Tag: beach (page 1 of 18)

Mykonos beach bar and club parties and events in 2022

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PHotos of popular beach clubs on Mykonos

Some of the top beach clubs on Mykonos include, from top left: Alemagou; SantAnna; JackieO’ Beach; Tropicana; Super Paradise beach club; Nammos; Scorpios; Principote Mykonos; Pinky Beach; Solymar; Hippie Fish; Kalua; and Paradise beach club.

 

↓ SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW SPECIAL DJ EVENTS AND PARTIES BEING HELD IN OCTOBER AT MYKONOS BEACH CLUBS AND BARS ↓

 

Our other posts to check out:

♦ To see a list of regular events that take place on Mykonos either every day, or on specific days of the week, click here.

♦ To see parties and events happening at bars, clubs and hotels in Mykonos Town and other non-beach locations of the island, click here.

♦ To see what exciting new bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels have opened on Mykonos this summer, click here.

 

 

 

October events

 

Paradise Beach Club on Mykonos

On October 13, Paradise Beach Club posted this image to its social media pages to announce it is still open.  As of October 22, its daily beach parties were still going strong.

 

 

 

 

Season closing events & announcements

 

Tropicana Beach Club on Mykonos

Tropicana throws its final party of 2022 on Wednesday October 19

 

Nammos beach club on Mykonos

Nammos beach club has wrapped up its season. In social media posts on October 10, the club announced: “See you next year!”

 

Super Paradise Beach Club on Mykonos

DJ Vasilis Koutonias was on the decks for the 2022 season closing party for Super Paradise Beach Club on October 9

 

Kalua beach club on Mykonos

October 6 was closing day for Kalua beach club 

 

the entrance to Pasaji beach club on Mykonos

Monday October 3 was the last day of the season for Pasaji beach bar and restaurant at Ornos

 

Liasti beach club on Mykonos

Liasti beach club’s season drew to a close on October 3

 

Facebook photo of Solymar beach restaurant on Mykonos

October 2 was closing day for Solymar at Kalo Livadi beach

 

aerial view of Principote Mykonos beach club

The season ended on October 2 for Principote at Panormos beach

 

Scorpios beach club on Mykonos

Seven popular music acts performed at Scorpios during its season closing celebration on October 2

 

Hippie Fish beach club at Agios Ioannis beach on Mykonos

The season drew to a close October 2 for Hippie Fish beach club at Agios Ioannis 

 

Alemagou beach club on Mykonos

Alemagou held a bonfire party to celebrate its October 1 season closing

 

JackieO Beach Club on Mykonos

October 1 was the last day of the season for JackieO’ Beach Club

 

SantAnna beach club Mykonos

SantAnna beach club officially closed its doors for the season on September 29

 

Pinky Beach club on Mykonos

Pinky Beach club has announced that Sunday September 25 will be its last beach day of the 2022 season

 

 

Tiki Mykonos beach restaurant and bar

Sunday September 18 was the final day of the season for Tiki Mykonos restaurant and bar at Elia beach 

 

September 14 2022 season closing party announcement for Ftelia Pacha Mykonos beach club

Ftelia Pacha Mykonos beach club will celebrate the end of its first eventful season with a closing party on Wednesday September 14. The DJ lineup includes Nico Rac, Da Mike, Lica and Kat X.

 

ITBeach Mykonos seen in a photo shared on its social media pages

ITBeach Mykonos ended its first season at the beginning of September.  Located at Paradise beach, ITMykonos was a restaurant, bar and beach club venue that hosted high-profile international DJ events during the summer.

 

August 24 Bordello Mykonos closing party announcement

The summer 2022 season of Bordello Mykonos dinner show events at Pinky Beach Club wrapped up with a closing party on Wednesday August 24. The grand finale featured entertainment by Ciro Corcione, DJ Enzo Capocelli and singer Alex Pisa.

 

 

For profiles of the island’s new beach bars and clubs, and to see when your favourite Mykonos beach venues opened for the 2022 season, click on the link below to continue reading on page 2t.

 

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Cozy and romantic Love Bay Beach on Poros island

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The Love Bay sign on Poros island

Love Bay and Beach on Poros island

view from Love Beach on Poros island

Love beach on Poros island

Love Bay Beach — Λιμανακι της Αγαπης in Greek — is indisputably the love-liest seaside sunbathing and swimming spot on Poros island

 

Cozy cove:  For Valentine’s Day we wanted to post about an appropriately-themed place in Greece, and Love Bay Beach on Poros island immediately sprang to mind.

A picturesque cove nestled beneath lush green pine trees. A small arc of soft golden sand wedged between the low cliffs and rocks of the surrounding coastline. Gorgeous emerald waters lapping quietly ashore.  And its name –Λιμανακι της Αγαπη (Love Bay). Could this pretty place possibly be any more romantic? 

For us, it was literally love at first sight when we laid eyes on Love Bay. It was a hot, sunny day in June several years ago, and we were taking a walk on the scenic coastal road that winds down the southwestern side of Poros. As we approached a bend in the road and got a glimpse of the bay, the stunning green hues of the calm sea took our breath away. We had the same reaction only moments later when we spotted the cozy little beach through a narrow break in the row of pine trees lining the road. 

We have seen countless beautiful coves and beaches in Greece, yet this one seemed special. It’s cozy and comfortable (with room for little more than three dozen lounge chairs and umbrellas); it’s picturesque, unpretentious, and completely relaxing.  And romantic. And then there are those amazing, sublime turquoise waters! We visited at least nine different beaches on Poros, and this was our favourite. We would love to go back.

 

 

 

You’ll find more of our photos of the beach and bay below the following links to websites and social media pages containing information and photos of Love Bay Beach:

The Love Bay Beach Poros  is the official beach website. It provides a brief history of the family that established the bar and organized the beach some decades back, and explains how Love Bay got its name. It also contains contact information and directions;

The Love BAY Poros island is the beach’s official page on Facebook. Its posts include several dozen  photos and a few short videos;

♦ Several photos and a brief description of Love Bay can be found on the beaches page on the Visit Poros website, along with a link to a Google album containing several dozen more pictures;

♦ A clickable slide show and a separate gallery of 12 images can be viewed on The Love’s Bay page of the Poros Island information website 

Below are more of our photos, beginning with a series of images showing vistas of the bay from lookout points on the coast road, followed by a sequence of ground-level pictures of the beach and its views.

