Lady’s 5 Best Greek Islands to Take You Away to Paradise

I love traveling in Greece. The culture, the food, and the sun all make me feel like I’m on my own personal odyssey to a better life. And no place makes me feel that way like the country’s islands. If you’re looking to experience Greece, today I bring you my guide to the best Greek islands.

Best Greek Islands

From famous hotspots to under-the-radar gems, Greece has a range of islands to choose from. Whether you like to party all night, soak up the sun on an Aegean beach, or dive into Greece’s legendary past, there’s a Greek island for you.

I’ve been to all of these islands and more, and I’ve handpicked my favorites for you. If you go, I hope they take you away to paradise like they’ve done for me.

When to Go to the Greek Islands

Given the best Greek islands get busy in the peak summer months, I recommend traveling in spring or autumn. The weather is usually warm, but there are fewer people around and the prices are more reasonable than in peak season.

I went to the Greek islands at the end of October once and enjoyed gorgeous weather and no crowds at all.

How to Get to the Best Greek Islands

Whenever you go, it’s easy to get to the Greek islands. There are direct flights from London to most of them, and others are quick ferry rides away from an island or mainland area with an international airport.

It’s easy to get between them, too. You can combine several in a trip if you want to visit more than one at a time.

I did a great trip to Santorini, Mykonos, and Tinos where I flew to Santorini’s Thira airport, took the ferry between the three islands, then flew from Mykonos back to London.

If you do the same, make sure to check ferry schedules since not all ferries run every day throughout the year.

So now for the main event. Read on for my picks for the best Greek islands.

1. Santorini

Santorini hardly needs an introduction. This is one of the most famous islands in the Cyclades, with its unique cliffs rising out of an underwater volcanic crater.

Crescent shaped, Santorini has everything from pretty towns to walking paths and wineries.

Santorini is one of the best Greek islands for a number of reasons. The views over the caldera are spectacular, the whitewashed buildings with blue trim are classic, and the food is amazing.

I’ve traveled to Santorini twice, and both times I’ve enjoyed visiting Fira (also called Thera or Thira) and Oia, the main towns.

Fira is the primary one, and its shops and narrow streets are bustling. It also has both a cable car and a donkey path that transport visitors up from the port below.

Oia is just as beautiful. It’s full of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches, and has great restaurants with views over the sea. Its main street is full of independent shops selling everything from art to books.

It also has amazing hotels on the cliffs that offer the quintessential Greek island experience. I stayed at the Canaves Oia Sunday Suites and loved it.

There’s a walking path between Fira and Oia with spectacular scenery and views over the caldera. It’s a great way to see more of Santorini than just the main towns, and get some exercise while doing it.

2. Mykonos

Mykonos is another of the best Greek islands. This place is best known for its summer party scene, but there’s a lot more to it than the DJs that attract huge crowds on beaches like Paradise and Super Paradise.

Mykonos deserves a place on my list for a lot of reasons. Beyond the nightlife scene, the cities, beaches, restaurants, and viewpoints make this place worth a special trip. I’ve been twice now and can’t wait to go back for more.

Mykonos City is home to an iconic row of 16th-century windmills and lots of whitewashed streets with boutiques and colorful shutters.

It’s a great place to shop, drink, dine, and catch ferries to other islands. I stayed at a hotel in Mykonos City, and it was a great location for a home base during my trip.

The beaches in Mykonos are also worth visiting. Agios Sostis beach is a great little spot for swimming and sunbathing, not to mention lunch. Kiki’s Tavern is one of the best restaurants in Mykonos, and it’s just above the sand.

Elsewhere, Fokos beach features a keyhole rock formation and a chapel on a hill, and Ornos Beach and Elia Beach are perfect for lying out in the sun.

The inland towns are worth a special trip, too. Ano Mera sits in the middle of Mykonos and has whitewashed buildings and a little square that Greece’s signature cats grace with their presence.

And if it’s views you’re after, the Armenistis Lighthouse is the place to go. It sits on a remote point on the island and has views over the Aegean Sea.

3. Crete

Crete is also one of the best Greek islands. This place is the biggest island in Greece, and there’s a lot to do and see as a result. From mountains and beaches to archaeological sites, there’s a variety on offer here.

My favorite memory of my trip to Crete is visiting Knossos. The ancient capital of Minoan Crete, it’s the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on the island.

The palace ruins are stunning, and its associations with Greek mythology make it particularly intriguing.

Beyond Knossos, there’s a lot to do and see on Crete. It’s one of the best Greek islands for natural beauty. The Samaria Gorge has dramatic scenery, Balos Beach has a stunning turquoise lagoon, and Vai has lush palm trees.

Crete is also known for its cultural and historic highlights. In addition to Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum has important Minoan art and artifacts.

The Arkadi Monastery dates back to the 16th century, as does the the Koules Fortress. The latter was built by the Republic of Venice and sits at the entrance to the historic port of Heraklion.

4. Tinos

On the under-the-radar end of the spectrum, Tinos is one of the best Greek islands. If you want to go where the locals go and avoid the big crowds, this is the place for you.

Tinos is a 20-minute ferry ride from Mykonos, so it’s easy to travel here. Once on the island, there’s a lot to do and see. From hilltop villages to great hotels and seafood restaurants, Tinos has a bit of everything I love about Greece.

The highlight of my trip to Tinos was exploring the towns. Pyrgos has whitewashed walls, colorful doors, and bougainvillea that combine to make it a quintessential Greek island village.

Volax has unique writing on its walls and facades, and is nestled in a boulder-studded hillside. Panormos is lined with colorful cafes and dotted with fishing boats.

Isternia features a marble church and tangle of stairways ripe for discovering. And Kardiani is a hillside village with sweeping sea views.

There’s also good hiking in Tinos. The trail from Xinara to the top of Mount Exomvourgo is a great one.

Along the way there are examples of Tinos’ signature pigeon houses, remnants of this Greek island’s Venetian period. There are sweeping views from the summit, too.

Tinos is most famous for the Sacred Church of the Megalohari, a religious pilgrimage site with an icon of the Virgin Mary.

It’s considered one of the most venerated in Greece, and the faithful crawl from the waterfront to it on their hands and knees.

5. Kos

Kos is another of the best Greek islands. Near the coast of Turkey, this Dodecanese island is a popular day trip destination by ferry from Bodrum.

But its wealth of beaches and ancient archaeological sites make it worth more than just a stopover.

When I visited Kos, the highlight was seeing the ruins. The area around the port is littered with them, and it’s hard to miss the columns in the ancient agora marketplace.

Kos Town is also great to visit. There’s the 15th-century Neratzia Castle on one side of the marina. Behind it is the tree of Hippocrates, an ancient plane tree where the father of medicine apparently taught his students.

On the modern end of the spectrum, narrow streets radiate out from the waterfront. They’re lined with souvenir shops and food stalls, and open out into airy squares with cafes.

A bit farther from the waterfront, the columns of the ancient acropolis and steep steps of a small amphitheater are great places to take in the history of Kos.

Beyond Kos Town, the beaches are big attractions. Lambi Beach has classic sun umbrellas, and Therma Beach has a unique thermal hot spring pool.

Best Islands in Greece

I hope you’ve gotten some good travel inspiration from this blog post. The best Greek islands are worth a special trip, whether you choose a classic or an underrated one. In any case, you can’t choose wrong.

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