A wild and heavenly region, rugged and pristine, wonderful and capricious, the Greek islands are known to be one of the best tourist gateways in Europe. But with so many exotic islands, it might be hard to choose the right one for your next holiday. Here’s our selection of the 5 must-see Greek islands for your next stay in Greece.
Santorini
Santorini is a very well-known Greek island, you know the picture that you see everywhere, the beautiful white houses with blue roofs. If you had to visit only one island, it should be this one. It is filled with tourist attractions, guided tours, and lots of activities.
How to get there?
The easiest way to get to Santorini is to fly from Athens. The flight takes 45 minutes and there are many flights every day. Prices range from 45 € to 130€ for a round trip. You can also take the ferry from Athens to Piraeus. The price of a round trip is about 105€ and it will take you 5 hours to get to the island if you board the high-speed ferries. Regardless of your starting point, you will go through Athens.
What not to miss on Santorini Island
Most visitors to this island spend their time on the beach, eating at unique Greek restaurants, exploring picturesque towns, bathing in a thermal pool while enjoying a breathtaking view of the caldera, or experiencing one of the island’s most beautiful tours. In addition to the panoramic views, there are great tourist sites on the island. These include the Santorini volcano, the Prehistoric Thira Museum and the Thera Museum. You can also check out our dedicated article with 10 must-sees in Santorini.
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Crete
Crete has many beaches, beautiful hikes, and astounding historical sites. It is the largest of all the Greek islands. It’s so big that if you only have a week to visit Greece, you should limit yourself to Crete.
How to get there?
Just like Santorini, the simplest and quickest way to get there is to take the plane from Athens, the Greek capital; the flight lasts about 50 minutes and will cost you about €130. Crete is located in the southern part of the Cyclades, and it’s a long journey with the ferry. Overnight options on the ferry are also available and usually leave at 10pm to arrive around 6am, the round trip costs €70.
What not to miss in Crete
The island includes one of many cultural sites, which is Knossos. It houses a leper colony and a historical fortress.
The Samaria Gorge national park offers magnificent landscapes and breathtaking hikes.
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Mykonos
Mykonos hosts some of the best clubs and nightclubs in Greece. With a massive presence in the clubhouse, it attracts world-class DJs to its home. It also has beautiful beaches and a capital village with inconceivable charm, the city of Mykonos.
How to get there?
The flight from Athens, the Greek capital, to Mykonos takes 40 minutes and round-trip flights can cost between 45 and 220 €. If you want to travel by ferry, you may want to consider boarding a ferry shuttle which takes about two and a half hours and costs between 45€ and 130€.
What not to miss in Mykonos
For most holidaymakers, Mykonos is about exploring the various beaches and alleyways of Mykonos Town. However, the ruins of Delos are also worth a visit. It’s an ancient settlement and archaeological site near Mykonos. In Mykonos town, Little Venice is a waterfront neighbourhood well worth stopping by, and the town’s famous windmills are another popular stop for a photo.
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Naxos
Naxos is undoubtedly the most family-friendly of all the Greek islands. Its main town and beautiful beaches are full of large local taverns that serve some of the most delicious dishes of the Greek islands.
How to get there?
There are daily flights to Naxos, which last 40 minutes. The price of the plane ticket is in the range of 130€ to 175€. There are also numerous daily ferries departing from Paros, and a journey of 25 to 45 minutes costs about 20€ and 50€ round-trips. Ferries departing from Athens take 4-5 hours. You can also take ferries to other islands such as Mykonos and Santorini during your stay in Naxos.
What not to miss on Naxos Island
Most days are good for spending at the beach. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are both excellent activities on the island. However, the island also hosts several interesting archaeological sites like Portara, the temple ruins of Demeter and the temple of Apollo.
Paros
Paros is located between Santorini and Mykonos. A place where visitors can visit the Panagia Ekatontapiliani, a 4th-century ancient Byzantine church. It’s bigger than its two neighbours, but it receives fewer visitors most of the time. The place is like a haven of peace, with picturesque beaches that are far superior to those of Santorini.
How to get there?
There are many daily flights from Athens, each lasting 40 minutes, the number of these flights is not as high as those to Mykonos or Santorini. The prices of the flights are a bit higher, ranging from 90€ to 175€. Instead of flying directly to Paros, most people first go to Mykonos or Santorini and take a ferry later. The trip lasts two hours from Santorini, and a round trip costs between 45 and 90€. From Mykonos, the ferry takes 45 minutes and the round trip costs less than 90€.
What not to miss on Paros Island
Paros, just like Mykonos, has a reputation as a great place to party. It’s also famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The main activity here is cliff jumping although the historic Panayia Ekatondapiliani church is also worth a visit.
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