Holiday Guide to the Greek islands
Holidays in the Greek Islands are all things to all people. Head for a hedonistic party playpen or take in a tranquil backwater with a donkey ride to your hotel. The Greek Islands have an unrivalled array of ancient monuments and a grossly unfair share of outstandingly beautiful sights. Ferries make island hopping easy and there is diving, sailing and water sports galore.
Nowhere caters for so many different tastes in summer holidays than the Greek Islands. And most islands have something for everyone. Even package holiday staples like Corfu, Kos and Rhodes have their share of thrilling windswept sands and modest holiday hideaways.
Add some sensational scenery, beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, friendly people and a rich cultural history and the matter of finding your ideal Greek Island holiday is simply taking the time to search it out.
The Greek Islands fall into seven main groups. To the west are the green Ionian; the central Cyclades have archetypical sugar cube houses while the eastern Dodecanese follow the hot Turkish coast; the Saronic and Sporades hug Greece’s east shore and the north Aegean are gateways to the Bosphorus. And, of course, there’s Crete — the largest of them all with a culture and style all its own
The Ionian islands
The Ionian Islands form an archipelago between Greece and Italy, starting in southern Albania and extending down along the coast of Epirus. They are one of the Mediterranean’s top beach holiday destinations.
Their official name is Heptanisa, which means seven islands in Greek. The seven main Ionian islands are Corfu, Kefalonia, Paxos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Zakynthos, and Kythira, while the smaller ones include Antipaxi, Erikousa, Mathraki, Othoni, Meganisi, and south of Zante the group of deserted islands known as the Strofades.
Scattered along Greece’s west coast, the Ionian islands are historically and culturally linked to Italy. Both for the Venetian architecture found in the capitals and their culture, these islands remind tourists of their past connected to the Venetian occupation from the 15th to the 18th century.
Travellers will find beautiful mountainous landscapes, high cliffs, and sandy beaches that are among the most beautiful in Greece, or even the world, such as the beaches of Navagio on Zakynthos, Porto Katsiki in Lefkada, Myrtos in Kefalonia, and Agios Gordis in Corfu.
The Ionian islands are quite different from the islands of the Aegean. They are greener and not particularly hot in summer, thanks to their geographical location giving them a particularly mild climate, while in winter they receive plenty of rain, especially Corfu which is located further north. It is precisely these rains that give the islands their lush nature.
The Ionian Islands are hugely popular with holidaymakers with relatively short flight times from the UK. Despite the islands being close to each other, the Ionian islands are not ideal for Greek island-hopping.
Ferries are fewer and the links not as direct, with many Ionian islands only serving as stopovers for ferries sailing between Italy and mainland Greece.
There are regular departures from Italy to Corfu and Lefkas with connections to the Greek ports of Patras and Igoumenitsa.
There are ferries between Corfu and Paxos, between Lefkas and Meganissi, and between Kefalonia and Ithaca, but ferry traffic between the four major islands – Corfu, Lefkas, Kefalonia, and Zante – is sparse and irregular.
Cyclades islands
The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek island group, with frequent ferries and short travel times. Many choose to fly to Mykonos or Santorini as these islands have airports receiving international and charter flights.
Flying to Mykonos can save time, as it is centrally located in the Cyclades, but Santorini has the advantage of being on one of the main ferry routes between Piraeus (Athens) and Crete.
The Cyclades are the classic destination. The Greek dream islands. They are the most famous and beloved destination. The archipelago gets its name from an imaginary circle formed around the sacred island of Delos, now uninhabited and close to Mykonos. Cycladic architecture is dominated by low, square houses of white lime with blue window frames and dry stone walls competing for space with prickly pears and cacti. Walking through narrow alleyways, you might still see old ladies using donkeys for transport. Some things change slowly…
Most of the Cyclades share a common urban structure, with a port and a main village, called Chora, often built high above the sea. In ancient times, it was necessary to protect oneself from invaders, whether Turks, Venetians, or pirates. How many raids has the Aegean Sea seen on its waves?
