. If your dream is just to grab a ferry and hop from one island to the other, from one paradise to the other, then I think Greek islands are what you are looking for!
Here you won’t only find a complete guide for Greek island hopping, but we recommend specific routes based on your main interests.
Update: Due to Coronavirus, there will be many changes this summer. We wrote an article (more information here!) where we explain the current measures and situation, and we will update it as often as possible!Â
Feel free to leave your own experiences or suggestion in the comment section.
The more ideas, the better for everybody!
Here are the topics that we will cover in this post
- Starting points for the Greek Island hopping.
- Specific Greek Island hopping recommendations
But before starting, let’s begin with some necessary information:
- Note that unfortunately, there are no ferry passes for Greece. Therefore, you will need to book ferry tickets for each leg of every itinerary, and there is no discount for return tickets or multiple-stop tickets. There are many ferry booking platforms, but the best one is Ferryscanner. It supports multiple destinations, which makes it ideal for island hopping!
- The only pass that gives some discount on Greek islands is the Interrail Greek Islands Pass. Have a look. It might suit you.
- If you select some of the famous islands like Santorini, Mykonos, you have to book many months in advance. Don’t forget that, otherwise you will get disappointed.
- If you are looking for activities on the islands, I use the GetYourGuide platform, which has a variety of experiences.
- The best website for booking a hotel in Greece is Booking.com. From my experience nowadays Airbnb apartments are also included in Booking.com, which I find easier and more reliable.
- My recommendation is – if you can – fly into Greece and out of Greece from different airports to save yourself the time and money perhaps! The Greek islands with the most flights are Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Crete (both Heraklion and Chania airports), Rhodes, Kos, Zante, Kefalonia and Corfu.
- Affordable Greek Island Hopping: Ferry tickets in Greece are not cheap as they used to be. So, I think it would be better if you make fewer stops (2 – 3 islands) and explore them than visiting more without really enjoying them.
- Greek Island Hopping & Honeymoon: You have so many choices when it comes to honeymoon. You can check some of our recommendations here!
Starting points for the Greek Island hopping.
There are some main starting points for island hopping
- Athens (We will explain more analytical below)
- Thessaloniki (Arriving at Thessaloniki airport you can reach Volos port and Keramoti port quite easy.)
- Volos (It’s between Thessaloniki and Athens, and Volos has also its own airport – although not so well connected. Key port for Sporades islands! )
- Patras (Its main port can connect you with some of the Ionian islands)
- Igoumenitsa (Ideal connection with Corfu)
The main island-hopping area in Greece is the Aegean sea and secondly the Ionian Sea.
In total, there are five main areas that we will focus on.
- Saronic Gulf islands
- Cyclades
- Dodecanese
- Sporades island
- The Ionian Islands or Eptanisa (in Greek)
1. Athens has three different ports. Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio.
Piraeus: It is the largest port in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, and it is well connected with both rail and overground. Most of the islands are linked to Piraeus, so it should be your first choice.
Rafina: If you want to visit Mykonos and Andros, from Rafina port the journey is quite faster, but the connection to this harbour is only by car or coach. You can visit islands like Mykonos, Andros, Naxos, Tinos, Syros and a lot more. Here is a timetable for the coaches from Athens to Rafina port.
Lavrio: It is a little bit further from Athens, but it is a less crowded port and an ideal to save some time if you want to visit specific islands, like Kea (Tzia), Kythnos, Syros etc.
Our initial starting point for Greek island hopping in the Aegean would be Piraeus, and later we will check if you can mix the things even more. I will explain later.
Greek Island hopping recommendations
Saronic Gulf Islands
Saronic Gulf islands are very close to Athens, and it is ideal if you have limited time in Athens, and you want to get a quick taste of the Greek Islands. Aigina and Agkistri are the closest islands to Athens.
Aigina isn’t so picturesque as the other Greek islands, but it is easy to visit and has a lot to see (like the fantastic Temple of Aphaea).
Hydra – in my opinion – is the most picturesque island in Saronic Gulf, but it can get busy.
Spetses island is larger and quite lively. No cars are allowed to Hydra and in Spetses the use is limited! You can find our mini travel guide about Spetses island here!
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Poros is a little bit different from the other island with more options, and you can get there by car through Peloponnese and pass thereby small boats.
Saronic Gulf islands are well connected, and it is quite easy to get from one island to the other.
Cyclades
Here you can find the iconic white houses with blue coloured windows (or at least at most of Cyclades islands!). You have more combinations to choose from, which is awesome but it can create a headache from the wide range of islands.
We will recommend some of our favourite routes, but then you can create your own ones!
Just be creative and ask us in the comment section below.
The Route of Diamonds: Athens – Mykonos – Paros – Naxos – Santorini.
With this route, you can visit 4 of the most beautiful islands not only in Greece but in the world as well!
Mykonos (find our dedicated post here!) is famous for its fantastic nightlife and beaches. Lately, it has become quite trendy, which means that it gets quickly crowded and is quite expensive. Find here our list with the best places to stay in Mykonos.
Paros is my favourite choice as it offers options for all ages and also families and young couples. I have gathered all the necessary information in the below posts!
Paros island! A complete guide to this beautiful island!
Mini guide on hiking in Paros!
Naxos has beautiful beaches, excellent food, and it is quite significant to keep you intrigued and interested.
You can find our travel guide here and the best hotels in Naxos here!
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Now, about Santorini, I don’t think that I have to tell you much, as it is impressive! You can find here our dedicated travel posts about Santorini island.
You can, of course, add some more islands, like one day trip from Mykonos to Delos, which belongs to the incredible list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Greece or even Tinos, which is a magnificent island under the radar of massive tourism, which we frequently visit and here you can find our complete travel guide about this wonderful island.
Or you can remove one island from the route, for example, Naxos.
As I mentioned above, it totally depends on your preference, budget and time.
The Underrated Route: Kythnos – Serifos – Sifnos Â
Kythnos is relatively close to Athens. 1.40′ from Lavrio port and around 3 hours from Piraeus. It is small with great hiking routes and still quite traditional.
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Serifos is of my favourite islands, and I cannot be objective as I have spent some summers there working locally.
It is quite wild, with fantastic beaches and picturesque Chora village.