Coast road above Love Bay on Poros island

View of Agia Sofia chapel at Love Bay on Poros island

Coast road view of Love Bay on Poros island

Coast road view of Love Bay on Poros island

Water colours on the coast near Love Bay on Poros island

The Diamontopoulou villa at Love Bay on Poros island

Above: Views of the sublime sea colours and crystal clear waters along the shore in Love Bay, and glimpses of the Agia Sofia chapel and Diamontopoulou villa on the north side of the bay. We shot the photos from vantage points on the road along Poros island’s southwestern coast.

 

Love Bay and beach on Poros island

Love Bay and beach on Poros island

Above: Two glimpses of Love Beach through a gap in the pine trees that encircle the bay

 

Agia Sofia chapel at Love Bay on Poros island

Looking across the turquoise waters toward Agia Sofia, a private Bzyantine-style stone chapel on the seaside of the Diamontopoulou villa property near the beach

 

 

 

 

Love Bay on Poros island

The Love Bay sign at the entrance to the beach

 

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Beach view from the top of the entrance steps

 

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Love Bay and beach on Poros island

Love Bay and beach on Poros island

Love Bay and beach on Poros island

Views of the bay from various points on the beach

 

Agia Sofia chapel at Love Bay on Poros island

Agia Sofia church at Love Bay on Poros island

Views of Agia Sofia chapel from the rocky shore at the north end of Love Beach. It’s a private church, situated on the grounds of the Diamontopoulou villa.

 

Beach bar at Love Bay on Poros island

The beach bar sells snacks, beverages and cocktails

 

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Love Bay Beach on Poros island

Our visits to Love Bay Beach took place during the first 10 days of June, which is still low season for tourism. If you travel to Poros during peak travel season (July and August), you can expect to find the beach much busier, with all the lounge chairs snapped up early in the morning

 

 

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

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Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Four different views of Kalamia, a picturesque beach near the Lassi resort area on Kefalonia island

 

Cliffs, caves & calm:  We had a sense of déjà-vu when we were flipping through a recent issue of Travel + Leisure magazine and spotted a picture of a coastal landscape that looked very familiar — a crescent-shaped beach with ivory and pale brown sand tucked between tree-covered hills, white limestone cliffs and clear turquoise seas. 

Our initial “Hey, we’ve been there!” reaction quickly gave way to surprise when we discovered we were wrong. The photo caption identified the location as Voutoumi beach on Antipaxos, while the article itself was a report on Paxos island nearby. We haven’t been to either place.

Nonetheless convinced we had photographed a nearly identical scene, we scoured our computer files to find the image that had triggered the flashback. We started with our photo collection for Kefalonia, since that island — which we have been to — is only 120 km southeast of Antipaxos in the Ionian Sea off western Greece. With such a short distance between the two islands, it seemed logical they might possess comparable landscapes and geology.

Sure enough, our  search found the “lookalike” — Kalamia beach — on Kefalonia, and our photos confirmed that it does bear a strong resemblance to Voutoumi. One of our Kalamia pictures was even shot from a similar perspective as the Voutoumi beach image in the magazine. 

 

Voutoumi beach Antipaxos photo in Travel + Leisure magazine

 

Above is a screenshot of the Travel + Leisure magazine article with the Voutoumi beach photo that triggered memories of our visit to Kalamia beach on Kefalonia, seen below in one of our own images

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

 

Our next surprise was realizing we never blogged about Kalamia beach after our trip. Since we had our beach photos readily at hand, we have gathered them here, with these notes and observations:

♦ Kalamia is located below the coast road that runs between the Lassi resort area and  Argostoli (it’s near Oskars Studios & Apartments). We followed a trail that led from the road to the beach, but apparently didn’t notice a dirt track we could have walked down  instead.

♦ We went to the beach on May 31 2017. It was still low season for tourism on Kefalonia, and there were perhaps just a dozen other people there besides us.   With so few tourists around, Kalamia was peaceful and calm — perfect for resting and relaxing in the sunshine and light sea breeze.

♦ The sea was cool but the shallow waters were comfortable for wading and swimming. 

♦ There were no facilities of any kind at the beach on that beautiful spring day — no lounge chairs or umbrellas to rent, no canteens or beach bars selling snacks or beverages. But travel guides and Lassi hotel websites do describe Kalamia as an organized beach. We later learned that rental sunbeds are installed in time for summer, while at least one beach bar is open during peak season as well.  We just happened to be visiting the island too early to see them. (On page 2, we have included some social media photos showing the beach chairs and bar that were available during summer 2021).

♦ We were surprised to see two elderly couples sunbathing and swimming nude. We haven’t seen Kalamia included in Kefalonia listings on naturism websites (we checked), but it’s possible these couples had chosen to relax au naturel since the beach wasn’t yet organized, and no young children were present.

Below are several of our photos showing views of Kalamia beach as we approached along the coast road between Lassi and Argostoli. On page 2, you can see ground-level photos of the beach and its vistas, as well as social media pictures showing Kalamia’s summer-season sunbeds and beach bar.

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

the coast at Kalamia beach on Kefalonia

 

Please turn to page 2 of this post to see our ground-level photos of the beach and its views, as well as several photos shared on social media that show a bar and sunbeds on the beach during the summer 2021 holiday season.

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The powdery white Mykonos beaches few tourists ever see

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Snow on the Mykonos Town beach

The snow on Agia Agia beach at the Mykonos Town harbour had at least one of the island’s resident geese in a flap. This photo by Argiris Chatzis has gone viral on social media.

 

Snow on Psarou beach on Mykonos

People who have danced on the sand at the world-famous Nammos beach club would probably never have imagined that Psarou beach could look like this in winter. The photo was shared on social media by Mykonos Live TV.