The Cyclades have a thousand things to see. For example, Santorini with its volcano, Mykonos with its lively nightlife, or peaceful Naxos with its white beaches. Not to forget Paros, Sifnos, Ios, and the Small Cyclades, where you can be enchanted by the charm of fishing villages. Koufonissi and its naïve neighbours. And then there’s Milos with its magical beaches, the island of Folegandros, and much more of course.
For ferry travel within the Cyclades, Syros, Paros, and Naxos are the main hubs for local ferry traffic, all with good ports and plenty of accommodation options. Most other Cycladic islands are within easy ferry distance from both Paros and Naxos, and many of the smaller isands will have regular daily ferry services.
Dodecanese islands
The Dodecanese islands are relatively easy to reach, with good connections to many islands. The Dodecanese offers a variety of popular Greek islands with a lot of historical interest plus the possibility of trips to nearby Turkey or even a ferry all the way to Crete.
The Dodecanese awaits your visit, calmly. It is a tranquil, beautiful archipelago. Just a bit further from the Cyclades, which is not necessarily a disadvantage, rather the opposite.
In fact, it only takes a few more hours by ferry from Athens to leave behind less motivated tourists and enjoy the weight of history. Here, you can savour the unique flavour of the borderland between Greece and Asia Minor.
The Dodecanese were the Greek islands occupied by the Knights Templar, the Knights of St John, who built castles and medieval walls near the sea.
Fast ferries link the islands all the way up the Turkish coast from Rhodes, in the south, to Leros, Lipsi, and Samos in the north, so ferry connections here are probably the best even if the larger ferries can be expensive.
Many of the islands have small ferries with daily routes to the smaller islands either as daily schedules or as tourist excursions.
Daily trips to Turkey are also very popular among these islands as many of them are just a few kilometres from the Turkish mainland.
Sporades islands
Small in number maybe, but this small clutch of islands off Greece’s east coast range more than makes up for it in variety and choice. Island delights range from large, busy, sandy.
The Sporades are an elegant and long-standing tourist destination. Four Greek islands in their own style. Their tranquillity immediately overcomes you as soon as you step off the ferry.
A few hours from bustling Volos, Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos are a triumph of vineyards and winding roads. The Sporades have forests that run into the sea and messy villages, but above all long beaches with white sand, like those on Skiathos. Alonissos is an important protected marine park, and Skopelos with its capital competes for the title of the most characteristic town in all of Greece.
Travel within the Sporades is essentially limited to Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos. Good hydrofoil and ferry services run between all three islands, so connections are quite well confined to this trio. As the islands are so different from each other, it can still make for a decent island holiday.
Skiathos is by far the most popular, with an array of sandy beaches along its southern coast. Charter flights land here and the port is just a short taxi ride away. Skopelos and Alonissos may lack beaches but more than make up for it in atmosphere.
Skyros is part of the same group but is another matter in terms of ferry connections. It can only be reached via Evia, and there are no easy links from here to the other island groups.
North Aegean islands
Scattered widely across the north Aegean sea, these islands tend to be less visited than other groups and will suit those who favour forested mountains, uncluttered beaches and good walking trails through lush scenery.
The islands of the northeastern Aegean are enchanting places, not so touristy, rich in history, good food, and excellent hotel service.
Chios, Lesbos, and Limnos are some of the Greek islands in the eastern Aegean very close to Turkey. Rich in history with many ancient Greek monuments, rocky castles, and impregnable fortresses.
Here you can discover the wonderful island of Samos, a land of good wine, tranquil beaches, and beautiful marinas. Ikaria, the island of Icarus, and the mysterious and elusive Samothrace and Thassos.
