Mykonos and Santorini may be the obvious stars of the show, but the scattered isles of Greece play host to plenty of other headline acts. From the Cyclades to the Dodecanese and across to the Ionian, each island group had its standout attractions to put it on any must-visit list. Their secret is diversity; no matter what type of sunshine-filled holiday you seek, you’ll find it among the forest-backed beaches of Skiathos, the car-free calm of Hydra, the clifftop vistas of Santorini or the non-stop buzz of Mykonos.
Main photo: Navagio Beach in Zante (Getty Images)
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1. Crete
Best for variety
As Greece’s biggest island, Crete essentially ticks every box. It has sandy beaches, serious mountains and myth-laden archaeological sites, plus accommodation from boutique hotels to all-inclusive resorts with sports facilities and kids’ clubs. Its southerly position gives it the longest summer of any Greek island, not to mention some of the warmest winters in Europe. From built-up seafronts to pristine coves, there are shores to suit every sun-seeker alongside mountains and gorges for active pursuits or the palace at Knossos for antiquity buffs. Find the best of all worlds at Asterion Suites & Spa: a boutique retreat with design-led rooms and an excellent Cretan restaurant that’s close to historic Chania and touristy Platanias with its shops, bars and restaurants.
2. Skiathos
Best for beautiful beaches
Petite Skiathos punches above its weight in terms of coastal chic. Home to some of Greece’s most picture-perfect beaches, this is a place where bottle-green pines descend from the hilly interior to meet the Aegean, casting natural shade for bohemian days beside the sea. Four of the island’s best beaches — Big Banana, Little Banana, Ampelakia and legendary Koukounaries — lie within walking distance of Elivi Skiathos, making this high-end hideaway an ideal place to stay. Mix things up with trips into Skiathos Town, whose harbour-view cocktail bars and gourmet restaurants are the scene of lively street parties pretty much every summer night.
3. Corfu
Best for lush landscapes
Easily reached via direct flights from Britain, Corfu is one of the greenest Greek isles. Beyond its rugged slopes dressed in olive trees, pencil-thin cypresses and some 400 types of wildflower, this Ionian island is scattered with nearly 60 stunning beaches and hidden coves. Dassia and Kontokali are a hit for family holidays, or try wilder Rovinia: accessible only by boat or on foot. For a cultural fix, head to Corfu Town and its hotchpotch of Venetian, British, French and Greek architecture, history and cuisine. Or get away from it all by checking into peaceful Olivar Suites — complete with a beach bar and 300-year-old olive grove.
4. Rhodes
Best for families
Rhodes is by far the best Greek island for families. As well as calm beaches offering safe swimming, there are oodles of days out away from the sand and plenty of convenient flights from the UK. In mythology, this was the island of the sun god Helios, a statue of whom (the Colossus of Rhodes) was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Roman, Ottoman and Venetian occupations have all left their mark on Rhodes Town, one of the most atmospheric island capitals in Greece. Not travelling with kids? Stay at adult-only Sentido Port Royal Villas & Spa, whose position on a headland gives it both sunrise and sunset views.
5. Mykonos
Best for summer hedonism
Mykonos has been the Aegean’s top spot for the jet set since the 1960s, when Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly and — perhaps most famously — Jackie Onassis all holidayed here. Today’s high-rollers splash cash at expensive beach clubs such as Nammos and Scorpios, but if that’s not your scene there are plenty of spots where the lunch bill won’t make your eyes water. Come the evening, attention turns to gorgeous Mykonos Town, which is also home to Semeli Hotel — a luxurious retreat with gourmet dining, friendly staff and a lovely pool that’s only a ten-minute walk from the waterfront and its famous windmills.
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6. Lefkada
Best for ferry-free island-hopping
You don’t have to be a seafarer to consider a trip to Lefkada. This Ionian isle can be reached from the mainland by driving over a floating bridge, which makes it super-straightforward to access from nearby Preveza’s airport. Unspoiled mountains, untouched villages and plenty of adventurers await (such as world-class windsurfing and sailing off stunning beaches). Explore it all from the comfortable base of Papadria Villas, whose three contemporary units on a private compound, near a beach and lively Lefkada Town, come with a pool, outdoor dining and support from a concierge team.
7. Santorini
Best for romantic retreats
Sugar-cube houses, blue-domed churches and epic volcano views: is it any wonder that Santorini is such an enduring Greek icon? From sunsets in Oia and nights out in Fira to lazy days by your own private plunge pool, this is an island that’s best experienced à deux. Sure, there are beach hotels on the island’s gentler eastern shore, but the most memorable Santorini stays are in cave hotels carved into the flooded caldera’s steep cliffs. Among the many options is Ikies Santorini, whose 13 luxury suites on the fringes of Oia have exquisite sea views.
8. Hydra
Best for car-free cool
In-the-know Athenians love Hydra, an unrushed island that’s close to the city (just two hours away by ferry). Its one town has been inspiring artists and writers since the 1950s, including Leonard Cohen (who wrote Bird on the Wire here) and has long drawn famous faces ranging from pop stars to Princess Diana, earning it the nickname of the “St Tropez of Greece”. The town’s stone mansions and whitewashed houses cascade down to the port, which is free from the noise of cars and motorbikes (both are banned here). Stay shoreside at Mandraki Beach Resort, a five-star boutique property beside a bay.
9. Skopelos
Best for Abba fans
Sand may be comfortable to lie on, but if you’re not a fan of it getting into everything you own, the pebble beaches of Skopelos are for you. Better still, the absence of sand means that the sea is clear and aquamarine, making for incredibly memorable dips. Though best known as a setting for the movie Mamma Mia!, the island thrills for its two red-roofed towns, Skopelos Town and Glossa, and an interior that’s emerald with forests. Stay in step with nature by booking into Natura Luxury Boutique Hotel, where rooms come dressed in earthy tones and up-to-date furnishings.
10. Kefalonia
Best for spotting sea turtles
Home to Myrtos Beach and the setting for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Kefalonia has to be one of the best Greek islands to visit. Beyond lazy days at its busy beach resorts or sleepy villas tucked into the countryside, there are ruined villages to explore (a legacy of the 1953 earthquake) and, in Argostoli, the chance to spot loggerhead turtles swimming in the harbour. The unhurried approach to island life lends itself to relaxing escapes: an ethos that’s fully embodied at F Zeen Retreat, an adult-only haven with its own spa, open-air cinema and private-access beach.
11. Symi
Best for yesteryear appeal
This rocky Dodecanese island of former boat-builders, merchants and sponge-divers was once the wealthiest in the archipelago. Today it’s home to just one-tenth of its 19th-century population, but numbers swell with day-trippers arriving by ferry from nearby Rhodes. Peace returns when they depart, save for the laughter and tinkling of glasses on the waterfront of Gialos and the upper village of Chorio, whose labyrinth of narrow streets was designed to befuddle sea pirates. Symi’s horseshoe bay and neoclassical buildings in sorbet shades are lovely. One such mansion has been reborn as the 1900 Hotel, whose vintage elements and charming ambience feel from another era.
12. Zante
Best for that world-famous shipwreck
It south-coast resorts may be known for cheap drinks and an all-night party scene, but Zante (or Zakynthos) is magical to visit. Its biggest beach, Laganas, is home to the loudest built-up resort, but even here there are surprises in the form of a National Marine Park. There’s another, more famous beach at the other end of the island, however: Navagio, upon whose white pebbles sits a picturesque shipwreck that’s one of the most iconic images of Greece. Equally memorable is the food at Anadalis, one of Zante’s best restaurants, located in the seaside resort of Argasi’s Windmill Bay Hotel.
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