Santorini, Greece

Santorini’s volcanic caldera, draped in white-and-blue villages on 300-meter cliffs, proves catastrophic geology can create staggering beauty. With 60% of its 2.3 million annual tourists visiting from June to September, it is faster to reach than Palawan, requiring just a 3-hour flight from Athens. The island’s iconic sunsets generate $500 million yearly, 20% more than the average Greek island.