the most popular tourist destination in Europe.

Using Google search data, the researchers created a map that incorporates the most-searched European holiday destinations by residents of various countries.

By analyzing 12 months of Google data from 185 countries, the study identified the EU vacation spots that were most frequently searched using phrases like ‘destination + holiday’ or ‘destination + vacation’.

Santorini is most popular tourist destination in Europe

CV Villas’ list of the most popular European spot worldwide ranks Santorini as the top choice in 47 countries, spanning from the United States and Finland to Colombia, Bolivia, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

Commenting on the immense popularity of the Greek island, CV Villas said “Famous for its golden sunsets, warm temperatures and jaw-dropping scenery, it comes as no surprise that Santorini ranks so highly as a must-visit hotspot.”

Ibiza secured the second position on the list, with 29 countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Jamaica, and Portugal, showing the highest search interest for holidays in Ibiza compared to any other European destination.

“Ibiza has long been a popular tourist destination thanks to its scorching summer weather, exotic scenery, and stunning beaches,” said CV Villas of the runner-up.

In third place on this list is Tenerife, which CV Villas said offers “plenty for tourists to explore, including the infamous Mount Teide volcano.

Another Greek island, Corfu, also made it into the top five, just behind the Italian island of Sicily. In the lower ranks of the top 10, Greece maintains its popularity with sought-after destinations like Kos, Mykonos, and Crete, all emerging as highly searched European vacation spots.

Santorini’s enduring popularity

Santorini is an immensely popular tourist destination, and not without good reason. The island offers visitors a fantastic range of beaches, excellent cuisine, and of course, stunning views.

After centuries of volcanic activity, the island has beaches with red sand, others with black sand, and others with pebbles. In fact, Santorini has the most atypical Greek beaches because of its geology.

Red Beach is the island’s most famous, with red sand and a huge, imposing red hill in the background. Then there is the pebbled Kamari Beach and Perissa Beach with black sands and calm waters. However, due to the mountainous terrain, access to the Santorini beaches is not as easy as it is on Mykonos.

Visitors to Santorini can also expect great cuisine. Locals grow many vegetables, and the island is known for its great wines. The rocky, sloped, volcanic terrain is ideal for vineyards and local wines are famous the world over. So, the food in Santorini is fresh and light Mediterranean, overall. And the service is warm and friendly.