The Fourni Islands, a small archipelago tucked between Ikaria, Samos, and Patmos in the northeastern Aegean, have earned a place among Europe’s most beautiful beaches, according to readers of the UK newspaper The Guardian. Known as “Korsiai” in antiquity, the islands were ranked among the paper’s top five reader-recommended beach destinations, praised for their golden sands, crystalline waters, and unspoiled atmosphere.

In a feature highlighting “wonderful beaches” discovered and loved by readers, The Guardian invited its audience to share their favorite coastal escapes across Europe – from the Mediterranean to the Baltic. Among celebrated destinations in Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Latvia, the beaches of Fourni stood out as a quietly enchanting Greek alternative, far removed from the spoils of mass tourism.

Guardian readers described the beaches of Fourni as places where “golden sands meet intensely blue seas,” a combination that defines much of the archipelago’s appeal. Long favored by Athenians seeking simplicity and authenticity, the islands are dotted with sheltered coves and beaches, many of them accessible only by footpath or small boat, lending Fourni an intimate, almost secretive feel.

That sense of secrecy is not just poetic. The tiny archipelago made international headlines a decade ago following the discovery of dozens of ancient, medieval, and post-Byzantine shipwrecks resting on its seabed (53 as of 2017) – revealing Fourni’s long-forgotten role as a key maritime crossroads. Despite feeling remote today, the islands’ geography, with their many leeward anchorages, once made them a vital stop on ancient sea routes linking the Aegean with Asia Minor and its major cities.

One of the beaches singled out by Guardian readers was Petrokopio, a striking cove known for its smooth white stones and historical significance. The area was once home to ancient marble quarries, traces of which can still be seen today, blending natural beauty with subtle reminders of the islands’ long past. Another favorite was Kampi Beach, shaded by tamarisk trees and offering a relaxed, cinematic atmosphere that one reader likened to a scene from a Fellini film.

For travelers seeking even greater tranquility, readers recommended a short boat trip to Thymaina, Fourni’s smaller neighboring island. Here, Keramidou Beach Bay offers calm waters and a low-key seaside taverna, ideal for slow lunches and long swims far from the crowds.

The Guardian feature placed Fourni alongside other much-loved European beaches, including the crescent-shaped sands of Cefalù in Sicily, the serene lagoons near Fuseta in Portugal’s Algarve, the Atlantic waves of Porto de Mós near Lagos, the pine-backed beaches west of Riga in Latvia, and the cider-sipping shores of Asturias in northern Spain. Yet Fourni was the only Greek destination included – a distinction that underscores its growing appeal among international travelers in search of something authentic.

Despite its rising profile, Fourni remains relatively affordable, with a good range of accommodation options and a refreshingly unpretentious tourism scene. The islands can be reached by ferry via Samos, with connections from Piraeus, making them an appealing option for visitors willing to venture just a little off the beaten path.

For those dreaming of Greece beyond the obvious, Fourni offers a reminder that some of the country’s most beautiful beaches are still quietly waiting to be discovered.

Source: moneyreview.gr