When it comes to planning your next vacation in Greece, you may be wondering which Greek islands are the best to visit. With so many islands to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t worry – we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll outline the five best Greek islands for tourists, based on a variety of factors such as affordability, beauty, and convenience. So whether you’re looking for an action-packed getaway or a relaxing escape, we’ve got you covered. Read on for more information!
Some of us when planning their holiday focus on a single island while others like to stay a few days in many different islands. We tried both options and each one has their own beauty.
When we are speaking about the best greek islands to visit you take into consideration the cruise option or island hopping.
Greece has more than 200 inhabited islands and most of them are extremely beautiful and unique.
So choosing the most beautiful island of Greece is very complicated.
If that is so complicated, we can help you and show you the best greek islands to include in your itinerary.
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1. Skiathos
Located in the northwestern part of the Aegean Sea, Skiathos is the smallest island from the Sporades Archipelago.
The island is famous for its beautiful sandy beach and wonderful scenery. Couples and families with young children use to spend their summer holiday on this island.
The south part of the island is more accessible and has one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
Head up to the most popular beaches like Lalaria beach, Agia Paraskevi beach, Achladies Beach, Koukounaries beach and Banana beach for some quality time and to enjoy the sea and the sun.
For those looking for more isolated beaches, not that crowded and popular we recommend you to head up to the north part of the island.
The terrain is rockier with steep cliffs and many pine trees.
To get to the isolated beach you have to walk a little bit.
But once you get to the beach you will be fascinated by the scenery and the colour of the water.
Where to stay: There are some interesting options to choose from on one of the best greek islands to visit.
Meltemi Manthos Hotels Skyathos is one of the best options from the island.
The hotel is located close to Skiathos port, a few minutes walk from the Old Town.
Many beautiful tavernas can be reached after a few minutes of walk.
Koukounaries beach is located just 10 kilometres from the hotel.
2. Lefkada
Lefkada is one of the most visited islands of Greece.
It is easy to reach, being accessible from the mainland.
Renting a car is the best option if you want to go to Lefkada.
There are no airports on the island; the closest airport is Preveza-Lefkas, 40 minutes away from the island.
Airport transfer might be pricier and you miss the opportunity of exploring the area.
Get the best price for your car rental today
Lefkada is famous for its incredible beaches not for ancient towns and ruins.
Porto Katsiki and Egremni are the most beautiful beaches on the island.
During the peak season they are extremely crowded so consider visiting this island in May or September if you are looking for a more authentic experience.
Lefkada is also famous among water sports lovers.
Those interested in practising windsurfing and kite surfing found on this island many beautiful beaches where to practice these sports.
Did you know that Lefkada, one of the best greek islands to visit is home to many world windsurfing championships?
Interested in exploring the area?
Great! Head to the pine forests near the villages of Karya, Exanthia or Eglouvi for a completely different experience!
Where to stay: Thomais Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel only for adults located just 200 metres from Episkopos beach.
The rooms have a modern design in beautiful colours.
There is also a pool for aerobic and an aqua fitness club.
Guests like the rooms’ design, the breakfast and the amenities.
3. Serifos
Serifos island is a secluded island in the Cyclades, a popular destination among interior designers and architects who really know to appreciate its spectacular views and amazing forms.
It is not a popular destination among tourists, so don’t be amazed if you go there in August and you will find beaches all for yourself.
Serifos is one of the best greek islands to visit for those interested in nature and purity.
Most of the beaches are inaccessible by car and the only way to get there is with donkey tracks.
Vagia, Kalo Ambeli and Skala are one of the most beautiful and inaccessible beaches from the island.
Don’t come here if you are looking for nightlife, crowded beaches and fancy hotels.
You only visit this island if you are looking for isolated places and wild beaches.
Where to stay: Indigo Studios is our option for this island.
It is located 40 metres away from the beach and offers clean and spacious rooms with a nice view.
Upon request and for the extra cost they can provide breakfast.
4. Paxos
One of the most beautiful islands from the Ionian Sea, Paxos is famous for its secluded hotels, picturesque scenery and wonderful landscape.
Paxos is a very small island and it can be explored easily by bicycle or on foot.
It is almost impossible to name a beach or a town because all of them are wonderful.
The island is not very easy to reach.
You should take a plane to Corfu and from there take the ferry to Paxos.
When on Paxos head up to Gaios, the biggest town from the island and a very beautiful port where you can find lots of bars and restaurants.
Loggos and Lakka are other two beautiful resorts from the island with beautiful harbours and amazing scenery.
Where to stay: This island offers some very interesting options for accommodation.
Paxos Club Resort is one of the best resorts from the island.
The hotel is located a few minutes away from Gaios centre and offers a beautiful outdoor pool, a fitness room and a playground.
5. Milos one of the best greek islands to visit
Milos is considered by many to be the island with the most dramatic coastline.
Along the island, there are more than 70 beaches and most of them have spectacular scenery.
The island is not so popular among tourists.
It now starts to reveal its beauty and wilderness.
From one year to another the number of visitors increase and photos with the dramatic coastline appears on the internet.
The stunning cliffs of Sarakiniko and the stunning swimming hole from Papafragas are just some of the most beautiful attractions from the island.
Milos is a volcanic island so don’t be amazed to find out that the mineral industry from the island is one of the most active from Greece.
The island is full of hot springs and amazing scenery so you will get some incredible photos from there.
Where to stay: Volcano Luxury Suites Milos is a 4-star hotel with amazing views of the coastline located just 40 metres away from the beach.
The rooms are spacious, with modern furniture and some of them have an outdoor hot tub.
The room rates include breakfast and lunch.
These are the best greek islands to visit for your summer holiday!
All of them are spectacular and have many wonderful beaches and attractions to explore!
Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.
When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.