Spread over several archipelagos around Greece, the more than 2000 Greek islands They form a huge mosaic of transparent turquoise waters, vertigo cliffs and beautiful white-caste villages, which have become one of the best holiday destinations.
Although it may seem a lie, each island has its own charm, in which local tradition and customs are mixed with the thousands of tourists who visit them every year, thus maintaining the essence that has made them so special. Choosing the island or islands for your vacation will depend greatly on your tastes; If you are looking for the beach, gastronomy, archaeological sites, landscapes, charming villages, tranquility or the lively nightlife, things that should make you choose between one or the other.
During our trip to Greece in 32 days we visited several and we fell so in love, that if there is something we are clear about, we will return to complete the list of those we believe, they are the 10 best Greek Islands.
1. Mykonos
There are many things to see Mykonos, located in the Cyclades archipelago and known for its lively nightlife and parties, although for us it is also one of the Prettiest Greek Islands.
Its capital Chora is incomparable to other cities, walking through the cobbled streets of the historic center between bougainvillea and white-painted houses with doors, balconies and colorful stairs, is a pleasure for the senses.
We can also assure you that in Mykonos you can enjoy one of the best sunsets in the world, both from its famous Windmills and from the terraces of Little Venice, a unique place to watch the sunset.
If you are several days and one of them wants to take the opportunity to go to the beach, you can go by public transport or rent a car, quad or motorcycle to get to one of its famous beaches like Paraga, Paradise or Super Paradise, with turquoise waters, although full of sunbeds and party at night, or get away a little more and enjoy the tranquility of beaches like Loulos.
In addition to Chora and the beaches, a highly recommended excursion in Mykonos is the visit to the nearby and uninhabited island of Delos, with one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, which can be a perfect complement to the visit of the island.
In Mykonos, we recommend staying in Chora, we were at the Hotel Olympia, located 200 meters from the beach with spacious and very clean rooms. For more information you can consult this post about where to stay in Mykonos.
To get to Mykonos, you have the option to catch a flight from Athens or other European cities that have direct flights, or book a ferry in the port of Athens Piraeus to reach the island in less than 3 hours.
Another alternative if you are in Athens is to book a getaway to Mykonos for 2 or more days or this 4-day getaway where you will also get to know Santorini. The two excursions include the ferry, accommodation and transfers.
Mykonos
2. Santorini
Santorini, another of the famous islands of the Cyclades, later formed a large volcanic eruption that resulted in a unique geography in the world, which has made it considered one of the best greek islands.
In addition to the geography, its beautiful villages and churches of white facades with roofs and doors of an intense blue stand out, which appear around the cliffs of the great volcanic caldera.
Among the towns, Oía stands out above all, a fairytale town located among the most beautiful in the world that boasts the best sunset views of the entire island.
During your visit we recommend you visit Oía first thing in the morning, before the cruise passengers and tourists arrive in mass, so you can get lost in its streets and take photos with tranquility. In the afternoon, at sunset, you only have to be patient to watch the sunset from the castle or find a quieter place on the lower paths.
There are many things to see in Santorini, in addition to visiting Oía, do not forget to reach the inland villages such as Emporio, make a hiking route between Fira and Oía, walk to the impressive Panaglia Theoskepasti church in Imerovigli, bathe in the red beach or visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri.
We stayed during the four days we were on the island at Gaby Apartments with incredible views, very friendly staff and great value for money.
To get to Santorini from Athens, if you do not use the plane, you can book a ferry from the port of Piraeus. The journey depending on the type of boat you choose has a duration between 4 and 7 hours.
In addition, if you are in Athens you can choose to book a getaway to Santorini for 2 or more days or this 4-day getaway where you will also know Mykonos. Both hotels include the most transfers, and are among the best excursions in Athens.
Without any doubt, visiting Santorini is one of the best tips for traveling to Greece that we can give you.
For more information about the transfer you can read this post about how to go from Athens to Santorini or how to go from Mykonos to Santorini.
Santorini, one of the best Greek islands
3. Crete
Crete known for being the largest of the Greek Islands and one of the most essential places to see in Greece, is always a safe bet.