Sifnos has probably the best food that you can try on the Cyclades and many, but many small churches.
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The route of Small Islands: Donousa, Koufonisia, Schoinousa, Iraklia
These four islands are called Mikres (=Small) the Cyclades, and they are unique and have kept their traditional character.
From the 4 of them, Koufonisia has become quite popular in the past years (find our detailed travel guide here and our list of the best places to stay on this beautiful island!)
The other three aren’t under the massive tourism radar yet.
Donousa is getting more popular lately but I think it has kept its character and authenticity. I spend 2 weeks there and I totally enjoyed it. You can find my experience and my travel guide about Donousa here!
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They are quite small, so don’t expect big hotels and resorts. These are for travellers that prefer wilder and quiet places and experiences.
The Hiking Route: Naxos – Amorgos
Both islands provide beautiful trails, but I think Amorgos is one of the two best islands in the Aegean for hiking and in case you are wondering, the other is Andros.
Amorgos is an island with wild beauty and with one of the most beautiful, traditional central villages (Chora).
Dodecanese
Kos – Kalymnos – Leros – Patmos
I like this route as it begins from one famous and busy island and goes through some more hidden islands in the Aegean.
Kos is one of the most touristic islands in Greece with big resorts and sandy beaches.
You can spend a couple of days there and then you can visit Kalymnos, which is one of the best destinations in Europe for climbing! Except for climbing, there are routes for hiking and some great one-day trips to close small islands.
The next stop can be Leros is one of the most underrated islands. It is quite small, and it has kept its character. Its Italian influence has given the island a wonderful personality.
And last and probably best is Patmos. One amazing island with great religious history and great beaches and beautiful architecture.
Rhodes – Symi – Nisiros – Tilos
Rhodes is very famous, with fantastic history and beaches! You can find our post about the best things to do in Rhodes island and we also selected the best hotels in Rhodes here!
But I want to focus on the other smaller islands, like Symi. This picturesque island will provide you with remote beaches, great food and unique moments. Discover more about this island on our travel guide here and check our recommendations for the best accommodation!
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Nysiros is another island (the other is Santorini) quite wild, and it has an active volcano (but not erupting).
And Tilos is one of the small islands that you just become one with the locals, and it has kept its traditional character. You can check our mini-guide here and our recommendation about the best places to stay!
Sporades
The Green Route: Skiathos – Skopelos – Alonissos
You can start your Greek island hopping from either Volos or Agios Konstantinos port. If you are in the Volos area, you can explore some of the best beaches there in the Pelion area. Learn more about this amazing area, on our special mini travel guide about Pelion and our list of the best hotels and apartments in the area.
All three islands are green with great nature and amazing beaches.
Skiathos is a vibrant island with beautiful beaches and very interesting nightlife! Here is our travel guide about the island and where to stay!
Skopelos was featured in the Hollywood movie Mama Mia, and Alonissos has an incredible Marine Park.
Eptanisa
In this part of the Mediterranean, there is no single starting point for Greek island hopping. It can be from Igoumenitsa, or you can fly to any of the biggest islands (like Corfu) and start from there!
Corfu – Paxoi – Lefkada – Kefalonia – Ithaca
This route is not as straightforward as it sounds.Â
From Corfu you can visit Paxos, which has some of the most amazing beaches, using a boat from New Port – “Kamelia Lines”.
Now if you want to add Lefkada and Kefalonia to your itinerary, you have two options.
You can take the plane from Corfu to Kefalonia, which is cheaper and quicker than ferries and buses.
Alternatively, if you are in Paxos then you can go to Igoumenitsa port on the mainland. Then, from there, you can get the bus to Lefkada and then another bus to Nydri.
And from Lefkada, you can use Ionian Sea Ferries and arrive at Fiskardo Kefalonia. It sounds a little bit complicated.
Apologies for that!
Do you have any question about the Greek Island Hopping?
Don’t hesitate to ask us or leave us a comment below!
Hi
We are looking to visit in September 2023 for 14/16 nights I have a wish of placoid like to see Athens Santorini Mykonos Skopolos is this doable and what is the best way to go about booking and when to book. I’m open to all options but don’t want to not have enough time at each island so need to factor in few nights at each one thanks
Hi Dimitris,
So glad that I stumbled across Secret Greece. I’m planning a weeks holiday in September this year and have decided on Rhodes and Symi on your recommendation. Which resort on Rhodes would you recommend? Idealy I would like to be well-connected to return to Rhodes for the airport/ferry as I’d prefer not to hire a car on the island.
Thanks for your help,
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Sorry for the delayed response.
If you want to have an easy access to the airport then the old twon of Rhodes can be your choice.
For not having a car, Lindos also might be a good choice, as it has easy access to beaches and plenty of bars and restaurants and of course a magnificent town. But it very far away from the airport (there is ataxi tha costs around 80 euros one way.)
If you are looking for specific hotels then you can look my specific page Best hotels in Rhodes
Let me know if you need anything else!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi guys mine might be a stupid question but…
I was planning to visit Kasos from Rhodes and by ferry it would take more than 5hrs…. By plane much less… apparently there’s no direct flight from RHO however sky express does fly to Karpathos and then continues to Kasos (25 mins turnaround)… now… on their website they allow you to get both tickets together, so as my trip ends at Kasos, will I stay on the plane in Karpathos? Does anyone try this before?
Hi Luca,
I haven’t done it myself, but I think if you select the flight in sky express website, it shows you if for both legs you are going to fly with the same aircraft or not.
Have a try and let us know if you can!
Note that you are going to try one of the shortest flights in the world (Karpathos – Kasos!)
Dimitris
Hello! Firstly, thank you for such a fabulous informative website!
I am hoping to visit Greece at Easter next year (beginning of April 2023) for two weeks with my family and would really appreciate your advice.
We would like to fly into Athens from the UK (as my daughter is desperate to visit there!) and then visit a number of islands, and are happy to fly home from a different airport.
We will have two weeks in total and would like to go to peaceful family friendly places (my children are 11 and 12), not the big touristy islands, to experience beautiful beaches, history, food and tradition. We will be doing it on a tight budget so any advice and suggestions will be very gratefully received!
