Last Updated on April 4, 2024
With so many islands, how to know which are the best Greek islands to visit? We’ve taken the guesswork out of it…and provided a map.
Estimated reading time: 21 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Azure seas lapping beautiful beaches…sugar-cube buildings…towns clinging to cliff tops… the best islands of Greece are places of which dreams are made, and are the most popular for your Greece vacation.
There are seven groups of them, all reachable from Athens, scattered in three seas around the Greek peninsula. Each group – in fact, pretty much each island – is quite different from the others in Greece.
Some are relatively arid, others covered with lush forest. The food on some has been influenced by the Italians, on others by the Turks. Some have an overabundance of hotels, others have few. Some are renown for their water-sports, others for their nightlife, still others as the best Greek islands to visit for families.
Note: (A Greek islands map is included below)
There are about 6,000 islands and islets scattered in Greece’s Aegean and Ionian Seas, of which only 170 islands are inhabited. Still, though, that’s quite a number to sift through if you’re planning Greek islands holiday for yourself, or looking for best Greek islands for families.
To help you pick the best for that dream Greece vacation, here’s our choice of the top 15 Greek islands, each marked on the map of the Greek islands below.
Note: almost all the Greek islands have a nudist beach; the beaches listed here are those that are the most popular for families on that Greek island.
The Cyclades, Some of the Best Greek Islands for Travelers
If your dreams are of white sugar-cube-like buildings clinging to cliff tops, you’re likely thinking of the Cyclades. Scattered like stepping-stones from the Greece mainland to Crete, they’re the most popular group of islands for a vacation in Greece. More than elsewhere, they offer hypnotic views and light that delights photographers.
Some of them are reachable on direct flights from Europe, primarily London and the UK. You can reach others by ferry from Piraeus or neighboring islands, from which there are usually good connections. You’ll find them in the center of the map of the Greek islands.
Santorini
- Its Appeal: archaeology, museums, nightlife, shopping, scenery, spa/luxe hotels, day trips
All things considered, Santorini is the most famous island in Greece. With white villages and blue-domed churches perched precariously atop soaring cliffs and an azure sea, the island is stunningly beautiful.
Present-day Santorini was formed by a volcanic eruption around 1646 BC that gave the island the crescent shape we see today. The sea below the cliffs where cruise ships drop anchor is actually the caldera of the volcano.
But if you’re looking for a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches, Santorini isn’t the place for you, since its volcanic black-sand beaches get too hot to walk on, making it not one of the best Greek islands for families.
Still, though, it’s a beautiful place to visit on a Greek islands vacation. Thíra, or Firá, the main town perched on the cliff, is the island’s capital. It has numerous boutiques and restaurants and plenty of cruisers when ships drop anchor below.
Of course, if you have a car or motorbike, or can join a cruise tour, explore other areas of the island. One must-see is the archeological site of Akrotiri, Greece’s Pompeii, where you can view the unique town in air-conditioned comfort. Don’t miss it.
En route you’ll see plenty of basket-shaped grapevines bent inwards to protect them from the sun and wind. In fact, Greece’s best white wines are from here, thanks to the fertile volcanic soil.
And don’t miss Santorini’s remarkable sunsets, for which it is well known. Although most people view them from Thíra, they are more spectacular when seen from the town of Oia on the northern end of the island. A word of caution: the drive back to Firá is treacherous after dark.
Milos
- Its Appeal: archaeology, museums, nightlife, shopping, scenery, spa/luxe hotels, day trips
With its multi-color cliffs and unusual black rock formations, Milos is quite dramatic. Especially when compared to other islands. Like Santorini, it sits on the rim of a caldera and has sugar-cube buildings and blue-domed churches. It also has the only early-Christian catacombs in Greece.
Unlike other Greek islands, the main city on Milos is not called Milos Town but Plaka. It is on a cliff top 2.5 miles from the port with streets so narrow cars can not enter.
The main sight to see in the town is the Archaeological Museum, which has a plaster copy of Venus de Milo – which was discovered on Milos.
Further afield you’ll find several picturesque fishing villages.
Mykonos
- Its Appeal: nightlife, shopping, beaches, spa/luxury hotels
First of all, don’t come to hedonistic, cosmopolitan Mykonos if you’re looking for quiet and serenity on your Greece holiday. Mykonos is one of the best Greek islands to visit because of its beaches, bars and dancing ‘til dawn, for some of us the perfect recipe for a Greece vacation.
While that makes Mykonos one of the most famous islands in the Cyclades, it’s also the reason it’s not one of the most popular Greek islands for families to visit. Nevertheless, hotels are plentiful and range from simple boutiques to the glamorous.
