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Greece ranks 95th in the world, based on surface area. That’s somewhere in the middle of the list, but here’s the paradox: Greece also has the 13th longest coastline in the world.
How? In two words — Greek islands. Surrounded by the warm waters of the Ionian Sea to the west and the Aegean Sea to the east, Greece is like an elaborate necklace with its hundreds of islands being the gems on this exquisite jewelry. And the best of all, no two of them are alike.
So, sit comfortably on your chair and imagine the sound of the waves and crickets filling your ears on a hot summer day.
Which Are the Best Greek Islands to Visit?
Crete
Crete is the biggest Greek island and the cradle of Minoan civilization — the first advanced civilization in Europe. Because of its size, Crete is definitely not the place that you randomly include in your isle hopping vacation, and you would be better off spending at least five days there to get a real taste of the island.
From scenic cities by the sea like Rethimno and Chania to spectacular beaches like the white-sanded Balos, the endless Falasarna, and the exotic Moni Preveli, Crete has way more than a handful of stunning locations to treat the traveler. Heraklion — the walled isle’s capital —ranks among the cities with the biggest archeological interest in Greece, which is no small feat. The ancient city of Knossos, just outside Heraklion, is one of the most visited archeological sites in Greece.
The terrain of this island is rough and mountainous with plenty of choices for hiking and climbing. The trail of Samaria gorge in the White Mountains is one of the best in Greece, and the beach of Roumeli at the end of it is one of the wildest and most pristine beaches in the country. The Cretan cuisine is unbelievably tasty, even by Greek standards. You shouldn’t miss lamb antikristo and kalitsounia, a sweet delicacy made from pastry stuffed with mizithra cheese.
Sifnos
This gorgeous isle is part of the Cyclades complex and its laid back and unpretentious character fits travelers who seek quality over trendiness. Sifnos has 15 fairy little villages, many built on small cute beaches layered with sand or pebble. Kamares, Herronisos, and Glyfo are some of the island’s most famous, with the last one being exceptional the way its trees cast their shadows as far as the water, thus having no need for umbrellas.
The island has a grid of trails for those who like hiking, many leading to breathtaking coves sheltered from the summer winds of the Aegean Sea. Sifnos has also a long tradition in pottery, something that has influenced the local cuisine too. Mastelo is a local dish with lamb placed on top of vines inside a special clay pot that goes by the same name. According to the recipe, red wine is poured in the pot, which then boils under the vines slowly roasting the meat for four to five hours. The result is pure culinary perfection.
Rhodes
Rhodes is known as the Knights’ island because for more than two centuries it was the home of Knights Hospitaller after they left Jerusalem. Also known as the Knights of the Order of Saint John, they had a profound influence on the island which is plain to see today. On the northern tip of the island, the medieval town of Rhodes including the Palace of the Grand Master of Knights is one of Greece’s most prominent medieval sites and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Besides the rich history, Rhodes has an abundance of clear-watered beaches: Tsampika with its golden sand and Agios Pavlos with the picturesque acropolis of Lindos in the background, are just a few of them. The local cuisine is rich in virgin olive oil, fresh fish, and ultra-healthy pulses many times accompanied with meat. The traditional sweet of Rhodes is melekouni, madewith roasted sesame and honey.
Santorini
The volcanic Santorini in Cyclades needs no introduction, being by far the most popular Greek island along with Mykonos. In Santorini, mother earth’s fury has created one of the most impressive calderas in the world, and the island’s elevated west coast has some of the most majestic landscape views a traveler will ever see. Its iconic white buildings nestled on the abrupt slopes with the deep blue of the Aegean in the background create an unprecedented spectacle that has to be witnessed at least once in a lifetime.
The village of Oia is the most popular viewpoint on the island and has the most celebrated sunset in Greece, if not the planet. A bit to the south, Imerovigli is equally beautiful, albeit less crowded, and even more south Fira — the iconic capital of Santorini has nothing to be jealous of the previous two. Most of the island’s beaches are covered in black volcanic sand making Santorini even more special. Don’t forget to try fava, a puree similar to hummus, made of local split beans.