Thank you, Jane
Hi Jane,
Thank you for the nice words!
You might already know, but bear in mind that the Greek orthodox easter is on 16/04/23, which means that during those days Greeks go for holidays and everything will be much more expensive. Many islands have some traditions that they celebrate during orthodox easter.
Note also that beginning of April is quite early in the season and most of the shops on the islands aren’t open yet and the weather isn’t great usually. Normally it is quite cold to swim, unless you like to swim in cold temperatures!
Now, regarding you question. I will recommend sth opposite than you are asking. Sorry for that!
I would recommend bigger and more touristy islands as on the small ones, most of restaurants will be closed. So, you can select islands like Paros and Naxos. They also have airports so you can fly from Athens to them. Also, Syros might be choice. It doesn’t have great beaches (you might not need them as it will be quite cold), but it has a beautiful city on the port and they combine the celebrations of catholic and orthodox easter as a big part of the island has catholic inhabitants.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Dimitris
Thank you so much Dimitris, that’s really helpful. I’m excited to get planning our visit! Many thanks for your advice.
Hi, I am islanding hopping soon in the cyclades. And I was wondering if you had to book ferries way in advance? I am leaving next week. Should I book my whole ferry itinerary for the whole trip in one go or wait until I get there? What do people usually do for this time in June ?
Thanks, Rosie.
Hi Rosie,
No, in general you don’t need to book any ferries in June.
Just bear in mind that the weekend from 10-13 is a long weekend in Greece (Monday is a bank holiday), so the ferries on Friday and Monday would be quite full. But other than that I think it would be fine.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Regards,
Dimitris
I guess what I’m really asking is what islands are best to go to to island hop for say a day or 2 days at a time and see the most we can?
Hi Marissa,
It sounds like a nice plan! You can start with Athens and then Mykonos, Santorini and Milos sound like a great choices. You can add 1 or islands but probably not more as you might not enjoy if you day by day change islands.
Now the choices are many!
Naxos and Paros can be definetely be nice choices as they both provide terrific water sports options.
Also,If you are visiting Greece on June or September then you add Ios island (i tend to avoid this). Finally, for wind surfing and surfing then Tinos can be a good choice, where you can find amazing food, many hiking trails and nice beaches
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi! If we want to spend most of our time In the water sailing around different beaches etc what island would you recommend doing that where we can get the most out of this experience.. being able to see as much as possible. We are about to book and finalize details of the trip. We are going for 12 days leaving to Rome on day 12. Generally the plan was flying to Athens and spending a day there and then going to Mykonos and Santorini but I also would like to go to Milos and a lot of the other islands that you recommended in the thread. We really just want to spend the time island hoping but not sure what islands to go to for the best experience for the 12 days. Really hoping to go on a boat tour and travel around and swim, snorkel most of the time. Can you see multiple islands this way?
Hi! Thanks for the great site! So, my family (wife, two teenage daughters) are on a Greek island cruise in July. We end in Athens, and then have 4 nights before heading back to Los Angeles. What island would you recommend for us for four nights? We want to relax and have a local experience. Good food, beaches, chill vibe. We’re thinking about Hydra, Spetses, Corfu, Naxos, or Crete. Any recommendations or suggestions? Thank you!!
Also, ideally we’d like to stay on just one island for those four nights, and not have to pack up and head to another hotel/AirBnB. Thanks again for the great advice!
Hi Sanjay,
You are welcome! I think Hydra doesn’t have so nice beaches and Crete is quite large and you might not get the island feeling in 4 days. For Corfu you will need to get a plane and I think it would better to find an island closer to Athens that you can approach by ferry.
Spetses is a good choice as it has an easy access from Athenas, it has a nice vibe and good beaches (not amazing, but good)
Naxos would be my choice as it is an island that has many activities, great sandy, long beaches and a picturesque villages.
And Paros of course is another good choice!
Let me know if you need anything else!
Dimitris
Thank you, Dimitris!!
My friend and I are going to spend about a week this June in Greece! As of now, we were looking into Athens, Paros, Milos, and Santorini. However, I was wondering if you suggested doing either Paros or Milos over the other, and visiting a less touristy island. I was hoping to at least go somewhere that has cliffs down to the beaches, and also a place with the small town feel in the city where you might actually run into locals. Santorini we are going simply as a bucket list location! Is there a different island you suggest, or do you think the three of Paros, Milos, and Santorini would be okay. And which route would you suggest?
Thank you!
Hi Sydney,
I think your schedule for first time in Greece is great!!
Now, I do understand that you might add or remove one destination but I am not sure what exactly you are looking for! Sorry about that!
Amorgos is wild with a touch of a more traditional characteristicd and it is not so touristy. But it not so ideal connected with the other islands that you want to visit
Also, Kimolos which is very close to Milos is an alternative if you are looking for something with great beaches and not so touristy with local characteristics. The only issue with KImolos is that the hotels and rooms are not many so it is difficult some times to book accomodation.
You can always play with different combinations of islands on Ferryscanner.
Also, my personal recommendation would be first Santorini and then Milos and Paros. Note, that in Paros you can visit Antiparos island which beautiful, small and very close to Paros, but you can go to many places and beaches walking!
Let me know if you need anything else!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi there!
My partner and I are planning to visit some Greek islands for around 7-10 days during the first 2 weeks of October this year. We are looking for a historical vacation; hoping to visit the main must-see attractions while maybe hitting up a beach or two in between. We were looking specifically at Rhodes, Kos and surrounding islands, but would like to start in Athens, if possible. I’ve been trying to do my own research, but I was wondering if you might know the best way to traverse this route, or have suggestions for a route that would give a similar experience (we were also interested in islands such as Zante and Hydra)!
Thank you for any and all suggestions 🙂
Hi Sierrah,
I totally understand your desire to visit as much as you can, but my advice would be that you cannot combine everything as you might not enjoying your holidays! So, pick up an area of destination and try to create your ideal itinerary!
For example, if you prefer to visits Rhodes or Kos you can fly there and then bypassing by ferry some islands and to reach Athens. It is quite a long time with ferry but it will give you the opportunity to visit some great islands!
One possible route could be Kos- Nisyros- Astypalaia – Naxos and then you should definitely visit Delos island, with an amazing archaeological site and final destination would Piraeus.
