TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award

• Crete and the enchanting Elafonisi Beach, as well as the Sani Beach Hotel, are at the center of global tourism attention, as they were distinguished in this year's TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2025.

In detail:

Crete was ranked 9th in the list of the top 25 destinations in the world, thanks to excellent traveler reviews. TripAdvisor describes it as a "Mediterranean jewel" and "birthplace of both Zeus and modern European civilization", highlighting its unique history, cultural attractions, Minoan ruins, but also the charm of cities such as Chania and Rethymno.

The absolute winner of the year for Greece, however, is Elafonisi, which was crowned the best beach in the world. TripAdvisor users praised the pink sand, turquoise waters, and shallow lagoons, stressing that Elafonisi is a destination that “has to be seen to be believed.”

Elafonisi Beach has 16,017 reviews, giving it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

The platform notes:

"With pink (yes, pink) sands and turquoise waters, Elafonisi Beach is just one of those places in the world that you have to see to believe. The shallow lagoons are perfect for lively kids, while the deeper waters offer every kind of adventure for adults: swimming, snorkeling, whatever you fancy. Just make sure to stay until sunset - you won't regret it."

Some reviews of Elafonisi beach:

• "It's an experience like no other, it seems like you're on the edge of the Pacific, but in reality, in Crete, Greece without the sharks of course... the clear, blue, salty sea works wonders if you have arthritis, believe me... you can walk in about 15 feet and still be up to your hips in the water... The road is really good for driving..."
• "This place is just absolutely perfect. I went there alone in late October and stayed in one of the accommodations near the beach. There weren't many people there at that time of year and the weather was just wonderful. One thing I will say though: please, don't take sand with you! There are many appeals around to prevent people from doing this, but still I saw some people taking some sand. This is a unique ecosystem, let's not destroy it please..."
  "Beautiful and clean beach, it's a shame that unscrupulous tourists unfortunately they steal the pink sand. I recommend getting there early to find a place to rent a sunbed as the sun gets very strong on this beach. The water is nice and shallow - completely safe for swimming".

In the hotel category, Sani Beach in Halkidiki was distinguished, which took 18th place among the 25 best hotels worldwide. With 6,769 reviews and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5, the luxury seaside resort impressed travelers with its natural beauty, high quality services, excellent gastronomy, activities, spa and welcoming staff.

The Travelers’ Choice Awards are awarded annually by the TripAdvisor platform and are based on millions of user ratings and reviews over a 12-month period. The awards are divided into two levels:

Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best: The platform’s highest honor, awarded to the top 1% of listings worldwide.

Travellers’ Choice: Awarded to the top 10% of listings that are distinguished for their consistently high quality and service.

Top Hotel in the world for 2025 was Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report