Greece, a country renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, is also home to some of the most beautiful and diverse islands in the world. From the crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches to the ancient ruins and traditional villages, the Greek islands provide an idyllic escape for every kind of visitor. Whether you're exploring the lush, green landscapes of the Ionian Islands, the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Cyclades, the historical treasures of the Dodecanese, or the serene beauty of the Saronic and North Aegean islands, Greece's island clusters promise an unforgettable journey through some of the Mediterranean's most enchanting destinations.
With over 6000 islands, of which 227 are inhabited, choosing which island meets your needs can be quite overwhelming. However. the islands are split into groups, or clusters, and each group offers its own unique charm and attractions, making them a haven for traveler's seeking varied experiences. Choosing a cluster is much easier and then you can drill into the cluster to find the right island for you, and within each cluster you will find large islands, iconic and popular islands, small islands and secluded islands.
When people think of the Greek Islands they then to think of white-washed houses, hot tubs with a view and blue domed churches. But that is not actually the case! So, I thought it would be a great opportunity to debunk the myth and give you a breakdown of the island clusters in Greece. This will help you get a better understanding of the various islands the country offers, and help you pin down the island you would like to visit on your next getaway to Greece.
If you already know which island you want to visit, check out the My Greek Island Podcast available on all podcast platforms for dedicated episodes related to any destination of interest, where George and I expand in more detail.
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With over 6000 islands, of which 227 are inhabited, choosing which island meets your needs can be quite overwhelming.
The map below briefly outlines the main clusters Greece offers; The Ionian islands, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the North Aegean islands, the Sporades, and the two independent islands Evia and Crete. Keep reading to find out more about each one.
Ionian Islands
These islands are located on the west coast of Greece, close to Italy and are known for lush greenery and Venetian architecture. One of the islands included in this cluster, i.e. Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is home to one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. The Ionian islands include Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Ithaca and are extremely popular islands for sailing as well as visiting independently. These islands are also sometimes referred to as the Seven islands (In Greek Eptanisa), with the seventh island in the cluster being Kythera which is much more distant that the remaining islands in the Group and administratively belongs to Attica. This island offers a domestic airport and is also the only island in the group connected to Athens port of Piraeus.
The easiest way to reach the Ionian islands is to fly directly as three of the islands offer international airports (Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos) and another in close proximity (Preveza).
All airports during the summer months enjoy many direct flights from multiple destinations, mainly from Europe throughout the summer months.
These islands are not connected by boat to Athens, but instead are connected to ports on the western coast of mainland Greece, Italy and the neighbouring islands.
Dedicated podcast episodes for Kefalonia, Lefkada and Kythera (Part 1 and Part 2) available on all podcast platforms.Cyclades
The Cyclades are the most popular and touristic islands in Greece. The cluster is located in the center of the Aegean and is well known for its white-washed buildings, blue-domed churches, and stunning beaches. They include a large number of islands with many being very near each other and well connected making it very easy (and very popular) to island hop.
Notable islands in this cluster include Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Tinos, Kythnos, Sifnos, Serifos, Syros, the small Cyclades, Folegandros, Milos and the list goes on and on. The most popular islands in this cluster (i.e. Mykonos, Santorini) offer an international airport, some others offer domestic airports (Naxos, Paros, Syros) and all islands can be reached by boat from the ports in Athens of Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio and from neighbouring islands.
Since island hopping is quite popular in the Cyclades, if you plan to drive and have a car and want to island hop here, it might make sense to take a car with you from Athens. That is, pick up and drop off at the airport in Athens and have the car with you from beginning to end. I have done this twice when I island hopped in the Cyclades and I must admit the ease of driving onto the boat with the luggage in the boot really made things easier (despite me being a light traveller). f that is something which works for you make sure to listen to our podcast episode with a local car rental company Cosmorent and sign up to our patreon (paid or free) to unlock the MGI Cosmorent discount code.