Or you can arrive by flight directly at international aiport of Rhodes, check the amazing sites of medieval city of Rhodes and Lindos and then fly to Athens.
Another option would be to visit directly Athens for 2-3 days and make some daily trips to Hydra and to Delphi or Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns. If you want a quick escape from Athens to nice beaches, then might be a chocie, or Kythnos or Serifos!!
The options are various!
If you want anything else, or anything more specific, just let me know!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi Dimitris,
Thank you so much for your response!! I think the best course of action for us would be to fly directly to Kos or Rhodes and work our way back up to Athens by ferry, where we would fly back home.
I agree that we don’t want to try to squeeze in too much, so I was thinking we would look into stopping at 1-2 additional islands between Rhodes/Kos and Athens, preferring to stray away from Santorini and Mykonos.
We are really interested in your suggested route of Kos-Nisyros-Astypalaia-Naxos-Piraeus, and were wondering if you had similar route you may suggest, or another with Rhodes as a starting point? Additionally, are there any must-see experiences/sights you would suggest for these locations?
Thank you again for everything! 🙂
Hi Sierrah,
You are welcome!
You can try other routes of course! There are many options! You can check with ferryscanner and check if there is a direct connection between the desired islands.
One more possible route could be Rhodes – Leros- Patmos- Piraeus.
Regards,
Dimitris
Hello!
Wow the advice you are offering is so helpful, thank you so much!
I was hoping you. could help me with some ideas please?
My 1st and only trip to Greece was 2 years ago was and visited: Kos>Kalynmos>Telendos>Paros>Naxos.
We made sure there was an airport at the first and last stop and the rest was island hopping inbetween!
We really enjoyed island hopping, beautiful beach swims, casual cafe’s and beach restaurants, and some smarter restaurants and warm water.
There were places with a few tourists, but not to many, and we were able to explore beautiful beaches that were not very populated at all! We hired a car an explored together – we loved it!
We are not interested in visiting Mykonos or Santorini and would like a similar adventure we had before, but new ideas for Greek islands and plan to visit end of June for 10days, are you able to provide some ideas please?
Thank you!!! 🙂
Megan
Hi Megan,
I am glad that you had a great time in Greece! And I find quite clever that you arrived at one island and you flew from another! It is something that I also recommend!
Now the options are many! You can do the route Milos – Ios – Koufonisia and you can fly back again from Naxos (which is next to Koufonisia)
Or fly to Rhodes then Symi – Nisyros – Astypalaia.
Another possibility is to go to Sporades islands. Namely, fly to skiathos which is quite touristy, but then you can visit Skopelos and Alonissos that have excellent beaches and amazing waters!
Let me know if you need anything else Megan. Happy to help!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi, what are you thoughts on a mainland trip to Athens, Delphi, Meteora, Kalambaka & Santorini for the first time in Greece?
Or should we keep it simple and do Athens, Mykonos and Santorini?
Hi Kyra,
It totally depends on your preference! Both routes are excellent and you will enjoy them!
Meteora is a superb place, very unique and it has the – out of this world – characteristic. Delphi also is special as it has hundreds of years of history.
On the other hand, Mykonos is a wonderful island with beautiful beaches and a cosmopolitan atmoshere!
So, it totally depends on what you prefer on your holidays!
Sorry if I didn’t help you a lot, but if you have any other question, just let me know!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hey,
I have loved reading all of this blog, it’s so helpful and made me so excited. I am thinking of going in September with my boyfriend, our plan is Athens>Mykonos>Paros>Naxos>Santorini
Do you recommend that we book our ferry’s & accommodation in advance or just book our return flight and wing it? I have an idea on the ferry times etc, I am worried if we book everything in advance and there’s a storm/ workers on strike it will throw everything off.
If you could advise from your experience what you would recommend I would really appreciate it!! Thank you
Hi Courtney,
This year is a little bit strange as they say that the visitors in Greece might catch a new high, as the numbers in tourists are back after 2 years!
Also, booking or not is sometimes personal preference, as for me I usually prefer to book in advance.
Saying that I would ask you if you are going to visit Greece at the beginning of September or at the end. If it is the beginning, then I would recommend booking your accommodation especially for Santorini and Mykonos. If you are afraid of unexpected events, you can always look for hotels with cancellation. And you don’t need to book ferries.
Hope it helps!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi Dimitris
Thanks so much for getting back to me! We are thinking of going at the start of September. I think your advice sounds perfect, book our return flights and accommodation ( maybe ones where we with cancellation just incase) and then buy our ferry tickets on the day. Do the ferry’s change much in price booking on the day/ booking in advance? Also are they often full and we would have to wait etc.
I really appreciate you help.
Thank you!
Courtney
Hi Courtney,
You are welcome!
The ferry prices usually do not change. The only case to increase the prices are when the economy seats are full, so then you might need to book a “a class”.
Also, the case that you might have issues with ferry bookings are Friday or Sundays when Athenians book tickets for weekend breaks. But still as the period is after summer, I don’t think you will have any issues.
Finally, the car tickets can be taken, but this concerns you only if you get your car with you on the ferry, which I think it is not a case for you.
Regards,
Dimitris
Hello – I am a solo traveler planning a trip in late October and would like to visit 2 islands, as I’m only going for 9 days and don’t want to rush. I’m interested in a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere, opportunities for possible day trips on the water to surrounding islands, and delicious Greek food (I’ve been to Sifnos and loved it). I know that I’ll be going during the off season, so I would like to visit islands that aren’t shut down for the winter and will have the ferries running from Athens. I would also be interested in a sailboat cruise from Athens to multiple islands, but not sure what my options would be as a solo traveler in October. Thank you in advance for the advice!
Hi Kerri,
If you are going at the beginning of October you won’t have many issues on the islands as quite few of the shops/restaurants will be open!
Now, regarding the two islands that you would like to explore. Tinos can be the one of them. Tinos is beautiful and it would have a relaxed atmosphere for sure and it is outside the usual tourist traps. It has amazing food and great beaches! Especially the mainland villages are just marvellous. Tinos has many hiking trails, which some of them passes through picturesque villages and lovely squares! Note that the main town that probably you would stay isn’t the most quaint in Cyclades, but still has its wonderful corners! Also, take into account that Tinos can get quite windy.