 

Snow on Kalafatis beach on Mykonos

Snow covers Kalafatis beach while ominous stormclouds lurk above the two hills at Divounia that Mykonos locals have nicknamed “Aphrodite’s Breasts.”  Ηλίας Παναγάκος shared this image to the Meteo GR weather group page on Facebook.

 

Snowy strands: Mykonos is renowned for its dozens of beautiful beaches, but few tourists have ever seen them transform overnight from gorgeous golden sands to fluffy white powder.  That’s what happened this week when a winter weather system that meteorologists named Elpis swept across Greece’s Aegean islands, leaving a layer of crisp white snow in its wake.

On Sunday January 23, Mykonos residents awoke to find their homes, yards and vehicles under a blanket of snow — the heaviest snowfall the island has received in nearly 40 years.

While parts of the island got just a light dusting of the white stuff, some areas attracted deeper accumulations — and some no snow at all. That resulted in the striking sight of patches of vibrant green winter vegetation — another feature most Mykonos tourists never get to see during the dry, barren months of summer — surrounded by wide expanses of snow-topped fields and hills.

On the other side of the Atlantic, we awoke to snowfalls, too (a normal January sight here in Canada), but were taken aback to find our social media pages filled with stunning pictures and videos showing Mykonos with snow-covered landscapes and moody winter stormclouds looming overhead — just like here!

The famous Mykonos beaches looked amazing, though rather than showing off their usual tones of golden brown, they appeared just as white as the island’s iconic sugar-cube buildings.

Below, we have re-posted some of the social media photos, to show you how striking the beaches looked in their white winter coats.

We’re sure the images will astound people who have spent summer holidays partying , sunbathing and swimming at these beaches, but never imagined how drastically different they might appear in winter. The photos might even come as a complete shock to many people around the world who mistakenly believe Mykonos weather is similar to the Caribbean’s, since they’ve only seen pictures and videos showing the island in summer, with beaches, palm trees and swimsuit-clad tourists basking in the sunshine.

— Ornos beach —

 

Ornos beach area of Mykonos after a snowfall

The Ornos beach area is seen in a photo that was widely shared on social media formats and credited to Dimitris Paterakis

 

@katerina_brb Instagram photo of snow on Ornos beach on Mykonos

Ornos beach and hillside view from an Instagram photo by @katerina_brb

 

Snow on Ornos beach on Mykonos

Snow on Ornos beach on Mykonos

Above, two ground-level views from the southern end of Ornos beach as snow continued to fall. The images were both shared on Facebook by Kostantis restaurant, one of the beach tavernas at Ornos.

 

Snow at Ornos beach on Mykonos

Another  photo by Kostantis restaurant, this time showing  Ornos from the northern end of the beach

 

— Super Paradise beach —

 

Snowfall at JackieO Beach Club and Super Paradise beach on Mykonos

Views of snowy Super Paradise beach and the JackieO Beach Club, seen in images shared in the club’s Instagram stories

 

— Kalo Livadi beach —

 

snow on Kalo Livadi beach Mykonos

With this layer of snow giving it a different look, Kalo Livadi beach might be unrecognizable to people who have been to Solymar Beach Restaurant or Lohan Beach House in summer months. The photo was shared on Instagram by Island Mykonos Suites.

 

— Agios Stefanos beach —

 

Snow on Agios Stefanos beach on Mykonos

Agios Stefanos beach next to the Mykonos New Port is seen in an image, credited to O. Kyrantoni, shared on the Delos Tours Instagram page

 

Snow on Agios Stefanos beach on Mykonos

A ground-level view of Agios Stefanos beach from the opposite direction to the image posted above. This picture was shared on Facebook by Olga Pavlidi.

 

Snowy Mykonos beach photo shared on Instagram by o_lofos

The view toward Delos and Rhenia islands from Agios Stefanos beach, as seen in an image shared on Facebook by  O Lofos Luxury Boutique Suites

 

— Psarou beach —

 

@kostis_krg Instagram photo of snow at Psarou beach on Mykonos

The snowy slopes surrounding Psarou beach seen in an image shared by @kostis_krg

 

Aerial view of snow at Psarou beach on Mykonos

Another aerial view of the snow-covered hills and beach at Psarou. This image was shared on Instagram by Betty Chanozidou.

 

Snow on Psarou beach Mykonos

Mykonos Live TV captured this image of sunshine sparkling on the turquoise waters at snowy Psarou beach

 

Snow on Psarou beach on Mykonos

 Another Mykonos Live TV view of Psarou

 

Ioannis Revithis photo of Psarou beach on Mykonos

Ioannis Revithis shared this photo of Psarou beach on Facebook

 

snow on Psarou beach Mykonos

Snowy Psarou beach and the surrounding hillsides are shown in an image Mykonos Animal Welfare shared on its Instagram account, along with a message urging island residents to open their hearts and doors for strays and farm animals that might need food, water and shelter during the cold snap that will last several days.

 

— Agrari beach —

 

 snow on Agrari beach on Mykonos

A Mykonos Live TV social media image of snow-laden Agrari

 

snow on Agrari beach on Mykonos

The golden sand of Agrari beach is completely covered by snow in this image shared on social media pages for Mykonos Live TV and Agrari Beach

 

— Paraga beach —

 

Snow on Paraga beach on Mykonos

Snow on Paraga beach on Mykonos

Snow-dusted Paraga beach is seen in two screen captures from a video that Paraga Cafe shared in its Instagram stories

 

— Kalafatis beach —

 

Snow on Kalafatis beach

Skandinavian Bar shared this photo showing a view toward Divounia from the snow-powdered sands of Kalafatis beach

 

snow at Kalafatis beach on Mykonos

A view of Kalafatis from the southern end of the beach. The photo was widely shared on social media and credited to Stacey Papaiannou.