This huge island, the fifth in size of the Mediterranean Sea, brings together everything you can find on the other islands and wish on your vacation days. Beaches with transparent waters, villages frozen in time, cities with leisure and cultural activities, delicious cuisine, incredible landscapes and people who will welcome you with open arms, are just some of the things that will make you fall in love with this incredible island .
The best way to explore the island is by rental car to discover places like the Samaria Gorge, the Moni Arkadiou monastery, the Elafonisi beach, the fishing village of Loutró, the Knossos palace, the fortified city of Rethymno, the cities of Agios Nikolaos and Chania, the capital Heraklion, the Sendóni cave, the Gortinay site and the Byzantine frescoes of churches such as Agios Georgios or Kritsa…
To get to Crete the best option is by plane, with direct flights to Heraklion or stopping in Athens. If you are in Athens you can also arrive by ferry from the port of Piraeus, which depending on the type of boat can take from 6 to 9 hours, taking into account that there are night ships.
Crete
4. Rhodes
Rhodes, located in the Dodecanese archipelago 18 kilometers from the Turkish coast, is another of the Prettiest Greek Islands.
This island was very famous in ancient times for having the great Colossus of Rhodes 30 meters high, one of the wonders of the world, which served as a beacon for ships arriving on the island.
Currently, one of its most interesting places is the old center of the city of Rhodes, declared a World Heritage Site, which highlights its medieval past with the great walls that surround it, where you will discover cobbled and labyrinthine streets, stone palaces, fortifications, mosques, minarets and ancient temples.
After knowing every corner of the old city, you can rent a car and get to the beautiful town of Lindos, find the archaeological sites distributed throughout the island and bathe in the beautiful beaches and coves of turquoise waters.
Ferries from Athens to Rhodes take more than 15 hours, so in this case, it is much more comfortable to catch a flight.
Rhodes
5. Naxos, one of the best Greek Islands
If you are looking for tranquility after enjoying the tourist Mykonos or Santorini, nothing better than spending a few days on the nearby island of Naxos, just as we did on our trip to Greece for free.
This island, the largest of the Cyclades, impresses with the historic center of the capital Naxos, where you can get lost in its narrow streets and perfectly maintained white houses, which highlight the small shops full of charm, Perfect for buying souvenirs and restaurants where you can enjoy the best Greek cuisine.
One of the best places to see in Naxos is the great gate, Portará, which is preserved from the ancient temple of Apollo, from which you will have magnificent visits to the city and enjoy one of the best sunsets in the Greek Islands.
On the island you will also find incredible beaches in the western part, among which we fell in love with the Hawaii beach, next to the beautiful Aliko beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen in the Greek islands.
We recommend visiting Naxos by ferry from Mykonos, located less than 40 minutes by fast boat, or from Santorini within 2 hours.
Naxos, one of the best Greek Islands
6. Folegandros
Folegandros has long been outside the tourist circuit of the best Greek Islands, although more for lack of knowledge and lack of infrastructure, than for beauty.
This small island of the Cyclades seems frozen in time, where you will find donkeys carrying farm work, churches on mountain tops, ancient villages and several beaches to enjoy the island of peace.
In addition to the tranquility of this island, you can not miss Chora the capital of the island, in which to explore the old town of Kastro with the typical white streets and houses of the Greek Islands, it is a pleasure for the senses.
Keep in mind that there is only one paved road that crosses the entire island and allows you to reach all points of interest by renting a car or motorcycle.
The only way to get to Folegandros is by booking a ferry, since it has no airport and the journey time is between 4 and 5 hours.
Folegandros
7. Corfu
Corfu, located in the Ionian Sea, is another of the largest and most beautiful Greek islands.
Also known as the Emerald island, Corfu has many attractions among which its natural landscapes full of olive and cypress trees and turquoise water beaches stand out.
The island, mostly mountainous, is dominated by the 914 meter Mount Pantocrator and has lush vegetation because of the rains and its Mediterranean climate.