Mykonos Town itself is a tangle of narrow winding alleys lined with cube-shaped houses and shops, originally built to protect the city from both the wind and pirates. Its colorful and picturesque “Little Venice,” a restaurant- and taverna-filled waterside area of the old town, is very popular, especially come sunset.
From its little port – said to be one of the most photographed in Greece – you can make easy excursions to nearby uninhabited Lesbos, one of Greece’s top archaeological sites.
Map of the Best Greek Islands to Visit
Paros
- Its Appeal: wind- and kite-surfing, diving, nightlife, beaches
Paros is a popular island with plenty of boutiques, restaurants and golden beaches (for which it is well-known). Although it rivals Mykonos for its nightlife, it is one of the top Greek islands for families and is popular for a Greece holiday. On our Greek islands map you’ll find in south of Mykonos.
Paros is famous for its beaches and water sports, and its wind- and kite-surfing are among the best in the Aegean. Its diving is also top-notch. Rent a car and experience towns and villages about the island.
Despite the influx of tourism, Paros retains its charm with its olive groves, vineyards and old hilltop villages. Among its treasures is the 6th-century Ekatontapyliani in Paroikiá, one of the oldest, still active churches in the world. Behind it is the Archaeological Museum.
Since Paros’s airport is small, its harbor can get quite busy, especially since it’s the hub of the Cycladic ferry system.
Syros
- Its Appeal: scenery, sailing, hiking, cycling
The island of Syros attracts few visitors since it’s the commercial and administrative center of the Cyclades. But those who do travel here on a Greece holiday are often pleasantly surprised.
Ermoupoli, the largest city in the Cyclades, is charming. Elegant Neo-Classical marble mansions wrap around its harbor, making it one of the most atmospheric ports in the Greek islands.
Also, its Apollo opera house, the oldest in Greece, was modeled after Milan’s La Scala. In the church of the Dormition of the Virgin, you’ll find a 16th-century icon painted by El Greco. Incredibly, it wasn’t until 1983 that his signature was discovered on the piece.
If you’re in search of a seaside getaway, you’ll find beaches scattered about the island. The best is near the fishing village of Kini on its western shore.
Naxos
- Its Appeal: scenery, beaches, hiking
The largest island of the Cyclades group, Naxos is also the greenest. First settled in 3,000 BC, it was the center of Cycladic civilization. It was once ruled by the Venetians, and there are still fortified Venetian towers scattered about the island. Its capital and Chora, Naxos Town, sits below a Venetian fortress.
But what Naxos is known for is its beaches. They make it wonderful for a Greece holiday if you want to laze by the sea. While most of the islands have beaches, many of them are crowded or organized with umbrellas and chaise lounges. You’ll usually only find them empty in the winter.
However, all is not lost if you like quiet beaches. Naxos is also ringed with beautiful, secluded beaches, some miles long. While you can reach many of them via the island’s bus service, you’ll need a car to find the most isolated and near-empty ones.
That rental will also let you delve inland through the olive groves and picturesque villages that bolster the island’s deserved reputation for beauty.
Sifnos
- Its Appeal: food/restaurants
Sifnos doesn’t have an airport, which keeps the island serene, laid-back, and crowd-free…perfect if you’re seeking serenity during your vacation in Greece. In fact, you can only reach Sifnos via a long ferry from Piraeus or a more comfortable 40-minute ride from Milos.
But while the island has the typical Cycladic white villages and sandy beaches, those aren’t what bring many people to the island. Sifnos is better known for its food, which makes it one of the top Greek islands. While it is a top island for food, it is not one of the best Greek islands for families.
You can thank local chef Nicholas Tselementes, who wrote the first Greek book of recipes in 1910, for launching Sifnos’s reputation as a foodie island.
A post-dinner stroll is often an excellent companion to a fine meal, and the beautiful whitewashed villages all about the island are perfect for leisurely walks.
The Sporades, Some of the Best Greek Islands to Visit Near Athens
The Sporades Islands are in the northwest Aegean, on the eastern coast of Greece and closer to Athens. Climatically, the weather here is cooler than in the Cyclades. You’ll find them at the top-center of the Greek islands map.
They’re quiet and wooded with pretty towns and good beaches, and instead of sugar-cube-like buildings, you’ll find northern Greek architecture with red-tiled roofs.
Skiathos
- Its Appeal: beaches, watersports, nightlife, restaurants, shopping
With an international airport, Skiathos is a mass-market destination that attracts a young crowd on a Greek holiday. Lush with pine forests, the island has more than 60 sandy beaches, plus one beautiful pebble beach.
Many of the island’s best beaches are accessible via bus from Skiathos Town; those that aren’t can be reached by hired boat. Exceptionally popular is postcard-worthy Koukounaries beach on the island’s southern tip, which has the best watersports on the island. Skiathos Town has many clubs, cocktail bars, and gourmet restaurants, including many that are affordable.
