Greece includes more than two thousand islands and each of them is beautiful in its own way. The best beaches of the Mediterranean, Templar fortresses, ancient temples and water sports: the Greek islands offer plenty of entertainment for every taste and budget. We’ll tell you which island you should choose if you:
Matala Beach, Crete
Prefer a beach holiday: Crete, Skiathos, Mykonos, Kefalonia, Lipsi
Crete is the largest island of Greece with mountains, lakes, ancient monasteries and ruins. Only in Crete there is Matala beach, surrounded by Neolithic caves, which house a historical museum and Frangokastello beach, surrounded by a 14th century Venetian fortress.
Beach on the island of Skiathos
Skiathos has 65 beaches, most of them located in coves and surrounded by olive groves. Mykonos is the Greek Ibiza, with windmills, snow-white villages, nightclubs on the coast and excellent beaches that locals call paradise: Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach.
Mykinos Island
The small island of Lipsi is located far from the mainland and is suitable for lovers of a relaxing holiday. The island has only one port town, several churches and monasteries and many good beaches in quiet bays. The island of Kefalonia is famous for its cave lake Melissani, mountain villages and the beautiful Myrtos beach, which has been awarded the international UNESCO Blue Flag beach quality certificate.
Rhodes Island
If you love history: Rhodes, Delos, Corfu, Patmos
Rhodes was the seat of the Knights of the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem 1309 to 1523. Most of the buildings in the Old Town were built during this period. On the hill stands the perfectly preserved Castle of the Grand Masters of the Order.
Island of Delos
The tiny island of Delos is a UNESCO heritage site and is an open-air museum: perfectly preserved ruins of temples, theaters and city walls. Many houses still have beautiful mosaic floors.
Island of Patmos
Corfu has been captured many times, as evidenced by the 13th-century Byzantine fortress of Angelokastro and the Venetian Old Fortress. Patmos is home to the 11th century Monastery of St. John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse. The monastery is famous for its library of thousands of medieval manuscripts, and in the cave, according to legend, the Apostle John the Theologian wrote the book of the Apocalypse in 67.
If you like sports:
There are diving schools on the islands of Crete, Corfu, Milos, Thassos and Karpathos.
Crete and Corfu are the most popular diving destinations: the water is crystal clear, there are corals, canyons and many species of fish close to the shore. Karpathos is known for its underwater caves, Thassos for its reliefs of solidified lava from an underwater volcano. Rare fish, dolphins and even seals swim in the waters of the island of Milos.
Samaria Gorge
Crete and Naxos are perfect for lovers of hiking (long walks).
There are the most routes in Crete: through the ruins of the Minoan palace of Zakrosi, through the huge Samaria gorge and through the forests of Plakias. All these trips are organized by the Greek Mountaineering Club of Hania. The plains of Naxos are dotted with ancient temple ruins, Byzantine temples and monasteries. Guided walking tours are organized by the Flisvos club.
