Which Greek Island is Right for You?

Where to start?

Have you been craving stunning landscapes and coastlines, beautiful beaches, turquoise blue sea, delicious food and a wealth of culture and history? Then look no further than the Greek Islands, with something for everyone, this destination is so much more than a package holiday location. You can choose to stay on one island or include some island hopping, by yacht, ferry, or an excursion by tour boat . Visit May to October, however consider early and late season, as its quieter and still has good temperatures with plenty of sun.

While all the islands are stunning, some of them will tick your travelling checklist more than others, and with over 200 islands to choose from, especially if this is your first trip, we want to share 3 of our favourites to help you decide where to escape to.

Santorini – Iconic views – Culture – Delicious food & wine

If breath-taking vistas are your thing Santorini delivers. It’s a photographers dream with jaw-dropping views and historic buildings around every corner, plus a thriving food scene and a variety of cultural activities. This iconic, volcanic island with its tumbling, white-washed villages, bright blue domed churches and boutique cave-like hotels, high above the deep-blue Aegean Sea, is awe inspiring.

Fira, Imerovigli, Firastefani and Oia are the main caldera view towns, perched far above the sea. Its stunning, volcanic, dark-sand beaches at Perissa and steep, rugged coastal rock formations deliver idyllic views from almost anywhere on the island and the sunsets viewed from Oia are legendary. Luxury hotels are another part of Santorini’s appeal and the island is particularly popular with couples and honeymooners.

For some culture, head to Akrotiri Archaeological Site to learn more about the island’s dramatic past, long assumed to be the home of the legend of Atlantis. We recommend hopping aboard a boat for a tour of the island, and for the adventurous, grab your walking shoes and sail over to Nea Kameni island for a hike around the Volcanic crater just off Santorini.

The island is very busy during high season, but you can always escape to the beaches on the east coast or stay by the pool, with a glass of the island’s white Assyrtiko, while devouring some Saganaki (fried cheese in filo pastry covered in honey).

Corfu – Character - Lush landscapes - Blue flag beaches

Corfu is an intoxicating mix of historical monuments, Venetian history, lush hillsides, rolling olive groves, blue skies, beautiful golden sand beaches and calm, azure waters. The greenest of the Greek islands, Corfu has three million olive trees, flower-strewn countryside and Adriatic-style villages.

British and French influences can be seen in Corfu’s elegant, atmospheric Unesco World Heritage Old Town, which is definitely worth a visit, although busy with cruise passengers and day trippers. Enjoy strolling through it’s warren of cobblestone streets with pastel-coloured Venetian architecture and keep an eye out for the Statue of Georgios Theotokis, the Old Fortress, Spilias Square and Saint Spyridon Church. Stop for some delicious moussaka or souvlaki, or try some Corfiot cuisine on a foodie walking tour, if you have time. For a more cosmopolitan experience visit the Liston, a trendy boulevard of cafes and bars under arches at the edge of the old town, or the famous ‘Venetian Well’ restaurant, overlooking the beautiful Kremasti Square.

If you want to get away from it all, retreat to the swish northeast of the island and stay in one of the many charming villas, hidden among olive tree-covered slopes, where you can revel in spirit-boosting sea views. Here you will also find the beautiful bays of Nissaki, Kerasia and the picturesque Kalami Bay, a popular visitor attraction, where Lawrence Durrell once lived with his family, still resembling the landscape that he fell for in the 1930s. Make sure to visit the rock formations at beautiful Longas, dramatic Cape Drastis, Vlacherna Monastery and the stunning Canal d’Amour. Corfu has many Blue Flag beaches but the most stunning are found around Agios Stefanos and Paleokastritsa village in the northwest, the place where Odysseus disembarked and met Nausicaa for the first time.

If your looking to get away from it all, we advise you steer clear of the south, especially Kavos, which largely attracts an under-thirties club and bar crowd.

Hydra – Arts - Culture - Architecture - Heritage

The magical, laid-back island of Hydra is one of the Saronic group of islands that hug the Peloponnese shoreline, just 2 hours south of Athens, so we would recommend you combine a stay here with one in the capital. Its name is a reference to the natural springs on the island.

The 18th-century stone-built mansions and whitewashed houses cascade down the hillside around the bustling port, lined with cafés, small shops, bars, atmospheric restaurants and museums that explore its prosperous heritage.

Hydra draws in those looking for a relaxed atmosphere, culture and style, attracting celebrities and cosmopolitan Greeks from the mainland for long weekends, as a chic escape from the modern world. With cars and motorbikes banned, it’s a delightful retreat, with its beaches reached by donkey, boat or on foot.

This little gem of an island offers small, but very picturesque beaches and sparkling clear blue waters, for sunbathing , but also holds great appeal for walkers, so pack your trainers and enjoy some of the well-sign posted, 3 hour trails; such as Hydra Port to the charming fishing villages of Kamini and Vlychos, or a hill climb to the Prophet Elias Monestary with incredible panoramic views to reward your efforts.