Dedicated podcast episodes for Santorini, Syros, Sifnos, Serifos, Kythnos, Folegandros available on all podcast platforms. Argo-Saronic Islands
The Argo-Saronic islands (often referred to also as just the Saronic islands) are located close to the main city of Athens, are popular for short getaways and some can even be visited just for the day. They include islands like Aegina, Hydra, Poros, and Spetses and due to their close proximity to Athens, many Athenians have holiday homes on these islands. These islands are untouched by mass tourism, and some are even car free. If driving is not for you check out the dedicated podcast episode and the blog post Exploring the Greek Islands; Top Destinations for Non-Drivers.
A perfect combination is with the capital city of Athens and they can be reached from the main port in Athens of Piraeus and neighbouring islands. For those of you who choose to combine your holiday with the city of Athens, make sure to check out our dedicated podcast episode 48 Hours in Athens and download our corresponding guide (e-map) which includes all information mentioned on the episode and additionally some of my favourite things to do.
This guide can be downloaded for free using the discount code offered to all patreon members (paid or free)
Dedicated podcast episodes on Islands close to Athens, Top Greek Islands without a car, Agkistri available on all podcast platforms.North Aegean Islands
As the name implies, these islands are located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. They are known for their diverse landscapes, historical sites, and rich culture. The cluster includes islands such as Thasos, Lemnos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria and the last three are sometimes also referred to as Eastern Sporades.
Many people tend to skip these islands as they are not the easiest to reach to and they are quite spaced out. This however means that they are untouched by mass tourism and have managed to maintain their unique character and traditions. The island Samos offers an international airport, while Lemnos, Chios and Ikaria offer a domestic airport. All islands are connected to ports in Athens, Thessaloniki, Kavala and neighbouring islands.
Dodecanese
This group of islands is located between the Cyclades and Turkey and is known for medieval architecture, ancient ruins, and beautiful beaches. The islands here enjoy long dry summers and some are perfect for after peak season. The cluster includes islands such as Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, and Karpathos and many small islands such as Symi, Tilos and Kasos.
To reach these islands you can either fly to one of the islands with an international airport (e.g. Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos), fly to an island with a domestic airport (Kasos, Astypalaia, Kastellorizo), or take a boat from a port in Athens, Thessaloniki or a neighbouring island. If you plan to take a boat from Athens, note that the journey will be long, sometimes reaching over 20 hours. This only makes sense if you are taking your own car with you.
Dedicated podcast episode on Karpathos available on all podcast platforms.Sporades
This island cluster is located to the west of the North Aegean islands and is known for the green landscapes, marine parks, and beautiful beaches, some with gold sands and green waters. The name actually means "scattered", which holds true for most island clusters other than the Cyclades, and includes islands such as Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, and Skyros.
The island of Skiathos became extremely popular after the filming of movie Mamma Mia, although many scenes of the movie were also filmed on the island of Skopelos. To reach these islands you can either fly to the international airport of Skiathos, to the domestic airport of Skyros or take a boat from one of the ports on the eastern coast of Greece, like Volos, Agios Konstantinos and ports in Evia.
Evia
Other than the above island clusters, two islands sit independently due to their size. The first is Evia, which is the second largest island in Greece and is connected to the mainland by two bridges. Evia is known for its diverse landscape with mountains, forests, rivers and long coastline. Evia is also known for its production in wine and is home to wineries included in the 50 Greet Greek Wines. The island can be reached by car, by ferry and by bus and can be visited outside the peak months too.
Crete
The last island that sits independently is the island of Crete, the largest Greek island known for its diverse landscape, ancient ruins, gastronomy and vibrant cities. Key surrounding Islands include Chrysi, Gavdos, Gramvousa, Elafonisi and Spinalonga, with Gavdos being the southernmost point of Europe.
Crete is the only island which offers three airports, two of which are international airports (Chania and Heraklion). Due to its size, Crete is an island which needs at least a week for each region. The island offers four regions, Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi. If you plan to visit the region of Chania, make sure to check out the dedicated podcast episodes and blog post Chania - My Eternal Paradise.
Dedicated podcast episodes Chania and Chania Q&A available on all podcast platforms.Book Me
Do you need help deciding where to go in Greece? Book a travel consultation session with me and I will help you narrow it down to a destination. Prior to the consultation, a questionnaire will need to be completed. During the session we will discuss the questionnaire and your needs and post the consultation, an overview of the destination proposed will be provided with key information and an e-map with places of interests and other tips and tricks.
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