Greek Islands: A Guide to the Island Groups and How to Choose the Right Island for Your Holiday

Short answer: the Greek islands are divided into several groups, and each group is its own world: different scenery, a different atmosphere and, above all, its own ferry routes. The four groups most travellers choose between are the Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos and Paros), the Ionian Islands (Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada), the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos and Symi) and Crete, the largest island in Greece. The most important planning rule: it is easy to hop by ferry between islands in the same group, but between distant groups, for example from Santorini to Corfu, there is no ferry and you go through Athens.

How many islands does Greece have?

Greece has thousands of islands and islets, and between 166 and 227 of them are inhabited, depending on how you count and which source you check. 227 is the most commonly quoted figure, but there is no single official count. What matters for planning a holiday: most inhabited islands belong to one of a few groups, and each group has its own ports, flights and character.

The Cyclades: postcard Greece

Main islands: Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Milos, plus Ios, Sifnos, Folegandros and others.

The Cyclades are a group of islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea. The name comes from the Greek word "kyklos", circle, because the islands surround the sacred island of Delos. If the Greece in your head is white houses, blue domes and narrow alleys, this is the place.

• Character: dry, rocky landscapes, white villages and beaches in small bays. Mykonos and Ios also have some of the best-known nightlife in Greece.
• Wind: in summer a strong north wind, the meltemi, blows across the Cyclades. It takes the edge off the heat, but sometimes causes ferries to be cancelled or delayed, especially fast ferries.
• Getting there: Santorini and Mykonos have international airports, and in season there are direct flights from Israel to Mykonos. The other islands are reached by ferry from the ports of Piraeus or Rafina, or from island to island.
• Ferries within the group: the Cyclades are the easiest group for island hopping. A route such as Naxos, Paros and Santorini can be done entirely by ferry.

Who it suits: couples and honeymooners, especially Santorini. Nightlife and groups of friends, Mykonos. If you want the Cyclades atmosphere with fewer crowds, choose Naxos, Paros or Milos.

The Ionian Islands: green and wild

Main islands: Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Ithaca and Paxos.

The Ionian Islands lie in the Ionian Sea, west of the Greek mainland, and they are the greenest of the Greek islands: wooded hills, olive groves and cliffs dropping into the sea. Venice ruled them for centuries, and you can still see it in the architecture, especially in the Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Character: dramatic beaches below cliffs, with turquoise water. Some of the most photographed beaches in Greece are here, such as Navagio Bay (Shipwreck Beach) on Zakynthos, Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia and Porto Katsiki on Lefkada.
• Adventure: the islands are large and mountainous, so they suit road trips, boat trips to coves and beaches you can only reach from the sea.
• Getting there: Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia have airports. Lefkada is a special case: it is linked to the mainland by a bridge, so you drive there with no ferry. The nearest airport is Aktion (Preveza), about 25 minutes away by car.
• Ferries within the group: there are seasonal routes between some of the islands, for example from Lefkada to Kefalonia via Ithaca, and from Kefalonia to Zakynthos. Corfu lies further north, and you usually reach the other islands from it via the mainland: a ferry to the port of Igoumenitsa, then a drive. Most of these routes run only in summer.

Who it suits: young travellers, couples and families looking for nature, green scenery and a bit of adventure, and anyone who enjoys exploring by car.

The Dodecanese: old towns and an easy holiday

Main islands: Rhodes, Kos, Symi, Patmos, Karpathos and Kalymnos.

The Dodecanese are a group of islands in the south-eastern Aegean, close to the coast of Turkey. The name means "twelve islands", although the group has more. From 1912 to 1947 the islands were under Italian rule and only afterwards became part of Greece, which is why some buildings are in Italian style.

• Character: a mix of history and beach. The Old Town of Rhodes, with walls from the time of the Knights of St John, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town is also home to the Kahal Shalom Synagogue.
• Convenience: Rhodes and Kos have many all-inclusive hotels and beach resorts, which makes them especially popular with families.
• Getting there: Rhodes and Kos have direct flights from Israel, some of them seasonal. From Rhodes and Kos there are ferries to the smaller islands, such as Symi, which works well as a day trip.
• Ferries within the group: there are regular routes between Rhodes, Kos, Symi and the other islands, especially in summer. Between the Dodecanese and the Cyclades there are few direct routes, and they are long.

Who it suits: families, a relaxed beach holiday, and anyone who wants to combine the beach with an old town.

Crete: an island group of its own

Crete is the largest island in Greece, so it is treated as a region of its own. The drive alone from Chania in the west to Heraklion in the centre takes more than two hours. It has everything: towns that are busy all year, ancient sites such as the Palace of Knossos, gorges, mountain villages, every kind of beach and many all-inclusive hotels.

• Popularity: according to figures from Greece's Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority reported in the press, Heraklion airport passed 10 million passengers in 2025, making it the second-busiest airport in Greece after Athens.
• Getting there: there are direct flights from Israel to Heraklion and, in season, to Chania.
• Ferries: Crete has ferry links to Piraeus and, in summer, to Santorini and other islands in the Cyclades. So you can combine, for example, a week in Crete with a few days in Santorini.

