Who wouldn’t like to dip their tow in the Aegean sea with some Greek island hopping? With crystal deep, blue waters and tiny whitewashed villages it’s unsurprising that so many people opt to explore the wealth of stunning Greek islands dotted throughout the Aegean Sea. Life is traditionally laid back in Greece and island hopping is a fantastic way to discover the magic of the islands with new discoveries on every voyage.
The Greek islands and water go hand in hand. The journey between the islands actually becomes part of the whole holiday experience. You could opt for the luxury and adventure of your own Yacht charter or just use the ferry systems between islands like most people.
With over 200 inhabited islands to choose from, your main problem if you go Greek island hopping will be working out which ones to visit! There are also a large number of uninhabited islands too. Whichever island you choose though, you’ll doubtless be greeted by a warm welcome, fantastic food and beautiful scenery.
The islands are grouped according to area, which makes focusing on one group of islands a little easier. You could always visit another area next year!
Greek island hopping – A Beginners Guide
The Cyclades
The Cyclades are often the first point of call for Greek island hopping novices due to the fact that there are frequent ferries with short journey times between islands. Most people opt to start their trip at Mykonos or Santorini as these islands have airports which accept international flights. Once travelling on the ferry route the main terminal stops are at Paros, Naxos and Syros, but it is possible to access some of the smaller islands by boat. If you charter your own yacht you will of course be able to access virtually all the islands!
The Sporades
If you prefer to stay a while in each of the islands you could opt to island hop in the Sporades. The Sporades are pretty much restricted to a trio of islands which include Skiathos, Alonissos and Skopelos. The three islands are very different, Skiathos is sandy and the other two are rocky but both still full of atmosphere. The ferry services between the islands are also excellent.
The Dodecanese
The Dodecanese group includes some of the most well known Greek islands – Kos and Rhodes. There are fast ferry services linking the other islands, of which there are many. There are also small ferries operating from individual islands. The Dodecanese makes island hopping easy with its many connections so it might be a good idea to start your trip from Rhodes, Kos or turkey.
The Ionian
The Islands in the Ionian region are very popular with Greek island hopping tourists and include Zante, Corfu and Kefalonia. Island hopping is unfortunately not as easy as in other areas. This is because the ferry systems are not as efficient. If visiting a different island every day or two is what you’re after, you may be better off exploring another region.
Other groups of Islands to consider include the Argo Saronic Islands and the North Aegean area.
At busy times it might also be worth planning your journey by booking ferry tickets in advance. Alternatively if organizing your own island hopping all sounds a bit too difficult and random, consider booking an island hopping tour. Island hopping tours offer a certain amount of freedom, but with the convenience of pre-booked ferry tickets and hotel reservations.
καλα να περνας!
