Greece is a fascinating country, made up of thousands of islands, and it’s only once visitors get to know the country that the sheer size and diversity of the archipelagos becomes apparent. In fact, there are over 200 inhabited Greek islands (and around 6,000 islands in total). Each inhabited island has its own character, from the white and blue houses of the Cyclades to the verdant Ionian islands and the castle-lined islands of the Dodecanese.

Greece has six main island groups, plus one important autonomous island: Crete. It’s generally easier to travel from one island to another within the same group than from one archipelago to another. In this guide, we present the best Greek islands to visit, explaining what each group of islands is famous for and how to travel within each archipelago.

Travelling in Greece: getting around the Greek islands

While many of the Greek islands have airports, not all of them are international. Most islands are only served by national airlines such as Aegean Airlines, and you can only fly from neighboring islands or Athens. However, some of the most popular islands have international airports (like Crete, Santorini, etc.), where you can fly directly from cities in Europe or the Middle East.

Ferries make it easy to travel from one island to another, especially if you’re staying in the same archipelago. In the Cyclades, Seajets is the high-speed ferry. But travelers can find all the options (including cheaper ferries) at Greek Ferries. It is of course possible to rent a car in Athens – or on one of the islands – and drive it to the ferry, turning your island excursion into a maritime road trip. However, it’s also easier to rent a car on each of the islands, provided you have an international driving license.

Greece travel: when to go to Greece?

May, June and September are ideal months to visit the Greek islands if you’re looking for good weather while avoiding the crowds. High season (mid-June to mid-September) offers more ferry connections and flight options. It’s also when you’ll find the greatest number of restaurants and beach bars open, but with more tourists and higher prices.

Crete has the warmest climate all year round, making it an excellent choice for late autumn or winter. Some islands, like Hydra, are populated by locals and welcome tourists all year round, while others, like Santorini, are very quiet in the low season (November to March). Here’s an overview of each island group (and the highlights of each archipelago) to help you plan your next adventure in Greece.

Where to go in Greece? The Cyclades: party destination Mykonos and Santorini

This archipelago is the most frequent first stop for travelers in Greece, with two of the most visited islands: Mykonos and Santorini. This group of 24 inhabited islands (220 in total) looks like every postcard of Greece you’ve ever seen: white churches with blue domes and pink bougainvillea shading secluded lanes.

• Mykonos is an island and town in Greece known for its nightlife and not-to-be-missed beaches, but it also boasts a magnificent Cycladic village at its center. Here you can admire the windmills and winding alleys that were supposed to deter pirates from entering centuries ago. Find out more about Mykonos.
• Santorini is a romantic and luxurious place, popular with honeymooners who bask in their private pool overlooking the caldera. Find out more about Santorini.

For those looking for alternatives to Mykonos and Santorini, there’s no shortage of possibilities.

• The booming island of Milos boasts extraordinary beaches and the famous Kleftiko caves.
• Tinos is home to a famous church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
• The Little Cyclades (Koufonisia, Donousa, Schinoussa and Iraklia) are rustic places where camping is a pleasure.
• There are large islands, such as Naxos and Syros, the archipelago’s capital, and small islands with very few tourists, such as Sikinos.

Visiting Greece: how to travel to the Cyclades and what to do in Greece

The tourist season in the Cyclades runs from mid-April to mid-October (with a peak in June, July and August). If it’s your first time in the region, you’ll certainly want to start by visiting Mykonos or Santorini. In Santorini, you’ll find excellent wineries like Venetsanos and Santo, while in Mykonos, it’s the nightlife that will keep you coming back, with iconic clubs like Scorpios and Super Paradise.

Exploring some of the smaller islands, such as Ios Folegandros and Milos, you can swim, snorkel and stroll around the capital of each island. The centers of these small seaside towns are often fortified, with cobbled lanes housing boutiques, galleries, bars and tavernas.

The main town on Ios Folegandros is called “Chora”, while on Milos it’s called “Plaka”.

Why not treat yourself to a sailboat cruise on the Cycladic islands: find out more from companies such as Polco Sailing on Milos and Sunset Oia Cruises on Santorini.

Crete, an ideal place to go in Greece with the most beautiful beaches

The largest Greek island (and the southernmost, roughly halfway between Europe and Africa), Crete could be a country in its own right, with its own customs, climate, accent and cuisine. Because there is so much to discover on Crete, travelers generally choose to focus their energies on this island rather than venturing to other archipelagos. Crete is one of the most popular destinations for a holiday in Greece. Here, you’ll find numerous relics of ancient Greece.

How to travel to Crete

The island has two main airports, making Crete easily accessible from Athens. Once on the island, we recommend renting a car. It takes around six hours to drive from one end of Crete to the other.

