Greece has 120 inhabited islands and 1,400 if we consider those that are not. You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to visiting an island in Greece! And each of them offers magnificent landscapes, all different. We offer you a selection of the 10 must-see islands to visit.
The Cyclades archipelago, nicknamed the "Pearls of the Aegean", is made up of 24 inhabited islands, certainly the most famous islands in Greece thanks to their many dazzling white villages and their coves with crystal clear waters.
The island of Santorini is the best known of all and by far the most touristic. Formed by the crater of a volcano, part of which is under the sea, Santorini offers a majestic landscape of a cliff 120 meters high where the white and blue villages of Fira and Oia are perched. Not to be missed, the sunset seen from the caldera is magical here. You should also explore the other side of Santorini, less frequented, which offers fishing villages and beaches to discover absolutely.
Two hours by boat from Santorini, Folegandros has one of the most beautiful villages in the Cyclades. Until recently spared by tourists, Folegandros is increasingly frequented, especially by wealthy Athenians, but it remains a very quiet island. It is an arid and mountainous island to be explored by car, bus or even on foot. Throughout your walks, you will discover sumptuous landscapes.
Another unmissable island in the Cyclades:Amorgos . Known as the filming location of the film "The Big Blue", Amorgos is a unique island, crossed by a mountain range along its entire length. From the top of these mountains, the landscapes are magical. A must-see is the monastery of Chozoviotissa, carved out of the rock, which overlooks a sea of crystal clear waters.
From Amorgos it is easy to get to Koufounissi , the smallest inhabited island of the Cyclades. Explore the coasts of Koufounissi on foot and you will discover its many small coves accessible like swimming pools as the water is so clear. Its unique port and typical village make it a magical destination.
One of the best known archaeological sites in Greece is the island of Delos , very close to the island of Mykonos. Delos is uninhabited but it is one of the most visited places in Greece. In Antiquity, this island was the high place of the Cyclades since it is here that Apollo and his sister Artemis were born. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the site of Delos is home to countless vestiges of the successive civilizations that populated the Aegean Sea.
In the center of the Cyclades stands Naxos, the largest of its islands, where Mount Zas culminates at 1,000 meters above sea level, the highest in the archipelago. With its many hiking trails along its coast or through its mountains, Naxos is a paradise for walkers. The island is also popular with windsurfers. Many charming villages recall the Venetian and Cretan presence on the island.
The Dodecanese is a group of islands located in the southeast of the Aegean Sea. These islands lie at the crossroads of East and West.
The most famous of these is the island of Rhodes which offers landscapes varied by its climate, milder than elsewhere, and archaeological riches such as the port of Mandraki where the famous "Colossus of Rhodes" was erected or the ancient Acropolis of Lalyssos.
Definitely the most beautiful island in the Dodecanese, Symi is a must visit. The island is located very close to the Turkish coast. Its village with shimmering colors, which dominates the port, is a delight for the eyes and it is a place which has kept all the authenticity of traditional Greek life.
Karpathos is still little known to tourists, yet this island is astonishing in its beauty and traditions. It offers wild mountain landscapes and some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Dodecanese. Some of its inhabitants still live there according to ancestral traditions, dressed in traditional costumes and speaking a typical ancient language.
260 km long, Crete is the southernmost Greek island of the Aegean Sea, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. The island of Crete has been very often invaded over time and many traces of ancient civilizations are visible there. The Cretans have inherited strength and pride, of which they have the reputation, from the passage of these different peoples on their island. Crete is distinguished from all the other islands in particular by its language which is a specific Cretan dialect, and not the modern Greek language. The island is also famous for its balanced diet, based on olive oil, cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Crete is divided into three regions which offer different particularities. Central Crete, home to the fifth largest and most modern city on the island (Heraklion), but also ancient palaces like Knossos and beautiful beaches. The region of Rethymnon offers in particular a picturesque port with its many Ottoman and Venetian constructions, as well as very beautiful beaches including that of Preveli.
Finally, the region of Chania, named after the former capital of Crete, a center of Venetian and Turkish architecture. This part of Crete is also famous for its Samaria Gorge, classified as a national park, which is home to protected plants and animals. You can also swim in Balos, a lagoon with turquoise waters.