Mykonos
This is Mykonos, the cosmopolitan world-famous Cycladic island with more jet-setters and millionaires per square meter than any other Greek island. Hora, its capital, may look like an ordinary island town but its alleys are lined with the most expensive and exclusive brands in the world. To give you some perspective, the chance of walking around in July and not coming across a Hollywood star or any other famous character is pretty slim.
The most popular beaches of the island are located in the south: Psarou, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise. The first beachgoers gather there from the morning to get rested from the frenzy of their last night exit which had probably come to an end not so many hours ago. You can still get away from the crowds though. If you go to the north coast, Ftelia, Panormos, and Glyfadi are some grade-A beaches but be aware that they are exposed to meltemia — Aegean’s strong summer winds. They don’t call Mykonos “the isle of winds” over nothing. As for food, the diversity is impressive and the level extremely high. From gourmet fusion restaurants to traditional taverns offering local delicacies like honey pie, onion pie, and lots of fresh fish.
READ MORE: 7 BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN ROME
Naxos
The biggest island in Cyclades doesn’t solely rely on the travel industry as an economic resource, and this has helped Naxos to remain much more local-centric and genuine than other islands. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a stunning place ideal for holidays, just without the showing off part. Small houses with blue window shutters, narrow cobbled alleys, hospitable people, cats basking on stairs, it’s all there waiting to be discovered by the mature traveler who refuses to follow trends and knows exactly what he or she wants.
Naxos is suitable for many activities including hiking, scuba diving, and all wind-related watersports. Except for strolling the old town of Naxos, you should definitely visit some of the island’s traditional villages: Damalas, with the old olive mill and the traditional pottery studio; Kinidaros, with its beautiful taverns and seasonal fairs; and Filoti on the foot of Za — Naxos’ highest mountain. Plaka, Agia Anna, and Agios Prokopios are some of the island’s beaches with immaculate beauty and lack of big crowds. The most beautiful sunset is at Portara — a vast marble gate in the middle of a small islet next to the port with an amazing sea view. For local food try the veal with aubergine and cheese.
Ios
Located between Naxos and Santorini, Ios is an island of undeniable beauty and true character. The city of Ios competes in beauty, head-on, with all the island capitals of the Aegean. From the top of the hill, near the gorgeous Elytis theatre, you can watch the blazing sun diving into the Aegean Sea, behind Ios’ white houses and rolling hills. And the best of all, there won’t be another 300 people with you. Yes, I’m talking to you Santorini.
More than 30km of sandy coastal line guarantees that sooner than later you will find the perfect beach for your taste. Mylopotas, Koumpara, Agia Theodoti, and the more isolated Kolitsani, Kampaki, and Papa are just a few of the island’s lovely sunbathing spots. Make sure to indulge yourself with the delicious local cheeses and tsimetia — zucchini blossoms stuffed with rice.
Syros
Beautiful, seductive, and with a turbulent history, Syros has a prominent characteristic that stands out more than anything else — Catholicism. It’s the only place in Greece where a big portion of the people (roughly 50%) are Catholics. The first pastel-colored buildings of Ermoupoli — the island’s capital — start from the port and row after row go all the way up to two neighboring hills on the tops of which there are two churches. The Catholic Saint George and the Orthodox church of the Resurrection. It’s also the only city in the Aegean Sea featuring a traditional Italian style opera house, so if you’re a fan you shouldn’t miss the chance.
Syros mostly relies on local tourism, which is why it’s open all year round and has none of the tourist traps that many other islands have. Its fishing villages are peaceful havens, where you will always find a quiet little beach to lie, a tavern with exceptional food and a small café to drink your frappe. Do you really need anything more? Galissas, Kini, Finikas are just a few of these coastal paradises ideal for getting lost from the world for a week. In Syros, they produce the famous loukoumi, a gel-like candy with very special taste and texture.
