Holidays in Greece: Where to go? Guide to Destinations, Islands and Beaches

Greece yes, but where? Are you thinking of a holiday in Greece this summer?

Which island to choose? Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, if there were only three Greek islands to choose from, it would be easy.

The seas of Greece teem with little islands, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. But where is the best place to go on holiday?

Which are the most beautiful Greek islands and which are the liveliest, which are the Greek islands for 30-year-olds and which are perfect for children?

Let's take a look, point by point, at everything you need to know to organise a trip to Greece: where to go, how to get to Greece, when to go and, one by one, the most beautiful islands.

Holidays in Greece, where to go?

• Cyclades Islands

• Rhodes

• Corfu

• Kefalonia

• Athens

• Zakynthos

• Meteora

• Delphi

• Peloponnese

• Elafonissi

• Andros

• Crete

• Lemnos

• Samos

• Chalkidiki Peninsula

Holidays in Greece

And then they say about Ulysses... Homer may have been blind, but he knew perfectly well that finding the right island among the thousands surrounding the Peloponnese is not easy... a real Odyssey :-) Even today, when the sirens have retired, finding your way around the different islands is an epic feat.

Wandering from one island to another in Greece is not easy, and it is usually necessary to find the right island or islands in good time. Between one and the other, the most convenient way to travel is by ferry and transfers take time.

Once you have reached your chosen island, it is best to rent a bicycle or scooter (or on larger islands, such as Crete, a car) for travelling.

How to get to Greece?

Low-cost flights to Greece have increased in recent years, but the islands, especially in the high season, are often prohibitively expensive and only the largest and best-known (and therefore also most touristy) have an airport (we will see which ones later).

If you want to try a triangulation, stopping over somewhere, prices could be reduced significantly.

The first option to consider is the low-cost airlines: Ryanair, Volotea and easyJet fly to various Greek islands during the summer period, or to Athens and Thessaloniki from where you can take a ferry to the sea.

READ ALSO: MAINLAND GREECE

An interesting alternative is Aegean Airways, which, although not a low-cost airline, has on average better prices than the national airlines and offers many 'island' destinations (after connecting in Athens) from Milan and Rome.

Nothing interesting? Then you can resort to ITA and Olympic, which occasionally make some acceptable offers (here are some tips for saving on the price of a flight), or brave the waves and resort to ferries to Patras (the port of Athens) from Ancona, Bari, Brindisi or Venice.

Ferry companies to Greece include Superfast, Anek and Minoan. A good starting point to find the right ferry for you is www.traghetti.com. Reaching Athens from Patras by bus is child's play: about three hours and on the way you can also see the Corinth Strait.

READ MORE ABOUT: HOLIDAY OFFERS 2023

Holidays in Greece low-cost offers

When to go to Greece?

The weather factor counts to a certain extent: in Greece the weather is nice and balmy from May to September (at least).

Is it hot? Yes, it is. But the islands are usually windy (the famous Meltemi is no laughing matter, especially after sunset), so the heat is a marginal problem. What really counts is the frequentation of the islands. You can find a guide to the least windy Greek islands here.

In August, Greece is invaded by a flood of Italians, with easily imaginable consequences, so if you really have to leave on that date, you should choose one of the less frequented islands.

The islands of Greece are so many and the beaches so numerous that it is possible, even in August, to find beautiful places that are not at all crowded. The important thing is not to choose the most touristy islands.

An interesting alternative is mainland Greece. The Chalkidiki peninsula, easily reached by bus from Thessaloniki, has beautiful beaches and spectacular sea, extremely wild in June and July and a little less so in August. You can find information about going to the beach in Chalkidiki here and 8 incredible beaches near Thessaloniki here.

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Where to go in Greece?

Greece is not just sea and islands. In addition to the beautiful and rugged coastline of mainland Greece, there are unmissable villages where time seems to stand still, but also towns and interesting places worth visiting. Let's take a look at some of the most curious ones you should definitely make a note of.

The Meteora monasteries perched on huge rock columns are not far from Thessaloniki and are connected to the big city by regular buses.

Athens is a very chaotic and varied city, with well-known archaeological remains, but also with unexpected street art districts and with a district where you suddenly feel as if you are on a Cycladic island (it is called Anafiotika).

And then there are the islands of the better-known archipelagos (the Cyclades, Ionian and Dodecanese) and the smaller ones (such as the Sporades).

Below we discover the most beautiful islands of Greece, the lesser known ones, those with an airport and the less touristy ones to visit even in August.

SEE ALSO: SUMMER TRAVEL 2023

Islands of Greece

Mykonos, Skiathos, Rhodes, Symi, Kos, Samos, Santorini, Ios, Paxos, Zakynthos and Crete are some of the most beautiful islands in Greece. The largest archipelagos in Greece are the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.

The former are considered iconic of Greece and although they all have very different characteristics in the common image, they are linked to the colourful little houses by the sea used by fishermen, the white villages and the bright bougainvillea growing almost everywhere.

