If you are planning to visit some of the Greek Islands and need to decide which ones to include in your itinerary, this post is for you. Our journey takes you to the most popular islands in Greece, which I’m sure you will enjoy as much as we did.
Ever since our road trip in the Peloponnese we fell in love with Greece. So the following year we decided to visit some of the islands as well. We started with the Ionian Islands, visiting Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Ithaca and Corfu. This year we continued with Mykonos, Santorini and Crete.
If this is your first trip to the Greek Islands you should definitely include Mykonos and Santorini in your itinerary. Although not my favorite ones, these are two of the most popular Greek Islands and are surely worth a visit. Crete, on the other hand, is an absolute must and you should make it a point not to miss it.
About This Itinerary
Because our Greek Islands itinerary was three weeks long I will not do a day-by-day breakdown. Instead, I will tell you how many days is worth spending on each island and what you can visited there. I’ll also tell you where to stay, what to pack and what’s the best time to visit.
One thing I need to mention is that we visited these islands independently, not on an organized trip. We traveled to Greece by plane, then rented a car and moved from island to island by ferry. If you are interested in organized trips for the Islands, there are many tour operators who offer them.
Best Time to Visit the Greek Islands
After visiting Greece many times over the years, we strongly believe that the best time to visit the Greek Islands is the fall. September and October enjoy great weather, with very little rain and temperatures in the mid 70s. The water is still warm enough for swimming and the crowds are much smaller. The prices are also lower, which is a big plus.
However, the months of June, July and August are considered the peak season for the Greek Islands, as most people take their vacations in summer. Many Europeans travel to Greece in summer, despite the high temperatures which are hard to bear, raising sometimes above 100ºF (37-39ºC).
Spring is also considered a good time for visiting the islands. Temperatures are very pleasant for walking and sunbathing, but the water doesn’t warm up for swimming until mid June.
What to Pack for Your Greek Islands Itinerary
Packing for Greece is generally easy as you won’t need any fancy attire or special clothing, like when you pack for Patagonia for instance. But if you travel to Greece in the fall, I recommend packing both summer and autumn clothes, as it may get a little cooler at night at this time of year. So here are some items that shouldn’t be missing from your luggage:
Swimsuits, sandals, a hat and your snorkeling gear. The water is very warm and you’ll be definitely swimming every day. Lightweight clothes. Greece is just the right place for wearing cotton and linen clothes. If you decide to visit the Greek islands in the fall, make sure to pack a light jacket or even a raincoat. Although temperatures will be in the upper 70s (24-25ºC) during the day, it may get a little cooler in the evening.
How to Travel Between the Islands
While not the only option, the best way to explore the Greek Islands is by car. If you have a car you’ll be able to access secluded beaches, villages, and scenic viewpoints that might be difficult to reach with public transport. That’s especially true for larger islands, like Crete.
For this itinerary, we rented a car in Mykonos then traveled from island to island by ferry. Most ferries allow cars to be brought onboard, which enables you to travel between different islands with your vehicle. Ferries are the fastest and most convenient way to travel between the islands.
However, ferries aren’t cheap in Greece. Sometimes they are even more expensive than airfare tickets. That’s especially true for the Aegean Sea ferries which incur higher sea transportation costs than those in the Ionian Sea. Traveling by plane is more time consuming, so I believe it’s worth paying a little extra for the ferry.
Greek Islands Itinerary – Mykonos, Delos, Santorini & Crete
Day 1: Arriving in Athens
If you come from overseas, you’ll most likely land in Athens which is a big hub for international flights. From Athens we flew to Mykonos where we rented a car and then traveled from island to island by ferry.
Flying is the fastest option to reach Mykonos. It’s a short 45 minute flight from Athens. There is also the option of renting a car in Athens and going to Mykonos by ferry, but that’s a way longer and more complicated route which we do not recommend for this Greek Islands itinerary.
Planning your arrival time in Athens is very important because it has to be coordinate with the departure flight to Mykonos. However, we didn’t find this very difficult as Aegean Airlines has many connections between these two destinations. And you don’t even need to change the terminal.
