Koufonisia in the Cyclades island complex and Paleochora, in south-west Crete  are among Europe’s 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016, according to Telegraph.

The British newspaper site’s article advises its readers to “head to Koufonissia for the sort of sand, sea and sun that recalls the long-forgotten Greece of the Sixties – it’s where Athenians in search of an unpretentious and reasonably priced beach break go. Hidden away between the larger Cycladic islands of Naxos and Amorgos, Koufonisia is made up of two tiny islets, Ano Koufonisi (Upper Koufonisi) and Kato Koufonisi (Lower Koufonisi), which are separated by a 655ft sea channel. While Kato Koufonisi remains uninhabited, Ano Koufonisi, with its whitewashed Cycladic cottages, has a buzzing little community of 366. Locals live mainly from fishing – it is claimed that there are more boats than residents – there are no real roads and hardly any cars, so everyone either walks or cycles. Even the larger island can be circled in a day on the flat coastal path, with little for company other than the endless sea views, and maybe a few goats. On the lovely long beach of Pori, where the sand is satin white and the sea a dazzling turquoise. Facilities come in the form of a beach bar serving cold drinks and snacks – but not much else.

Stay in Above the port, Koufonisi’s windmill dates from 1830 and was in use until 1956. Since 2006, it has been available for rent as an apartment sleeping four. It is beautifully furnished with local antiques, and has a private sea-view terrace. From €150 (£119) per night for four people (00 30 22850 74294; windmill-villa.gr).”

Easygoing seaside village

The list also includes Paleochora, south-west Crete in its 5th place and comments the following:

“Giving onto the Libyan Sea, on Crete’s southern coast, Paleochora (48 miles south of Hania) is an easygoing seaside village, popular with Greeks in search of an unpretentious summer retreat. Everything is local and family-run: low-key B&Bs, informal tavernas and cafés, plus a much-loved therino (open-air summer cinema). The main beach, Pachia Ammos, is a half-mile curving swathe of sand, dotted with umbrellas and sun-beds, with a naturist area at the far end. Beyond the village are more secluded bathing spots, some nudist-friendly. Peaceful Gialiskari (2.5 miles east) is a pebble beach that was popular with hippies in the Seventies, while Grammeno (three miles west) is a sand-and-pebble beach backed by a grove of cedar trees. There are excursion boats from Paleohora to Elafonissi, and a coastal ferry to Agia Roumeli and Sougia, or you can hike up a rocky gorge to the village of Anydri (three miles) for lunch at an old-fashioned taverna.

Stay in Manto Studios, a welcoming family-run B&B near the main beach (mantostudios.gr; two-person studio, with breakfast, £39 in June).”

Telegraph’s full list of Europe’s 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016 follows:

Palagruza, Dalmatia, Croatia

Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia

Anamur-Iskele, Turkey

Koufonisia, Greece

Paleochora, south-west Crete, Greece

Viveiro, Galicia, Spain

Cíes Islands, Spain

Comporta, Tróia, Portugal

San Pantaleo, near the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Notre Dame, Porquerolles, France

Read full story here.

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