Is there anything better than watching the sunset over the sea from a hilltop on a Greek island?
Apparently yes, according to tourists holidaying on Santorini. The leading Greek destination has been slammed by travellers.
Famed for its sunsets and dramatic volcanic landscapes, the Greek island receives around two million tourists a year despite having just 15,500 permanent residents.
A tourist ‘Whitejadefox’ posted on Reddit: “It was much dirtier, more crowded and overdeveloped in ugly ways than when I visited it twice ten years ago. Used to be stunning back in 2012.”
Another tourist ‘biene8564’ said: “Seriously, Google ‘sunset Santorini’ and you’ve seen everything there is to see, minus unbearable hordes of tourists.”
One tourist said: “The views are beautiful, but the crowds are awful. And it’s super expensive.”
Local residents have also complained about the cruise industry’s impact on the beautiful island.
According to cruisedig, five cruise ships will arrive in Santorini on July 25 each carrying over 2,000 passengers.
But if Santorini is off the island hopping agenda, where should British tourists travel for a crowd free experience?
Andros, Syros and Milos are some of Greece’s most gorgeous islands and receive far fewer visitors than Santorini and Mykonos.
Tourists could also try heading to a beach destination on the Greek mainland, which are often less busy.