 

— Elia beach —

 

@yioris_gk Instagram photo of snow on Elia beach Mykonos

Sunshine breaks through clouds above Elia beach in an image shared on Instagram by yioris_gk

 

— Agia Anna beach at the Mykonos Town harbour — 

 

Snow on Agia Anna beach at Mykonos Town

This photo of Agia Anna beach in Mykonos Town was shared on social media by Delos Tours and credited to photographer V Delarosa

 

Snowy Agia Anna beach in Mykonos Town

An Agia Anna beach photo shared on the Facebook page for Mykonos Promo

 

Geese pigeons and snow on Agia Anna beach at Mykonos Town

The wing-flapping goose and its companions are joined by a flock of pigeons for this shot, which was shared on social media by Mykonos Animal Welfare. 

How Milos island wowed the world in 2021

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view from the Kastro peak on Milos island

boathouses at Klima village on Milos

Sunbathers at the Sarakiniko beach and coastal area of Milos island

Our own photos of three Milos island landmarks: the Panagia Thalassitra Church at Plaka village (top), colourful boathouses at the Klima fishing settlement, and  the surreal coastal rock formations at Sarakiniko

 

Milos’s moment: 2021 has been quite the momentous year for Milos, with unparalleled international publicity planting the island firmly into the minds and onto the bucket-list travel maps of millions of holiday-hungry people around the globe.

We told you this was coming.

In our blog post  Much ado about Milos four years ago (August 2017, to be precise), we described a noteworthy surge in interest in Milos, and we predicted its popularity would soar.

This year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, that’s exactly what happened: Milos was the Greek island people everywhere were taking note of, talking about, and visiting in person either for vacations or for corporate marketing photography and film shoots.

 

 

It wasn’t just travel blogs, vlogs and websites singing the island’s praises — Milos was the focus of attention in advertising campaigns for clothing, coffee and luxury goods;  social media posts by music and television stars; architecture and design publications; luxury hotel review websites; business and lifestyle magazines, and more.

 

the Kleftiko coast of Milos island in Greece

Once a hideaway for pirates, the coastal cliffs and caves at Kleftiko are now a popular stop for Milos sailboat tours

 

Among the Milos milestones of 2021:

♦ Readers of the most-read American travel magazine voted Milos the “No. 1 island in the world” as well as best island in Europe;

♦ One of the world’s best-selling music artists visited in the spring and posted photos from the island’s capital and one of its picturesque fishing villages to Instagram, where his account is actively followed by more than 200 million people;

♦ Its exquisite coastal scenery stole the show in major promotional campaigns for three of the world’s pre-eminent luxury fashion brands;

♦ The island played a starring role in a television advertising campaign for a popular coffee retailer;

♦ Architecture and home design magazines drew attention to Milos with profiles of a  contemporary “corral” residence ingeniously built to blend seamlessly into the island landscape;

♦ Hotel review websites trumpeted the arrival of two brand-new luxury accommodations that opened in June;

♦ International publications and leading travel blogs published laudatory profiles of the island’s appealing scenic attributes and attractions, and

♦ top travel vloggers enthralled YouTube watchers with videos spotlighting key Milos attractions and the splendid natural scenery.

 

windmills on Milos island

A cluster of windmills near Tripiti village. Some have been converted into holiday rental accommodations.

 

To see how and where Milos has made such an indelible impression this year, keep scrolling down through this post, and then Part 2 and Part 3, to view a wide-ranging collection of the feature stories and videos of the island that have appeared in mainstream and social media this year.

Below you’ll see the magazine whose readers chose Milos as best island in the world, along with Milos photos shared on social media by two top celebrities, plus island scenes from the major fashion and retail marketing campaigns that starred Milos.

In Part 2, we take a look at what writers said about Milos in their reports for travel magazines, blogs and websites, as well as in articles published by business, fashion, lifestyle and hotel periodicals.

Part 3 is a collection of Milos videos that were released in 2021 by filmmakers and international travel vloggers.

 

 

The photos and video images in our three-part series will show you  what all the Milos fuss is about — and why so many travel writers and videographers think you should pay it a visit soon.

Besides screenshots of the articles and reports, we have provided links to the publications and video producers so you can read and view more of Milos, and obtain additional information to decide if it’s the right place for you and your family to spend some vacation time. With scores of enticing photos and videos plus a plethora of practical information and travel tips, the links will be useful to bookmark for travel inspiration and holiday planning. 

Given the vast range of insights, opinions and perspectives provided by these different resources — including tips on times of day to see certain places, how to get there, what not to miss or what to to know before you go — this compendium could well become your ultimate travel guide to Milos.

But don’t wait too long! As some of the writers and vloggers point out, the island’s popularity is skyrocketing — so it’s best to see this off-the-beaten-path gem soon, before it becomes a busy mainstream holiday destination.

 

— Milos on magazine covers —

 

Travel magazine cover photos of Sarakiniko beach on Milos

Photos of Sarakiniko — the Instagram-famous “moonscape” beach and coastline on Milos — were prominently featured on the covers of Thalassea and Travel + Leisure magazines

 

Milos received cover treatment from Thalassea, the official magazine for Greek ferry company Hellenic Seaways, as well as Travel + Leisure, the most widely-circulated American travel magazine with nearly 5 million monthly readers. The front pages of both featured picture’s of the island’s renowned cliff-jumping spot, Sarakiniko.

Inside Thalassea, a two-page aerial photo of Sarakiniko illustrates the magazine’s “Reasons to Go” to Milos article.  “One look at Sarakiniko beach and you will be smitten for life,” the text reads, adding: “this is an island far out of the ordinary.”

You can find the article at pages 96-97 in the Summer/Autumn 2021 issue of Thalassea.

Meanwhile, the cover image for the October 2021 Travel + Leisure acknowledged Milos’s great success in the magazine’s Annual Reader’s Awards, which voted Milos as not only the best island in Europe, but also the No. 1 island in the entire world. (More on those accolades below.)

 

— Travel + Leisure readers’ best island awards —

 

Travel + Leisure Top 24 islands in the world 2021

Travel + Leisure readers honoured Milos by voting it the No. 1 island in the world this year

 

We weren’t surprised when we learned Milos has been voted top island in the world by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. We’ve been there twice, and know from personal experience why people enjoy it so much.

