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The Greek islands, one by one

Greece is its islands. Here are the ones worth building a trip around, grouped the way the ferries run — the Cyclades, Crete, the Ionian, the Dodecanese, the Saronic and the Sporades — each with its own beaches, sights, tavernas and hotels. Filter by what you want from the trip, or let the island finder choose for you.

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Α · 12 islands

The Cyclades

The islands in the circle around sacred Delos: whitewashed villages, bare hills, clear water and the meltemi, the dry north wind of July and August. Santorini's volcanic caldera and Mykonos get the headlines; Naxos, Paros and Milos are where the beaches are.

Β · 1 islands

Crete

Greece's largest island is a small country of its own: Minoan palaces, Venetian harbours, gorges, mountain villages and a food culture of its own. It has two international airports, Heraklion and Chania — and it needs a car and more than a week.

✈️ HERCreteΚρήτηGreece’s largest island is almost a country of its own: Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, Venetian harbours in Chania and Rethymno, gorges in the White Mountains and lagoon beaches like Balos and Elafonisi. Plan for distance, and for more than a week.👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏖️ Beaches🏛️ Culture🍅 Food 32 Beaches 24 Attractions 26 Restaurants & tavernas 26 Where to stay 14 Beach clubs & nightlife

Γ · 6 islands

The Ionian Islands

The green islands off the west coast, shaped far more by Venice than by the Ottomans. Wetter winters mean pine and olive down to the shore, and the sea here is the famous turquoise of Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada.

Δ · 4 islands

The Dodecanese

The south-eastern islands, within sight of the Turkish coast. The Knights of St John built the medieval town of Rhodes; Italy, which held the islands from 1912 to 1947, left its mark on the harbour fronts of Rhodes, Kos and Symi.

Ε · 3 islands

The Saronic Islands

The closest islands to Athens, reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Piraeus — close enough for a day trip, good enough for a week. Hydra has no cars at all; Aegina is famous for its pistachios; Spetses keeps its old captains' mansions.

ΣΤ · 3 islands

The Sporades

The pine-covered islands of the north-western Aegean, where the forest runs straight down to the beaches. Skiathos has an airport and the lively scene; Skopelos, one ferry hop further, is quieter and greener. Grouped with them here is Evia — administratively part of central Greece, but an island all the same, and the only one you reach by driving over a bridge.

Ζ · 6 islands

The North Aegean

The islands along the Turkish coast and the northern seaboard, the least touristed group in Greece and the easiest to reach by car from the north: Samothraki from Alexandroupoli, Limnos and Thassos from Kavala. Chios has the mastic villages, Lesvos the ouzo of Plomari, Samos the Heraion and the wine. Thassos we cover in depth on our sister site.

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Mainland Greece

Athens, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Parga, Nafplio and Meteora — the mainland destinations, most of them reachable by car from Romania.

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Frequently asked

Which Greek islands have an airport?

Of the islands we cover, these have an airport: Santorini (JTR), Mykonos (JMK), Crete (HER), Corfu (CFU), Rhodes (RHO), Zakynthos (ZTH), Kefalonia (EFL), Lefkada (PVK), Naxos (JNX), Paros (PAS), Milos (MLO), Kos (KGS), Skiathos (JSI), Limnos (LXS), Samos (SMI), Chios (JKH), Lesvos (MJT), Syros (JSY), Karpathos (AOK). Many direct flights from elsewhere in Europe run only in season.

Which islands can only be reached by ferry?

Hydra, Ios, Folegandros, Sifnos, Paxos, Symi, Aegina, Spetses, Skopelos, Samothraki, Evia, Tinos, Andros, Amorgos, Ithaca have no airport — you arrive by ferry, usually after flying into Athens or a neighbouring island that has one.

Which Greek islands are best for families?

On our list: Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Naxos, Kos, Limnos, Samos. Each island page shows the beaches, hotels and what else there is to do, so you can compare.

Which Greek islands are best for couples?

On our list: Santorini, Mykonos, Kefalonia, Paros, Milos, Skiathos, Hydra, Folegandros, Sifnos, Paxos, Symi, Spetses, Skopelos, Syros, Amorgos, Ithaca. Each island page shows the beaches, hotels and what else there is to do, so you can compare.

Which Greek islands are best for nightlife?

On our list: Mykonos, Zakynthos, Skiathos, Ios. Each island page shows the beaches, hotels and what else there is to do, so you can compare.

Which Greek islands are the quietest?

On our list: Kefalonia, Hydra, Folegandros, Sifnos, Paxos, Symi, Spetses, Skopelos, Samothraki, Limnos, Chios, Lesvos, Evia, Tinos, Andros, Syros, Amorgos, Karpathos, Ithaca. Each island page shows the beaches, hotels and what else there is to do, so you can compare.