With its thousands of islands and islets grouped into archipelagos, Greece is home to some uniquely beautiful destinations. For a week’s getaway or longer, here is our list of the most beautiful Greek islands by archipelago, from the classics of Santorini and Mykonos in the Cyclades to Rhodes and Patmos in the Dodecanese.
The Saronic Islands, the archipelago at the doors of Athens
Located in the Aegean Sea, between Attica and the Peloponnese, the Saronic Islands are closest to Athens: the nearest is less than 40 minutes from Piraeus by hydrofoil, the furthest 2h30 at most.
Hydra, the elegant, arty Saronic island
On this car-free island, you can travel by riding a mule or a taxi boat. Alternatively, you can also just wander wherever your fancy takes you, through hilly landscapes lined with white fishermen’s cottages, beautiful mansion houses, small monasteries, pine and olive groves. As authentic as it is luxurious, Hydra promotes its arty, cosmopolitan image, which has made it a fixture for artists and film stars, from Brigitte Bardot to Mick Jagger.
Spetses, the beautiful aristocrat of the Argolic Gulf
This bicycle-friendly island has been a favoured holiday destination for the Greek aristocracy for several centuries now. Land-wise, its vast pine forest offers some great walks, with hidden coves, isolated little churches and, on the higher ground, a 360° panoramic view of the Argolic Gulf. Sea-wise, the well-maintained beaches are very popular throughout summer, but the coves do not enjoy a similar popularity. In the evening, the best place to go is the harbour, home to the island’s main bars, hotels and clubs.
The Sporades, scattered around the eastern Pelion peninsula
The Sporades archipelago lies north-east of Athens and east of the Pelion peninsula in the Aegean Sea. The islands can be reached by boat from the mainland towns of Agios Konstantinos and Vólos, in Thessaly.
Skiathos, the seaside paradise of the Sporades
Skiathos, the smallest island in the Sporades, enjoys a buzzing high season and has plenty to offer: with its fishing harbours, turquoise coves and dozens of white sandy beaches, its main appeal lies in its seaside pleasures, boat trips and busy nightlife.
Skyros, a wild, traditional island
More remote and wilder than its sisters, this Greek island in the Sporades has a particular charm to it. In the hilltop village of Chóra, you can walk the winding lanes at the foot of a Byzantine fortress, and inland, there are vast unspoilt spaces sure to delight nature lovers and hikers to no end.
The Cyclades archipelago, the poster child of the southern Aegean Sea
In the southern Aegean, between Athens and Crete, the islands of the Cyclades archipelago form a circle around the sacred island of Delos, 150km south of the Greek capital.
Santorini, the star island of the Aegean Sea
White villages and blue domes clinging to the side of an ancient volcano, hiking trails following the crest of the cliffs, many-hued beaches – black sand to the west, red or white pebble-beaches to the south – scenic terraces where you can savor freshly caught fish, designer boutiques and bars where you can dance the night away… Santorini is the most popular of the 24 inhabited islands of the Cyclades, and it is for very good reasons!
Delos, the ancient island unaffected by time
This tiny island in the centre of the Cyclades has no inhabitants and no hotels: the only reason to come to this holy piece of land, the mythical birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, is to discover the exceptional archaeological sites found throughout the island. The remains of the sanctuary of Apollo, the big cats on the Terrace of the Lions and the wealthy villas in the Theatre district all form Hellenistic Delos’ glorious cultural heritage.
Mykonos, the glamorous party island of the Cyclades
With its white houses transformed into luxury hotels lowering down to the sea, its labyrinth of lanes lined with bars and its beaches bursting with activity at all hours of the day and night, Mykonos is the party capital of Greece. But the Cycladic island has other treasures to show, including two very interesting museums (the Archaeological Museum and the Maritime Museum of the Aegean), beautiful monasteries and highly enjoyable hiking trails.
Páros, Greece’s water sports mecca
A mecca for windsurfers and kitesurfers, Paros boasts a wide range of attractions: a lively, festive capital, fishing ports lined with terraces where you can enjoy lunch a step from the water, a myriad of beaches and coves and further inland, landscapes of breathtaking natural beauty. An island sure to put you under its spell!
Folegandros, the island between sea and sky
With its white houses clinging to the rocky formations and its churches looming over the cliff-edge, Folégrandros, seen from the Aegean Sea, looks as though it teeters between sea and sky. On this small island nearby Milos, you can hike through rugged, mountainous landscapes, dive into the crystal-clear waters of a handful of coves (Agios Nikolaos, Katergo) and admire one of the finest panoramas of the Cyclades from the charming village of Hora.