If you never visited Athens before, you may choose to extend your Greek Islands itinerary by spending a few days in Athens. And if you have more time to spare, there are many interesting day trips from Athens that you can take, one of which is a day trip to Delphi, a very interesting archeological site.
Day 2 – 4: Mykonos
We spent 3 days in Mykonos and felt this was just about the right amount of time for this island.
Mykonos is a very small, barren island with a total area of around 85.5 square kilometers (33 square miles). The biggest attraction on the island is Mykonos Town, a charming maze of narrow alleys with blue-white houses, colorful bougainvilleas, and a great array of small luxury boutiques and fancy restaurants.
The small neighborhood of Little Venice and the iconic windmills are definitely must-see spots for picturesque views, especially at sunset. Also, the seaside walkway that starts at the Old Port and continues all the way to the windmills is indeed mesmerizing and definitely worth experiencing.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
Despite being a small island, Mykonos has a big concentration of luxury hotels and resorts. Since most of the action takes place around Mykonos Town, travelers prefer to stay in this area. So the decision you’ll have to make is whether to stay in Mykonos Town, where you’ll have easy access to most nightlife, shopping, and restaurants, or book a hotel a little farther away and enjoy more peace a quiet. We opted for the latter option and did not regret it.
We stayed at Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa, a beautiful resort located about 10-15 minutes away from Mykonos Town. This hotel was one of the best deals you could make on this island, considering the luxurious facilities they have, the spectacular grounds and the opulent breakfast they offered. They also have free parking, which on this small island is a big plus.
Ferry from Mykonos to Santorini
The best connection between Mykonos and Santorini is the high speed ferry Worldchampion Jet, departing at 9:50 am from Mikonos and arriving at 11:50 am in Santorini.
Day 5: Delos
After visiting Mykonos we took a day trip to the small island of Delos, which is a very significant archeological site in Greece. The island which is considered the sacred birthplace of Gods Apollo and Artemis, is a very important cultural destination with extensive ancient ruins, temples and mosaics. If you are in Mykonos, make sure you don’t miss this important UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most people visit Delos on a day trip from Mykonos. To get to Delos you can take the ferry boat from the old port in Mykonos Town. The journey takes around 30-40 minutes. On the island you can book a guided tour, or you can visit the archeological site independently.
Day 6 – 11: Santorini
We spent days 6 to 11 of our Greek Islands itinerary in Santorini. But in retrospect we believe four full days on this island was too much. Two, or at the most three days would have been more than enough.
Santorini is a volcanic island with a crescent-shaped caldera, half of which is submerged in water. It was created by one of the largest known eruptions around 3,600 years ago. The explosion was so powerful that it wrecked Santorini’s ancient city of Akrotiri and completely destroyed the Minoan civilization, which had settled on the island at the time.
The biggest attraction in Santorini is the caldera and the two towns of Oia and Fira perched on its cliffside. Both these towns are very romantic, with luxurious villas and resorts that enjoy breathtaking views.
Pictures and drone footages from Santorini would do some justice to the beauty of the caldera. But when you see it in person you understand why Santorini is on almost every Greek Islands itinerary.
Where to Stay in Santorini
There are many places where you can stay on this island, but I believe choosing a hotel somewhere between Fira and Oia would be the most convenient location. There are many accommodations in the towns of Fira or Oia, because both cities offer stunning views of the caldera and easy access to amenities and attractions.
As expected, both these locations are pricier than other parts of the island, but they are also spectacular.
We stayed at Azanti Suites which are located right in the middle of the caldera, about 15 minutes drive to Fira. We had free self parking and free breakfast served in the room. The suites face the caldera and have beautiful terraces with a private pool or jacuzzi.
Ferry from Santorini to Crete
There is only one ferry that connects Santorini to Crete: PowerJet, that departs Santorini at 16:05 and arrives in Heraklion at 17:55. From Heraklion we drove to Agios Nikolaos, which was our base for exploring the eastern side of Crete.
Day 12-20: Crete
Crete is huge! It’s the largest island in Greece and also the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It measures about 3,260 square miles (8,450 square kilometers) and is located 62 miles south of the Peloponnese.