Who it suits: families, anyone with a week or more, and travellers who want to rent a car and combine beaches with day trips.

Other groups worth knowing

• The Saronic Islands: Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses are a short sail from the port of Piraeus. They suit a day trip or a weekend when your base is Athens. On Hydra, for example, there are no cars, and people get around on foot or by donkey. Planning a few days in Athens? See our two-day Athens itinerary.
• The Sporades: Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos are green, wooded islands off the coast of central Greece. You reach them by ferry from Volos or Agios Konstantinos, and Skiathos also has an airport. Skopelos is known as one of the filming locations of "Mamma Mia!".
• The North Aegean Islands: Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria and Lemnos are large islands with fewer tourists. They suit travellers who have already visited the famous islands and want a different Greece.
• Evia: the second-largest island in Greece, after Crete. It is linked to the mainland by bridges at the town of Chalkida, so you can drive there from Athens.

Island hopping in Greece: the mistake to avoid

Island hopping is a trip in which you move between several islands in the same holiday. This is the most important thing to know before planning one:

It is easy to travel by ferry between islands in the same group. Between distant groups, there is usually no direct ferry.

• A common mistake: there is no ferry from Santorini (Cyclades) to Corfu (Ionian Islands). The Greek mainland lies between the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. You will need to fly via Athens, or take a ferry back to Piraeus and continue overland.
• A route that works: Naxos, Paros and Santorini, all in the Cyclades, with ferries between them. You can also add Crete, which is linked to Santorini.
• Flights between groups: domestic flights between different groups also mostly go through Athens. There are almost no direct flights between the Ionian Islands and the Cyclades.
• Time: a route of three islands in the same group suits a week to ten days. Each move between groups via Athens usually takes a full day.
• Timetables: many inter-island routes run only in summer, and in winter the schedule shrinks a lot. Even in summer, wind in the Cyclades can cancel sailings. Leave a spare day before your flight home.

Which island suits you? A summary by type of holiday

• Honeymoon and couples: the Cyclades, for example Santorini, Milos and Paros.
• Nightlife and friends: the Cyclades, especially Mykonos and Ios.
• Families and all-inclusive hotels: the Dodecanese and Crete, for example Rhodes, Kos and Crete.
• Green nature and road trips: the Ionian Islands, for example Corfu, Kefalonia and Lefkada.
• Dramatic beaches and photos: the Ionian Islands, for example Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Lefkada.
• A week with a bit of everything: Crete, based in Chania or Heraklion.
• Hopping between several islands: the Cyclades, for example Naxos, Paros and Santorini.
• A short weekend from Athens: the Saronic Islands, for example Aegina and Hydra.

Getting from Israel to the islands

Some islands have direct flights from Ben Gurion, mainly Rhodes, Heraklion and Kos, and in summer also other islands such as Corfu, Mykonos and Chania. For the rest, fly to Athens and continue by domestic flight or ferry. We collected all the routes, the tools for finding a cheap fare and what to know about low-cost tickets in our guide to flights to Greece.

Before you fly to Greece: don't forget mobile data

Whichever island you choose, island hopping needs a connection all the time: to check whether your ferry is on time or cancelled because of wind, to book a ticket, to navigate to the port and to find your hotel in the alleys. With a FlySim eSIM for Greece you install the plan before you leave home and land already connected, and it keeps working as you move between islands, with no local SIM card to hunt for. Here we explain exactly when to install the eSIM, and our guide to must-have apps for Greece includes apps for booking ferries.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Cyclades and the Ionian Islands?

The Cyclades are in the middle of the Aegean Sea: the islands of white houses, dry landscapes and strong summer winds, such as Santorini and Mykonos. The Ionian Islands are in western Greece: green and mountainous, with a Venetian influence, such as Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia. There is no direct ferry between the two groups.

Which Greek island is best for families?

Crete, Rhodes and Kos suit families especially well: they have direct flights from Israel, many all-inclusive hotels and easy beaches. Corfu also suits families who like to explore by car.

Can you take a ferry from Santorini to Corfu?

No. Santorini is in the Cyclades in the Aegean, and Corfu is in the Ionian Islands in western Greece, and there is no ferry between them. You need to fly via Athens.

Which islands are easiest to combine in one trip?

Islands in the same group, especially in the Cyclades: Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Mykonos are linked by ferries. Crete and Santorini are also linked by ferry in summer.

What is the largest island in Greece?

Crete. The second largest is Evia, which is linked to the mainland by a bridge.

How many inhabited islands does Greece have?

Between 166 and 227, depending on the source. 227 is the most commonly quoted figure, but there is no single official count.

Which Greek islands have direct flights from Israel?

There are direct flights from Ben Gurion to Rhodes and to Heraklion in Crete, and in season to other islands, such as Kos, Corfu, Mykonos and Chania. Schedules change between summer and winter, so check the airlines' websites.