Right here is every thing you could learn about island hopping the Aegean Islands. Now we have the very best routes to take for the Aegean Islands and, in fact, uncover the very best seashores within the Aegean Islands.
For those who’re dreaming of visiting the Greek Islands this vacationer season, you’re in all probability already planning the completely different levels of your journey.
When contemplating island hopping in Greece, it’s a good suggestion to keep in mind that not all of the islands are as shut to one another as it’s possible you’ll want. So, as an alternative of desirous about what routes and itineraries are higher for seeing extra islands shortly, it’s needed to grasp the location of the Greek Islands first.
To take action, nothing higher than first studying which islands belong to which group? In truth, when hopping the Greek Islands, it’s usually simpler to stay inside a particular group of Greek Islands to search out extra frequent ferries, have simpler connections, and, in fact, scale back journey prices.
Because of this, this text turns out to be useful to grasp the very best island hopping routes within the Aegean Sea whereas it additionally supplies a number of fast concepts of routes and provides you the very best seashores in every of the islands’ clusters.
Let’s start by checking which island teams are situated within the Aegean.
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Which Are The Aegean Greek Islands – Aegean Island Information
Though we are inclined to confuse the Aegean Islands with the extremely popular Cyclades islands, it’s good to keep in mind that there are subgroups of islands that belong to this class.
Listing Of Aegean Islands
Here’s a checklist of the Aegean area islands:
- Crete
- Euboea
- Lesbos
- Rhodes
- Chios
- Samos
- Naxos
- Andros
- Paros
- Tinos
- Milos
- Santorini
- Mykonos
- Ikaria
- Lemnos
- Patmos
- Kos
- Kea
- Amorgos
On this article, we can be protecting a few of these teams, whereas others have already been mentioned in different articles.
The Islands of the Aegean might be divided into the next smaller teams of islands:
Islands In Northern Aegean Greece – Aegean Sea Islands
They’re situated within the northeastern Aegean Sea and alongside the Turkish coast, and these are a very powerful ones:
- Samos
- Ikaria
- Chios
- Lesbos
- Thassos
- Samothrace
Islands Of The Dodecanese
Also referred to as Southern Sporades, Dodecanese actually means twelve islands; nonetheless, the group counts 15 comparatively massive islands and over 150 smaller islands, 26 of that are uninhabited.
This group of islands marks the jap restrict of the Sea of Crete. Crucial (and fashionable) islands on this group are the next:
- Rhodes, which may usually be included each on this group and the earlier one
- Kos
- Patmos
- Astypalaia
- Chalki
- Kalymnos
- Karpathos
- Kasos
- Lipsi
- Leros
- Symi
- Tilos
- Kastellorizo
Saronic Islands
That is an archipelago shaped primarily by not very huge islands, fashionable for being fairly near the coast and inside straightforward attain from Athens, from the place common ferries depart each day. These are a few of the most exceptional Saronic Islands:
Cycladic Islands
These are in all probability probably the most fashionable islands in Greece, and actually, those we have a tendency to explain because the Aegean Islands with out even noticing that there are numerous extra islands.
The Cyclades are situated southeast of mainland Greece, and they’re simply one of many island teams that kind the Aegean archipelago.
One curious factor to recollect is that the title the Cyclades refers back to the islands standing across the sacred island of Delos.
So, everytime you discuss Santorini or Mykonos (to call only a few), bear in mind it’s extra correct to name them the Cyclades to keep away from any confusion. These are a few of the most necessary Cycladic Islands, however bear in mind, there are numerous extra!
This may assist to grasp that there are extra islands in Greece and that not all of them belong to this group.
- Amorgos
- Andros
- Anafi
- Antiparos
- Folegandros
- Ios
- Kea
- Kimolos
- Kythnos
- Milos
- Mykonos
- Naxos
- Paros
- Santorini
- Serifos
- Sifnos
- Syros (the capital of the South Aegean unit)
- Tinos
Sporades Islands
One other necessary group of islands, dwelling to stunning seashores and landscapes, are the Sporades, often known as the Northern Sporades.
