Island groups · Νησιά
Six island groups, six different holidays
Santorini Photo: Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash
01Introduction
Greece has more than 200 inhabited islands, but couples mostly choose from six groups. They differ in landscape, food, distance from Athens and, in July and August, how hard the wind blows.
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01 · Κυκλάδες Cyclades The white-and-blue islands everyone pictures, and the quieter ones next door that most visitors miss.
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02 · Δωδεκάνησα Dodecanese Knights’ castles, Italian-era harbours and the warmest, longest season in the Aegean.
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03 · Επτάνησα Ionian Green, Venetian and mostly out of the meltemi’s reach. Greece’s other sea.
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04 · Σποράδες Sporades Pine forest down to the waterline, a marine park, and an easy trip from the mainland.
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05 · Κρήτη Crete Almost a country of its own: Minoan palaces, high gorges, Venetian harbours and the best food in Greece, some say.
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06 · Αργοσαρωνικός Saronic Islands close enough to Athens for the same day, sheltered when the Aegean blows.
Photos: Oia, Santorini, Michelle Woodson Howell on Unsplash; Symi, Marlies ten Have on Unsplash; Myrtos, Kefalonia, Eleanor Brooke on Unsplash; Skopelos town, Nikola Radojcic on Unsplash; Chania harbour, Crete, Frederik Holmgren on Unsplash; Hydra, Mauricio Muñoz on Unsplash.
02Compare
- 01 Cyclades The white-and-blue islands everyone pictures, and the quieter ones next door that most visitors miss. Best: Late May to June, and September to early October.
- 02 Dodecanese Knights’ castles, Italian-era harbours and the warmest, longest season in the Aegean. Best: May to October; Rhodes stays warm into November.
- 03 Ionian Green, Venetian and mostly out of the meltemi’s reach. Greece’s other sea. Best: May to early October.
- 04 Sporades Pine forest down to the waterline, a marine park, and an easy trip from the mainland. Best: June to September.
- 05 Crete Almost a country of its own: Minoan palaces, high gorges, Venetian harbours and the best food in Greece, some say. Best: April to early November, among the longest seasons in Greece.
- 06 Saronic Islands close enough to Athens for the same day, sheltered when the Aegean blows. Best: April to October; good on weekdays out of season.
Enquire
Start with a conversation
Tell us your dates and what you like, and we’ll come back with a route that fits: islands, mainland, or both.
Santorini Photo: User_Pascal on Unsplash