Travel guides for 88 Greek islands

Welcome to one of the most comprehensive guides to the Greek islands online!

Among our most common dreams is surely a holiday on an island, because an island means relaxation, adventure, fun, romance, contact with nature, a sense of freedom, and easy socialisation. You feel a little far from your usual life and open to new experiences, with the sea surrounding you like an embrace.

And Greece offers so many islands to experience that we can only be grateful! An abundance of islands doesn't mean they are all the same; some are more beautiful, others more lively, greener, more relaxing, more special. Volcanic islands, Caribbean-like islands, wild islands, glamorous islands, historic islands: in a word, "islands for everyone".

We have reviewed 88 of them, practically all those where you can spend a holiday.

Greece is famous for its hospitality, and on a Greek island you will always find warmth and friendliness. The Greek people have a genuine love for welcoming visitors.

Some islands are very popular and especially loved by young people looking for entertainment, but there are also wild and authentically atmospheric ones where you can discover the real Greece. For sports enthusiasts, there are plenty of places to climb, hike, dive, cycle, fish, or practice windsurfing and kitesurfing. And what about a Greek island for a honeymoon or anniversary, or a special trip to celebrate a milestone? There are budget-friendly islands as well as magnificent resorts.

Picturesque villages, monasteries with blue domes, windmills, bougainvillea, romantic sunsets, mythological legends, cats, caiques, archaeological sites, artistic masterpieces, castles, and of course beautiful sea and beaches. Ready to choose your island? Even if you've already visited many, there is surely at least one more island ready to surprise you!

Map of the Greek Islands

Where are the Greek islands located? A careful look at the map of Greece reveals the 7 archipelagos that group them:

• The 25 Cyclades are arranged right in the middle of the Aegean Sea, with Delos as their epicentre.
• The 20 Dodecanese islands are located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, between Asia Minor, the Cyclades, and Crete.
• The main 16 Ionian Islands are situated in the Ionian Sea, close to the mainland and to western Greece.
• The 10 North East Aegean islands are located opposite Turkey in the northern Aegean Sea.
• The 9 Sporades, including Euboea, are found in the northern Aegean Sea, near the Pelion coast in Thessaly (Euboea a bit further south).
• The 6 Argosaronic islands are situated between the Argolic and Saronic Gulfs, south of Athens.
• Finally, Crete and Gavdos are the southernmost, on the border with the Libyan Sea.

Greece has an astounding number of islands! The country's map can barely represent them all. Official data counts more than 6,000 islands, of which over 200 are permanently inhabited.

Due to their geographic position in the Mediterranean Sea, the Greek islands have been a cradle of civilisation, a crossroads of diverse cultures, and a strategic point for trade over the centuries. Traditions are still deeply felt today, and festivals are events not to be missed.

Which Greek island to choose?

Given the enormous number of Greek islands, choosing where to go for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. But the good news is you'll surely want to come back to Greece to see more islands!

Which one to choose first will only matter in your memories, where you'll identify that island as the place where you fell in love with a fascinating country just waiting to be explored.

Here is a quick guide to the most popular islands (that we recommend seeing sooner or later) in each archipelago.

Cyclades Islands

• Milos
• Naxos
• Santorini
• Mykonos

Ionian Islands

• Corfu
• Elafonisos
• Zakynthos
• Lefkada

Sporades and Euboea Islands

• Skiathos
• Alonissos

North East Aegean Islands

• Thassos
• Chios

Dodecanese Islands

• Rhodes
• Kos
• Patmos
• Astypalea

Argosaronic Islands

• Hydra

Crete

• Crete

How to reach the Greek islands?

Some Greek islands are easily reachable by direct flight from many European cities, while for others the journey may be a bit longer – but the destination will always be worth the extra effort. Here are the main ways to get there:

Direct Flight

Directly by plane to those with an international airport. In high season, many direct flights operate from cities across Europe (UK, Germany, Scandinavia, France, Italy, and more). For a list of Greek islands with airports, see this article.

International Flight + Domestic Flight

Fly to Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport) or Thessaloniki (Makedonia International Airport), then take a short domestic flight (small aircraft, max 100 seats). For a list of Greek islands with airports, see this article.

Flight + Ferry

Fly to Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport) or to an island with an international airport (see list), then continue by ferry to your destination island. Athens port (Piraeus) is about 45 km from the airport. If flying to Thessaloniki (Makedonia International Airport), onward ferry information is available here.

Car + Ferry

By car (or motorbike/camper). Travellers from Western Europe can take a ferry from Adriatic ports (such as Venice, Ancona, Bari, or Brindisi in Italy) to Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece, then drive to the embarkation port for their destination island. Those from Northern or Eastern Europe can drive to Greece via the Balkans. For ferry information, see this article.