The islands of the Northern Aegean, traditional lands off the Turkish coast
Occupying an area a hundred kilometres large north-east of Athens in the Aegean Sea, this group of 8 major islands is peppered along the Greek and Turkish coasts between Thrace and Izmir.
Lesbos, an island with a rich natural and cultural heritage
A vast desert plateau battered by the winds, rocky mountains punctuated by fertile valleys, an ouzo renowned the world over, one of the largest petrified forests in the world (Sigri), several ancient, Ottoman and Genoese sites, a few less-crowded beaches… Lesbos, near the Turkish coast, is well worth the trip.
Thassos, between ancient cities and a paradise coastline
Facing the Thracian coast, Thassos is the northernmost of the Greek islands. Rising above the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, it cuts a mountainous silhouette atop a green, rugged landscape covered in pine trees. Meanwhile, the coastline is strewn with sandy beaches, rocky overhangs and deep coves. A paradise for nature lovers, the island will also appeal to history buffs, thanks to the beautiful ancient cities of Limenas and Aliki.
Samos, the little island of a thousand landscapes
The island of Samos may be on the smaller side, but its landscapes are amazingly varied. Inland, you can admire old villages clinging to rocky slopes, high hills hiding pine forests, scrubland, and a few terraced vineyards. Along the coast, you’ll find a collection of chalk cliffs, pebbly coves and sandy bays. In the south of the island, the temple of Hera, one of the oldest Greek sanctuaries built 27 centuries ago, still draws in crowds to this day.
The Dodecanese, the archipelago off the Turkish coast
Washed by the Aegean Sea, the Dodecanese archipelago is located in south-east Greece, off the Aegean region of Turkey. It is the easternmost archipelago in Greece.
Rhodes, the largest island in the Dodecanese
Famous for its colossus, a now vanished Wonder of the Ancient World, Rhodes has every you could need: a charming old town surrounded by ramparts, spectacular ancient sites at Líndos and Kamiros, a rare diversity of architectural styles (Italian, Byzantine, traditional Greek), numerous beaches and ideal kitesurfing conditions. An island to suit all tastes!
Patmos, the mystical island in the Aegean Sea
On this island in the Dodecanese, life takes on a stately pace. As you wind your way along its winding roads, take your time and discover the surprising Cave of the Apocalypse as well as the imposing monastery of St John the Theologian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then you can explore the island’s natural beauty with its expanses of stony landscapes, beaches and rocky coves.
Symi, the pearl of the Dodecanese
Within swimming distance of the Turkish coastline, the island of Symi is famous for its port of Gialos, sheltered in a cove lined with neoclassical residences and colourful houses crowding the hillside. But nature still holds the spotlight: wide-open coves, sheer cliffs and chapel-lined paths along the ridges. Prepare for a small island still very much on the wild side.
The Ionian Islands, a natural paradise in western Greece
Spread across three seas (the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean), the Ionian Islands begin south of Albania (Corfu), run along Greece’s western coast and they end west of the Peloponnese (Kythera).
Corfu, an island with everything you would want
West of mainland Greece, Corfu makes for a unique cocktail of coves and beaches, ancient Byzantine and Venetian heritage and small traditional villages. And of course we should mention the tasty cuisine, delicious olive oil, local festivals and numerous water sports activities available on the island. Your own little corner of paradise here on Earth!
Kefalonia, some of the breathtaking scenery in the Ionian Sea
Kefalonia is the ultimate nature destination. This magnificent land is built of peninsulas, rocky spurs, pine forests, sandy beaches – including the gorgeous Mýrtos beach – deep coves and underwater caves. The hiking trails on Mount Ainos offer spectacular views of the Gulf of Corinth. To the south, you can see olive groves, fruit trees and vineyards, the cherry on top of the Kefalonian delight.
Zakynthos (or Zante), an island with an exceptional coastline
See the vast plain hemmed in by beaches to the east, this landscape of cliffs pierced by caves to the west, land carpeted with pine trees, olive groves and vineyards… Zankynthos is a spectacular island offering an immediate and drastic change of scenery. A boat trip around the island provides access to the most beautiful cliffs, caves and bays on the island, largely inaccessible by land.