The voting took place from mid-January to early May of this year, and the magazine said participating readers “rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.”

To find out why Milos nabbed top honours, take a look at the short blurb in the T + L article The Top 25 islands in the world.

Milos had good company in the rankings, by the way. One of its close neighbours, Folegandros, earned the No. 2 spot, while perenially-popular Santorini took 13th place.

 

Travel + Leisure readers choose Milos as best island in Europe

Milos was “a closely guarded utopia,” writer Stacey Leasca says, until word got around that Travel + Leisure readers had voted it the best island in Europe and the world

 

In the wake of announcing that its readers had voted Milos as best island in Europe, and in the world,  Travel +Leisure published a report in which writer Stacey Leasca recounted her 3-day visit there in June.

Upon arrival, she recalls, it was “easy to see why previous travelers and locals alike would want to keep this place under wraps. Its rocky shoreline gives way to some of the most pristine crystal-blue waters I have ever laid eyes on. Its landscape is one sweeping hillside after another, dotted only by sparse vegetation, white-washed homes, blue-roofed churches, and a rogue goat or two. And its food is divine.”

Though their visit lasted only 72 hours, Leasca and her travel companion managed to see numerous key attractions including the port town of Adamantas, the villages of Plaka and Klima, the beaches Sarakiniko and Papafragas, the ancient catacombs, and others.

To see why she says “take T+L readers’ advice and go to Milos,” read her report The best island in Europe has stunning white stone beaches and some of the most turquoise water in the world.

 

— Justin Bieber’s Milos visit —

 

Justin Beiber on Milos island Greece

In photos shared with his 200 million fans on Instagram, singing superstar Justin Bieber is seen in a private boathouse dining room at Medusa cafe-restaurant in Mandrakia (left) and with his wife, Hailey, in Plaka village

 

Popular entertainers, movie stars and professional athletes wield incredible influence over consumer spending habits, which is why companies pay celebrities big bucks to endorse or advertise their products.  We can’t help but speculate on the value of the publicity that Milos received — for free –when international music superstar Justin Bieber shared photos from the island on his Instagram page in late June. Considering that the Canadian-born singer counts more than 205 million followers on Instagram, he brought Milos to the attention of an enormous audience of potential travellers, many of whom had probably not even heard of the island before.

Bieber’s private yacht cruise to the Cyclades islands was reported by media around the world, with some of the Greece-based reports  about his Milos visit including:

♦ the June 29 Greece Is magazine article Justin Bieber cruises the Aegean and feasts on sardines,

♦ the June 28 Greek City Times story Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey getaway to Greece in Milos.

♦ the June 29 2021 Greek Reporter article Justin Bieber’s new friendship with a 70-year-old Greek fisherman

♦  Justin Bieber went on vacation to Milos  and loved sardines, published June 28 by the Athens Voice Look mag

We think Bieber deserves some credit if there’s any bump in tourist traffic to Milos in the next year or two, and we’re pretty certain Medusa restaurant will top traveller lists of must-visit places to eat, as well — thanks to the Bieb’s headline-making lunch there. But he can’t take all the credit: Medusa gets more shout-outs from travel bloggers and vloggers in some of the reports and videos you’ll see below.

Between June 26 and 29, the singer posted posted from Milos and the Cyclades to the official Justin Bieber Instagram page, while he shared two images on the Justin Bieber Facebook page — which has 91 million followers — on June 28 and 30.

 

— Pedro Alonso’s Milos visit —

 

Instagram photo of actor Pedro Alonso on Milos island

Video screen capture of actor Pedro Alonso on Milos

Actor Pedro Alonso gazes across Milos from a hillside vantage point (top) after reading a monologue from a Spanish play in the island’s ancient open-air theatre (seen in this screen capture from an Instagram video of his impromptu performance).

 

About a week after Justin Bieber moved on from Milos, popular Spanish actor Pedro Alonso arrived for his Greek holiday.  Alonso is perhaps best known for playing the character “Berlin” in 36 episodes of the Netflix television series Money Heist, from 2017 to 2021.

On July 8, Alonso posted a video and several photos shot on Milos to his Instagram, which has more than 9.1 million followers. The video shows the actor at the island’s Ancient Theatre, reciting a monologue by the character Rosaura in the Pedro Calderon de la Barca dramatic play La vida es sueño. The photos included a shot of Alonso sitting at a lookout spot near the theatre, and a view of the seaside village of Klima.

The actor’s visit to Milos and Athens was described in the July 11 2021 Greek Reporter article ‘Money Heist’ actor Pedro Alonso mesmerized by Greece.

The acting monologue video and five photos can be viewed on the pedroalonsoochoro page on Instagram.

 

— Fashion campaigns filmed on Milos —

 

Milos scenery in Louis Vuitton Towards a Dream ad campaign

A Louis Vuitton promotional campaign spotlighted scenery on the Sarakiniko and Kleftiko coasts of Milos

 

Milos was one of two “dreamlike settings” that the iconic luxury brand Louis Vuitton selected as a filming location for its  2021 Towards a Dream advertising campaign (the other site was Jordan). Photo shoots took place at Sarakiniko beach and the Kleftiko coast, where photographer Viviane Sassen captured “spirit of travel” images that the company calls “an evocative ode to the inner child, set free in a reverie of otherworldly beauty and infinite possibility.”

“Rich in ancient history, the Greek island of Milos beckons to a group of children, inviting them to play among its stark shores and pristine waters. With their innocent curiosity, their silhouettes emerge from the landscape to convey a limitless sense of optimism and freedom,” says a description of the photoshoot theme.

You can view the full-size promotional photos and a short video at the Towards a Dream campaign page on the Louis Vuitton website.

Photos and videos also were posted between September 16 and 19 on the official Louis Vuitton Instagram page, which boasts more than 46.4 million followers.

Photos and a link to the Towards a Dream campaign also were posted September 17 to the Louis Vuitton Facebook page, which counts more than 24 million followers.