Among the Cyclades, the most famous islands are Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos.

The Dodecanese islands lie a very short distance from the Turkish coast. The largest island of the group is Rhodes, famous for its archaeological remains, but also for its beaches and villages.

The Sporades are an archipelago of smaller islands of which the only one with an airport is the island of Skiatos. Here, the Aegean Sea is emerald green and the vegetation more lush.

The Ionian Islands are the Greek islands closest to Italy and most easily reached by ferry. The greenest and wildest of the archipelago is Kefalonia; the most interesting from a cultural and archaeological point of view is Corfu; and then there are Zakynthos, Lefkas, Ithaca.

Below you will find the Greek islands we have selected for you and about which we have gathered information. In strict order.

MYKONOS

Praise abounds; the only complaint is the August crowds and the high prices. With the exception of August, the island is frequented by travellers from all nations, on both sides of the Atlantic.

The average age is likely to be under 30, but there are also quieter areas suitable for more mature travellers.

For accommodation, it is best to look for accommodation in the village. The beaches are many and all splendid; we recommend Paradise and Superparadise, both reachable by scooter or car. The nightlife starts the moment you wake up and continues uninterrupted.

At sunset, the beaches turn into open-air discos. Then the movement moves to the alleys and small bars that dot the centre of the town, where the party continues until late into the night. Among the many discos, the one above the Super Paradise is not to be missed; it opens at 3am (in the morning, of course) and is set on a terrace overlooking the sea, from which memorable sunrises can be seen. Not enough for you? Then find a little boat and head for Koufonisi, which is part of the Microcyclades.

Beware that you need to book accommodation in advance because there are only room rentals, small pensions and a campsite behind the beach at Pori.

RODI

Although not part of the Cyclades, Rhodes has nothing to envy the islands of that archipelago. It is best to stay overnight in Rhodes town, which offers more in the way of nightlife; for getting around, the usual rented scooter is fine.

Along the 200 km of coastline you can find beaches to suit all tastes; on the eastern side of the island, the one most sheltered from the winds, there are the busiest beaches on the island while to the north of Rhodes there are the wilder beaches to be visited at least once. Here we have selected the most beautiful beaches in Rhodes.

As for places to eat, Rhodes Old Town is full of taverns and restaurants. Nightlife: Rhodes Town has several clubs (bars and discos) outside the old town. In particular Ofanidi Street (or bar street) is a street about a hundred metres long with one bar after another. The town of Faliraki then, is almost exclusively frequented by young people and is consequently full of nightclubs.

KARPATHOS

Breathtakingly beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, fish (not as many as in the Red Sea, but it holds its own), guaranteed sunshine, a refreshing breeze, excellent food at super-cheap prices.

Everything fresh and served with the courtesy of the good old days... a marvel! The beaches (a myriad of them and all splendid) can be reached by hiring a car or scooter.

SANTORINI

If you happen to have a map written in Greek, they call it Thira, just to confuse things... Perhaps the most peculiar and fascinating island from a naturalistic point of view: on one side beaches (black: lava sand) and on the other steep cliffs, which denote the tormented history of the island, half of which sank at one time.

It can be quite romantic, so it is suitable for couples' trips. Not that there is any shortage of partying, however... especially in the old town, also called Thira.

Don't miss the sunset seen from the northernmost tip of the island (Ia), where, however, finding accommodation can be tricky. Several ferries leave from the harbour to other islands, including Ios.

IOS

The Island. Attendance is very young (15-25) and there is constant revelry, both in the village and on the beach.

They say that Manganari beach is the most beautiful in Greece: you can reach it by boat from the main harbour and from there you can get to other very beautiful coves, where no one gets upset if your swimming costume is dropped (if you are interested here you can find all the naturist beaches in Greece).

ZANTE

Attendance is much quieter than on the Cyclades and the size of the island still makes it possible to escape the crowds, even in August.

Everywhere except on Laganas beach, which would be the most beautiful on the island (there is also a splendid wreck of a beached ship) if it were not stormed by hordes of deported tourists).

Other beaches that deserve a visit are Keri, in pebbles, and Marathonisi, huge and also frequented by turtles. At least that's what they say, because seeing them is another matter. A guide to the most beautiful beaches of Zakynthos can be found here.

Villages in Greece, the most beautiful on the islands

• Ano Syros, Syros

• Apollonia, Sifnos

• Kastro, Sifnos

• Ermoupolis, Syros

• Yalos, Symi

• Klima, Milos

• Plaka, Milos

• Agni, Corfu

• Chora, Amorgos

• Kastellorizo

• Oia, Santorini

• Chora, Mykonos

Greece's less-touristy islands

There are over 6000 islands and islets in Greece. In this large number, it is easy to find little-tourist and unknown, if not almost uninhabited places. The Lesser Cyclades with Koufonissi, Schinoussa, Donoussa and Iraklia are the cheap and un-touristy alternative to the Cyclades. Just over 100 people live in Koufonissi and Iraklia and there are spectacular landscapes and lonely coves.

