Information about Greek islands
I am German and live mainly in Crete, my adopted home. On this page we have put together the most important tips for a trip to the Greek islands. I want to help people who want to explore the islands on their own.
Greece is characterized above all by its maritime character. Nevertheless, geographers consider it to be a mountainous country. The highest peak in the country is Mount Olympus, which stands at a proud 2,917 meters. This creates an exciting mix of landscapes. Add to this the ancient city of Athens, the capital of Greece, which is bursting with history and culture.
The climate in Greece is characterized by humid and mild winters and dry and hot summers, making it just as appealing to holidaymakers as the delicious Greek wine. Typical of Greece are also the characteristic olive trees, as well as cypresses and pines. At higher altitudes, chestnut, oak and elm forests are also common. There are also a total of 19 winter sports areas in the country’s mountains, which at first glance might not be expected of the country. Greek cuisine is also well-known and popular, consisting mostly of hearty and oily dishes with minced meat, grilled meat or fish. It is often served with potatoes, rice or local vegetables.
There are several thousand islands in Greece. Of these, more than 100 are permanently inhabited.The largest, with almost one million inhabitants, is Crete.The smallest inhabited Greek islands are only a few km² in size and have only a handful of inhabitants.In this online travel guide, I have compiled information about the 70 or so most important islands. They are all islands to which ferries run regularly.Around 30 islands also have an airport.All of them have flight connections with Athens.Around 15 of the Greek islands can be reached directly by plane from Germany during the season.The season is roughly from April to October; the tourist season is somewhat shorter in the northern islands of Greece than in the south of the country.
Most of the islands in Greece are sparsely populated and have beautiful beaches. On many of them you can still find your own deserted dream beach. The Greek coasts are nowhere near as crowded as in Spain or Italy. No wonder the country has a coastline of more than 13,000 km, mainly thanks to the many Greek islands. That is more than twice as much as the much larger country of Italy and almost four times as much as Spain.
Large-scale package tourism is only available on the Greek islands with charter flights direct from Central Europe. Individual tourists and backpackers predominate on the other islands. They usually visit several islands in one vacation – a so-called island-hopping vacation.
This is mainly due to the widely scattered islands in the Aegean, the sea between Greece and Turkey. Most of the islands can be reached by modern ferries from Piraeus, the port of Athens. Ferries also run between the islands, although not between all Greek islands and often not every day. Ferries often leave smaller islands in the middle of the night. If you want to visit several islands in one vacation, you need to plan your trip carefully. The Cyclades and the Dodecanese are good for such a vacation with island hopping. There are particularly many passenger ships traveling between the islands. Nowadays, many Greeks prefer to travel by plane. Flights to the islands are cheap from Athens. Here, too, there are many flights to and from Athens, but only a few between the individual islands.
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The majority of the Greek islands are in the Aegean Sea, the part of the Mediterranean between Greece and Turkey. These include the Cyclades and Dodecanese island groups. Well-known Aegean islands here include Rhodes, Kos, Santorini, Mykonos and Paros. Other Greek islands, such as Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, are located off the west coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea. Crete, in the south of the country between Europe and Africa, is by far the largest island in Greece. |
Our top 10 Greek islands
Santorini – Famous for its whitewashed houses with blue domes and spectacular sunsets.
Crete – The largest Greek island with a mix of beaches, ancient ruins and the Samaria Gorge.
Mykonos – A cosmopolitan island with a lively nightlife and picturesque windmills.
Rhodes – Rhodes combines medieval flair in the old town with beautiful beaches and over 300 days of sunshine a year.
Corfu – A green island with Venetian flair and beautiful bays.
Zakynthos – Famous for Navagio Beach with its shipwreck and turquoise waters.
Naxos – Ideal for families, with long sandy beaches and a rich history.
Paros – Popular with windsurfers and known for its charming villages.
Kos – Combines beaches with ancient sites and a lively atmosphere.
Milos – A volcanic island with unique rock formations and tranquil bays.
Hotels Greek islands
There are many thousands of hotels on the islands of Greece. In our opinion, the best overview can be found at Booking.com. Here you can sort the accommodation by price or only display accommodation on a specific island. The hotels can be booked quickly and easily on Booking.com, and there are also many vacation apartments.
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