 

Dior models on Milos island Greece

Scenes from Plaka, Sarakiniko and Mandrakia figure prominently in photos shot on Milos for the Dior 2022 Cruise Collection (above), while a 3-minute video (below) offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Dior Magazine photo project. It includes commentary by some of the photographers along with views of magnificent Milos landscapes and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.

 

Another legendary fashion house, Dior, chose Milos as one of the principal shooting locales for its 2022 cruisewear collection and Dior Magazine Issue 36 (some filming also took place in Athens and at the historic Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion).

The cruise fashions were designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who found inspiration in “classical Greece and mythical female goddesses and divinities.” It was only fitting, then, that Dior photographed its models at ancient Greek ruins and mesmerizing island landscapes.

For this campaign, Dior invited ten Greek photographers — Mara Desipris, Christina Dimitriadis, Marilia Fotopoulou, Efi Gousi, Maria Koutroumpi, Dimitra Lazaridou, Ria Mort, Lia Nalbantidou, Ioanna Sakellaraki, and Olga Stefatou–  to capture their personal visions of the cruise collection’s apparel and accessories. You can read a description of the project and see some of the photos shot by all 10 women on the Captivating Visions  page of the Dior website.

Campaign photos and videos also were posted in late November to the official Dior Instagram page, which has more than 38.3 million followers, and to the Dior page on Facebook, which reaches more than 18 million followers.

 

Hanro fashion photos shot on Milos island

Milos also was the shooting location for HANRO’s spring/summer clothing campaign 

 

Constant change and tumultuous current events have had a huge impact on society and individuals, leading many people to reassess their personal priorities and redefine what they consider quality of life. HANRO, a 130-year-old firm known for its fine men’s and women’s daywear, loungewear and nightwear, seized upon the global trend to “recharge” and  “reset” when it chose Milos as the shooting location for its spring/summer 2021 fashion campaign.

“One place that is the perfect setting for ultimate relaxation and revitalizing the soul is in the Greek island of Milos,” says a description of the HANRO marketing program.

“Unassuming and sublime, [Milos] defies the forces of nature and shows us just how much beauty can emanate from constant change. Every gust of wind dances differently on the sea; every wave traces new patterns as it laps on the sand. Each ray of sunlight changes the kaleidoscope of colours and the spirit of nature. The soft sandstone and volcanic rock is constantly sculpted by the wind. Nothing is ever the same as the day before, and yet this transience harbors a great sense of calmness and strength. It teaches us to appreciate the here and now, to live in the moment, and to simply exhale and let go.”

In contrast to its dominant role in the Louis Vuitton images, the Milos scenery provides a much more subtle backdrop for photos of the HANRO models, but looks inviting nonetheless. Photos and a promotional video can be viewed on the Spring Summer 2021 campaign page of the HANRO website.

 

— Nescafe television ad —

 

Greek actor Giorgos Lianos appears in a television ad for Nescafe coffee

 

Milos was the sun-soaked filming location for the light-hearted Nescafe Greece television campaign “Make your summer count,” featuring actor Giorgos Lianos.

The ad was filmed at various locations across Milos, with Sarakiniko beach making the most appearances in the minute-long clip. And, yes, the commercial includes scenes of people jumping into the sea from the Sarakiniko cliffs while Lianos stands on the edge and watches, with a Nescafe frappe in hand.

 

Continue reading about Milos at the links below:

Part 2: How Milos wowed the world in magazine, website and travel blog articles; and

Part 3: How Milos wowed the world in videos and travel vlog reports.

 

How Milos wowed the world … in videos and travel vlog reports

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This is the third instalment of a three-part series examining how Milos island became a media sensation around the world in 2021.

In Part 1, we described how Milos’s popularity surged in mainstream travel publications and and websites, as well as in high-profile fashion advertising campaigns, social media posts by music and television celebrities, and more.

In Part 2, we showed how Milos made its mark in articles and reports published not only in travel magazines and blogs, but also in publications focussed on business, fashion, architecture, lifestyle, and hotels.

Here, in Part 3, we let you take a look at the impression Milos made in cinematic travel films and in YouTube videos by top international travel vloggers.

 

— Travel vlog videos —

 

Sabrina Chakici introduces viewers to Kleftiko, two beaches, Plaka and the brand-new White Coast Pool Suites

 

In June, London-based TV presenter and travel blogger Sabrina Chakici returned to Milos to spend a few days on what she calls her favourite Greek island as well as her favourite place in the whole world.

Her 12-minute video is titled after the newly-opened luxury hotel she stayed at, but she doesn’t show it until the second half of her clip. During the first six  minutes, she takes a Polco Sailing excursion to Kleftiko, where she swims, snorkels and explores the sea caves where pirates once hid from sight. She then enjoys some seaside time at Fyriplaka and Agios Sostis beaches, and strolls through Plaka village. Over the final six minutes, she gives her audience glimpses of her hotel room and its private pool, and the hotel’s stunning sea and sunset views.

On Sabrina’s Instagram page, you can see Milos photos and videos that she posted between June 27 and July 4. There are more Milos pictures on Sabrina’s Facebook page; look for her posts on June 30, July 1 to 4, and July 28 to see those.

 

Vloggers Tim & Fin travel to Milos to see first-hand why the island has become so popular

 

Full-time travellers and vloggers Tim & Finn spent four nights on Milos during their summer island-hopping trip, and compiled this 23-and-a-half minute video to let their 138,000 subscribers on YouTube judge if Milos might be the “best” island in all of Greece. With Sarakiniko beach providing an eye-catching backdrop, they introduce their destination by noting that Milos has become “super popular in travel blogs and with Instagrammers because of how photogenic this specific beach is.” But they’re quick to point out that Sarakiniko isn’t the only Instagram-worthy place to see.

“This island is the queen of unique beaches,” Fin notes, as the couple heads out to discover Papafragas, Tsigrado and Fyriplaka beaches, as well as the port town Adamantas, Plaka village and the colourful Klima seaside settlement. We think their video does a great job of capturing the awe-striking scenery just as it appears in person — there are jaw-dropping drone views, shots from on the ground and in the water (including their cliff jumping escapades at Sarakiniko), and on-the-road perspectives from the 125 cc scooter they rented to get around. One of our personal favourite moments in the clip is Tim and Finn’s sunset-viewing experience from the mountainside church of Panagia Thalassitra at Plaka.