These 24 distinctive islands are in all probability not as fashionable and visited because the islands within the Aegean Sea from the earlier group. In truth, their title, which implies “scattered,” signifies exactly that they’re outdoors the central group of the Cyclades.
The Sporades might be the last word Aegean Greek islands – an island-hopping different in the event you’re searching for one, providing untouched shores and fairly reasonably priced lodging, so remember that selecting the Sporades could be a sensible different for tranquil holidays in Greece.
And that is exactly the rationale why we now have devoted a complete article to the routes and island-hopping concepts for the Sporades. In any case, these are a very powerful Sporades Islands:
- Alonnisos
- Skiathos
- Skopelos
- Skyros
Manufacturers We Use And Belief
Greater Aegean Islands
Usually thought of impartial and separated from the remainder of these teams, these are the 2 largest islands in Greece and belong to the Aegean Islands group. They’re Crete and Euboea (often known as Evia).
Standard Routes, Itineraries, And Seashores Inside The Islands Of The Aegean Sea
Itineraries, routes, and island hopping within the Islands of the Northeastern Aegean
Usually much less fashionable than the Cyclades and the islands within the Dodecanese, this group of islands are usually not really easy to achieve, however with a little bit of planning, you possibly can go a great distance. The easiest way to achieve them is through ferry, which typically leaves within the afternoon so that you can get there fairly early within the morning.
These islands are usually not actually shut to one another, and they’re additionally fairly huge. They provide so much to discover and do, so we extremely counsel these islands for these eager to discover only one or two locations.
These are usually not actually the locations you’d take into account for island hopping; for that motive, we embody the very best of every of them so that you can uncover one Northeastern Aegean Island at a time. Right here we now have the three hottest islands: Chios, Ikaria, and Lesbos.
Be taught extra by checking these guides:
Chios
One of many loveliest locations on this island group is Chios, an island sufficiently big so that you can want no less than a complete week to find.
The island gives distinctive climbing trails, a number of cities and villages price visiting, and improbable gastronomy, distinctive for together with a product rising solely in Chios, mastic.
Mastic is a chewy resin produced solely on one facet of the island by an endemic tree.
This resin is used within the beauty business and the native delicacies. One of many issues you are able to do in Chios is to discover the small villages the place this product has been manufactured for ages. The easiest way to find such an enormous island is with your personal automobile, so renting a automobile might be the best way to discover higher.
Greatest Seaside In Chios
Karfas Seaside is among the many hottest shores on the island. That includes white superb sand and clear, shallow waters, that is in all probability the very best seashore on the island for households. It’s about 5 km south of Chios City in a reasonably touristic space.
Ikaria
Rugged and wild, Ikaria has been lengthy referred to as the island the place traditions have, for probably the most, remained unchanged.
With a strong culinary tradition and a ardour for singing, dancing, and leisure, locals have made their life-style fashionable amongst these searching for a particularly enjoyable place the place time appears to cease and the place dashing round has by no means been in trend.
Greatest Seaside In Ikaria
Though seashores are usually not the principle trait in Ikaria, some are certainly a gem and shouldn’t be missed. Most likely probably the most well-known of them is Seychelles Seaside, a paradisiac white sand (and white pebbled) seashore with crystal turquoise waters and imposing clear cliffs on each side.
Lesbos
One other huge and necessary island that would want a lifetime to find is Lesbos. The third-largest Greek Island, proper after Evia and Crete, is healthier identified for its fascinating delicacies, ouzo, and sardines.
It gives distinctive villages to find, a wealthy historical past to marvel at, and superb seashores, a few of that are good for households with youngsters since they’re shallow, clear, and fairly vast.
Greatest Seaside In Lesbos
There are dozens of seashores to contemplate when visiting Lesbos; Plomari Seaside might be one of the stunning shores to go to. The seashore is about 40 km from the island’s capital and includes a picturesque port, olive groves, and dozens of pine forests, crystal and comparatively shallow waters.