Now about the 2nd island. This is trickier. Ios can be a good choice and relatively calm during October. Amorgos is a more risky choice, as it has great villages, great paths, great waters but not sandy beaches!! Also, it is quite wild, rough and still quite traditional.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Dimitris
Hi!
Me and my boyfriend, in our mid-20s, are planning on spending one week/ten days in Greece this July. We want to stay in Athen for a couple of days, and the rest of the time on maybe two islands. We want to visit unique places with a lot of charm, beautiful nature, and a local feeling. We want to have a relaxing and romantic holiday while exploring new places and their culture, history, and nature through hiking, snorkeling, etc. Do you have any recommendations about which islands and cities we should visit? I have been to Patmos, Lesbos, and Samos as a child, and he has been to Crete as a child, but we don’t remember much.
Best,
Thora
Hi Thora!
Hmmm. that is a tough call as there are many choices!
I will recommend 2 different island groups. One would be Sporades. You can fly there from Athens, otherwise you can go by car and ferry which can be more time consuming. Skiathos is more vivid with more nightlife, great beaches and beautiful nature. Skopelos is similar but bigger and more quiet with more villages that you can explore and great nature and beaches!
But if you prefer checking some whitewashed houses with blue windoes that you may have seen in photos, then I think Cyclades might be a good option. You can get a ferry from Piraues (preferably) or Rafina and visit some of the many islands in the middle of Aegean.
The choices here are many. I will name only a few. The easy cjoices would be the 2 most famous Greek islands, Santorini and Mykonos. There are different, as Santorini is considered more romantic with the out of this world landscape and the volcano views and Mykonos more cosmopolitan with great nightlife and beaches.
But you can choose some different. Milos is considered quite romantic and quite laid-back island. It has fantastic beaches, and you can do snorkelling and hiking (less options).
Then from Milos, you have different options, but you can try one of Paros or Naxos, which are quite popular and are very beatiful.
Or you can try something different like Sifnos, which is lovely island with amazing food and nice small villages, but not the best beaches in the world!!
Note that you can fly to Milos as it has an airport and return by ferry, stopping to the island that you prefer!
Let me know if you need anything else.
Dimitris
Hi! Me and my friend are traveling to Athens the first week of August and are planning on exploring as much of the greek islands as possible while we are there. We are only staying for a week and are wondering which islands we should visit. We are aiming for a very active holiday with hopefully some hiking and some paddling. Which islands would you recommend us to visit?
Hi Jenny,
In theory, if you have one week on a Greek island, you can change an island every day! But I don’t recommend it to be frank, as you won’t enjoy it much!
So, I will say Paros should be one of the islands as it has some nice hiking options and many water sports options like Golden Beach, Santa Maria and Monastiri. Naxos has similar characteristics but note that it is larger and more mountainous than Paros.
Then, I would also suggest Tinos island which has many great paths that pass through beautiful and picturesque villages.
Finally, Kithnos is a good choice as it is close to Athens with options for paddling and hiking. And it also has nice beaches and beautiful villages. I just recommend it lastly, as it is not so famous and you might prefer to visit more well-known islands. Let me know if you need more information or anything else!
Dimitris
Thank you so much for your response. I have looked a bit more into it and I love your suggestions! We will definitely visit both Paros and Tinos, and I think we will prioritize to visit Kithnos as well as it looks magical.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
Jenny
Hi there,
Thanks for your amazing website. I am revisiting the Cyclades Islands for the first time in 35 years on 7 June for 10 days and would love your opinion. I want to spend a two or three days in Athens (sites of historical interest) and visit two Islands for three or four days each. It’s my first holiday as a singleton. I loved the Cyclades Islands and have been meaning to return for years. I particularly loved the villages and the food. I also enjoy sea swimming (not pools) and hiking. I love Greek food but am not looking for anything too fancy and also simple accommodation.
Even though I am not looking for night life I really want to revisit Ios where I was first time round. I appreciate that it has probably changed a lot and that it is particularly recommended for youth and night life (both of which are in my past!) but would like to see it again.
Have you any recommendations for an older person on Ios – either where to stay/visit and also what to do? Secondly what Island would you recommend me to go after Ios? I like the idea of somewhere quieter and less touristy but ideally I want to be able to get there direct from Ios.
Thanks so much.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
That is so nice of you to revisit places you have been to years ago!
There are several things that you can do in Ios. Firstly, you will explore the Chora, which is beautiful with the typical whitewashed houses and of course the windmills. Also, you can visit the archaeological museum and the Skarkos archaeological site. Moreover, visit PaleoKastro, a remote place on a hill, where the remains of a castle, built at the end of the 14th century with magnificent views, can be found!
Furthermore, not sure if you like it, but you can hike as Ios has some interesting routes. You can check Ios Paths, https://iospaths.gr/trekking-experiences/. Pay also a visit to the lighthouse, which is located close
to the Koumpara peninsula!
And finally, you should visit the magnificent beaches Mylopotas, Manganari, Ag.Theodoti, Pathi etc.
You have some terrific options to visit from Ios, like Santorini, Paros, and Naxos, which are some of the most famous islands in Greece. But you can also check Syros and Tinos! Syros is the capital of the Cyclades with a beautiful city Ermoupolis and Tinos has magnificent hiking trails and fantastic food!
I hope you will have a great time!
Let me know if you need anything else, Rachel!
Dimitris
Hey
My friend and I (early 30s) want to island hope from Kastelorizo all the way to Athens this summer (August). Which islands you’d recommend we stop to explore along the way? ( 2 – 3 weeks to play with). My friend would like beaches and I historical sites.
Thanks a bunch!
Wow! What a plan! I am really jealous right now Francisco!
As I have mentioned before August is really a high season, so you have to expect everything to be a little more expensive and quite crowded! But, you will have a great time! I truly believe that!
So, I don’t know if you like smaller or larger islands or if you prefer more developed islands over underdeveloped ones, but here is what I recommend!
