1. Santorini
You might feel like you’ve already been there, so famous are the iconic shots of domed white-washed houses set against bright blue sea. But it’s even better in person and you might be surprised to find that not all the beaches are pristine swathes of golden sands. Some are in fact black – the southernmost island in the Cyclades chain, Santorini is made of volcanic rock, hence the unusual colour of its dunes.
How to get to Santorini: fly directly to Santorini from Manchester, London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol and Newcastle, with easyJet and TUI.
Plan your trip to Santorini: find hotels and car hire.
2. Mykonos
While Santorini is a hotspot for canoodling lovers, Mykonos is the place to party ’til dawn. It’s a popular stop for island hoppers looking for a good time. Head to Mykonos Town for your pick of the island’s best bars and nightclubs; from classy cocktails in Caprice, to pumping dance music at Argo Bar. Looking for more tips? Here are our top 10 things to do in Mykonos.
How to get to Mykonos: Fly in the day, party at night. British Airways and easyJet have direct flights to Mykonos from London, while Thomas Cook and easyJet fly from Manchester.
Plan your trip to Mykonos: find hotels and car hire.
3. Corfu
Playwright William Shakespeare was apparently inspired by Corfu, basing Prospero’s island in The Tempest on the place. You’ll find plenty of drama in the bustling bars and nightclubs in Kavos, but head to Old Perithia in the north east to see a different side to the island. This is Corfu’s oldest village, nestled at the foot of Mount Pantokrator, surrounded by peaceful vineyards and beautiful Venetian-style ruins.
How to get to Corfu: This is one of the easiest (and most popular) islands to visit from the UK, with direct flights from 17 airports. Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Norwegian and Thomas Cook all fly to Corfu International Airport (aka Ioannis Kapodistrias). Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Corfu: find hotels and car hire.
4. Milos
Another volcanic island in the Cyclades, Milos is earning itself a reputation as a holiday hotspot with international tourists, although its turquoise water and rocky hills have been popular with locals for years. Also known as ‘the Island of Colours’, Milos is relatively quiet, compared with its bigger neighbours – and will be especially quiet following the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry – so stop by soon to enjoy its unspoilt landscape.
How to get to Milos: Part of Milos’ charm is its unspoilt nature, so it makes sense that its airport is pretty small. There are no direct flights from the UK, so the best option is to fly to Athens, then hop aboard a ferry from Piraeus.
Plan your trip to Milos: find hotels and car hire.
5. Kos
Moving over to the Dodecanese islands, Kos is the third largest in this group, after Rhodes and Karpathos. It’s also the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Lazy beach days are best enjoyed down on the south-west coast; head to Kefalos for the best selection of sandy spots to throw your towel down on.
How to get to Kos: You can fly directly to the island from 12 major UK cities, including London, Leeds, Cardiff and Glasgow. Thomas Cook, Jet2 and easyJet all run regular routes. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Kos: find hotels and car hire.
6. Crete
The largest Greek island, Crete is home to the legendary Palace of Knossos. The Bronze Age complex is considered Europe’s oldest city, dating back to 7000BC. Today, there are scores of beaches for you to top up your tan on, plenty of fun in party town Malia, and traditional tavernas tucked away in hillside villages all over the island. Make sure you try a plate of snails, steamed, fried or grilled; they’re a local delicacy.
How to get to Crete: Direct flights are generally available to Crete from over 10 major cities, including Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Birmingham. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Crete: find hotels and car hire.
7. Naxos
Possibly the greenest island in the Cyclades, Naxos’s incredible natural beauty has earned its reputation as the Hawaii of Greece. Almost 100km of white sandy beaches are lapped by incredibly clear waters. Do like Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, and find yourself a maiden to marry on Naxos, or take your own beach goddess there for a romantic retreat.
How to get to Naxos: Beautiful beaches Naxos may have, but international airports it does not. If you want to visit this idyllic island, your best bet is to fly to Santorini or Mykonos, then get the ferry across. If you want to spend a couple of days in the capital, there are also direct flights from Athens to Naxos.
Plan your trip to Naxos: find hotels and car hire.
8. Paros
A pearl in the Aegean Sea, Paros is often just a stop-off point for holidaymakers on their way to nearby Ios and Santorini, but it deserves a little bit more of your holiday time. Home to plenty of postcard perfect villages, make sure you pop in to Parikia (the main town), Lefkes and Marpissa, to name just a few, for your fill of white-washed houses and mountains of home cooked meze, the Greek version of Spanish tapas.
How to get to Paros: Once again, you can’t fly directly to the island, but don’t let that put you off: it’s an easy ferry ride from Athens, or even Santorini if you were doing some of that aforementioned island hopping.
Plan your trip to Paros: find hotels and car hire.
9. Folegandros
For an authentic slice of Greek island life head to Folegandros, where there are few distractions besides Angali Beach, Chora Town, Karavostasi Port and Ano Meria village. This little-known island escape is a great place to go hiking, but despite being a little quieter than its neighbours, Folegandros gets pretty busy in high season and accommodation fills up quickly, so make sure you book in advance.
How to get to Folegandros: Folegandros doesn’t have an airport, but it does have regular ferries to and from Santorini.
Plan your trip to Folegandros: find hotels and car hire.
10. Alonnisos
Pine forests and pebble beaches await in Alonnisos. This island in the Sporades group has become popular in recent years with jetsetters looking for a greener Greek getaway; there are many eco-resorts on the island, which means there are plenty of camp grounds where you can stay and convene with nature. Alonnisos is one big marine park, the largest in Europe, so head here if you want to see monk seals or enjoy a bit of snorkelling.
How to get to Alonnisos: Another airport-less, beautiful island. Fly to Skiathos or Athens, then get the boat across.