The capital, the medieval city of Corfu, is a wonder with influences on its buildings by the different conquerors, among which the Old Fortress built by the Venetians, the Plaza de la Explanada or Spianada, or the Achileion Palace, residence of Summer of Sissi Empress, located just outside the capital.
Pontikonisi is a 15-minute drive from the center, a small island where the Pantocrator Monastery is located, one of the most photogenic places on the island, which we recommend you can not miss.
If you rent a car, in addition to these visits, do not miss the villages of Gouvia, Dassia, Benitses, Ano Korakiana and the picturesque town of Palaiokastritsa, in addition to its sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
To get to the island of Corfu, the best means of transport is the plane landing at its international airport, although you can also arrive by ferry from the ports of Igumemitsa, in a journey of a little more than an hour, and from Patras , on a trip between 7 and 8 hours. If you are in Athens you can take a bus that will take you to these two ports.
Corfu, one of the prettiest Greek Islands
8. Milos
Milos is another of the Greek Islands that in recent years have gone from anonymity to tourist stardom. In this small volcanic island, located in the Cyclades archipelago, you can enjoy beaches that look like another planet, old fishing villages like Klima and archaeological sites, which make it a perfect destination.
Among the more than 70 beaches on the island include Sarakiniko beach, the small sandy beach of Papafragas, Paliorema beach, where you will find the ruins of an old mine, the crystal clear water Papikinou beach, the beach of White sand hivadolimni and Kleftiko beach, the most famous with white rock formations in the middle of the sea and underwater caves.
This island is also famous for being the place of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history, to find the sculpture of the Venus de Milos, which is currently exhibited in the Louvre.
You can reach Milos by plane by stopping at Athens airport or by booking a ferry. The duration of the fast boat ride is around 3 hours.
Milos
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
9. Paros
The paradise island Paros, is next to Naxos, another of the best Greek Islands to enjoy the tranquility, after visiting its neighboring Mykonos and Santorini.
Parikia, with the typical Greek architecture of narrow streets and white houses, windmills and many shops and taverns, is the capital and gateway to the island by sea.
We on the island, more than its beaches, of which we would highlight the beach of Kolymbithres, would recommend making a rental car route through the beautiful fairytale villages of the island, starting with Nauossa, an old fishing village where You can stop taking photos, following the village inside Lefkes and ending in the small town of Prodromos, a real beauty for the senses.
If you have an extra day you can take the opportunity to visit the nearby island of Antiparos, with a famous cave, incredible beaches and numerous churches scattered throughout the geography of the island.
We stayed at the Hotel Oasis, located in Parikia, which stands out both for location and value for money.
The best means of transport to get to Paros if you are in Mykonos or Santorini, is the ferry, the journey from Mykonos is about 40 minutes and from Santorini less than 2 hours, by fast boat. Another faster option from Athens is the plane.
Nauossa in Paros
10. Zakinthos
Zakynthos or Zante, is a small island belonging to the Ionian, with abundant green vegetation spread over its mountainous geography, vertigo cliffs and blue water beaches.
The most famous place on the island is the Playa del Naufragio or Navagio, which thanks to the power of social networks, especially Instagram, has made the island a tourist attraction in recent years.
This beach surrounded by vertical limestone cliffs and crystalline waters of an intense blue, has on the white sand the remains of a ship that was shipwrecked in the 80s and that is the claim of many travelers to get here.
The only way to access the beach is by sea, so a good option is to take a boat trip to get to the beach and see the Blue Caves, some impressive rock formations in the sea.
Other magnificent beaches on the island are those of Argassi, Gerakas, Banana, Porto Kaminia, Porto Zorro, Ta Xigkia, Aguios Nikolaos, Keri and Vassiliko.
The best way to get to Zakinthos is by plane from Athens, to arrive by ferry you have to travel to the ports of the Kilini or Patras Peleponeso.
Zakinthos
Help us complete the list of 10 best Greek Islands, adding your recommendation in the comments.
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10 tips for traveling to the Greek Islands
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The best offers of Flights to Greece here
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Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Book the best tours and excursions in Greece in Spanish here
10 tips for traveling to the Greek Islands
Book the ferry to the Greek Islands at the best price here
Rent your car to travel around Greece at the best price here