Where to stay on the Greek islands?

After choosing your Greek island, you need to decide where to stay. Accommodation options range from magnificent resorts to simple campsites, through hotels of every category, holiday villages, and especially studios – the most typical form of Greek hospitality.

Resorts

For luxury resorts with excellent entertainment and sports, see this article. For exclusive luxury hotels, see this article.

Hotels and Studios

Hotels of all categories can be found on practically all islands. The most characteristic accommodations, however, are the studios. These are small apartments (studio or one-bedroom) with typical Greek architecture. They are generally affordable and family-run, furnished simply but comfortably. They always have a kitchenette, which can be very useful for preparing your own meals! Some studios include breakfast, and if the owners have a garden, you may be treated to their fresh fruit and vegetables. It's not uncommon to become friends with your hosts, who are usually friendly and helpful, and with fellow guests thanks to the warm atmosphere that naturally develops.

Camping

If you are looking for a campsite, keep in mind that wild camping is prohibited in Greece (although tolerated in some places, provided it is done with respect for the environment and people). Here are the islands with official campsites:

Ionian Islands with campsites: Corfu, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Elafonisos, Kefalonia, Paxos, Kythira.

Cyclades Islands with campsites: Amorgos, Andros, Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos.

Sporades and Euboea with campsites: Skiathos, Alonissos, Euboea.

North East Aegean with campsites: Thassos, Samothrace, Chios, Lesbos, Limnos.

Dodecanese with campsites: Rhodes, Astypalea, Leros.

Argosaronic with campsites: Aegina, Salamina.

Crete with campsites: Crete.

The most beautiful Greek islands in our opinion

Looking for tips on the most beautiful islands? What to see once you've settled in? We've already listed the islands we recommend as first choices since they are generally most appreciated by visitors, but the most beautiful Greek islands, in our opinion – where to find the best sea, beaches, landscapes, and villages – are:

Archipelago	Islands
Cyclades	Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, Koufonissi
Ionian Islands	Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Paxos, Zakynthos, Elafonisos
Sporades & Euboea	Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos
North East Aegean	Thassos, Chios, Ikaria
Dodecanese	Rhodes, Kos, Lipsi, Symi, Astypalea
Argosaronic	Hydra, Aegina, Poros
Crete	Crete

Climate, weather and temperatures on the Greek islands

Greece has an essentially Mediterranean climate: mild winters and hot, sunny summers. The islands are particularly pleasant from spring to autumn. Summer heat, which can be intense on the mainland, is tempered on the islands by winds that blow fairly frequently. Summer rainfall is almost non-existent, and air and sea temperatures remain stable.

Due to their position (in the Aegean or Ionian Sea), the islands do not all share the same climate, though differences are never dramatic. The windiest archipelagos include the Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Crete. The warmest are the Ionian and Argosaronic islands, as they are sheltered from winds. The northernmost islands of the North East Aegean have a slightly cooler climate with occasional summer thunderstorms.

The most characteristic weather feature of many Greek islands is the summer "Meltemi" wind. It is a cool, moderate monsoon-type wind blowing from the north/northwest. "Meltemi days" can occur from late spring to early autumn, especially in the Cyclades and Dodecanese. The Meltemi is not always unwelcome: it keeps skies clear and makes the summer heat more bearable (rarely exceeding 30°C on these islands). On the downside, it can roughen the sea, cool it slightly, and be annoying on sandy beaches. It is certainly appreciated by windsurfers and kitesurfers.

Here is a month-by-month overview of temperatures and weather information for the Greek islands.

Month	Air Temperature	Rainfall	Sea Temperature
January	2°-15°	moderate / frequent	13°-17°
February	3°-16°	moderate / frequent	13°-16°
March	4°-17°	light / moderate	13°-16°
April	7°-20°	light / moderate	14°-17°
May	11°-24°	light	18°-20°
June	15°-29°	none / light	21°-23°
July	18°-32°	none	23°-25°
August	18°-32°	none	24°-26°
September	15°-28°	none / light	22°-25°
October	11°-24°	light / moderate / frequent	20°-23°
November	8°-20°	light / moderate / frequent	17°-21°
December	4°-17°	moderate / frequent	15°-18°

Greek islands with airports

Greek islands for families with children

Romantic Greek islands for couples

Greek islands for nightlife and entertainment

Most affordable Greek islands

Most famous and popular Greek islands

Off-the-beaten-track Greek islands

Greek islands with the most beautiful sea and white beaches

Least windy Greek islands

Windiest Greek islands for windsurfing and kitesurfing