Popular Greek Islands

Greece includes 6,000 islands of various sizes situated in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, but only 170 islands are inhabited. This unique phenomenon you can find only on the European continent.

All these Greek islands are divided into 8 regions: Argosaronikos – islands near Peloponnese peninsula, Northern Aegeo – just a few miles away from the northern coast of Turkey, Dodecanis with Rhodes island are also located near the Turkish coast but from the south side, Eptanis (Ionian Islands) – the most western islands of Greece, Evia – the second largest island in Greece near the capital, Crete is on the very south, also it’s the largest Greek island, the Cyclades are located between Athens and Crete and the Sporades are between Evia and the islands of Northern Aegeo. There is its own separate weather, customs, songs, dialects, architecture and cuisine in each of the regions and even on each of the islands. As you have probably heard many times, “Greece has everything!”

In order to understand where exactly in Greece you should spend your wonderful vacation, first you need to decide what you like the most: nature, forests, architecture, service and luxury, beautiful views and sunsets, peace and quiet.

An important fact is the presence of an airport on the island where you are going, there are only 26 islands with airports: Skiathos, Skyros, Ikaria, Limnos, Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, Syros, Astypalea, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kos, Leros, Rhodes, Kastelorizo, Crete with 3 airports, Kerkyra (Corfu), Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Kifira. Some of the islands are connected by direct flights only to large islands nearby. If you decide to visit an island where there is no airport, don’t worry, there will definitely be a port where you can take a ferry or a boat to the nearest islands.

And now let’s talk about which islands are the most popular in Greece…

Santorini

By the end of 2022, all lists with the most popular Greek islands had only one leader – Santorini Island. And this island fully deserves to be on the top. This volcanic island is one of the most beautiful in Cyclades, and its unique architecture attracts tourists from all over the world. Usually, a holiday on the island of Santorini consists of walks and photo shoots in the city of Oia, dinners with unique views in the city of Fira, visits to the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, bathing in volcanic hot springs and colorful beaches of the island and tasting local unique wines. There are both an airport and a port on the island, so there is no problem to get to Santorini.

Crete

The second popular island in 2022 is the largest island of Greece Crete. It is rich in archaeological sites, green gorges, mountains and beaches, authentic villages and bays, youth and family resorts for any taste and budget. There are so many popular places on Crete – such as beaches of Balos, Elafonisi, Preveli and Vai, the gorges of Samaria and Imbros, the cities of Rethymno and Chania, the fortress and island of Spinalonga, and the most famous excavations of the Minoan civilization – the Knossos Palace, by the way this palace and the Minoan civilization were destroyed by the explosion of a volcano on the island Santorini. There are 3 airports on the island of Crete, here come daily hundreds of visitors from Greece, and in the summer thousands of tourists from 37 countries of the world. Also, few people know, in the south of Crete is the most southern island of Europe – Gavdos, which can also be visited. In addition to airports, every large city of Crete has a port where ships come from all over the world.

Mykonos

The next popular island is Mykonos, which also belongs to the Cycladic Islands and is very well known by the local and foreign elite. The dynamic night life, delicious Mediterranean cuisine and many famous brends boutiques attract celebrities. According to legend, the island got its name in honor of the ancient hero Mykonos, who is considered one of the descendants of the god Apollo. The seafront has many medieval houses that used to belong to rich shipowners, and now there are local taverns and shops, all this remind of Venice. And the island of Mykonos is considered the place where mills were invented, although only 7 of the 28 are fully preserved on the island. The island has both an airport and a port, so it will be very easy to visit Mykonos.

Rhodes

The fourth in the list is the island of Rhodes located in the Dodecanese archipelago. A huge part of the city of Rhodes is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. What can you see in Rhodes during your vacation… A must-visit is the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the valley of butterflies is also one of the incredible sights, the city of Lindos with its Acropolis and old town and seven springs (Epta piges). These attractions are just a small part of what you should see. Rhodes Island has an international airport and port that connect it with Greece and the other countries

Corfu

And completes the list of the most popular islands of Greece, Corfu, or as the locals call it – Kerkyra. The island was named after beautiful nymph Poseidon’s beloved. What to do and what to visit on the island of Corfu, probably every traveler asks this question. The medival city of Corfu is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and its architecture is unique, it combines Venetian, Greek, Turkish, English and French cultures. Easter is celebrated very colorfully on the island, so if you are planning a trip in the spring, this will be a good opportunity to fully experience the local culture. Must-visit places are: D’Amour Canal, Sidari Beach, Roda and Glyfada, Kanoni, Mon Repo, Pontikonisi and Achilleion palace. There is an airport on the island that accepts many foreign flights.