Whether you want to party the night away, explore archaeological sites or just relax on a beach, one of these top ten Greek Islands will be for you. In fact there are so many beautiful islands to choose from, why stop at one?
10. Naxos
flickr/Nikos Golfis
Naxos is part of the Cyclades group of islands and an extremely fertile island it is too. Best known for producing potatoes, it also farms cattle and has its own liquor, called Kitron. Tourism is well established at the main town of Hora with plenty of shops, restaurants and accommodation. Car rental companies do rather well here as Naxos is a large island with its interior featuring many small villages and ancient archaeological sites. The most visited site however is the Portara, or Temple of Apollo, on the islet of Palátia, connected to the main harbour by a narrow causeway.
9. Kos
flickr/Simão Marques
The name of this Dodecanese island bears no relation to cos lettuce, but interestingly it is grown here. Kos is a much visited tourist island for its beautiful beaches, whitewashed buildings and large number of hotels and restaurants. As well as hitting its famous ‘bar street’, made up of mainly nightclubs, popular activities include cycling as there is an excellent network of cycle paths. Paradise Beach is renowned for being one the best of the Kos beaches on the south west side of the island.
8. Skiathos
flickr/Boris Stefanovic
Famous for being the island where Mamma Mia! was filmed, Skiathos’ charms lie in its lush greenery, quaint tavernas and sandy beaches. Located in the Sporades group of Greek Islands, Skiathos has over 60 beaches, many of them undeveloped and quiet. The most famous beach is Koukounaries with its umbrella pines, others include Big Banana, Small Banana, Kanapitsa and Asselinos. Skiathos has lately become the host of an annual Gay Culture Festival which attracts visitors for its beach parties and art exhibitions.
7. Kefalonia
flickr/Νίκος
An Ionian island situated off the western side of mainland Greece, Kefalonia isn’t best visited for its towns. These were rebuilt after an earthquake in 1953, so aren’t aesthetically pleasing but the scenery on Kefalonia makes up for it. After all there was a reason Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was filmed here, and the mountainous landscape dropping down to crystal clear azure seas doesn’t disappoint. Kefalonia is known for its locally produced wild thyme honey and local Robola wine.
6. Zakynthos
flickr/Gerald Zinnecker
Another Ionian island to be leveled by the 1953 earthquake is the third largest of the group, Zakynthos. Not that this has stopped its popularity for both party goers and families. Characterised by sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high on the west and north coasts, the main beaches and towns are situated in the south and east. Zakynthos Town is the capital and its rebuilt piazza is considered to resemble San Marco square in Venice. Nearby Laganas is where the party gets started if you’re aged 30 and under, and features a main street packed with clubs, pubs and bars.
5. Corfu
flickr/Marie Therese Magnan
Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands and situated off the northwest coast of the mainland. Its proximity to Italy has meant a strong Venetian influence in the past, and it is also called the ‘British Greek Island’ as it was a British colony for fifty years in the 19th century. Not surprisingly it is a popular tourist spot for British tourists, and Corfu Town caters well for groups of travellers, children and those seeking a variety of activities and entertainment.
4. Rhodes
flickr/Alessandra Kocman
Known as the ‘Island of Roses’ for its prolific amount of rock-rose, this Dodecanese island is also largely visited for its plentiful sunshine (300+ days a year), beaches, history, archaeology and medieval town. Tourists can enjoy the best of both worlds with the northern part of the island featuring many shops, restaurants and bars and the south offering a more relaxed, peaceful holiday. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and is a World Heritage Site.
3. Crete
flickr/Renan Gicquel
After visiting Crete many tourists refuse to holiday anywhere else. Situated in the south, Crete is the largest Greek Island with a varied mix of rugged landscape, beautiful beaches, bustling cities, mountain villages and archaeological sites. The two main cities of Crete are Heraklion and Chania, but there are three other smaller cities to explore, as well as plenty of other towns and villages. You’ll never be short of sightseeing activities on Crete, but be sure to include the ancient site of Knossos.
2. Mykonos
Considered one of the most touristy of all the Greek Islands, the island of Mykonos nevertheless is at number two because there’s a reason everyone wants to go there. Part of the Cyclades group of islands, Mykonos’ main town is picture postcard perfect with its whitewashed churches and narrow, twisting streets. If you want to rub shoulders with the rich and famous, and show off your tan then you can do so in Mykonos, where all the glamorous and fashionable people mingle.
1. Santorini
flickr/Pedro Szekely
Honeymooners flock to Santorini for the romance of staying on a volcano, not to mention dramatic views that inspire even the cynics. The white washed hotels and restaurants of touristy Fira cascade down the side of the caldera, seeming to hang on by mere gravity itself. If the capital’s cobbled streets become too busy, then head north to Oia, more serene and famous for its sunsets. A must-see in Santorini is Akrotiri archaeological site, which is an ancient Minoan town preserved by volcanic ash.
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