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Your Ultimate Guide to Island-Hopping in Greece

Greek islands have been popular tourist destinations for centuries. Even today, Greek islands are considered an exquisite and relaxing holiday destination by many. In fact, we have heard stories of tourists who visited Greek islands such as Crete and stayed put there, refusing to leave. If you wanted to remain in Crete for the entirety of your stay, then you may be interested in looking at potentially renting a vehicle. Hiring a car on your holiday could offer you an alternative way to explore Crete easily. You might want to look at somewhere like Rental Center Crete for example. However, if you do want to explore different islands in Greece, then we are here to help you plan the perfect Greek island hopping itinerary effortlessly! In fact, how can you spend a better time than island-hopping in Greece?

Greek Sailing Holidays:

Heading to Greece for a sailing holiday? It’s really is not as difficult as it may initially sound. Greece is the perfect destination for sailing, whether you are interested in the picturesque beaches of the Ionian Islands, the ports and bays of the Sporades Islands or the stunning Cyclades. Click here to plan your Flotilla Holiday in Greece on a private yatch for a truly luxurious experience, set out to discover new islands.

Greek Island Groups:

Before you narrow down the islands you want to hop on, you should understand more about the different island groups in Greece and what makes them distinctive:

  • Ionian Islands:
    This group is located towards the Western side, in the Ionian Sea, which is in the zone of the Adriatic Sea near Italy. The islands that comprise of this group are Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada, Corfu, Paxoi and Antipaxoi. These are popular because of the lush flora, leafy nature, Italian-style buildings and picturesque beaches with turquoise waters.
  • Cyclades
    If a group of Islands had to be awarded for being breathtakingly gorgeous, it would be Cyclades. Situated towards the southern side of Greece, right in the middle of the Aegean Sea, these islands are paradisiacal in their beauty. The most popular ones in the southern region are Kythnos, Kea, Serifos, Santorini, Amorgos and Anafi.

 

The group of Western Cyclades includes Sifnos, Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros and Sikinos. In the middle, one can find Mykonos, Paros, Syros, Ios and Naxos. Cyclades are known for their wild nature, hefty wind, bright sun rays, white villages, rich history and impressive archaeological structures.

  • Dodecanese
    This group includes the islands of Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Kastelorizo, Chalki, Nisyros, Kos, Leipsoi, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Patmos, Arkioi, Telendos and Farmakonisi. These islands are loved for the warm hospitality of the local population, the deep blue water, architectural remains from the Neoclassical era and the crucial sites of historical importance here.
  • Northern Aegean Islands
    The islands of Chios, Lesvos, Samos, Ikaria, Fournoi, Psara, Limnos, Agios Eustratios and Oinousses in northern Aegean Sea are very popular too. While some of these are hotspots for tourists, a few are known for being glorious destinations of utmost peace and serenity.
  • Saronic Islands
    This group is located in proximity to Athens and hardly takes an hour or 2 via ferry or boat. Some of the famous islands here include Aegina, Agkistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses and you will enjoy the lush flora, pine trees, clear-as-gin sea waters, sites of historical importance and the beautiful harbours.
  • Sporades
    The group located in the Pagasetic Gulf in proximity to the town of Volos in Thessaly is known for its traditional feel, picturesque beaches and warm sea waters. Some of these include Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros.

Choosing your route:

The number of options that we have mentioned above might put you in a state of frenzy! Choosing which islands to hop and deciding the route is definitely the only hard part about this trip! But, this is why we are here to help you with this process!

Popular routes for your reference:

A multitude of tourists begin their journey from Syros/Naxos. We will recommend you a couple of routes, which will only be useful if you spend a minimum of a week traveling between these islands. You can start from Syros, head to Tinos, then Mykonos, Leros, Rhodes, Kos, Santorini and end your fabulous tour in Anafi. Another option is to start from Naxos, then to Paros, Santorini, Amorgos, Astypalaia, Ios, and an ending in Folegandros. However, if you do not have a week or two in hand, then make sure you visit the two most popular islands of Mykonos and Santorini, that have direct ferry connections from Athens.

Favourite Islands:

The two most popular Greek islands are Mykonos and Santorini, owing to the beautiful landscape as well as easy connectivity to Athens. Mykonos is a quaint little fishing village that looks dainty in white during the day and is a party hub at night with tourists from across the globe thronging there. Santorini is where you head for the ‘postcard perfect’ pictures and idle villages.

Apart from these two, another favourite includes Hydra because of its cozy ambience, accessible beaches, and easy accessibility to Athens. While each distinctive island in Greece has an identity and features of its own, most offer identical features of a rugged old fishing village, with picturesque beaches and sunbeds on hire, an overflowing amount of hotels and taverns to cater to the influx of tourists. No matter which island you choose, you will spend a fabulous time hopping between the gorgeous Greek islands.

A few tips to be kept in mind:

  • You cannot forget the fact that Greece is one of the most popular spots for vacationing, especially during the months of July to September. Prefer booking your boat tickets at least 3 months prior to your day of travelling. Moreover, consider booking your accommodation in advance as well.
  • The prices for services apart from your accommodation (such as meals, car services, etc.) also shoot up during the peak season. If you want to save some money, you can consider visiting right before or after the peak season.
  • Make sure you have all the basic gadgets that your require while traveling. Most people forget basic things such as a travel adaptor, which will leave you powerless during your travels! Purchase a handy adaptor like the NT580 by Longrich, which has 4 interchangeable plugs and works in more than 150 countries.

With the aforesaid guide in hand, you can be sure of making the most of your island hopping holiday in Greece

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