Plan your trip to Alonnisos: find hotels and car hire.
11. Kefalonia
The sixth-largest Greek island, Kefalonia is the place to go if you want to supersize your island experience, from wide lakes and towering mountains, to heaving plates of hummus and olives dished out in local tavernas. For humble Greek cooking, get your laughing gear around a slab of Kefalonian meat pie. It’s not exactly dainty, but it’s certainly delicious. Kefalonia also features on the big screen in the romantic war film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, starring Nicholas Cage.
How to get to Kefalonia: You can fly directly to Kefalonia from 12 UK cities, including Edinburgh, Manchester and London. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Kefalonia: find hotels and car hire.
12. Patmos
Supposedly picked by St. John as the place to pen the Book of Revelation, the caves of Patmos are a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth taking a peek at. Roam the island’s volcanic hills and swim in the azure waters – it’s the perfect spot to escape the usual package tours. The only thing likely to disrupt your peace and quiet are church and goat bells.
How to get to Patmos: The closest airports to Patmos are Leros and Kos. We’d suggest flying directly to Kos, before catching one of the daily ferries.
Plan your trip to Patmos: find hotels and car hire.
13. Hydra
This Saronic Gulf Island makes a great day trip from Athens – it’s only one and a half hours by catamaran – but there’s plenty here to keep you occupied for longer. Hit up Hydra’s Cathedral and museum, or visit one of the many local art galleries and jewellery shops. While away the afternoon in a traditional taverna in Kamini, a small village that boasts a pretty pebble beach. Local favourite, Pirofani restaurant, has been serving up souvlaki (kebabs) here for over 20 years.
Stopping by Athens? Make it into a day trip with our guide to 8 top things to do in Athens.
How to get to Hydra: You guessed it – there is no airport on Hydra. Your best bet is to fly to Athens, then set sail across the sea.
Plan your trip to Hydra: find hotels and car hire.
14. Skiathos
The smallest spot in the Sporades, Skiathos is perhaps the most stylish. Here you’ll find narrow cobbled streets lined with local artisan shops, cafés and restaurants. Gems and jewellery, hand-crafted on the island, make unique souvenirs. Apart from shopping, the other two big past-times in Skiathos are sunbathing and swimming. Do both at any one of the 60 beaches on the island – Koukounaries and Kanapista are just a couple of the best spots.
How to get to Skiathos: Fly to Skiathos from five UK cities: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham. The less time spent transferring, the more time spent on the beach. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Skiathos: find hotels and car hire.
15. Rhodes
If you were going to call a rose by any other name it might be Rhodes, a name derived from rhodon, the Greek word for this romantic flower. This bloomin’ marvellous island is packed with historical sites, such as the castle of Kritinia, a 16th century Venetian fort. In fact, there’s so much ancient history here that Rhodes’s entire city centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.
How to get to Rhodes: Jet2, TUI, Ryanair, Thomas Cook and easyJet fly directly to Rhodes, with departures from a whopping 17 UK airports. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Rhodes: find hotels and car hire.
16. Samos
Still searching for more UNESCO World Heritage sites to tick off your bucket list? Sail over to Samos, the birthplace of famous mathematician Pythagoras, and see the Temple of Hera, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus’s wife and sister. Samos is also a brilliant spot for hiking and mountain biking; there are more than 45 trails for you to choose from.
How to get to Samos: Save the biking for when you arrive – the only trail you need to follow is to the airport, since you can fly directly to Samos from London. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Samos: find hotels and car hire.
17. Ios
This once-hippy hangout is now the place to party in the Greek islands, making it popular with all the bright young things looking for fun in the sun. The best way to explore Ios is on two wheels, preferably motorised, as it’s quite hilly. Hire a scooter and go exploring all the hidden coves and bays – say hello to Homer as you ride past his tomb, which is also located here.
How to get to Ios: There is no airport on Ios, but if you fly to Athens or Santorini, you’ll be able to get a ferry across.
Plan your trip to Ios: find hotels and car hire.
18. Zakynthos (Zante)
Navagio beach on the island of Zante is one of the most photographed in Greece. The wreckage found here was a smuggler ship which lost power and washed up on this beautiful bay back in 1981. Other picture-perfect beaches to visit are Gerakas, a large nesting site for loggerhead turtles, and Tsilivi, great for families with a range of watersports on offer.
How to get to Zakynthos: This island is well-served by its international airport. Fly direct from 14 UK airports, travel restrictions permitting. Keep an eye on our list of flight change and cancellation policies to check latest route information.
Plan your trip to Zakynthos: find hotels and car hire.
19. Skopelos
The largest island in the Sporades, stunning Skopelos is covered in rocky hills and pebble beaches. With just one main road on the island, you’re bound to end up in the main town which is also where most of the accommodation is. Get out to Glossa to see traditional houses and views across the water to neighbouring Skiathos.
How to get to Skopelos: Skiathos airport is the closest to Skopelos. Once you’ve landed, take a ferry to the island – it should only take about 30 minutes.
Plan your trip to Skopelos: find hotels and car hire.
20. Amorgos
Have an adventure on Amorgos and enjoy its unspoilt beauty. Take a hike and cross the island via various scenic trails, hitch a ride on donkey or hire a car. Whichever mode of transport you choose, have a look at Hozoviotissa Monastery, clinging to the cliff edge above the dazzling blue sea. In fact, the water here is so blue, it featured in the 1988 French film The Big Blue.
How to get to Amorgos: Santorini airport is the closest, or you can fly to Athens. Either way, you’re looking at a ferry journey (but a very picturesque one at that).
Plan your trip to Amorgos: find hotels and car hire.
Soon we’ll be able to travel to island retreats again. Where else should you go?
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Original article by Sara Izzi for Skyscanner.
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