• In Crete, explore beaches like Elafonissi, with its incomparable pink sand, and Elounda, known for its five-star beach clubs.
• Hike the Samaria Gorge (five to seven hours’ walk), or walk among the wildflowers along the paths in the mountain villages.
• Visit the ruins of Knossos Palace, seat of the Minoan empire (and the dreaded Minotaur monster), and the Boutaris winery if you’re an oenophile keen to sample Cretan wines.
• Finally, if you have time for a day trip, the island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Elounda, is well worth a visit for its rugged beauty and tragic history. It served as a colony for leprosy sufferers until the middle of the last century.

Saronic Gulf Islands

The group of islands closest to Athens, the country’s largest city, is also home to some of the most picturesque and little-known islands. Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina and little Agistri are popular with weekenders and European visitors alike.

• The island of Hydra can be visited without a car, as it is tiny but very beautiful.
• In Spetses, the pines are green, horses and carriages trot along the water’s edge and yachts are moored in the harbor.
• Poros, a family island with a large, pretty town dominated by a clock tower and shady beaches, is very popular with sailing enthusiasts.
• Aegina, the island closest to Athens, boasts a large port city, four sandy beaches and its own ruin, the temple of Athena Aphaia.

With the islands of the Saronic Gulf so close to Athens, it’s easy to get there: a hydrofoil leaves from the port of Piraeus and takes you from Athens to each of these destinations.

The Ionian Islands

Lush and verdant, the Ionian Islands (also known as the “Seven Islands” or “Eptanissia”) offer unique local culture, music, art, cuisine and architecture. While the Ionian Islands are best known for Corfu, the other six main islands also attract their fair share of tourists.

How to travel to the Ionian Islands

In Corfu, simply stroll through the streets of the old town, protected by UNESCO. Near Corfu, discover tiny Paxos, covered in olive groves, with three charming bays and a satellite island, Antipaxos, known for its transparent waters.

• Kefalonia, the largest island, has wild horses running around Mount Aenos in its center.
• Zante is home to Shipwreck Beach, accessible only by sea, and iconic blue caves in which to swim.
• Lefkada, linked to the mainland by a bridge, has forested villages in the center and some of Greece’s finest beaches along its coastline.
• Little Ithaka, known to Homer fans as the home of Ulysses, is still relatively unknown.
• Finally, Kythera is the exception: it seems more Cycladic than Ionian. It is more easily accessible from the Peloponnese.

Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Kythera all have airports, which handle domestic flights from Athens, as well as charters and international airlines.

The Sporades islands, the perfect place for water sports

The Sporades are made up of 24 verdant islands off the northeast coast of mainland Greece, but only four of them are inhabited. If you’ve seen the movie “Mamma Mia”, you know what they look like. Dark green pines, white churches and lots of sand and rocks.

How to travel to the Sporades islands

• Busy Skiathos is famous for its golden beaches and nightlife.
• While discreet Skopelos is a natural paradise of white pebble coves, oak forests, monasteries and traditional villages. There are also numerous shipwrecks off the coast in the National Marine Park.
• Alonissos lies at the center of the National Marine Park and is an ideal base for fishing, birdwatching and spotting the protected Mediterranean monk seal.
• Finally, Skyros is famous for its ceramics and local crafts, its churches and its magnificent Chora, a mountain-top capital crowned by a Venetian castle.
• To reach the Sporades islands, there are direct flights from Athens to Skiathos and Skyros. Skiathos is also served by a ferry from Thessaloniki. In summer, hydrofoils serve all four islands from the mainland port of Agios Konstantinos. Each of the Sporades is linked to the other by ferry or boat.

On these four islands, tourism focuses on sailing, swimming, mountain biking, sea kayaking and hiking. Enjoy the beaches – Skiathos’ chic Ambelakia to see and be seen, Skyros’ Kalamitsa for windsurfing, Skopelos’ Hovolo to enjoy the fragrant pine breezes. And don’t miss out on sailing, swimming or scuba diving in the National Marine Archaeological Park.

Northeast Aegean islands: Greece without the crowds!

This group of 13 islands (the five largest being Ikaria, Samos, Limnos, Lesvos and Chios) is the region of Greece closest to Turkey. During your trip, you’ll be richly rewarded with incredible beaches and natural wonders (a petrified forest on Lesvos, volcanic rocks and sand dunes on Limnos, and hot springs on Ikaria).

The Dodecanese islands

This less touristy archipelago takes its name from the Greek number 12 (dodeca), as it contains – you guessed it – 12 main islands and numerous smaller ones. Rhodes and Kos are the two largest islands, while the ten smaller ones are quieter and less discovered. An ideal spot for nature lovers looking for the most unexplored destinations.