The best Greek islands to visit

The definition of an island can vary, but if you include all its islets, Greece has a mind boggling 6,000 islands scattered throughout the beautiful blue sea, making it hard to choose the best Greek islands to visit. Many of us dream of an island-hopping adventure in Greece, cruising the waters between a clutch of beautiful destinations each with their own flavor and character. These thousands of islands are strewn over a vast area and it makes far more sense to plan to tour a group of islands which are not too distant from each other, ensuring you don’t spend all your time traveling.

Which are the best Greek islands to visit?

But which Greek islands to choose among so many? Here’s a trio of tried-and-tested destinations that offer contrasts in culture and landscapes from one island to the next.

The Cyclades

The Cyclades island group lies between the Greek mainland and Turkey, consisting of around 30 inhabited islands and hundreds of islets and rock stacks. These sun-soaked isles dotted around the dazzling Aegean Sea are the rugged tips of ancient mountains. Their name means ‘encircling islands’, named so because they form an undulating ring around the sacred island of Delos.

Among their number are many of the best islands to visit in Greece, with a diversity of sights, characters and history in a relatively small area. Each island is unique, but they have in common a charm and beauty that epitomizes the appeal of island hopping in the Greek islands. Glorious beaches and pretty ports greet you as you pull into each isle, and further exploration reveals inland treasures, delicious Greek cuisine, and welcoming locals.

Mykonos is perhaps the best-known island in the group, famous for its party-hard ethos and gorgeous beaches. With its characterful old town (Hora), lovely coastline, chic dining and nightlife, it certainly makes an appealing stop. It is also the gateway to Delos (the mythological birthplace of Apollo). The island is busiest from June to September when the beaches pack out with glamourous visitors and the bassline thumps well into the small hours. Outside these months, the powder-soft sands and boutique beach bars will be calmer, and you’ll have more breathing space in general – the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are ideal.

Paros and Antiparos are similarly pretty, with idyllic whitewashed villages and dreamy coastlines. They both take the party vibes down a notch or two and are much more laid-back. Nearby, Naxos is larger and enjoys a greener and more mountainous landscape, along with some fabulous beaches for water sports.

Santorini is undeniably stunning, with perfect clifftop towns framed against the deep blue sea beyond. However, its beauty has well and truly wooed the crowds, and it gets very busy during the high season. The quieter islands of the Cyclades group, including Folegandros, Andros and Milos, are havens of quaint villages, deserted coves and simple pleasures. Even further afield are the outlying isles of Anafi and Amorgos. Rugged and beautiful, these two feel pristine and timeless and are a far cry from the flashier big-hitters closer to the mainland.

The Dodecanese

Anchored by the large and popular islands of Rhodes and Kos, the Dodecanese make an ideal destination for Greek island hopping. These are the sunniest isles in Greece, curving around the coast of Turkey in the southeast Aegean. There are 12 main islands and dozens of smaller uninhabited dots to weave your way between. Glinting ocean, hidden coves and secluded beaches await on this Greek island idyll.

Rhodes is by far the largest island of the Dodecanese, and for history enthusiasts, it’s one of the best islands to visit in Greece. The Old Town is a veritable open-air museum harking back to the Byzantine era and beyond, with winding cobblestone streets down which marched the Knights of St John. The nearby town of Lindos is a tumble of whitewashed buildings fringing a beautiful bay and crowned by a clifftop acropolis. For those with only a mild interest in history, Rhodes has plenty more to offer. Its attractive forested interior is ideal for hiking, there is a bounty of beaches and the nightlife is buzzing, should you choose to seek it out.

The nearby island of Symi has an unmissable harbor town of colorful villas stacked up the hillside. Pastel-hued and in Italian Neoclassical style, they create quite an impact when approaching by sea.

Fertile Kos has a long history of cultivation, so seafaring is less prominent here than on other Greek islands. Known for its fantastic beaches (probably the best in the Dodecanese), much of the coast is a tourist playground and gets very busy in summer. Kos also offers dozens of historic monuments to explore, including a fine medieval castle lording over Kos Town. Inland, the island retains an old-school charm, and there are some great hikes to enjoy, ambling through wildflower pastures, lush forested valleys and high, craggy cliffs dotted with ancient ruins.

The neighboring island of Kalymnos is a world-renowned rock climbing destination and is also famous for its traditional sponge harvesting industry. Small and quiet, Italian-influenced Leros has hidden-gem beaches, atmospheric villages and fertile lands abundant in olives, figs and citrus. Here, you can while away the hours in laid-back tavernas and watch traditional village life potter by. Further north is Patmos, an important Christian pilgrimage site with an 11th-century monastery.

The Ionian Islands

Greener and more Italianate than the islands of the Aegean, the Ionian Islands are set apart from the rest, flanking the west coast of the mainland from the Albanian border to the Peloponnese. They are a shade cooler than the other two island chains, more mountainous and abundant in olive groves and tall, slim cypress trees.

Corfu is a fascinating mix of Venetian influence and classic Greek scenery and culture. Beyond the beachside tourist hubs, there are plenty of peaceful coves, with the west coast beaches a little wilder and wavy and the sheltered east coast often as calm as a swimming pool. Inland, the mountains are made for hiking, dotted with charming villages, each with a characterful taverna or two. The capital, Corfu Town, is an elegant and historic spot with lovely architecture and a clutch of interesting forts and museums.

Corfu is somewhat out on a limb in the far north of the Ionian island chain. For a more compact Greek island-hopping experience, the islands of Lefkada, Ithaka, Kefalonia and Zakynthos make a good grouping.

Lefkada is an easy first stop as it has a road connection to the mainland. The undeveloped and scenic coastline is a verdant delight, and the dazzling beaches are a highlight. Ithaka is one of the smallest of the main islands and was the mythical home of Odysseus. Peaceful with lovely beaches, calm waters and a wooded interior, it is ideal for hiking, diving and sea kayaking. Kefalonia is a calm and beautiful island with a distinct character and landscape, famously portrayed in the novel and film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Its forested mountains are fringed by vineyards producing the distinctive Robola wine. The most southerly of the group, Zakynthos is home to the famous shipwreck beach – the subject of a thousand postcards. Though there are some sizable beach resorts and an enthusiastic party scene, the island has a quieter side, notably in its serene interior.

Make it happen

Our handpicked local experts can make personal recommendations based on your priorities and interests, so contact them today to discover how they can help make your Greek island-hopping adventure a reality.