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Our top picks for visiting the Greek Islands

Every time we visit the Greek islands, we are amazed at how different they are from each other. While we have not exhausted our list of the top islands to visit, here are our favorites. Hopefully you will have a better idea of which island might suit your personality best, or the type of vibe you are looking for.

Antiparos: Party & Relaxed Vibe All In One

Antiparos is a wild mix of party life and laid back adventure. While you can choose beach camping over fancy villas, there is also a lively night scene, and a chilled out vibe that provides an interesting mix for all on this tiny Greek island off the coast of Paros.

Located in the Cycladic Sea, Antiparos’ coastline is full of rocky cliffs and beaches. It is also one of the only islands where we actually found a sandy beach. Most beaches on these islands are typically rocky. Stay on the northern side of the island, where you can look across the waters towards the larger Paros in the east. In the evening, take a short, ten minute walk to the west coast to watch the sunset and have a sundowner.

Corfu: The Picturesque City

The beautiful Greek island of Corfu is well connected with mainland Europe, and provides a great weekend getaway. While it is built up and well developed, there is still enough of a party scene, plenty of shopping, and beautiful views and beaches for everyone.

We felt that Corfu had a distinct Italian vibe, but maybe a touch of the more laid back Greeks to give it that Greek charm. We had some of the best seafood in the islands here, and enjoyed some beautiful views of the town in the evening. It is completely picturesque, and there is plenty to do. While it makes for a nice weekend trip, there is enough here to occupy couples or families for much longer.

Kos: The Perfect Family Getaway

Kos is one of the larger Greek islands off the coast of Turkey, with a lot to offer. It has a surprising amount of ancient ruins to explore, and some of the most beautiful beaches we have seen in Greece. We would suggest staying in Kos Town to explore most of the ruins there. Also, drive down to visit Agios Stefanos, one of the most beautiful beaches we have experienced in Greece. It is also well connected with mainland Europe. Kos can be either a nice relaxing week or two of vacation, or a great long weekend getaway.

Paxos: The Ideal Wild Island Getaway

Paxos is the perfect island for anyone who wants to avoid the Greek island party scene. This is a lush island, humid, and located in the Aegean Sea.

If you stay on the northern end of the island, you will have plenty of restaurants to choose from, filled with wonderful seafood and traditional Greek food. There is also a beautiful bay with crystal clear water to swim in. Some rocky beaches can also only be explored by boat. With plenty of hiking and wild, rocky cliffs surrounding the island, this is the perfect place for those who want to just get away and enjoy the outdoors.

Santorini: Not All It Appears To Be

Santorini is famous for many reasons, however, we saw a side to this fancy Greek island that we had not seen in any of our research before visiting. It is mostly a desert island, with dramatic cliffs dropping into the deep blue waters of the Cycladic seas.

Previously a much larger island, the eruption of its volcano thousands of years ago devastated the area. Now, it is much smaller, and covered with the remains of ash and volcanic residue. Not much can grow here, but they have managed to maintain several vineyards in the parched earth.

While many people think of the sunsets over expensive hotels and pools dug into the rocky cliffs of Oia, we discovered a side to this island that turned out to be much more than where many of the wealthy go on vacation. Santorini has a wild side. Once you get away from the Instagram spots, one can have quite a different experience of this unique island. It’s also possible to travel here on a budget!

Crete: Spend Lots of Time Exploring

Crete is a massive island (one of the biggest in Greece) and is worth a longer trip if you want to see everything. If you are comfortable renting a car, it’s the perfect place to drive from beach to beach exploring new landscapes. If you’re more into shopping, food, and cute towns, check out Chania, which you can fly directly to from many locations in Europe.

Choose From 277 Islands!

Ultimately, it is up to you to figure out which island best fits your style, but there are nearly endless options. To start, check out a map, then look at Ferryscanner to figure out how to get from island to island. As we keep visiting new islands, we will keep updating this page!