Routes, Itineraries, And Island Hopping Inside The Dodecanese Teams
Island hopping and family-friendly itineraries grow to be simpler if you transfer to the Dodecanese cluster of islands. Distances are fairly brief, and ferry routes are extra frequent; subsequently, it’s comparatively straightforward to see extra islands throughout your journey.
It’s straightforward to achieve different islands, ranging from Rhodes, in all probability the preferred spot within the Dodecanese, together with Kos or Kalymnos.
There may be additionally extra information about these islands within the Aegean Sea within the following articles:
The Greatest Routes And Island Hopping Itineraries In The Dodecanese
- Rhodes – Karpathos – Kastellorizo
- Rhodes – Halki – Symi
- Karpathos – Kasos
- Patmos – Lipsi – Leros
- Kos – Kalymnos
Greatest Seashores In The Dodecanese
Agios Pavlos Bay is a improbable seashore in Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, usually thought of among the many most stunning in Greece. Additionally, on this island, one other seashore to not miss is Anthony Queen’s Seaside. Its authentic title was Vagies, however the seashore turned well-known when the creator filmed The Weapons of Navarone within the space.
Shifting on to different islands within the cluster, Karpathos is dwelling to some improbable shores as effectively, a few of them with extremely pristine and clear waters and protected for households too. Among the finest seashores to examine on Karpathos is Kyra Panagia.
Patmos’ greatest seashore is Psili Amos, whereas Kos is dwelling to some improbable seashores too, together with probably the most well-known of all, Kefalos Seaside.
Routes, Itineraries And Island Hopping Inside The Saronic Islands
Island hopping across the Saronic Islands is, along with hopping the Cyclades, one of the fashionable areas so that you can embody as many islands as you possibly can, even when time is proscribed. Because the Saronic Islands are fairly small and simple to discover, it’s even doable to see as much as three of them in only a day! That, in fact, doesn’t imply that there’s nothing to do within the space however fairly the other!
Be taught extra by checking these guides:
The Greatest Routes And Island Hopping Itineraries In The Saronic Gulf
Greatest Seashores In The Saronic Islands
There are fairly a number of seashores to not miss within the Saronic Gulf; normally, the islands with the very best seashores are Poros and Agistri. Nevertheless, additionally Aegina has the most effective seashores within the archipelago, Marathona Seaside, which is on the western facet of the island, and it’s a improbable, family-friendly shore.
When in Poros, don’t miss the picturesque Love Bay, whereas in Agistri, pay a go to to Halikiada Seaside, a heavenly coast not organized, good to disconnect from the remainder of the world utterly.
Routes, Itineraries And Island Hopping Inside The Cycladic Islands
Essentially the most developed space in Greece, in the case of touristic routes, itineraries, island hopping, lodging, organized seashores, and leisure, visiting a number of of the Cyclades throughout only one journey is simple and typically even reasonably priced.
There are tons of routes to contemplate, and if touring throughout summer season, all you want is an efficient ferry search engine to buy the tickets and design your personal itinerary.
For higher use of your time, we extremely suggest to not embody greater than three islands when you’ve got one week accessible and by no means greater than 4 when you’ve got two weeks.
Though visiting extra islands in much less time might be tempting, you additionally want to contemplate the time you’ll spend on the ferry, which frequently finally ends up decreasing the efficient time you spend having fun with all that every of those islands has to supply.
When planning a visit to the Cyclades, examine these guides:
The Greatest Routes And Island Hopping Itineraries In The Cyclades
Greatest Seashores In The Cycladic Islands
All the Cyclades has some unimaginable seashores to go to; even Santorini, the island that you’d in all probability by no means select for seashore life, has some spectacular volcanic seashores to see, corresponding to Perissa, Santorini’s black sand (and pebble) seashore.
