This summer I went to the Greek Islands for the first time, and they were all that I imagined and more!
Sometimes you get this impression that the photos you see of certain destinations on Instagram and in Travel Brochures are just snapshots of perfectly staged moments in time that won’t reflect the reality. But the Greek Islands are nothing like that. The seaside villages are cuter, the sea is bluer, the flowers are more vibrant and the beaches are more beautiful than you could ever anticipate. It’s as if stunning photo opportunities lie around every corner.
Which Greek island group to visit?
For first timers to Greece you can’t go past the Cyclades island group- these islands keep international tourists and locals coming back for more year after year. They’re easily accessible by ferry from Athens or you can choose to fly directly into some of the islands such as Mykonos and Santorini. The Cyclades also offer a little bit of something for everyone- from swimming and water sports to wine tasting & culinary experiences along with much to delight history & architecture buffs alike.
How many Greek Islands to visit?
There are about 220 islands in the Cyclades but never fear, many aren’t inhabited and in terms of islands worth visiting there are only around 20 to choose from. That may still seem like too much choice but as a general rule three is the perfect number. Narrowing it down to three islands allows you to seek out a variety of different experiences from the islands that you choose, whilst making sure you have time to truly enjoy each place.
How long to stay in the Cyclades?
Generally ferries between different islands take a couple of hours minimum so you want to ensure you have at least three nights on bigger islands like Naxos, Paros or Milos, though you can get away with only two nights in places like Ios, Santorini and Mykonos that are a bit smaller. Depending on how much time you have available and whether you are wanting to spend any time in Athens at the start or end of your trip you can look to spend anything from 8 to 14 days in the Cyclades in total. Any shorter than a week and you will probably feel a bit shortchanged. Interestingly health and wellbeing peak on the 8th day of vacation, so don’t rush your Greek island experience.
Which islands to visit in the Cyclades?
People will always rave about islands like Santorini, Mykonos and Ios and it is worth visiting at least one of the above. I’d suggest Ios or Mykonos if you’d like to experience some of the party life or Santorini if you like wine, archaeological sites or simply stunning volcanic landscapes. However these three islands are very popular so if you tend to cringe at mass tourism like me and start to long to escape the hordes then it’s worth adding two other, more relaxing islands like Paros, Milos, Naxos or Sifnos. You’re best to choose your islands based on your particular interests as they are all a little different in terms of the activities that are available. But personally we opted for Paros, Santorini & Milos and found that it was the perfect mix. Paros has really stunning Cycladic architecture – think white washed walls and bright blue roofs – while Milos has some of the most beautiful and unique beaches to be found in this part for the world.
When to book your holiday to the Greek Islands?
Ideally aim to book your flights at least 6 months or more in advance to get the best deals, particularly for the height of the summer season. Ryanair and Wizz air are the companies to look out for when it comes to cheap flights. The earlier you can book your accommodation the better but up to about three months out you should still find decent options that aren’t too ridiculously expensive. Finally when it comes to ferries you can buy tickets on the day if you are travelling outside of the high season but it’s worth booking them a couple of weeks in advance if you are travelling in June, July or August.
So there you have it, all the tips you’ll need to start designing your ideal Cycladic Island getaway!
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