A renowned female blogger ranked Naxos first on the list of destinations that travelers should visit in 2026.
The recent past has shown that when a newspaper, a magazine, a travel site or a blog proclaim a Greek location as a top destination, there is a strong response especially from European countries, resulting in crowds flocking to that spot the following summer.
A striking example is Kimolos, which British media have extolled as the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean, a fact that boosted its tourism development, especially over the last two years, when it recorded a real boom. The Cyclades and especially the Small Cyclades have in recent years received numerous distinctions as the Mediterraneans hidden gems and islands where time has stopped, with the clocks frozen in earlier times.
The latest international distinction went to Naxos, which the award-winning and famous blogger Marta Ostoja (of Polish origin) ranked first on the list of destinations travelers should visit in 2026. Marta Ostoja is described as the most talented and influential blogger on the web (most influential talent on the web) and on her travel blog titled Where Life is Great (Where Life is Great) she ranks Naxos first, followed by Warsaw, Spains Costa Brava, Sicily, Mexicos Riviera Nayarit, Bahia in Brazil, Sharjah in the UAE, Okinawa in Japan and Iceland.
We see that the bloggers choices also include regions with documented longevity, such as Japans Okinawa, which is included (along with our own Ikaria) among the blue zones, that is, the blue areas of the planet where centenarians live. Marta Ostoja presented these travel trends at the WTM international tourism fair in London.
Island for family holidays
The blogger calls Naxos an ideal island for family holidays, with easy access, lace-trimmed beaches, turquoise waters, exceptionally friendly to little children, with excellent food. After all, the island has many gastronomic treasures, the renowned Naxos potato, its wonderful cheeses, seafood and meats, and its local sweets. The writer had visited Naxos at the invitation of the Municipality and explains that the beaches are ideal so that even toddlers can play safely and in the restaurants and hotels you will never be made to feel unwelcome, especially if you have young children, as she does, who has three children.
Possibly Marta Ostojas comment may be a dig at a trend that has been spreading in recent years, whereby retreats - adults-only hotels - are created, which prohibit entry to children under 12 or even under 16. Naxos and the Cyclades in general represent authentic Greece through picturesque villages, genuine hospitality for the whole family, customs and traditions, natural beauty and unique local products, while Naxos in particular is offered as an ideal base for visits to the Small Cyclades (Koufonisi, Schinoussa, Donousa, Iraklia).
Last year Naxos recorded a new arrivals record with an increase of 30,9% in air arrivals and 5,8% in ferry travel, compared to 2024 for the tourist season, as pointed out by the Deputy Mayor of Tourism of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, Vangelis Katsaras.