Skopelos
- Its Appeal: beaches, watersports, sailing, cycling
Since Skopelos lacks an airport, it attracts a smaller crowd than neighboring Skiathos. On the other hand, it is mountainous, craggy and pine-covered, an island of beautiful landscapes with aquamarine seascapes, and smooth-pebbled beaches.
The streets of Skopelos Town are lined with old mansions and more than 120 churches, with the old town sitting higher on the hill than the new. A 13th-century castle built on the site of the town’s 5th-century BC acropolis tops it all.
If you travel to the north end of the island, you might recognize the small church of Agios Ioannis, near the village of Glossa, from the wedding scene in Mamma Mia!
The North Aegean Islands
Near the coast of Turkey north of the Dodecanese, the Northeast Aegean islands are mostly mountainous and heavily wooded. Their beaches range from so-so to very good, and their port towns are generally lively. They are located center-right on the map of Greek islands.
Chios
- Its Appeal: beaches, watersports, museums
An island with rugged mountains, lush valleys, and splendid beaches, Chios is the birthplace of Homer. It also was once the only place in the world where mastic bushes grew, mastic sap being the old ingredient in chewing gum.
Most buildings on the island date from the late 19th century since an earthquake in 1881 severely damaged the island. What did survive though were 20 villages known as Mastic Villages, built by the island’s Genoese rulers as protections against pirates and the Turks.
At Nea Moni, an 11th-century Byzantine church and monastery (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) about 7 miles west of Chios town, you’ll learn about the horrific history of the island and the massacre by the Turks.
The Ionian Islands, the Best Greek Islands in Northern Greece
The Ionians are the greenest of all the Greek islands, and also the coolest and wettest. As a result, you’ll find beautiful olive groves, vineyards, and forests that are spectacular.
Although there are three major islands in the group – Corfu, Paxos, Kefallonian – you’ll find beautiful architecture only on Corfu. Many of the buildings on the other islands have been destroyed by earthquakes.
Corfu
- Its Appeal: day trips, watersports, nightlife, hiking, golf, beaches, food/restaurants, scenery
Corfu (located in the upper-left on the map of the Greek islands) is easy to get to, and affordable, which makes it appealing to many on a vacation in Greece. Its capital of Corfu Town is a delightful British, French, Italian and Greek mashup. It’s one of the best Greek islands to visit if you enjoy a mélange of international influences.
A UNESCO World heritage site, you see this influence in its architecture, culture, and cuisine. The island has many excellent hotels and restaurants and plenty of beach resorts, as well. It is also famous for the 400 species of wildflowers that blanket it each spring.
Two landmarks in Corfu Town are the Old Fortress and the New Fortress, both built by the Venetians, just 30 years apart. You’ll also find an old British cricket field smack in the middle of town, as well as many other remnants of the island’s feudal past. But also take day trips outside the city.
Visit Achílleion Palace, built for Empress Elizabeth of Austria so she could escape the pressures of Vienna. Drive on to Palaiokastrítsa, a popular resort area on the island’s west coast and visit the Palaiokastrítsa Monastery on the headland. Everywhere you go, you’ll be enveloped by spectacular scenery.
The Saronic Gulf Islands, the Best Greek Islands to Visit Near Athens
The Saronic Gulf Islands, or the Argo-Saronics, as they’re often called, are the islands closest to Athens, making them perfect for a short holiday in Greece. This also makes them perfect for a day trip from the capital, and as a weekend getaway for Athenians. Their strong point is their historic towns; just don’t expect to find gorgeous beaches. This lack of beaches and water-sports is why they’re usually not considered one of the best Greek islands to visit for families.
Hydra (Ydra)
- Its Appeal: art, nightlife, food/restaurants, shopping
The little port of Hydra, close to Athens (and directly below it on the map of the Greek islands), is lively year-round, not just during the high summer season. But it’s not one of the best Greek islands to visit for families looking for a beach holiday.
Over the years Hydra has been a celebrity magnet drawing the likes of Jackie O, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Today it continues to attract writers, artists, and yacht-ers. And the best news of all? Hydra is car- and motorbike-free. The only local transportation is via donkey.
Nights out in Hydra are all about eating, drinking and people watching. And at night, while the international set sits in the chic cafes around the harbor, traditional Greek life continues in the tavernas up on the hillside.
Greeks love Hydra. 18th-century sea captain mansions and whitewashed houses cascade down the hills around the port, providing an amphitheater-like appearance. Historic buildings morph into boutique hotels and art galleries, and jewelry shops are plentiful. It’s all earned Hydra the reputation as the “Greek St. Tropez.”
