Greece Tours Guide explore greece, all the times

Greek Main Islands Information

Greece is known for its large number of islands. Millions of people spend their holidays in Greece as the country is famous for the warm weather, the wonderful beaches and the beautiful natural landscape. Particularly popular are the Greek islands rather than the mainland.

Every island differs from any other for its own beauty and charm. There are Greek islands for every type of character: remote and quiet islands, touristy, Greek party islands, unspoilt Greek islands, romantic and many other types, so you will surely choose the best for you to enjoy your perfect vacations.

The most popular islands of Greece are: Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Corfu, Ios, Naxoas, Sifnos, Skiathos, Crete, Rhodes and many others. All propose a large selection of hotels and attractions.

1. Santorini is the diamond of the Greek Islands. Its white sculptured villages are nestled at top steep volcanic cliffs that fall sharply to the deep blue Aegean Sea. This is paradise for shoppers, photographers, artists, hikers or anyone who just wants to sit at a cafe and soak up the sun and scenery. Ia is the most charming of Santorini's villages. There are elegant shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Accommodations include charming villas with great views and quiet enough for a nights sleep as well. Firastina and Imerovigli are also wonderful villages to stay in.

2. Crete is the largest and most varied of the Greek Islands. There are beaches, resorts, archeological sites and ancient cities around the island. The interior is home to high mountain peaks and is popular with climbers and hikers. Two of Crete's major attractions are the deluxe resorts that ring Elounda Bay and the archealogical site at the ancient Minoan city of Knossos. Crete has excellent roads and it is easy to get around the island. It is also easy to get connections to Santorini and many of the hotels arrange day trips. One of the challenges of visiting Crete is to get away from the modern cities and tour group hotel scenes and find Old Crete. The Ports of Rethimnon and Hania are full of old world charm and well worth a day trip. Rethimnon has a long, long sandy beach with a boardwalk. There are many quieter beaches on the road connecting the two cities.

3. Corfu Town is the charming capital of Corfu. At times you may wonder if you are in Greece or Italy. But rest assured, you can get your souvlakis and frappes just as you would anywhere else in Greece. Glyfada is regarded by most of the locals as the island's best beach. Although many of the beach goers are day-trippers from Corfu Town, you'll find a large hotel, very nice apartments and several tavernas. Palestrikaeo is definitely one of the most scenic parts of Corfu. Turqouise coves and pine covered hills are found in any direction that you turn. It is a pleasant 20 kilometer drive northwest of Corfu Town.

4. Rhodes is located within eyesight of the Turkish coast and its capital Rhodos remains a mix of Turkish and Crusador influences. The Military Museum is a good example of the cut stone buildings that make Rhodos one the most beautiful medieval cities in the world. Lindos Beach has white sand and warm clear water. From the water you'll have a fine view of the village and the acropolis. There are several water-side tavernas where visitors have seen many a day blissfully slip away

5. Mykonos is a place painting with white buildings, golden beaches covered with bronze bodies. Over the year, it has gone from sleepy fishing villages, to jetset, to hipster haven and is now settling into more mainstream tourism. Perhaps too crowded at times, it is nonetheless an essential part of the Greek Island experience. Eat, drink, stroll or shop - Mykonos Town has wonderful shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, white-washed alleys with grape vines and bougainvilleas.

6. Paros offers the best of the Cycladic Islands groups. Whether you arrive at the beautiful port town of Paroikia or the tiny airport, you will be charmed from start to finish. You will lay on its golden beaches, stroll its cobblestone alleys, and pass through archways covered with brilliant bougainvilleas. Paroikia has a long boardwalk by the port that hosts dozens of great little restaurants and tavernas. Behind the port, you will find the historic old city with its winding alleys and small shops. Nauossa is a charming little port town just minutes from Paroikia. Many people believe it is the best place to stay on Paros. Restaurants, cafes and shops line the port and its casual alleys. There are hotels of all categories in town and throughout the nearby countryside and beaches. A church in Nauossa and a windmill in Paroikia stand as monuments to Cycladic architecture and tradition.

7. Skiathos is one of the northern most islands in Greece. Its pine covered hills and deep blue coves are home to some of Europe's best beaches. Big Banana Beach is a long sweep of white sand in a nature conservatory. There is one small taverna but the beach is famous for natural beauty, not its facilities. Skiathos Town has all the conveniences but lacks the charm of many Greek harbors. An earthquake leveled the original town and today most of the buildings are modern. Most visitors prefer to stay in nearby hotels tucked in the tree covered hills along the coast west of the harbor.

8. Ios is famous as a party island and for Milopita Beach. Milopita is thought by many to be one of the best beaches in Greece. It is wide and sandy, has water sports, camping and a wide range of hotels, apartments and rooms to let. There are a number of restaurants - you can even choose from Thai or Mexican cuisine. Ios Village is a smaller, noiser version of Mykonos - calm by day, rocking by night. Since the rockers don't wake up until 11 or 12, the village seems quite empty at certain hours of the day. Nonetheless, it is probably not the ideal destination for those hoping to get a good night's sleep.

9. Naxos is the largest and most mountainous of the Cyclades Islands. The port has a Venetian fort and a long boardwalk of restaurants and cafes. A huge marble arch to an uncompleted temple overlooks the port from a nearby hill. Agio Prokopios is a long white sandy beach with warm, shallow turqoise water. There are a number of tavernas and it is located only thirty minutes from Naxos Port.

10. Sifnos main attraction is Platos Gialos - a little beach village where most of the signs are only in Greek. Sifnos is mostly visited by Greeks and the rare tourist who is looking for a quite place You start to see the world around you a little more closely; for just a day or two you imagine that you have left the rat race behind for the life of a bohemian artist exiled to tiny island in the middle of the Aegean Sea. The Panayia Chrissogi is the island's oldest church built in 1650 and is built on a holy rock where miracles are said to have occured. It is a short distance from Platos Gialos. The beach town of Vathi is Sifnos' second best beach. It is also quiet and laid back and also a short distance from Platos Gialos.