The islands of the eastern Aegean are large and solitary, the sea is sensational, and there are some big, very interesting towns like Mytilini on Lesbos and Chios town. These islands are a must for the curious traveller as well as those wanting to discover another, unmissed, Greece.
The northern Aegean islands are well spread out, and ferry connections are not very good. Those travelling to these islands usually spend several hours sailing between them.
Thassos has good daily service from the mainland at Keramouti and less regular departures to Kavala. Getting to Limnos can be tiresome with long ferry journeys, and Lesbos is not much better, with Chios even further.
It’s only when you reach Samos, the southernmost island in this group, that it gets better as it is here that ferry traffic links to the Dodecanese group of Greek islands which have much denser traffic. From Samos, there are also regular daily ferry services to Turkey.
Saronic islands
The nearest island group to Athens, the Saronic islands are not only easy to reach they also make a great base for exploring mainland Greece.
It’s not always necessary to go far to find beauty. The islands in the Saronic Gulf are generous and beautiful, just a step away from Athens. Crowded on weekends but quiet during the week, hot spots for celebrities, and an almost exclusively Greek tourist destination.
The islands in the Saronic Gulf are very green, sparsely populated, generally small, and can be visited in a few days each, giving time to visit 3 or 4 on the same holiday.
They generally have good quality beaches, and getting there by hydrofoil from Athens is a no-brainer. Poros, Spetses, Hydra, and Angistri await the unconventional traveller with an open heart, while Aegina and Salamis look forward to discovering their historical traces and vibrant nightlife.
The Greek islands in the Argo-Saronic Gulf are very popular with holidaymakers from mainland Greece, especially those living in the Athens area. Several holiday islands in the Argo-Saronic Gulf are only a few kilometres from the capital and close to the port of Piraeus.
Frequent daily ferry connections – particularly to the popular holiday island of Aegina – make these a favourite not only among British holidaymakers but also among Athenians on weekends looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital. In the summer, Flying Dolphins has daily departures to Aegina, Methana, Poros, and Hydra, as well as to Spetses. There is also a regular ferry service between Aegina and Angistri.
Besides regular ferry services, several caiques offer trips between the various Saronic islands as well as excursions organised by travel agencies.
Crete
Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. Here you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilisations, explore beautiful beaches, impressive mountain landscapes, fertile valleys, and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover!
Agios Nikolaos is the capital of Lassithi. Here, the bottomless salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. A narrow channel of water connects the lake to the sea, while an impressive backdrop of red rocks and trees adds to the town’s natural beauty.
Chania is the capital, a place where different civilisations have flourished over the centuries. Strolling around the Old Town’s labyrinthine alleys with its beautiful Venetian mansions, fountains, and churches will guide you through well-preserved historical monuments.
The city of Chania is built on the site of Minoan Kydonia, at the end of the eponymous bay between the peninsulas of Akrotiri and Onicha. It was Crete’s former capital (from 1847 to 1972). Nowadays, it is the second-largest city on Crete after Heraklion and the capital of the homonymous prefecture.
Get to know the city of Chania by wandering around its streets, visiting its museums, and admiring the various architectural styles that present the city’s historical path.
Heraklion is the largest city on Crete and one of Greece’s largest urban centres. Its development began in the aftermath of the 9th century AD (in ancient times, Knossos was the island’s most important centre, followed by Gortyn). In later times, Heraklion came under Arab, Venetian, and Ottoman rule; its conquerors originally named it Khandaq or Handak, which was corrupted to Candia. During the 2004 Olympic Games, the city of Heraklion provided one of the venues for the football tournament.
Rethymno is located at the northern end of the prefecture, built by the sea and is a city with many faces. Rethymno or Rithymna, as it was once called, has been inhabited since the Late Minoan III period. Nowadays, it retains the elements inherited from its history (from antiquity to the present day) while preserving the characteristics of a modern city. You can reach Rethymno by boat from Piraeus or by flying from Athens to Chania and then driving 60 km to Rethymno.