Paros
Paros is a cosmopolitan island with something to offer everyone. Paroikia, the capital, is probably the first settlement you are going to see as you disembark the boat. It is built around a bay on the west part of the island, so it naturally has great sunset views. The queen of Paros though is Naousa, a small village on the north coast with its well-protected port brimming with the iconic white fishing boats that you encounter everywhere around the Greek seas. Not far from it, you’ll find some of the island’s best beaches, Kolimpithres being the most famous with its crystal clear water and distinctive rocks.
Other notable beaches are Chrisi Akti — Paros’ longest beach, and the blustery Punta, a kite-surfers’ paradise with some of the most unique energy on its atmosphere. Paros’ most famous dish is gouna. It is usually made with mackerel which is salted and then hanged to dry for 3 to 5 hours under the blazing sun before finally getting barbequed on hot coals for a brief time — just mouthwatering.
Milos
The Greek islands’ dominant color is white, and Sarakiniko beach in Milos has the purest, almost blinding, white color you’ll ever see. It’s an eerie landscape with almost extraterrestrial morphology and texture. The huge bright rocks make extreme contrast with the bold teal of the water, producing a piece of natural landscape art, unlike anything else you’ve encountered before.
Milos is a romantic place. The peaceful cobblestones of Plaka and Tripiti; the natural beaches, most of them with no bars and no buzz; and the small quality restaurants and taverns are all there to enhance the travel experience rather than disturb it. You have tens of beaches to choose from, some accessible only by boat, many with sea caves, all waiting to be explored and satisfy even the most demanding of travelers. As for the island’s unique local dish, it is called karpouzopita — a luscious watermelon pie with sesame garnish on top.
Corfu
We’re leaving Aegean now, moving to the other side of Greece and the Eptanisa island complex in the Ionian Sea. Corfu is the 2nd biggest island of the complex but has more residents than all the other islands combined. Heavily influenced by nearby Italy, this island has an aristocratic essence reflected on its imposing forts and magnificent palaces which are all bigger and more elaborate than anything you will ever see on the other side of the Greek mainland.
The hills here are lush and green, the winds milder, and the beaches wild. Many times being just a small strip of sand or pebble with sheer cliffs on one side and the sea on the other. The beaches of Rovinia, Chalikounas and Canal d’amor are some of the most beloved by the locals. Corfu’s culinary scene has a lot of meat and fish, often accompanied by pasta and rich sauces. Pastitsado, one of the island’s most famous dishes, is made with rooster, thick spaghetti, and grained kefalotiri cheese on top as the final touch. Simple and tasty.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos or Zante is famous for the most impressive and instagramable beach in Greece. Navagio means shipwreck and it’s a small beach at the base of a precipitous bay with pure white sand and an abandoned ship on top of it. It would be just another gorgeous Greek beach if it wasn’t for this freight ship carrying contraband cigarettes and running ashore there, back in 1980, changing Navagio forever, and turning it into something extraordinary. Of course, there are other beaches on the island, some of them equally beautiful and much less crowded.
Other famous sights in Zakynthos are Keri lighthouse, a beautiful vantage point to the south, great for sunsets; the village of Kampi, with amazing views to the bay of seals; and the Blue Caves—a series of sea caves famous for the azure light that the water emits during the morning hours. The cuisine is up to the Greek standards with delicious plates like Sgatzeto — lamb spleen, and Popletes which are meatballs with lots of spearmint.
So many islands, so little time
Choosing among the best Greek islands for your holidays is a sweet dilemma, and I’ve never heard anyone regretting their choice, so far. The trick is to match your wants and character with the right island(s) and not just get carried away by an amazing shot you saw on the internet. Everybody loves Santorini in magazines pages but are you ready for the steep prices and the hordes of tourists? If not, you can choose something else that will make you as happy if not even happier. The bottom line is, you can’t lose.