Greek Island Dreams: A List of the Most Beautiful and Unforgettable Islands to Visit

Greece is a fantastic destination to visit in Europe. While in mainland Greece you have monuments and the ancient city of Athens, on the Greek Islands, you can enjoy picturesque villages and beautiful natural landscapes. The sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and breathtaking sunsets in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian Islands will win over anyone's heart.. And travel budget!

iVisa prepared a list of the best Greek Islands to help you with your itinerary. Keep reading this blog for the most recommended Greek islands to visit and all the tips you need to live the trip of your dreams!

Destinations: 10 best Greek Islands

There are 6,000 islands and islets in the Greek territory. In the East, the beautiful Ionian islands; in the West, there are numerous islets in the Aegean Sea; and in the South, the largest Greek Island: Crete, in the Mediterranean Sea.

You can explore the sea caves, enjoy scuba diving in shallow waters, sunbathe on the best European beaches, or visit ancient ruins. These fantastic attractions are waiting for you! Learn about the most popular islands in Greece and prepare yourself for this unforgettable experience!

1. Santorini and its beautiful beaches

This volcanic island is one of the favorite destinations for honeymoons in Greece. The eruption 3,500 years ago gave the city dramatic hillsides, providing amazing views. You can count on black-sand beaches, vertiginous cliffs, and a sea lake to bathe peacefully. Ensure you visit the archaeological sites of the Minoan old town and Venetian Castle of Akrotiri, take a boat trip to the crater of Nea Kameni, and visit the hot springs. Also, don’t miss the delicious local white wine.

2. Mykonos

Mykonos is one of the best Greek Islands if you want to have fun and party. The place is full of trendy restaurants, lively parties, and luxurious hotels. You will enjoy delicious drinks in the beach bars and live your best life! The Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, and Elia Beach are some of the most popular spots in the Cyclades Islands, especially during the high season (July-October). In addition to all the fun, there’s always a chance to see celebrities around here living their best lives!

3. The sandy beaches of Crete

The home of Zeus is a powerful place to visit in Greece. Located on the South coast, Crete is the largest island in Greece, offering a lot to explore. It’s a treasure for those who love history: the Minoan palace of Knossos and Aptera and Malia’s ruins are unique sights worth visiting.

Here you'll have sunshine and pleasant weather year-round. This means you can enjoy crystal clear waters in the shoulder season, having better prices and fewer crowds. The best beaches are Ligres, Sougia, or Kedrodassos. In addition to the stunning beach views, you have the olive groves landscapes. The tiny territory has great olive trees, so ensure you try the olive oil and other local ingredients in a local Crete restaurant.

4. Naxos

Naxos offers a family-friendly experience in the Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna shallow and calm waters. However, if you are looking for water sports and adventure, you can visit the Mikri Vigla, a perfect beach for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Enjoy the traditional villages with excellent restaurants.

This inhabited island once had significant agricultural activities. Nowadays, the local productions you must try are the kitron, the local citron liqueur, at the Vallindras distillery, and the homemade red wine and cheese in Ano Potamia village.

5. Ios

This is one of the must-see Cycladic Islands, including Naxos and Santorini among the surrounding islands. The beautiful cliffs down to the sea on most sides, provide a stunning view. In addition to the fantastic beaches, it’s a lively party scene, known for its vivid nightlife. So it's quite a trendy spot for young travelers on vacation.

6. Paros

Paros is also one of the best Greek islands to visit in the Aegean Sea. It’s a short ferry ride from Santorini, Mykonos, or Naxos, so you can enjoy a day-trip to this destination. Paros doesn't have the overwhelming crowds of the neighboring islands, but you can count on splendid golden-sand beaches, charming towns, and a lovely port city. You can also enjoy excellent local restaurants with fresh ingredients. The must-see monument here is the preserved Monastery of Panayia Ekatontapiliani.

7. Milos

Tourists are exploring this destination in the Cyclades little by little, making the mining industry gradually give space to tourism. The island has undulating white cliffs and offers beaches of yellow, white, red, and black pebbles. The water has beautiful sapphire and turquoise colors. The must-visit spots are the port town of Adamas and the charming fishing village of Pollonia.

8. Rhodes

Rhodes is one of Greece's top travel destinations. It has sandy beaches with an excellent infrastructure of lively bars, high-rise resorts, and fantastic family-run restaurants. In addition to its natural beauty, it has a lot of history to see. You can visit Byzantine churches, synagogues, Roman ruins, and minarets. The most remarkable site is the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes, the place was a base for the Order of Saint John Knights, who defended the territory against invading Turks.

9. Symi

A bit far from Greece’s mainland, the Symi is a unique little island near Turkey. Magnificent undulating towns and stunning beaches are confirmed attractions. You must visit the preserved (only accessible by boat or on foot) beaches of Ayios Yorgos Disalonas, with monumental cliffs, and Marathounda, where you can easily see wild goats roaming freely. There are also more than 100 monasteries to explore among the pine forests.

10. Zakynthos (also known as Zante)

Zakynthos is Greece's Greenest Island, located in the Ionian Sea. The Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach are the most famous sights to see. Other great places to enjoy sand and sea are the little Xigia, with its bubbling underwater springs, and the Porto Limnionas, with sunbeds wedged between the rocks. The mountain villages have amazing forests, great for hikes and bikes. Starting from Zakynthos, you can also visit other Ionian Islands on the West Coast.

Are you ready to feel like youre in a Mamma Mia movie? Learn more about this fantastic destination in our Greece Travel Guide, such as transport, weather, and more places to visit. What are you waiting for?

Do you need a Visa to travel to Greece?

No matter if you will visit an archipelago in the Saronic Gulf or the Sporades Islands. You may need to apply for the Greece Schengen Visa if a visa is required to enter the country for your nationality. This visa was introduced to improve security in the entire Schengen area. Use our Visa Checker Tool to see if it’s available for you.

The Schengen area encompasses 26 European countries. Once you have the [Greece Schengen Visa](), you can travel freely within these countries, for up to 90 days within a 180 days period.

The visa is designed for tourism, business, or family purposes. You can count on iVisa guidance and services to make this process straightforward and hassle-free

[Apply now]() with iVisa and be ready to explore these too-good-to-be-true Greek Islands!