Greece
The best islands to visit in Greece, and who each one suits
Greece has more than two hundred inhabited islands, and they differ far more than the photographs suggest. Here are eight of the best, and the kind of traveller each one rewards.
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The ferry from Piraeus slips out in the dark at seven in the morning. By sunrise the first island is on the horizon, brown and dry with white villages crowning its hills, and passengers stand on deck with their coffee trying to guess which one it is.
The Greek islands are not one kind of holiday. Crete is practically a country of its own, with mountains and gorges; Corfu is green and Venetian; Mykonos is a party and Folegandros is its opposite. The smart choice depends on what you want to do once you are there. These are the eight islands we think are most worth the journey, and who they suit best.
Short answer: which Greek island should you visit?
Naxos is the best all-rounder, with beaches, food and mountain villages. Santorini is for romance and views, Milos for beaches, Crete for having everything on one island, and Folegandros for peace. With children, Naxos, Crete and Corfu are the safest choices.
Best for a first visit: Naxos
Best for romance: Santorini
Best for beaches: Milos
Best for families: Crete and Corfu
Best for peace and quiet: Folegandros
Canaves Oia Suites
Canaves Oia Suites on the caldera edge in Oia.
Santorini: for the view and the sunset
Santorini is a volcano that blew apart, and the villages of Oia and Fira cling to the rim of its caldera above a vast flooded crater. The view lives up to its reputation, and sunset from Oia is among the most photographed in the world.
The island suits honeymoons and short, expensive stays. Its beaches are black and red from the lava, but not among Greece's best.
The catch: cruise passengers crowd Oia and Fira during the day in season. Stay in Imerovigli or Firostefani for calmer evenings.
Canaves Oia Suites: white terraces in Oia
Canaves Oia Suites hangs from the caldera edge in Oia, with white suites and pools stepping down towards the water. You watch the sunset from your terrace rather than in the crowd. For honeymoons and milestone birthdays.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Canaves Oia Suites
Naxos: the best all-rounder
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades and has what its smaller neighbours lack: long sandy beaches on the west coast, green valleys and mountain villages such as Apiranthos, its lanes paved with marble. Its food is famous across Greece, particularly the cheeses and potatoes.
It suits first-timers and families, and the ferry from Piraeus takes four to six hours. From here, Paros and Santorini are a short hop away.
The catch: Naxos town is not as pretty as Santorini. It is the interior and the beaches that make the island.
Milos: beaches first
Milos may have the most varied beaches in Greece, from the white rocks of Sarakiniko to the sea caves of Kleftiko, reachable only by boat. More than sixty beaches on an island you can drive round in a day.
The fishing village of Klima, with its brightly painted boathouses at the water's edge, is every bit as lovely as the pictures. Milos suits couples and friends who want a different swim every day.
The catch: Milos has become popular in recent years. Book early for July and August.
Crete: all of Greece on one island
Crete is so large it feels like a country of its own, with its own dialects, its own cuisine and mountains rising above two thousand metres. You can hike the Samaria Gorge, see Knossos, swim at Balos and eat in villages where the olive oil comes from the next tree, all on one holiday.
It suits families, travellers who like to drive and longer stays. Chania and Heraklion have direct flights from much of Europe.
The catch: distances are long. Pick one end of the island, west or east, rather than trying to cover it all.
Corfu: green and Venetian
Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea and looks little like the Cyclades. It is green with olive groves and cypresses, and its old town has Venetian fortresses, arcades and a cricket ground left over from British rule.
The island suits families and anyone who wants shade and greenery. The west coast around Paleokastritsa has the finest coves.
The catch: Corfu gets more rain than the Cyclades, which is exactly why it is so green.
Mykonos: for the nightlife
Mykonos is the party island of Greece, with beach clubs, DJs and restaurants that stay open until morning. Its old town, Chora, with windmills and Little Venice, is beautiful if you get up early.
It suits friends and couples who want to go out at night. From Mykonos, boats run to Delos, one of the most important ancient sites in Greece.
The catch: Mykonos is the most expensive of the islands. Expect big-city prices.
Folegandros: when you want peace
Folegandros is a small island whose main village, Chora, sits on the edge of a cliff. Evenings are spent eating in the square beneath the trees, days walking or taking a boat to beaches with no road.
It suits couples and travellers who have done the big islands and want something simpler. Ferries run from Piraeus and from Santorini and Milos.
The catch: there are few hotels and no airport. Plan your ferries carefully.
Skopelos: green and quiet in the Sporades
Skopelos lies in the Sporades in the northern Aegean and is covered in pine forest down to its beaches. The island found fame through the film Mamma Mia, yet remains quiet. The chapel of Agios Ioannis on a rock above the sea is its best-known sight.
You reach it via Skiathos, flying there and taking a boat onward. It suits couples and families who want nature and calm.
How to choose the right island
Think island group, not island: the Cyclades are dry and windy, the Ionian Islands green, the Sporades pine-covered. Choose the landscape first.
Combine two or three islands: Naxos, Paros and Santorini sit close together with frequent ferries. Crete and Santorini also pair well.
June and September are best: warm sea and fewer people than in high summer.
Check direct flights: Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Santorini have direct summer flights from much of Europe.
Greek islands: your questions answered
Which Greek island is best for a first visit?
Naxos is an excellent first choice, with beaches, food and villages, and easy ferries on to Paros and Santorini. Crete is also a safe bet for first-timers.
How many Greek islands are there?
Greece counts some six thousand islands and rocky islets, and people live on roughly two hundred of them.
Which Greek island has the best beaches?
Milos and Crete have some of the most varied beaches, and Naxos has the longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades.
Which Greek islands are best for families?
Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Naxos have shallow beaches, plenty of facilities and either direct flights or simple ferries.
Can you island hop in Greece?
Yes, especially in the Cyclades. Ferries run from Piraeus to Paros, Naxos and Santorini, and between them several times a day in summer.