Explore Greece - Islands
Ferries only connect between islands in the same group and sometimes between islands located close together, but in different groups such as Amorgos (Cyclades) and Astypalaia (Dodecanese) or Ikaria (Northern Aegean) and Patmos (Dodecanese). Some of the larger and busier islands also have airports.
The Cyclades: white washed houses, blue domed churches, narrow allies with bright bougainvillea, dry & wind swept landscapes in sandy shades with low vegetation, deep blue skies that rise to the heavens and crystal seas in all shades of blue –these are the islands that dominate Instagram posts and the minds of most tourists. They include the most popular islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos and Milos. However, they are much more than just those islands. The Cyclades got their name in ancient times because they are the islands that form a circle (cyclos– κυκλος) around the most sacred of all islands, Delos where the twin gods, Artemis and Apollo were born. They consist of 39 islands, of which 24 are inhabited–most even before the bronze age. Each island is unique, but all share the same colors and topography. As they are quite dry and prone to high winds, vegetation is sparse and before tourism, the main industry was marble and mineral mining. Traditional Cycladic cuisine reflects the meagre vegetation in its simplicity, using very few ingredients with an abundance of seafood dishes, goat and legumes, especially “fava” or yellow split pea puree.
Because the winds can be unpredictable and also quite strong at times, the best time to visit is in June until the beginning of July, and early September. However, some islands are more protected than others.
Crete: Crete is the largest Greek island and is almost a country of its own! It would take at least a month to completely explore. It was home to the Minoans–an amazingly advanced ancient civilization that flourished from 3000-1100 BCE and visitors can see the remains of their cities across the island. It also has two tall mountains, gorges, amazing beaches–organized and easy to access on the north side and the much less touristy ones on the south side. There are small islands one can visit in the summer and the lovely cities of Chania, Rethimno and Heraklion each with Greek, Venetian and Ottoman elements that make each one utterly charming to visit in any season of the year. Crete is the southern most island and has three airports (Heraklion, Chania and Sitia) and numerous ports, which connect with the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Kythira and Gytheio in the Peloponnese.
Evia (Euboia) is the second largest island and is very close to the eastern coast of mainland Greece–and there is even a bridge that connects it to the mainland. It is lush in the north, like the Sporades, and dry in the south, like the Cyclades. You would need at least 2 or 3 weeks to explore the whole island. I would say that for its size, it is one of the least visited of the Greek islands, even though it has gorgeous beaches, lush mountains, lovely villages and the city of Eretria was very important in Ancient Greece. Other than the bridge at Chalkida, there are numerous ferries one can take to arrive at various spots on the island and also one can visit the island of Skyros and other Sporades from Kymi on the west coast.
The Ioanian Islands also called the Eptanissa (7 islands) are the group of islands off the western coast of Greece (between Greece and Italy), which consist of Corfu, Paxoi (Paxos and others close by), Lefkada (which also connects via bridge from Preveza in Epirus), Ithaki (Odysseus home Ithaca), Kefalonia (Capitan Corelli’s mandolin), Zakinthos (with the shipwreck beach–perhaps the most photographed beach of Greece), and Kythira. These are very lovely, green islands with a distinct Italian feel–they were occupied by the Venetians for centuries. There are airports on Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Kythira and can be reached via ports in the Peloponnese and Epirus.
The Saronic Islands are the islands closest to Athens and the Argolid peninsula, which make them easy to visit or even as day trips from Athens. The island of Aegina and Agistri are closest to Athens. Aegina is famous for its delicious pistachios and beautifully situated Temple of Aphea Athena, built around 500 BCE. The other islands of Hydra, Poros and Spetses are also easily reached from Athens as well as from the Argolid Peninsula and have many daily connects between them so that island hopping or day trips are very easy. Poros has the added advantage of being just 5 minutes from the coast with ferries crossing every hour.
The Dodecanese(the 12 islands) are to the east of the Cyclades and include the famous island of Rhodes, Kos and Patmos. The other islands are Agathonisi and Leipsoi, which are small islands close to Patmos. Astypalaia is the Dodecanese island link to the Cycladic islands of Naxos, Amorgos and Donoussa, and connects with Kalymnos. Karpathos and Kasos are located between Crete and Rhodes and connect to both (from Sitia on the eastern shore of Crete). Leros, Halki, Nisyros, Symi and Tilos are smaller islands located around and between Rhodes and Kos with easy connections in between. Kastellorizo is the easternmost Greek island and connects via ferry with Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Tilos and Nisyros. Smaller islands in this group are Alimia, Arkoi, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Marathos, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Strongyli and Syrna.
The (Northern) Sporades –These are 24 islands, but only 4 are permanently inhabited, located along the east coast of Greece, northeast of the island of Euboea, in the Aegean Sea. Skiathos and Skopelos are the most well known and sometimes known as The “Mama Mia” islands, because the island of Kalokairi (which means summer in Greek) was actually Skopelos. These two islands are very lush, green islands with sandy beaches. I lived on Skiathos for over a year and in my opinion offers some of the best beaches, swimming, sailing and boating in all of Greece, because of the fact that it is protected from the winds by the peninsula of Mt. Pelion to the north. It also offers the natural shade from trees on its sandy beaches. The islands of Alonissos and Skyros are less visited, but gorgeous as well, however slightly drier. Skiathos has an airport and the four islands connect via ferry from Kymi in Evia, Agios Constantinos & Volos in Thessaly, and Thessaloniki in Macedonia.
The Northern Aegean Islands are the group that I would say are the most unspoilt by tourism. They include Samos, Ikaria, Chios, Lesbos, and Lemnos, which have substantial permanent populations and airports–and the lesser known, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Fournoi and Oinousses. I have been to Samos, Ikaria, Chios and Lesbos and have been enchanted by all of them. They each are charming in their own unique way and large enough to have plenty to do for a week or two. I have had some of the most delicious food on these islands and lovely accommodation well within even the tightest of budgets. All are lovely destinations, made easy to visit because they have airports and connect easily between each other via ferry. One can also day trip to Ephesus from Samos.