Kastelorizo – Rhodes – Amorgos – Koufonisia – Naxos – Paros – Delos (I will explain)- Athens
or
Kastelorizo – Rhodes – Symi – Kos – Santorini – Naxos – Delos – Athens
Rhodes. Is a large island but t has beautiful beaches and great historical sites, like the old town of Rhodes and Lindos etc.
Amorgos. It has none of what you are looking for as it doesn’t have amazing beaches or archaeological sites. But it is wild, with great traditional villages and great hiking trails! And it is a way to move to the next destination which is Koufonisia.
Koufonisia. A small island with 4 amazing beaches, that you can walk or bike everywhere!
Naxos. It has lovely, long, sandy beaches, really nice mountainous villages and you can do a wide range of activities! It is quite large though.
Paros. It has also many great beaches, lovely beaches and great nightlife, especially in Naousa and Parikia. It has also some archaeological interest.
Delos is not an island that you can stay there as it is an archaeological site and it is designated as a Unesco World Heritage site. I put this island on this list as I think it is a great site for those that love history! On this island, you can go very easily through Mykonos. Not sure if Mykonos is to your taste, but it is considered one of the most famous Greek islands in the world. You can visit Delos through Paros and Naxos through local tours.
Santorini is the most famous Greek island, with not great beaches, but a magical landscape and a lot of history!
Kos This island is very touristy but still it has a great history as it is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the so-called father of medicine!
Symi. It is a really picturesque island with a fabulous main village and great, crystal waters.
So, there are my recommendation Francisco. Don’t hesitate to ask me whatever you need to know!
Dimitris
Hi there – also if you are to choose athens, Mykonos, paros and milos – which order would be best?
Hi Frankie,
The short answer is that the order that you are writing in your comment is valid and it makes totally sense!
Now, you could also go first to the most remote island of the 3 of them, which is Milos and then get closer to Athens to Paros and Mykonos, but I don’t think it will make a lot of difference!
Let me know if you need anything else!
Dimitris
Hi there!
My fellow female friend and I (both 20) are hoping to do 2 weeks of island hopping in August as we’re both free then. We are trying to decide on islands. We’re thinking of starting in Athens for a couple nights as a family member lives there and then going island hopping. We’re quite adventurous and want to have fun but also want to relax on the beach. We like the sound of Milos, Ios, Santorini , Naxos, Paros – if you had to choose 4 out of these 5 islands what would you recommend for us (we’d also be on a budget but are both working the rest of summer) – thank you so much for your blog it’s amazing!
Hi Frankie!
Firstly, thank you for the nice words!
And secondly, island-hopping on Greek islands is always a good idea!
Now saying that I just want to highlight that August is the peak of the season and everything will be overcrowded and more expensive than other months. But I don’t want to discourage you!
You should organise the trip very well before and pre-book all the hotels. All the islands that you mentioned are super nice and each has a different style!
Milos is considered a more romantic island and many couples prefer it but it doesn’t mean that there is no nightlife etc. It means that it is not a party island, but an island with beautiful and unique beaches!
Ios on the other side is a party island where many young people around Europe choose it. But it has also nice beaches and a great vibe!
Naxos and Paros are similar, as it gathers visitors of all ages and you can do many different activities there, from water sports to hiking etc. Naxos is much bigger and Paros has a little bit more intense nightlife, especially in Naousa where at the picturesque harbour there are many nice bars! Both have good bus connections so you can go around without renting a car. But in August both will be very crowded!
Now, Santorini is a place that during pre covid era you should have pre-booked it 6-9 months before as it is one of the most famous islands in the world and it gets really really busy! But Santorini is Santorini. The landscape is I think something special and unique.
Ι don’t know your preferences so I hesitate to recommend specific islands! Generally, I prefer Milos to Ios but I would think that in your case Ios might be a better choice. But again, don’t listen only to me!!!
If you need anything else, just let me know. I am here to help if I can!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi hubby and I are wanting to go island hopping over 3 weeks next year. Literally the most adventurous we’ve ever been and didn’t even know where to start. We love Greece and usually head to Kalamaki, Zante but feel like a bit of an adventure after the pandemic. I’m looking at the Cyclades because I fancy a couple of days in Mykonos and Santorini but am open to any and all ideas and this.
Hi Jen,
Hope you are well!
Zante is nice, but also Cyclades are great and very picturesque! The only issue is that you have many options!!
I don’t know your preferences, ie if you prefer your holidays to have great nightlife, or activities, or food etc. I will try to analyse some islands in a few words, but feel free to ask more!
Mykonos and Santorini are nice choices, but both islands are quite overcrowded during July and August, so you might want to pick another date or pre book everything at least 6-9 months earlier.
Then, you have the below choices:
Paros. Beautiful island with many small villages for exploration, (Naousa village is a beauty!) great and many beaches and good nightlife with nice bars and few clubs.
Naxos. Another beautiful island, with a long, sandy beaches, many water sports, great mountainous villages, but quite large.
Then, there are other islands less famous and not so developed like the aboves, like
Serifos: Small island. with a beautiful main village and lovely beaches. Not many things to do though there.
Sifnos. It has some of the best and most picturesque villages and amazing food. It has not the best beaches though!
Then. Koufonisi is a great choice. As it has amazing beaches and it is so small that you can walk around it!
I could keep on listing more islands, but you can check those and ask me if you need anything else!
Hope it helps!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi,
I was wanting to do a greek trip for about 2 weeks and just wanted to see if you think the current itinerary is feasible?
Athens 3 nights
Mykonos 2 nights
Santorini 3 nights
Skopelos 4 nights
We have a potential extra 2 nights to spend anywhere above or another island!
Thanks
Hi Brianna,
Hopefully, you will have a great time!
Now about the plan. The days I believe are well allocated as I think you can get an idea from the places that you are going to visit. But to be frank, I am not sure about Skopelos. Skopelos belongs to the Sporades complex and there is no easy connection between Santorini and Sporades islands. Not sure how you plan to move from Santorini to Skopelos, but it is not easy.
My first thought would be to stay in the Cyclades area and check some other islands there.
There are many choices. Naxos would be one of them and you can also add Koufonisi island (small with amazing beaches)for 2 days. Another obvious choice would be Paros island, where you can visit Antiparos island on a daily trip or Sifnos island for 2 days.