Best Greek Islands to Visit Further Away: The Dodecanese
Located in the southeast Aegean Sea (the group furthest right on the Greek islands map), the Dodecanese are all about the ancient world. “Dodeca” is the Greek word for “twelve” and there are twelve islands in this group, which is the furthest from the Greek mainland. As you’ll see on the Greek islands map above, they lie close to the coast of Turkey.
Rhodes
- Its Appeal: day trips, nightlife, shopping, beaches
Rhodes is a great place for a Greece vacation, and one of the best Greek islands to visit for families, giving it great appeal for many on a Greece vacation. Here you’ll find all-inclusive resorts scattered on beaches all around the island.
In Greek mythology, Rhodes was sacred to Helios, the sun God. And for a good reason: the island has more than 300 days of sunshine annually.
Rhodes consistently draws vacationers to its sandy beaches and is especially popular with British travelers, the reason there are inexpensive direct flights from many UK airports.
Rhodes was conquered by many, including the Romans, Turks, Italians, and the Knights of St. John, the latter before they moved to Malta. Each has left their mark on the island. You’ll find this is especially true in atmospheric Rhodes Town, which is unlike any other city in Europe.
There’s plenty of history here, so you leave yourself plenty of time to explore. Walk along the medieval cobblestone lanes of the old town (a World Heritage Site) from the Palace of the Grand Master to the inns of the crusader knights.
You’ll also find Greece’s oldest synagogue here, along with Orthodox and Catholic churches and mosques. Be sure also to visit the whitewashed town of Lindos, about a 45-minute taxi ride to the south, where you can walk or take a donkey up to its amazing acropolis.
Patmos
- Its Appeal: day trips, beaches, watersports, hiking, scenery
Patmos town is UNESCO listed but what makes it so appealing is its relative inaccessibility. Unfortunately, that’s also the reason it’s not one of the better Greek islands for families. There is no airport, and it’s a nine-hour ferry ride from Piraeus, or an expensive helicopter ride, or a boat transfer from Kos or Samos.
The most famous traveler here was St. John, for it was on Patmos where he wrote his Revelations. For centuries the famous and powerful monastery of St. John, with 18th-century mansions snuggled around its 50-foot-high walls, protected the main town from piracy.
This is one of the top Greek islands to get away from it all on a holiday in Greece, and to just laze your days away on the beach and at beach-side tavernas.
Kos
- Its Appeal: beaches, sailing, water-sports, nightlife, day trips
As far back as the Romans, Kos was a resort. It has sandy beaches, a medieval castle, a Roman villa and a very good, and recently renovated, archaeology museum.
Kos is also the birthplace of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, and here you can even sit where Hippocrates did, under the large plane tree. You’ll also find the ruins of a 400BC healing sanctuary, the Asklepion, run by Hippocrates’s followers, reached by a small train from Kos Town.
You may also enjoy: 2 Days in Athens, a Captivating City / Things to Do in Rhodes, Greece – Medieval Charm in the Mediterranean / Corfu, A Very Different Greek Island
The Largest of the Best Greek Islands to Visit: Crete
- Its Appeal: beaches, diving, hiking, bird watching, archaeology, food/restaurants, nightlife, scenery, museums, day trips
Crete is the biggest island with, naturally, the longest coast of beaches. Most of the island’s resorts are along its northern and western shores.
If you’re looking for the best Greek islands to visit earlier or later in the year, this is the place to go for your Greece vacation. That’s because Crete’s south coast stays warmer and sunnier than the other Greek islands in April and October, making it a choice off-season destination for a holiday in Greece.
Crete’s history goes back 8000 years. Outside the capital of Heraklion (mid-island on the north coast) is the Minoan palace of Knossos. The vast archaeological site dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization.
It doesn’t look much until you actually get inside – then myth comes to life. You’ll also find an extensive collection of Minoan art in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Tradition survives in the villages of Crete more than in most other places in Greece. All over the island, you’ll find sleepy villages, plus ancient cities and historic monasteries, and remote and beautiful beaches.
The towns of Chania (on the northwest coast) and Rethymno (about halfway between Chania and Heraklion) are attractive Greek-Venetian-Turkish mash-ups that are popular with travelers.
Another big draw for travelers is Crete’s cuisine, with most of the produce grown on the island. You may enjoy some of the good local wines as well.
On the other hand, Crete is not a place you go and see it all in a week or so. It has high and rugged mountains with poor roads. Stick to one area and enjoy it.
If You Go:
Greek National Tourism Organization
800 3rd Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10022
https://www.visitgreece.gr
@ [email protected]
Tel : (212) 4215777
Fax : (212) 8266940
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