Nevertheless, when pondering of Greek seashores, you additionally consider heavenly superb sand shores with azure waters, then examine Naxos and its lengthy Plaka, or Paros, with the distinctive panorama of Kolymbithres. Mykonos can also be dwelling to some beautiful seashores, such because the gay-friendly (but additionally family-friendly) Elia Seaside.
For those who desire to maneuver to much less fashionable islands, take into account discovering Mylopotas Seaside in Ios, the picturesque Vathi Seaside in Sifnos, or Psili Ammos in Serifos.
Routes, Itineraries, and Island hopping inside the Sporades Islands
Now we have written a complete article concerning the routes across the Sporades because the islands are distinctive in magnificence and fairly unexplored. These two traits make island hopping within the Sporades an uncommon vacation thought.
One of the best routes and island hopping itineraries within the Sporades:
- Skiathos – Skopelos
- Skiathos – Skopelos – Alonnisos
- Alonissos – The island is large, and it’s higher if visited alone as an alternative of constructing it a part of an island-hopping itinerary.
Greatest Seashores In The Sporades Islands
The Sporades have some actually beautiful seashores the place blue waters, white sand, and luxurious inexperienced forests are the predominant landscapes and colours to search out.
Essentially the most well-known of those islands is Skiathos, dwelling to massive sandy seashores, particularly on the island’s southern coast. Essentially the most unique seashore in Skiathos is Lalaria, which may solely be reached by boat.
Shifting on to different islands on this group, when in Skopelos, do examine Stafilos Seaside and Agios Dimitrios Seaside in Alonnisos.
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Routes And Itineraries For Crete
The largest island in Greece is a vacation spot by itself. And though it’s typically mixed in different Greek Islands itineraries as a port of name throughout the island hopping vacation, you would want greater than a month to find a very powerful landmarks of Crete. Subsequently, if Crete is the island you choose to go to, it might be a greater thought to examine two or three of its 4 areas at a time and neglect about the remainder of the Greek Islands.
And in the event you actually wish to add one other island to this itinerary, it is likely to be a greater thought to make a day journey to Santorini than splitting your time between Crete and two or three different islands.
When planning a go to to Crete, examine the next articles:
Greatest Seashores In Crete
The island has a few of the most stunning seashores within the Mediterranean, and it might be difficult to decide on only some of them.
Nevertheless, three of the preferred seashores on the Island of Crete are Elafonisi, identified for its pink sand, and the shallow turquoise waters that kind the Lagoon. With an unique, nearly Caribbean vibe, Balos is one other high seashore on Crete, good to mix a climbing expertise and a few enjoyable moments by the ocean. This text has extra tips about visiting the very best seashores in Crete.
Lastly, within the southern space of the Heraklion area, Matala Seaside is a well-known spot in Crete with its hippy historical past and beautiful caves to discover.
Routes, Itineraries For Evia
Much less touristic than Crete, Evia is a big Greek Island within the Aegean Sea group not removed from the mainland. Evia is a tranquil vacation spot that — simply as Crete — wants quite a lot of days to be explored and appreciated.
benefit when selecting Evia as a trip vacation spot is that it is a large island fairly near Athens. So it may even be reached by automobile driving alongside a protracted bridge with none ferry journey.
The southern space of Evia is kind of near the Cycladic Islands of Andros and Kea, however since there aren’t any ferry connections among the many three of them, we can’t actually embody this island in a Cycladic-hopping itinerary.
Greatest Seashores In Evia
Proper within the central a part of the island, Chiliadou Seaside is about an hour from Halkida, the capital of Evia. It’s well-known for its improbable crystal clear waters, providing a sandy space that’s good for youths and a rocky space too.
That includes extraordinary deep blue waters and golden sand, Agia Anna Seaside is one other well-known seashore on the island. A 3rd and good possibility on Evia is Mourteri Seaside; for many vacationers, the very best seashore on the complete island, with bottomless azzure waters and a surprising panorama throughout the shore.
So, inform us, which of those Greek Aegean Islands will you sail to first?