But also another choice would be Folegandros island, where it might not has amazing beaches but it has a picturesque main village and you can enjoy there, romantic dinners and walking by dusk.
In case you decide on visiting Skopelos, then, of course, Skiathos or Alonissos might be good choices!
If you need any other information, just let me know. I am here to help as much as I can!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi!
I’m looking to go Greek Island hopping as a solo female traveller (20s) for a month between mid June – Mid July. I love being active and hiking sounds great but I also want to make sure I experience the Greek culture and have some downtime on the beautiful beaches. Do you have any recommendations on the safest islands and those that suit my needs?
This guide and your whole website have been fantastically helpful already!!
Thanks x
Hi Sophia,
It sounds like a lovely plan and I think you will have a great time. July becomes quite crowded in some island so if you could start from beginning June to beginning of July -I belive – it would be even better.
Now about the destinations. There is a wide range of options! I would focus on Cyclades, where you will enjoy little villages with white houses and blue windows.
I will suggest some destinations but this is quite rough recommendation, as I don’t know your preference or your budget etc!
So, I will start with 2 safe choices. One is Paros. Paros has become quite touristy lately, but I think if you visit at the beginning or mid June it would be ideal. It has picturesque villages, great beaches and also many different option for activities, like water sports, hiking etc. And also there are places, where nightlife is quite nice in case you want also to enjoy some nice bars and cocktails.
Then, Naxos could be a nice choice. Bear in my mind that is a large island but there is a good bus connection. It has great mainland with traditional villages and great culture. For example, in Apeiranthos village you can visit 4-5 different museums and learn more about tradition and history. Of course the beaches are great, long and sandy.
Now, Folegandros and Amorgos are two islands with great hiking routes and nice villages. They might not have the best beaches in Greece but I think you feel the Greek culture (especially in Amorgos.)
And last, Serifos might be a good choice. Nice island, with a great main village which has incredible view, beautiful beaches and also lovely hiking routes.
And I will cheat a little bit and I also recommend two more islands that I personally love, Koufonisia and Donousa. Koufonisia might be a no for July as it becomes very crowded, but it has amazing beaches and you can walk almost the whole island (it has only one main village.) Donousa is more remote (you might combine it with Naxos or Amorgos) and more wild. It is not for everyone taste as it is very small and it looks from another older era. But there many hiking routes and wonderful beaches and it is not a party island!
Note that almost all the mentioned islands feel quitesafe and lately there is an increasing of solo female travellers, so I don’t think you will have any issue.
I hope I didn’t confuse you more. If you need anything else, just let me know. Happy to help if I can!
Regards,
Dimitris
Hi, I am looking to go island hopping with my Son around mid May. He is 20 and I am in my mid fifties. I don’t really want to hire a car so ideally resorts near the port. The Cyclades looks as though it might be the best choice?
The Sporades have been recommended as easy to navigate for first timers but I’m worried my Son might be bored!
Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Steph,
Hope you will have a great time wherever you choose to go!
I agree that Sporades might be easier to navigate but in the middle of May, they might not have too much things to do. Skiathos might be busier than the others, but still….
Cyclades might be a better ft – I think. You will have more choices to fit the needs of both of you!
Also, take into account that middle of May would be still quiet in the islands so you might prefer visiting some more popular islands than small and remote ones.
You can pass Mykonos or Paros, which have both a great energy and vibe. Both have good bus connection, so if you want to visit some great beaches you can go without renting a car.
Naxos is large island, but you can stay at the main town where you can visit some lovely beaches nearby. Plus it has many different activities to do.
Last island that you might visit, can be Ios which normally I do not recommend it, as at some areas gathers too much massive young tourism but for middle of May it would be very nice.
If you need any other help or guidance, just let me know Steph.
Dimitris
Hello – I was last in Ios, Naxos, Paros, Santorni, Crete, 30+ years ago with a backpack and a few months,. Now, I want to introduce my teenagers and wife to the Cyclades and/or Crete over a 4-5 day visit. What I loved most were the wonderful traditional Greek tavernas, the village squares, the hiking, the bakeries, the sovlaki, the retsina. Is all of that now swamped by tourists and development? Where can we still find a nice white village, a lively square, good/great local/traditional food (I don’t want any French Asia Fusion stuff)? Daughter must have Instagram white beauty, wife wants hiking, swimming of course, but all of this not over whelmed by developments and tourists. And, in my old age, the accommodation needs to be charming, traditional, and comfortable 4*+ boutiques.
I was looking at Crete because they have nonstop flights from London – what do you think of there?
Can you weave magic and give us some contemporary suggestions? I can almost smell the spanikopita!
Oh.. we are going first week of June.
Hello MR H!
Your plan sound lovely! I think you all have great time and you will totally love it! I am not sure about some details of your itinerary, like which town of Crete are you going to land etc, but I will try to give you some ideas!
1. Crete is a beautiful place and you could spend some time there. You will also find some of the best and most Instagramable beaches, like Balos, Kedrodasos and Elafonisi in the Chania region. But I don’t think it fits your needs as you described them to me.
2. If you want to see villages with white houses and blue windows, then Crete isn’t your place. You can visit some Greek islands in Cyclades that has some direct connection. Naxos (3.30 hours from Heraklion), Paros (4 to 5 hours from Heraklion) and Santorini (2 hours from Heraklion ) that you went 30 years ago, are good options.
Santorini is now one of the most famous places in the world and it can be quite crowded. But if you are going at the beginning of June I expect quite fewer tourists than July and August.
Paros and Naxos are great islands as well and I think a good fit for your needs, but you will definitely notice that both have become touristy! I have written some posts about both islands, where to go and where to stay etc, so you can have a look and also check some nice boutique hotels.
3. Now, a more risky choice but closer to your needs might be the Small Cyclades complex. These are 4 small islands that they retain some of the magic of the old days!
Ano Koufonisi is the most touristically developed, but at the beginning of June it would be quite nice and peaceful. It has amazing beaches and you can walk to every beach on foot (5′-40′). It has only one main village but you can also visit the opposite island (Kato Koufonisi) on a daily trip by boat.
Schinousa is better for hiking as it has more uphills (not anything extreme), nice squares, not so touristy and nice beaches as well.