Tim and Fin also give viewers a quick tour of their squeaky-clean Airbnb accommodations (Villa Tasoula Sunrise Apartments near Papakinou beach), while Fin offers excellent tips and advice for people who might plan to visit Sarakiniko for some cliff jumping and swimming fun of their own.

There’s more Milos photos and videos on the pair’s various social media accounts:

Web links: Tim and Fin Travel

Blog: Tim + Fin Travel

Instagram: @Tim and Fin

YouTube: TIM and FIN

 

 The Other Side vloggers Ana and Ian show why “the Island of Colours” is the “most exotic island in Greece”

 

 American vloggers Ana and Ian paid a short visit to Milos at the 5-week mark of their 3-month-long tour through Greece, Turkey and Europe, and compiled this 14.5-minute clip to show their 105,000 YouTube channel subscribers why they consider Milos a “must-visit” Greek destination. 

They take viewers to three major beaches:  Fyriplaka  (which the couple calls “the best beach on Milos”), Tsigrado and Sarakiniko, as well as the island capital, Plaka village, where they enjoyed dinner and a sublime sunset.

The video shows some of the many “amazing things to do” on Milos and offers helpful travel tips and practical advice. There are breathtaking drone views of the incredible coast and landscape scenery, underwater and in-water footage captured while snorkeling at Fyriplaka and cliff-jumping at Tsigrado, views from their cute Fiat rental car, and scenes from their walkabout in Plaka.

Give it a watch to see why Ana said Milos “is so much better than Santorini” and has “some of the prettiest water we’ve ever seen.”

Check out their social media pages for additional photos and videos from Milos, other places in Greece, and elsewhere in the world:

Website: The Other Side

Instagram: @The Other Side Vlog

YouTube: The Other Side

 

Zach and Ine from the World Wide Heart chose beaches, villages and an ancient cultural monument for their list of 10 best things to see on Milos

 

Milos was our favorite island in Greece because it’s just so relaxed and beautiful,” say Zach and Ine, the peripatetic pair who explore extraordinary places around the globe on their World Wide Hearts travel vlog and website.

In October, they published this 13-minute video to highlight what they concluded are the 10 best things to see on Milos.

Not surprisingly, beaches grabbed the majority of spots on their Top 10 list, while three villages and a historic site rounded out their ranking.

Among their favourites was Papafragas, which boasts “one of the most unusual rock formations you’ll see in your life.”  The fishing settlement Klima also impressed as “one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy a sunset and a seafood dinner in the Greek islands.” And Glaronisia Tavern in Tripiti got a shout-out for its stunning sea views and “some of the tastiest food on the entire island.”

We really liked this video for its aerial drone views and other unique perspectives, particularly of the Papafragas rock formations and caves, and the sunset views from the kastro above Plaka.

We won’t give away what Zach and Ine selected as their #1 place to see — you’ll have to watch their clip to find out. But we’ll give you a hint: Zach says it “has a perfect mix of adventure, peacefulness and natural beauty.”

They also offer a great piece of practical advice about the best type of vehicle to rent for moving easily around the island.

You can find more photos and information on their website and social media pages at the following links:

Website: World Wide Hearts

Instagram: @World Wide Hearts

Facebook: World Wide Hearts

YouTube: World Wide Hearts

 

Dana Berez recaps a 5-day visit to breathtaking beaches, restaurants and a winery

 

We suggest you grab a coffee, glass of wine or other beverage to enjoy while you watch this video by travel and lifestyle vlogger Dana Berez — it’s a 45-minute-long tour to remarkable beaches, coastal areas and other lovely locations on Milos.

The film follows Dana during a 5-day visit, during which she stayed at Kostantakis Winery and Residences in Pollonia. You’ll see her accommodations and join her at the winery for a wine tasting and vineyard stroll, and you get to tag along for her dinners at Yialos and Akrotiri restaurants in Pollonia, a lunch at Medusa, and a dinner at Glaronisia taverna in Tripiti.  Daytime outings include stops at Papafragas, Firopotamos, Tsigrado and Fyriplaka beaches and Mandraki village, while there are sunset visits to Sarakiniko and Plaka, and an evening stroll along the Pollonia harbourfront.

However, the highlight of Dana’s trip was a Polco Sailing boat tour that departed from Paleochori and made stops at Kalamos beach, Gerontas beach, and what Dana describes as the “crown jewel” of the day-long excursion, Kleftiko.

You can see more video and photos of Milos in posts shared between September 7 and 12 on Dana’s Instagram page, while you can find Milos travel and beach guides on her website.

 

Virtual Trip takes viewers on short walkabouts at the seafront of Pollonia village (top),  in the port town of Adamas (center) and at the island capital, Plaka

 

If you haven’t been to Milos yet, these three videos from the Virtual Trip channel on YouTube will give you a good idea of what you can expect to see in the main port town of Adamas, as well as in the villages of Pollonia and Plaka.

The 3-minute Pollonia clip provides views of the village’s seafront and beach areas, while the 4-minute Adamas video takes a wander through some of the town streets and along the harbourside. The Plaka film clocks in at nearly seven minutes, and shows street scenes as well as some of the wonderful views from various vantage points in the mountaintop village.

 

Earth Sound Walks makes you feel like you are taking your own scenic 26-minute stroll through Plaka

 

The island capital and highest-situated village, Plaka, is a must-see for visitors, and is routinely recommended as one of the best places to watch the sunset.

Watching this video will give you an excellent sense of what it’s like to wander around the village lanes, especially if you wear headphones to listen to the soundtrack. There’s no narration — just the sounds of people walking, talking, dining and exploring Plaka. For descriptions of what you’re seeing, and other information about the village, be sure to turn on the subtitles/closed captions.

We stayed in Plaka for four nights during our second trip to Milos in 2011, and this clip stoked many good memories of our own meanderings in the area. It made us feel like we were right back there, exploring all over again.

