A trip to the Greek islands, known for their breathtaking natural beauty, is a dream vacation for many people. But did you know there are 230 inhabited islands in Greece? So, how do you decide which islands to visit? Here are the six best ones to visit, all of which you can easily see during a single trip to Greece!!!
SANTORINI
Santorini, the most famous of them all. The huge number of tourists who visit Santorini every year might put you off, but remember: Santorini is popular for a reason. The white buildings, with their bright blue roofs, perched on the hillsides with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea, are what define this island. Although it’s hard to find an untouched spot on the island these days, Santorini has managed to preserve its traditional Greek charm.
You can’t leave without watching the beautiful sunsets from Oia, at the northern tip of the island, or visiting Fira, the capital, with its spectacular cliffside setting and charming whitewashed buildings.
Stop at Red Beach with its incredible backdrop of towering red rocks, and Eros Beach in the south to get away from the crowds.
How to get there: Santorini is a 30-minute flight from Athens, but during the high season, many European cities offer direct flights to Santorini. From Santorini, you can take a ferry to Naxos (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) or to Mykonos (about 2 to 2.5 hours).
MYKONOS
Santorini is the best place to start your Greek island adventure, but Mykonos is an island with a completely different vibe. It has it all: beaches, parties, and traditional Greek life in the smaller villages scattered around the island.
In high season, this is Greece’s party island, but if you head out of Mykonos Town, you can escape the crowds. The narrow, cobblestone alleys of Mykonos Town are best visited before noon, when most tourists are still in bed. That’s when you experience just how charming this town is, even though hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the island every year.
While Santorini is unbeatable when it comes to spectacular views, Mykonos wins when it comes to beaches. Kalo Livadi is the island’s largest beach, located on the south side but just a 20-minute drive from Mykonos Town. The island is compact and easy to explore by car or scooter. Other beaches worth visiting include Ornos, Elia Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Platis Gialos, and Paraga Beach.
How to get there: There are flights from Athens to Mykonos (40 minutes), and during the summer months, many European cities also offer direct flights. If you’re island-hopping, you can take the ferry from Santorini (2.5 hours). There are also daily ferry connections from Naxos (45 minutes), Santorini (2 hours and 40 minutes), and Crete (approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes).
KOS
Kos is located further southeast in the Aegean Sea, near the Turkish coast, and after Rhodes, it is the second most popular group of islands in the Dodecanese.
Kos is known for its stunning 112-kilometer coastline, which features around 20 serene beaches. The island’s most important landmark is the ruins of the Asklepion, which were healing temples in ancient Greece. The town of Kos is the island’s main tourist hub, with many bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels, but the other villages on the island also offer places to stay and taverns for dining and drinking.
How to get there: There are regular flights from Athens to Kos, and during the summer months there are also direct connections to several European cities. If you’re island-hopping, there’s a ferry service from Santorini to Kos (4.5 hours), but it only runs twice a week.
NAXOS
If you’re looking to experience authentic rural Greek life, you’ll love Naxos.
This island has beautiful beaches, interesting ruins and ancient cities, and dozens of traditional villages—46 to be exact. You can simply spend your days driving around the island, stopping in one of the villages for a coffee or a beer, strolling through the quiet streets, marveling at the pristine stone churches, and spending the rest of the day relaxing on a secluded beach. Not many visitors take the time to stop in the villages instead of just passing through them, which is why most of them still feel completely untouched by tourism.
How to get there: There are flights from Athens (40 minutes), or you can take a ferry from Paros (25–45 minutes), Mykonos (45 minutes), or Santorini (2 hours).
MILOS
Milos’ claim to fame is the statue of Aphrodite, also known as the Venus de Milo, which can be found in the Louvre Museum. While the island may have lost its most famous resident, it boasts picturesque beaches.
Don’t miss the unique cliff formations at Sarakiniko Beach, the crystal-clear waters of Kleftiko Beach, the narrow swimming hole at Papagragas Beach, Sikia Cave (accessible only by sea), and the remote Agathia Beach. You could spend a week here visiting three beaches every day and still only see a small fraction of the island’s diverse beach landscapes, ranging from golden sand to black sand, from rocky shores to shell-strewn beaches, from expansive bays to tiny coves. From turquoise to cobalt blue waters.
How to get there: There are ferries between Milos and Santorini (2.5 hours), Milos and Folegandros (1 hour), and Milos and Naxos (about 4 hours).
FOLEGANDROS
Folegandros means 'hard iron,' and when you look at this arid island where trees are scarce, it’s easy to see where the name comes from.
Folegandros is often compared to Santorini, because just like on the most popular island in the Cyclades, you’ll find villages with whitewashed houses and bright blue doors, as well as breathtaking views over the deep blue Mediterranean. The reason Folegandros isn’t yet overrun with tourists is that it’s harder to reach—there are no direct flights, and ferries aren’t as frequent as on the more popular Greek islands.
If you’re looking for solitude and traditional villages, Folegandros is for you. Chora, the island’s main town, offers plenty of opportunities to simply sit back and watch the world go by: in one of the three squares, at one of the many taverns, or in one of the many cafés.
Don’t miss the sunset or sunrise at the Panagia Church.
How to get there: Ferries run between Folegandros and Santorini (1 hour), Folegandros and Milos (between 1 hour and 2.5 hours), Folegandros and Mykonos (4–5 hours), and Folegandros and Naxos (4–5 hours)
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