When we think of traveling to Greece obviously we cannot leave out the wonder of their I. And there are many, one more beautiful than the other, with so much to see and enjoy ... But how do you then decide what Greek island to put on the list and which to take from it?
All the Greek islands They are our destination today, so if you still haven't thought about where to go in the summer, how about combining the blue of the sky and the blue of the Mediterranean with the pure white of the typical Mediterranean island buildings?
The Greek Islands
In principle, it is worth clarifying that it is not one or two islands. There are thousands, some six thousand to be exact. Hence, it is impossible to visit them all. And not necessary. It is basically about Aegean, Ionian, Saronic, Dodecanese, Cycladic and Sporades islands. And among the most important are Chios, Crete, Euboea, Rhodes and Lesbos.
The Saronics are near Athens, the Cyclades are a large group that are in the center of the Aegean, the Dodecanese are between Turkey and Crete, the Sporades are halfway between Thessaloniki and Athens, and the Ionians are closer to Italy.
Crete It is an island of beaches and is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the entire Mediterranean Sea. You can get there by ferry from Piraeus, the port in Athens, to Chania. It is nine hours of travel. You can also go to Heraklion, it is a little cheaper but it takes the same time. It is recommended to buy the ticket directly from the ferry company, when you start traveling around the islands. Obviously, you can also go by plane.
If you like beach life Crete is the best. The city of Chania is beautiful, with a very elegant Venetian-style seaside neighborhood and a picturesque lighthouse. Its beaches are wonderful, there is one with pink sand, Elafonissi, although you have to be willing to go up and down cliffs. Beyond its two cities, Chania and HeraklionIf you stay more than a week, you can surely go further and get to know other towns and villages.
The Cyclades Islands
The Cyclades Islands are also a popular destination because They are close to Athens and close to each other too. I speak of Delos, Ios, Kea, Mykonos, Amorgos, Anafi, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Syros and some more. The same here, you can take a ferry in Piraeus and in an average four hours you arrive in Paros, from there in one hour you are only in Naxos and in two more hours you arrive at the beautiful Santorini.
Ios is a pearl, also a beach destination. If you stay in Santorini You arrive super fast to this destination for backpackers who are only looking for the sun and partying at night. Chora It is its main town, charming and tight on a hill, well traditional with its picturesque windmills. It is full of churches and the views from above are something to behold. With 20 beaches at least, Ios has to be on your list.
Other possible destinations in the Cyclades are Kea, just an hour from Athens, wild and green, Milos, with around 70 beaches, obviously Mykonos, for gays but also for family and friends wanting to have a good time, Of the and its archaeological site, Naxos, three and a half hours from Athens, Paros, small but with dream beaches, and obviously Santorini with its luxury hotels and its views of the impressive caldera.
The Dodecanese Islands
The sun shines here, both in winter and summer. There are some Islas 15 in the group, older, and more than a hundred islands. They belong to this group Kos, Karphatos, Leros, Rodas, Tilos and Chalki, among other. Have Roman and Ottoman past and its culture reflects it with monasteries, citadels, palaces and forts everywhere.
Kos it is a good destination if you like hot springs and relaxed life. There are hot springs even on the beach itself, just a half hour drive from the port of Kos. There are many ponds between the sand and it is great. In addition, there are ancient and medieval ruins, a fortress castle of the Order of the Knights of Saint John, you can cycle, walk and rest. For a more familiar routine there is Leros.
Leros is super close to Turkey And it is not very well known but if you are looking for little tourism this is your destination. It has everything from the other islands; beaches, villages, sea food and beauty, but without tourism. Or at least without sooo much tourism. By plane you can arrive in 45 minutes from Athens and by ferry it is very long, 14 hours. Obviously, Rhodes cannot be absent here.
Rhodes is synonymous with history. The old town is World Heritage according to UNESCO and here you have the Suleiman Mosque, the Castle of the Knights of Rhodes and the site where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World once stood, the famous Colossus of Rhodes.
But Rhodes also has beaches and very beautiful: Lindos, for example, is an hour by bus from the old town and is one of the most beautiful in the world. The island is chosen by many honeymooners and families but at night there is a lot of nightlife too.
The Ionian Islands
In total there are seven islands that are on the west coast of the country: Kythira, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Corfu, Paxos, Ithaca and Lefkada. Many of his landscapes have become postcards of Greece. This is the case of the well-known Shipwreck Beach in Zakynthos that you see below. How fantastic!
Kefalonia is also beautiful and large. Your port, fiskardoIt is charming, and the island in general has beautiful beaches, some undeveloped and remote, ideal for getting lost alone. And if you like to explore you can know the Melissania Cave underground lake or the Castle of Assos.
Lefkada is known to be the most Caribbean of the Greek islands. There are white cliffs decorated with green lawns, turquoise seas, and epic sunsets. Add bars, restaurants and hotels and you have an incredible package.
The Saronic and North Aegean Islands
Among the islands of the North Aegean is Chios, Ikaria, Lesbos, Lemnos, Thasos, Psara or Samos, for example. Homer was born in Chios and his XNUMXth century monastery is a World Heritage Site. Samos is a stone's throw from Turkey and has unforgettable corners. On its own, Thasos is a cheap and little-known island.
And finally there are the Saronic Islands, which as they are very close to Athens are a classic weekend or holiday getaway. Poros, Salamina, Spetses, Hydra, Agistri and Aegina are their names. Aegina is only 45 minutes by ferry from Piraeus.
The Sporades Islands
It is a small archipelago of only 24 islands among which, as the most popular, Skopelos, Skyros, Skitahos and Alonnisos. Skopelos and Alonnisos is where sand filmed Mamma Mia!, for example, so you can get an idea of its beauty.
It is enough to see the photographs in the article to want to take a walk, but as you have read, the islands have natural beauties and a lot of history. It will be a matter of deciding what you like best or how much you can combine of each thing. Ferry or plane or check the islands that are visited on a cruise, which is also an option when you do not want to do it on your own.