Crete is also one of the most varied and beautiful islands that we have ever visited. It has gorgeous beaches, tall mountains, hundreds of canyons and gorges, interesting archeological sites, historic towns and coastal resorts.
Because it’s the biggest Greek island, we decided to divide our itinerary into two parts: we spent the first five days in the eastern part of the island the other five on the western side. This way we didn’t have to drive for more than 1.5-2 hours to reach our points of interest.
How Much Time to Spend in Crete
Because it’s so big and diverse, Crete deserves minimum a week to be able to get a glimpse of some of its marvels. However, we spent 10 days on this island and felt this was not enough. Distances between the different points of interest are huge, so plan at least 7-8 days.
What You Can Do on the East Side Crete
Crete is jam-packed with history – especially around the Bronze Age ‘Minoan civilization’ which originated in Crete and is regarded by many as the oldest in Europe. So you can wander around the Minoan Palace of Zakros, visit the ruins of Knosos Palace, or the remains of the Venetian castle on Spinalonga Island..
Another big point of interest on the east side of Crete is Heraklion, a port city and the island’s capital. Here you’ll find interesting museums, beautiful cathedrals, Knosos Palace and Roca a Mare Fortress.
On this side of the island you’ll have many wonderful beaches like Glaros, Vathi, Itanos, or China. Sadly the driving distances between them are big, so depending on how much time you have at hand you’ll have to choose which ones to visit.
If you like hiking, Crete is home to a great array of beautiful canyons and landscapes of stunning scenery. You can hike the Martsallo Gorge, take a journey across the Lasithi Plateau to explore the Cave of Zeus, or wander around the many small fishing villages around this side of the island, like Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, or Plaka.
What to Do on the Western Side of Crete
The western side of Crete is absolutely stunning. While the eastern side is flatter and less visually striking, the western side has a more wild and dramatic appeal, with a rugged coastline, lush green landscapes, and imposing mountains.
Here you’ll find the renowned white sand beaches like Elafonisi, Balos, or Kedrodassos Beach. Also on this side you have the spectacular White Mountains and the famous Samaria Gorge, as well as many charming coastal towns like Chania, Rethymno, or Loutro.
Where to Stay on the Eastern Side in Crete
Depending on how much time you have for this island, I recommend staying in two or three places. Distances are big here, so the idea is to spend less time driving and more time having fun.
We spent the first five days of our Crete itinerary on the eastern side of Crete, in Agios Nikolaos. This is a very picturesque coastal town with plenty of accommodations for all budgets. We rented an apartment at the Pleiades Luxurious Villas, a beautiful resort that features villas with private pools. We didn’t need all this space, but prices were very affordable in October, so we splurged.
Where to Stay on the Western Side in Crete
The best place to stay on the western side is in Chania, which in my opinion is the most beautiful town in Crete. However, parking as well as getting in and out of this town is rather difficult. If you don’t want to struggle with that, I suggest either looking for a hotel with parking (which are not very many), or staying somewhere else along the coast.
We stayed at Belmondo Hotel & Suites which is located on the edge of the water, right across from the Old Lighthouse. But we also discovered a nice resort about 15 minutes drive from Chania, called Zorba’s Beach Village Hotel. This would also be a good place to stay when exploring this part of Crete.
Day 21: Return to Athens
This was our final day of our Greek Islands itinerary. Since it’s a very long trip by ferry (8-13 hours), we chose to fly back to Athens from Chania. There is also the option of flying to Athens from Heraklion, if you are on the eastern part of Crete.
Aegean Airlines has numerous flights between Crete and Athens, but it’s better to take an earlier flight. Also, if your final destinations is in the US, I recommend spending one night in Athens to make sure you won’t miss your final flight in case of delays or cancellations.
A Final Word
This sums up our three-week Greek Islands itinerary. I hope this post gives you an idea of what to expect when visiting this part of Greece.
We absolutely loved these islands, especially Crete, and believe they make a great destination for any type of vacation. Whether you are young or old, a big family with small children or just a couple, be assured that the Greek Islands will not disappoint you.