 

  A 36-minute trek with Earth Sound Walks on the other-worldly white rock landscapes at Sarakiniko

 

This second video from the Earth Sound Walks channel on YouTube will take you on another intriguing stroll, this time along the fascinating rock formations at the Sarakiniko coast. Again, there’s no narration — simply the sounds of nature and the videographers stepping along the undulating stone landscape. Make certain to turn on the subtitles/closed caption setting so you can read the background information that accompanies the visuals.

 

 Παρασκευας Καρβουνιαρης captured drone views of impressive Milos scenery

 

In early 2021, videographer Παρασκευας Καρβουνιαρης created these short drone videos of some of the top sights and attractions on Milos.

The first film runs for just 3.5 minutes and offers aerial views of the port town Adamantas, three of the island’s most famous beaches and coast areas (Fyriplaka, Tsigrado, and Sarakiniko), and the fishing settlement and beach at Firopotamos.

Attractions in the second video include Gerontas beach, the Ancient Theatre, the sulphur mine at Thiorichia beach, a whitewashed chapel on the slopes below Plaka, the fishing settlements Klima and Mandrakia, undersea views of the Sarakiniko shipwreck, the Sarakiniko coast, Pollonia village, and more. The  beneath-the-waves footage of the rusty shipwreck near Sarakiniko is unique; we can’t recall ever seeing scuba diving or snorkeling films of the wreck anywhere else.

 

In Milos, filmmaker Roman Palii and his drone fly you above exhilarating coastal locations you won’t see in other Milos travel videos

 

Last but definitely not least, we leave you with a terrific cinematic travel video created by Roman Palii from the YouTube channel Drone ‘N’ Travel. He published his film in the autumn of 2020, but since it displays exhilarating views of picturesque places and superlative scenery that weren’t mentioned or shown in any of the other videos or photos from 2021 that we’ve included in this post, we simply had to add it for your viewing pleasure.

Besides his awe-striking aerial views of Plaka, Tripiti, Klima, Firopotamos, Tsigrado, Mandrakia, and Sarakiniko, Palii flies you to Fourkovouni, Areti, the coast near Nerodafni beach, Paparodi beach, the sulphur mine at Theiafes, the caves at Papafragas and the tunnels beneath Sarakiniko. It’s a truly spectacular 3.5-minute tour!

Video spotlight on: Ikaria

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Ikaria Summer 2020 by Nikos Outdoor

 

Videographer Nikos Outdoor travelled to the Eastern Aegean island of Ikaria at the beginning of the summer — before Greece had ended its Covid-19 lockdown and reopened its borders to international tourism — and enjoyed what he described as “probably the most unique trip ever!”

“We had the whole island literally for our own as the the usually crowded places were missing! We took advantage of the closed borders and shot some magnificent scenery that even during winter it is difficult to catch them so pure!” he says in notes accompanying his drone video, which was published on YouTube July 10.

The 5-minute film features amazing aerial views of the island’s inimitable scenery, including interior and coastal landscapes, beaches, villages and sunsets.

 

Video spotlight on: Samos

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This is my island, This is Samos by Michali’s Films

 

If you ever get the chance to visit Samos, here’s a few sage words of advice: Stay for at least a week, and rent a car for either all or part of your holiday. You’ll need that time, and access to a vehicle, to see even just a few of the fabulous sites and scenic locations spotlighted in the video This is my island, This is Samos by Michali’s Films.

We spent 4.5 days on Samos during an island-hopping holiday through the Dodecanese and East Aegean regions of Greece exactly 10 years ago this month. (How time flies — we can’t believe a full decade has passed since that vacation).

We knew when we arrived that we would only be scraping the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, by basing ourselves in and near the island’s capital city, Vathy, and not having a car at our disposal.  Samos is a big island, as evidenced by the fact it boasts three ferry ports and an airport; spellbinding mountain, valley and coastal landscapes; dozens of beautiful beaches; charming villages, churches and monasteries; noteworthy historic places and monuments (including UNESCO World Heritage Sites); vineyards that produce the island’s world-famous muscat wine; scores of tavernas serving delicious local and traditional Greek cuisine; and much much more.

We weren’t stuck in Vathy the whole time, though, since we did rent mountain bikes for a day. That gave us the opportunity to take a fun ride to and from the picturesque seaside village of Kokkari, and to explore the countryside north of the city.

Still, we missed out on seeing so much, as This is my island, This is Samos made clear.

The 4-minute film shows dozens of remarkable places all over the island, and captures impressive aerial views of:

♦ the villages of Platanos, Kokkari, Pyrgos, Miloi, Irion, Pythagorion (and its striking Blue Street), Mesokampos, Posidonio, Mitilinii and Ormos Marathokampou;

♦ the beaches Klima, Potami,  Mourtia, Mykali, Proteas, Psili Ammos, Megalo Seitani, Klima, Glikoriza, Tarsanas, Remataki, Livadaki, Limnionas, and Balos; 

♦ the Temple of Hera, Ancient Walls of Samos, an ancient observatory, and other historic sites;

♦ the 2,500-year-old olive tree “Eva” at Miloi village;

♦ numerous churches and holy sites including the Church of Profitis Ilias, Agias Triada Monastery, Agios Nikolaos Church at Pandroso village, Panagia Church at Mitilinii village, the Church of Panagia Eleousa, the Church of Profitis Ilias near Spatharaioi village, the Church of Agiris Chrysostomos of Smyrna at Mykali, the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, Agios Nikolaos Church at Posidonio, the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani at Pythagoreion, and Agios Nikolaos Church at Potami;

♦ a flamboyance of flamingos at Alikes Mykali;

♦ the islands of Samiopoula, Karavopetra, Agios Nikolaos, Diaporti and Vareloudi;

♦ Mount Kerkis and the Profitis Ilias mountain region;

♦ the statue of Pythagoras at Pythagoreion village;

♦ tour boats, and more.

If you’d like to see more of the island after taking this aerial tour, you’ll find nearly 20 other Samos videos to watch on the Michali’s Films channel on YouTube.

 

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