I wouldn’t recommend Iraklia or Donousa islands (Dosousa is my favorite island from the small Cyclades complex), as they might not fit to everybody in your family.
If you need anything else, just ask me! I am here to help you as much as I can!
Dimitris
Hi im new to greece island hopping, i was hoping to do Santorini , Amorgos, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Mykanos then back to Santorini, which order should i do them or are there better islands to substitute with ? Ihave three weeks but dont want to rush ,also do i get tested at each island? how does it work at the moment , Many thanks Lynne
Hi Lynne!
You sound quite well informed about Greek island hopping, as the sequence of the islands that you have selected are pretty reasonable at least to me!!! There are direct ferries to each island and the duration of the trips are not too long!
Τhe choices of the islands is of course a personal choice based on your preference! I might replace Amorgos with Koufonisia or Donousa, but this is just me as I love small islands! Amorgos is much wilder, with incredible colour of the sea, beautiful Hora and wonderful paths. But the other two islands have amazing beaches and they are smaller and easier to walk around!
And also I am a fan of Tinos island and not so much Ios, which is more touristic! But again, these are personal preferences!
And not sure when are you going to Greece, but if you have selected July or August, you may have to be super prepared and book your hotels, tickets etc. The official predictions are that this summer will be super busy for the touristic destinations in Greece!
For now, there are no special restrictions for ferries and islands, but this might change. To be frank, based on today’s situation, I expect this summer to be quite easier to go around without too many restrictions. But, we have to wait!!!
Anyway, if you have any question, just let me know! Happy to help if I can!
Thanks so much for your tips, they’ve been really, really helpful.
I’ve been island hopping from early September until late October, starting in Corfu (I had plenty of time, not just a few days). I went to Paxos from there, and as you said you can’t go straight to the next islands to the South. Instead I skipped them altogether, and went to Igoumenitsa and then Athens. Then Serifos, Ios, Naxos, Astypaleia, Nisyros, Tilos, Chalki, Rhodes, Kastellorizo, back to Rhodes, Santorini and finally Naxos again, where I’ve decided to stay until the end of June.
It’s fairly easy to arrive in one island, book ferry and accommodation for the next one on the first day, and enjoy the island for 2-4 days before heading to the next one.
Only once did I arrive to an island with no pre-booked accommodation (Paxos, early september), and it took me a little time to get it, so I guess that’s out of the question during the high season. Other than that, I found it fairly manageable to book from one island to the next.
Thanks again, and keep your good work with this website!
Wow! It sounds amazing! That should be an amazing trip Deithi! Thank you for sharing this island hopping experience with us! The way that you handle the whole trip was quite impressive! And I totally agree with you. Someone might not be able to do the same during July or August, so you selected the right period! And it is so much freedom to be able to plan or amend your plans based on your mood and desire!
Dimitris
can i say how wonderful your web site is! thanks soo much for all the info .
W e are going to book one of the trips for sure for the summer will def be in touch many many thanks
Thank you Kelly for the nice words! We are here to help you, in case you are going to visit Greece soon!
Hi there!
Is it possible to visit the islands 1-2 days each? Specifically for Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini. I am leaving 3-4 days for Athens
Hi Morgan,
This can be a tricky question as it depends on what you want to see each time that you visit an island or a city.
Personally, I think one day for these islands is not enough. You will need at least 2 days for each of those 3 islands and indeed at least 2 days for Athens.
How long would you recommend for the diamond route?
Ηi Manni! It depends on what kind of holidays do you want! If you want just take a taste and see all the important things, I think 3 days minimum to each island would ok.
Hi We are a couple looking for a sailing holiday hopping around some greek islands. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the choice and finding it hard to know where best to choose – no real sailing experience either but would like opportunity to try. We love food and less touristy places. Also, some “yachting” holidays seem not to be actually sailing (motor powered mainly) Do you know of any companies to recommend and/or island groups to focus on.
Hi Julia,
I have only sailed in Greece twice, one in Ionian islands with some friend’s sailing boat and one in Sporades islands using Sail with us. I totally recommend both areas.
Ionian islands I think is perfect for beginners as usually the winds are quite smoother than some other areas in Greece and you can find beautiful beaches.
Sporades islands are as well as superb for sailing as you can visit 3 main amazing and green islands Skiathos(the most touristic), Skopelos, Alonissos (the quietest and not so touristic) with stunning beaches. There are also some small and uninhabited islands that you can visit! I am totally satisfied with “Sail with Us” so I totally recommend you, but I am not sure if they rent the whole boat or you can book some individual tickets. They have awesome customer support, so contact them (https://sailwithus.gr/) and ask them if they can help you or advise you on anything else!
Not sure if I helped but let me know if you need anything else!
Thank you so much for your reply – I will check out Sail With Us
Also, your website has so much useful information thank you for taking the time and effort to share your knowledge
Best wishes, Julia
Hi, we’re interested in seeing “green” locations with beautiful coves and beaches combined with dining in great restaurants at night. What islands would you recommend? Are sail tours operating this summer?
Hi Alison,
From what you describe to us we think Sporades island would be a good choice and more specifically Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos islands.
They are full of trees with really beautiful beaches and many coves! The food is also delicious, but overall don’t expect too fancy restaurants (only in Skiathos probably) but nice and original taverns! And this summer quite few sail tours are operating.
If you are interested in sailing in that area we can recommend one company that we have used in the past and we were very pleased.
Hi, I’m really interested in doing island hopping in Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos early next month (September 2020). I’ve been to Skiathos and Skopelos before but many years ago. Any recommendations on companies to use would be appreciated. I am a solo female traveller for UK.
Thanks 🙂
Hi Chrissie.
Happy to help but what companies do you mean? Ferries-activities-sailing-experiences?
There is a greek island ferry pass:
https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/one-country-pass/greece-passes/greek-islands
Thanks Ulli! That’s perfect! I added to the article!
We’re looking at doing a bit of Greek island hopping next year (2020). We want to go to Nidri and will hopefully have 2 weeks. Which other island(s) near or places in lefkada would you recommend?
Thanks
Hi Claire!
As it says on the article, you can combine it with some other islands that are close, like Kefalonia and Zante or even Corfu! If you need some extra information, just write us an email!