Greece · May to October
Greek islands: which one to choose
Sunsets over the caldera, white villages and windmills, moon-like rocky beaches, Minoan palaces and green Ionian islands: Greece has more than two hundred inhabited islands. These are the most searched for, grouped so you can choose by the kind of trip you want.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
Cyclades
White houses, blue domes and plenty of wind in summer. Well connected to each other by ferry.
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GreeceSantorini
A volcano’s caldera, white villages clinging to the cliff such as Oia and Fira, black and red sand beaches and the most famous sunsets in Greece. Very busy in summer: best in May, June or September.
What to see in Santorini -
GreeceMykonos
The windmills, Little Venice at sunset, lively beaches and the best-known nightlife in the islands.
What to see in Mykonos -
GreeceNaxos
The largest of the Cyclades, with the Portara of the Temple of Apollo, long beaches and mountain villages. Very good for families.
What to see in Naxos -
GreeceParos
The fishing harbour of Naoussa, beaches for every taste and good connections with the other islands.
What to see in Paros -
GreeceMilos
The white rocks of Sarakiniko, which look like the moon, dozens of beaches and the sea caves of Kleftiko, by boat.
What to see in Milos
The big islands
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GreeceCrete
The largest Greek island: the Minoan palace of Knossos, the Samaria Gorge, beaches such as Balos and Elafonisi and the Venetian harbour of Chania. Enough for a whole trip.
What to see in Crete -
GreeceRhodes
A walled medieval city of the Knights of St John, a World Heritage Site, and the acropolis of Lindos above the sea.
What to see in Rhodes
The Ionian islands
Greener and with turquoise water, on the west coast of Greece.
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GreeceCorfu
A green island with a Venetian old town that is a World Heritage Site and coves among olive groves.
What to see in Corfu -
GreeceKefalonia
Myrtos beach between white cliffs and the underground lake of Melissani Cave.
What to see in Kefalonia -
GreeceZakynthos
Shipwreck Beach, seen from the clifftop viewpoint or by boat, and the sea turtles of Laganas Bay.
What to see in Zakynthos -
GreeceLefkada
Joined to the mainland by road, with some of the most turquoise beaches in Greece, such as Porto Katsiki.
What to see in Lefkada
Frequently asked questions
Which Greek island should you choose for a first visit?
Santorini for its scenery, combined with Naxos or Paros for beaches and a bit more calm; or Crete if you want a single island with history, mountains and beaches.
When is the best time to visit the Greek islands?
May, June and September: good weather, a warm sea and fewer people than in July and August. In winter many small islands greatly reduce their services and ferries.
How do you get around the islands?
By ferry, from the ports of Athens (Piraeus and Rafina) and between islands in the same group. The Cyclades are well connected to each other; the Ionian islands less so.
Which island is best for children?
Naxos and Paros, for their sandy beaches and calm water, and Crete, for its variety of things to do.
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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: User:Anna.Tsolidou (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.