Greece’s broad spreading of in different ways sized, culturally unique islands makes it a desire for a multi-stop journey. Come May and June, ferryboat solutions increase for summer season, with jumps in between various islands taking as low as 20 mins.

Some islands are huge and ripe for discovering, calling for a taxi, hire cars and truck or moped to make clear their size. In others, you’ll just locate a bijou port and a forested inside, fringed by rough or sandy coves you can walk to. Wherever you go, you’ll locate beachfront tavernas, small churches, hushed coastlines and sunkissed portside bars.

But where to begin? Greece’s ferryboat networks are intricate, with various solutions offered at various seasons; it’s best to utilize a trip organizer such as Ferryhopper.com to check in advance for timings and drivers. Services can run late, so leave lots of time in between your last ferryboat and your trip house – a simple (and demanding!) novice error to make.

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Best for very first timers: The Argo-Saronics

Route: Athens-Poros-Hydra-Spetses

Close to the funding of Athens and its port, Piraeus, these islands gathered around the Greek landmass are fab for an initially go if you’re uncertain island jumping is for you. Spend a couple of cultured evenings in the funding, after that get on the ferryboat to close-by Poros, simply over a hr away: right here you’ll locate a wise little red-roofed port covered with a clock tower and a handful of resorts and apartment or condos. Dine by the beachfront, after that go off trying to find the emerald waters at Love Bay.

Just 35 mins’ boat-ride from right here isHydra, a little however extravagant fleck which has actually brought in musicians, artists and professional photographers considering that the Sixties. Bask in its enchanting port and sundown bars, after that stroll the shore roadway to locate secret pebble bays, or take a watercraft journey to its quietest edges.

Next up is Spetses, 40 mins away – the smooth, car-free island where current movie The Lost Daughter was recorded. Seek out its Cave of Bekiris, little whitewashed churches and among the earliest lighthouses in Greece; after that take the 2hr50m catamaran all the back to Piraeus for a trip out of Athens.

When to go

These obscure islands don’t obtain as much step as the Cyclades (listed below) so you can enter height July and not really feel excessive of a crush. However, September is a fascinating, quieter time to browse through.

Where to keep

In Athens, historical Asomaton is strolling range from the views; asomaton.com

On Poros, attempt the smooth Saga Hotel for a bougainvillea-draped swimming pool; aga-hotel.com

On Hydra, guesthouse Hydra Icons has 360-degree sights from its roof; hydraicons.gr

On Spetses, Niriides Guesthouse is a stylish three-star with a family-run feeling; niriides-spetses.gr

For traditional appearances: The Cyclades

Route: Santorini-Milos-Sifnos-Serifos-Paros-Mykonos

There are 2 crucial components for an effective island-jumping experience: affordable and abundant trips right into and out of your beginning and end factor, and lots of ferryboat web links in between. In the Cyclades, where the residences are little and whitewashed and the high cliffs and bays significant and primitive, there are UK trips to both Mykonos and Santorini – so contrast costs and think about flying right into one and out of the various other. You can begin on Santorini for its jaw-dropping cliffside sights, awesome sundowns and upmarket suppers, taking the two-hour Seajets ferryboat on toMilos after 2 or 3 days.

Klima’s vibrantly repainted angler’s residences are the leading view right here, however head to lunar-like Sarakiniko Beach, also (this island is coastline main) and take a watercraft to the Caves of Milos. Next up isSifnos, 40 mins away, where you’re ruined for rather whitewashed towns to potter around (don’t miss out on Chrissopigi Monastery); after that to Serifos, 20 mins on, a pristine area with a specifically gorgeous Chora, or port community. You’ve simply obtained time for a quit onParos (a 90-minute solution that runs every couple of days) – which has a somewhat extra modern-day feeling and a little bit of night life – prior to a 40-minute watercraft on toMykonos, for adequate trips house.

Best time to go

These islands fill throughout July and August, so enter very early June or mid September for the best combination of climate and quiet-ish landscapes.

Where to keep

On Santorini, the wonderful Vasilicos guesthouse is family-run and customized to you; thevasilicos.com

On Milos, Milos Summer Time is all cerulean-painted shutters and sea sights; milossummertime.com

On Sifnos, the brand-new Sigma Residences are the stylish pad du jour; sigmaresidences.com

On Serifos, the group at elegant Nostos Boutique Hotel will certainly aid you go out and explore; nostosboutiquehotel.com

On Paros, inexpensive Ayeri Hotel is a little out of the port crush; ayerihotel.gr

On Mykonos, Marisso Hotel is a cooled over night prior to a trip house. marisso.gr

For untainted nature: The Ionians

Route: Lefkada-Kefalonia-Ithaca-Kefalonia-Zakynthos

Substantially bigger, with even more communities and routes to go into, these forested islands are a few of the local to the UK. Flights right into Preveza (attached to Lefkada island), Kefalonia and Zakynthos offer you adaptability on course and order. We’d recommend flying right into Preveza for the very first couple of evenings on Lefkada, remaining in kicked back Nidri or Vasiliki for watercraft journeys out to its mind-blowingly gorgeous coastlines. From Vasiliki you can take the West Ferry to Fiskardo on Kefalonia’s north shore (1hr45m), after that invest up to a week seeing primitive coastlines, yearn woodlands and beautiful Venetian communities on this amazing island.

Heading eastern to Sami port, take the 20-minute watercraft on to Ithaca, a small, forgotten-feeling fleck of beautiful wild coastlines, little port communities and trendy guesthouses. From right here, you can nip back to Kefalonia and fly house; or trip 3hr45m forward to Zakynthos, house to a few of the Ionians’ most gorgeous coastlines. Take in its poster-child “Shipwreck Beach”, Navagio, snorkel with loggerhead turtles or take watercrafts to brilliant caverns prior to flying house.

Best time to go

Ferries run in between May and September, so go May to very early June or September for the best opportunity of quieter bays and lots of ferryboat seats.

Where to keep

On Lefkada, relaxed apartment or condos like Santa Emelia price from as low as £75 an evening; santaemelia.gr

On Kefalonia, Anthi’s Beach Apartments fit in with the peaceful ambiance of Fiskardo; anthisbeach.gr

Further southern on Kefalonia, south F Zeen is a fitness-focused splurge; fzeenretreat.com

On Ithaca, Korina Gallery Hotel is close to the dining establishments and watercrafts of Vathy harbour; korinahotel.com

On Zakynthos, attempt the trendy Tsamis Zante Suites; tsamiszantesuites.com

Read even more of our best Greek island resort testimonials