The 5 best islands to visit in Greece /

When it comes to the best islands to visit in Greece, you are spoiled for choice. But I shortened the list for you.

If you dream of a paradise island, Greece is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world. It is only when you have experienced the size of these archipelagos with your own eyes that you realize how overwhelming their beauty is.

There are over 200 inhabited Greek islands and about 6,000 in total. And like many island nations, each inhabited Greek island has its own character – from the white-and-bluewashed houses of the Cyclades and the lush greenery of the Ionian Islands to the castle-lined Dodecanese islands.

Greece has six primary island groups, as well as a large stand-alone: ​​Crete. It is usually best to travel between islands in one group rather than jumping from archipelago to archipelago. Here we go over the best islands to visit in Greece, what they are famous for and how to travel within each archipelago.

Crete

Almost halfway between Europe and Africa lies the largest and southernmost of the Greek islands: Crete. With its own customs, climate and food, Crete could be its own country. Because there is so much to experience on this island, most travelers to Crete tend to spend their entire trip on the 260-kilometer long island rather than venturing to other archipelagos.

Crete has two major airports, meaning easy access from Athens. And once you get there, you’ll want to rent a car – it takes about six hours to drive from one end of the island to the other. Did someone say road trip?

Be sure to also explore beaches such as Elafonissi (with its otherworldly pink sand) and Elounda (famous for its 5-star beach clubs). And if hiking is your thing, the Samaria Gorge will take you on a beautiful 5-7 hour hike through landscapes full of cliffs and streams or perhaps a walk through the wildflowers along the dreamy trails of the mountain villages. Don’t miss a trip to the ruins of the Palace of Knossos – home to the Minoan Empire and the ominous Minotaur monster. And for wine lovers, Crete offers the chance to enjoy Cretan wines at the Boutaris winery.

The Dodecanese Islands

With a name inspired by the Greek number 12 (dodeca), it’s not surprising that the Dodecanese consists of 12 main islands and several smaller ones. The two largest islands are Kos and Rhodes, and while the smaller ten may be less discovered, they are just as beautiful.

Rhodes, world famous for its incredibly preserved walled city, stuns visitors with Crusader castles and an ancient synagogue. While the town of Lindos offers an ancient Greek acropolis on top of a hill, a medieval village in the middle and a modern city on the beach at the bottom. Be sure to visit the mansions of Kassos, the light houses of Kastelorizo ​​and the hilltop Chora of Astypalea – one of the most beautiful fortified villages in Greece.

The Ionian Islands

Green lovers find the Ionian Islands the most beautiful of the Greek islands. The lush “Seven Islands”, or Eptanissia, offers an incredible show of local art and culture, music, food and architecture to its visitors.

You can wander the streets of Corfu’s UNESCO-listed Old Town to take in the majesty of the Greek islands. But also Paxos and its small area covered with olive trees should not be missed. To catch a glimpse of wild horses running around the center of Mount Aenos, stop at the largest island, Kefalonia. Or take a break at Zakynthos, home to Shipwreck Beach, which is only accessible by sea.

Fans of Greek mythology should check out Ithaca, known to Homer fans as the home of Odysseus. And finally, the outlier, Kythira – that seems to belong more to the Cyclades than to the Ionian Islands. All in all, the Ionian Islands easily slip into the list of the most beautiful Greek islands.

The Cyclades Islands

The Cyclades, best known from Mykonos and Santorini, consists of a group of 24 inhabited islands, with a total of 220 islands. These Greek islands are the postcard version of Greece you probably know: whitewashed churches with blue domes and pink bougainvillea vines climbing up the street walls.

Mykonos is popular for its nightlife and immaculate beaches, while Santorini is romantic and luxurious – the perfect destination for honeymooners to lounge in private pools overlooking the caldera. Those who want to experience other parts of the Cyclades can enjoy Milos, which is home to the caves of Kleftiko, Tinos and the famous Church of the Virgin Mary. Leave out the larger islands such as Naxos and Syros, which form the capital of the archipelago, or the smaller ones that have little tourism, such as Sikinos.

The Northeast Aegean Islands

The Northeast Aegean Islands are a collection of 13 Greek islands – with the 5 most notable being Samos, Ikaria, Limnos, Lesbos and Chios. It is also the part of Greece closest to neighboring Turkey. A trip to the Northeastern Aegean Islands rewards its visitors with remarkable beaches and natural wonders such as volcanic rocks and thermal springs.

Be sure to stop at the petrified forest and the magnificent castle on Lesvos. There are also archaeological sites such as the Temple of Hera on Samos, the Acropolis on Thassos and the ancient city of Ifestia on Limnos, not to mention the volcanic rocks and sand dunes on Limnos.

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The rich history is one of the reasons why these islands are among the best islands to visit in Greece, but their waters offer an equal reward, such as Keros Beach on Limnos – known as one of the best places in Europe to visit . kite flying or windsurfing. There are also Seitani coves in Samos and white sand beaches in the Seychelles in Ikaria which are great for swimming.

Traveling around the islands in Greece

While most islands in Greece have airports, not all of them are international airports. Many are served by mainly domestic airlines such as Aegean Airlines, and you can only fly in from Athens or surrounding islands. But some of the most popular places on this list, like Crete or Santorini, have international airports, where travelers can fly directly from hubs like Europe and the Middle East.

Ferries are an easy and economical way to travel between islands, especially if you plan to stay within one archipelago. But it is also possible to rent a car in Athens or on one of the islands and drive it on the ferry, turning your island-hopping adventure into a seafaring road trip.

Please note that you need an international driver’s license to rent a car on any of the islands.

When is the best time to visit the Greek Islands

If you want pleasant weather but still want to avoid crowds, make sure you plan your trip to the Greek islands in May, June and September. The high season on the islands of Greece is from mid-June to mid-September, and this time offers more ferry and flight choices, as well as more restaurants and bars to frequent – bearing in mind that you’re competing with tourists and high prices.

In addition, each archipelago has varying weather conditions. Crete, for example, has the warmest climate all year round, which means that it is wonderful to visit even during the late autumn or winter months. Also, some islands, such as Santorini, become quiet during the low season from November to March.

Here’s an idea of ​​the best Greek islands to visit at different times of the year:

• March, April, October and November: This is shoulder season and the busier islands are quieter but still bustling. Santorini, Crete and Rhodes are the best Greek islands to visit.
• May, June and September: The Greek islands offer wonderful weather in the months before and after the high season. Offers an excellent time to see the islands, save money and avoid the crowds. Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu and Crete are great choices during this time.
• July and August: These are the busiest and warmest months. If you love beach parties and clubs full of hot bodies, Mykonos is the place for you. This is also the best time to visit less crowded islands such as Milos and Ikaria, which have a short tourist season.
• December, January and February: Most of the Greek islands are quiet during the winter months, but Crete and Santorini still offer plenty to do with plenty of open places to stay and enjoy the beauty of the Greek islands.

While it’s almost impossible to pick the best islands in Greece to visit, these gems are a good place to start. Let me know in the comments what your favorite Greek island is!

Efrat Sagi-Ofir is CRO and founder of Air Doctor. Air Doctor is a startup that connects travelers via a user-friendly app to a global network of 20,000 local doctors, so that they can receive appropriate medical care anywhere in the world.

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