In the Sporades, apart from Skiathos and Skopelos, there are small, un-touristy islands such as Alonissos, which is a quiet, almost deserted islet where nature reigns supreme.

On Kimolos, close to the more famous Milos, there are neither cars nor mopeds and the hunt for solitary coves is done on foot, by bike or by local bus.

Even among the well-known Cyclades there are little-known islands: Andros is the closest to Athens and yet one of the furthest from the tourist routes.

Tinos lies immediately after Andros and shares with it an authentic, un-touristy spirit; it is famous for its white villages (about 150) and lonely beaches.

Folegandros is another of the less touristy and less crowded islands of the Cyclades and those who choose it choose it for its beaches (many and of all types).

Greek Islands with Airport

Some of the larger and more touristy islands of Greece have their own airport where they land with direct flights, or with a stopover from Athens or Thessaloniki. Crete has two airports. In the Cyclades there are the airports of Santorini, Mykonos and Naxos. In the Ionian Islands there is the airport of Zakynthos and then there are those of Rhodes, Samos and Kos.

(© Shutterstock)

Beaches of Greece

The sea in Greece is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean and there is no doubt about that, especially if you are in love with the celestial sea, the discovery of coves and the paths to reach them. The Aegean islands have a sea that tends towards emerald green and the nature is also very green. The Cyclades and Ionian Islands are more barren and have clearer, more transparent water that makes one think of the Caribbean.

With more than 14,000 km of coastline, it is easy to guess that Greece has a multitude of beaches, each one different: there are cliffs, white beaches, fine sand and pebble beaches. Each island then has its own characteristic beaches. On the beach of Sarakiniko, on the island of Milos, it is like being in a lunar landscape. Matala beach, in one of the most remote corners of Crete, was in the 1970s a kind of hippie village where natural caves and those dug out by fishermen were used as dwellings. Joni Mitchell also lived in one of them (find all the most beautiful beaches in Crete here and the white beaches of Greece here).

Countries of Greece

But Greece (we have already said it, but we want to reiterate it) is not only sea and beaches. There are countless beautiful villages to visit, even in spring and why not, even in winter.

Amorgos, the village that gives the Cyclades island its name, is inhabited by just 400 people and outside the high season is a paradise of tranquillity, white houses and bougainvillea.

Arachova is a village perched in the mountains that is whitewashed with snow in winter and looks like something out of a nativity scene. Nafplio, on the other hand, was the first capital of co-modern Greece and, although it has not grown much in the last few centuries, it shows off its neoclassical palaces. It lies in a bay where the Aegean is always calm and sleepy, a gentle nest for sailing ships and yachts that dock here.

Sailing holidays in Greece

Greece has a myriad of perfect islands to discover by boat. However, some parts of Greece are buffeted by strong winds that make sailing not always pleasant.

To find out how to charter a sailing boat and which islands in Greece to explore, you can turn to Italy Charter, which organises sailing holidays by connecting boat owners and would-be passengers. Here are 10 reasons to choose a sailing holiday.

SEE ALSO: CHEAP HOLIDAYS

Holiday in Greece August 2023

2023 is the perfect year to visit Greece's most beautiful and lesser-known islands. You can choose Leros, where the architecture is somewhat reminiscent of Italy but the atmosphere is exquisitely Greek: an island for connoisseurs who want to get to know the most authentic Greece.

Kastellorizo has only one village, Megisti, and it is here that Salvatores' Mediterraneo was filmed. In Thirassia, on the other hand, you can visit Santorini (which is just across the road), enjoy the most beautiful sunsets on the blue and white island, and then retreat to a corner of paradise where tourism still plays a marginal role.

Holidays in Greece with children

Families with children choosing Greece for a beach holiday are spoilt for choice. We recommend a remote yet easily accessible island. Sifnos in the Cyclades is, according to National Geographic, one of the most fascinating islands on the planet. Tourism is marginal and the island is very quiet.

Many beaches on Sifnos are sandy and have shallow waters. The most suitable for children are Kamares, Platis Gialos and Vathy. In addition to the sea, the whole family can enjoy hiking in nature and tasting the island's good food, which, according to National Geographic, is some of the best and most genuine in Greece.

READ ALSO: WHAT TO EAT IN GREECE

Holidays in Greece with dogs

Most of the beaches in Greece, especially if you holiday in less frequented areas, are unofficially open to dogs.

The Greeks are particularly tolerant on this point and even on beaches where there are a few people, there are rarely any problems. Dogs are also usually welcome in bars and restaurants. It is easy to find dog-friendly hotels or otherwise you can choose a house on Airbnb by ticking the filter on the platform's portal to search only for flats and rooms that allow accommodation with animals. Unfortunately, there are very few beaches that are specially equipped for dogs and where their presence is officially welcome.

• Greece