With more than 200 inhabited Greek islands for a lifetime of summer escapes, where do you start? If you’ve only heard of one or two, it’s likely to be Santorini or Mykonos. I would avoid Mykonos entirely, for reasons explained here. Santorini truly is a slice of magic, but only if you know how to dodge the crowds.
I will also venture to say that I don’t think cruise ships with afternoon-long stopovers are the best way to appreciate its islands. Nor are all-inclusive resort bubbles designed to keep you hotel-bound. Greece is for exploring.
And loving Greece, without some luxe city comforts and with its idiosyncratic ways, can require patience. But once you cast-off certain seasoned traveller expectations and allow its multifaceted character to unfold, it’s hard not to love deeply.
Time is required. It would be remiss to sweep through Greece in 3 to 5 days. Also depending on where you are travelling from, and how long you take to get over jet lag, allow for at least 8 to 14 days on a large island like Crete, or on 2 or so small-ish islands within an island group. Unless you’re trying to satiate a voracious travel appetite, or have lots of time, we wouldn’t pack too many islands into a trip.
Ready to start? Here’s how:
PICK AN ISLAND GROUP
Geographically clustered and usually well-connected by ferries with near neighbours, Greece’s 6 island groups include:
- The Cyclades – This fairytale of sugar-cube village jewels and blue-domed churches are the country’s most popular island group. Islands with airports include Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Paros, Naxos, and Syros.
- The Saronic Islands – The closest island group to Athens (and all without airports), these include Aegina, Spetses and Hydra.
- Ionian Islands – Famous for fantastic beaches, stunning landscapes and incredible swims in Zakynthos and Lefkada. Also of Corfu fame. Most islands here have airports.
- The Sporades – Lush and leafy, these evergreen islands include those of Mama Mia! fame like Skiathos and Skopelos. Skiathos and Skyros have airports.
- Dodecanese Islands – Rhodos, Kos and Patmos are perhaps the most well-known here. Far-flung and requiring long ferry journeys, most visitors fly into these islands.
- The Northeast Aegean Islands – A scattering of islands in the northeast that lie outside the other island groups including Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria and Limnos.
I always suggest the Cyclades for first-timers. An island group I have a singular fondness for, they captivate with the original charm of whitewashed villages set in bare rock surroundings, and a high concentration of mesmerising beaches (Paros, Naxos, Koufonisia, and Milos in particular). Well-connected to a diverse array of neighbours by high-speed ferries, this group also lends itself well to easy island hopping.
CYCLADIC ISLAND-HOPPING ITINERARIES
Planning an island hopping itinerary isn’t just about selecting your favourite islands, even if they look close together on the map. Consider which islands have airports you can fly into. For those that don’t, research how they are connected by ferry. Ferries.gr provides a good overview of routes and schedules to determine the best island combinations transport-wise. There is a route that connects Sifnos, Serifos, and Milos (with an airport), for example. Another connects Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios, and Santorini (Paros, Naxos and Santorini have airports), so some combination of these islands are a possibility.
You can add day trips to some island pairings e.g. while on Milos, sail or ferry over to Kimolos.
IONIAN ISLAND-HOPPING ITINERARIES
Striking good looks don’t stop with the Cyclades. The Ionian islands display drama and distinct personalities of their own. This would be our second island group of choice after the Cyclades. You can start by flying into Corfu, Kefalonia or Zakynthos, and continue with inter-island explorations by ferry.
ONE-STOP DESTINATIONS & ROAD TRIPS
If car travel sounds more appealing than braving the sea, fly into the first destination listed below and continue with a road trip:
- Crete: In its expanse, you won’t get bored even with 2 weeks on the island. Combine Crete (departing from Heraklion) with Santorini (1 hour 50 minutes via high-speed ferry) and other Cycladic destinations if you like.
- Athens > Messinia, Peloponnese (3 hours and 30 minutes by car). Enjoy luxe hotels? An opulent string of properties (and their Aqua Parks) have mushroomed on the mammoth coastal development of Costa Navarino. In the region is locally-famed Voidokilia beach (15 minutes away) and the Mycenean Palace of Nestor. Off southern Peloponnese is the island gem of Elafonissos you can also drive to from Athens for more swims in Greece’s sparkling, spectacular waters.
- Thessaloniki > Halkidiki (1 hour 30 minutes by car), with some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, and more acclaimed family-friendly resorts (check out Sani), campsites and glamping grounds.
- Athens > Lefkada (4 hours and 15 minute by car). There are just two islands connected to the mainland by land – Lefkada and Evia. Lefkada’s beaches are far more impressive. Make a stop at Corinth Canal en route.
