The Greek islands can be visited in many ways, by sea, conventional cruise at up to ten passenger boats and luxury yachts, by air (landing at Athens) and taking the opportunity to rent a car to take a ferry. The five most popular islands in terms of the number of tourists who visit annually are Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes and Corfu.

Photography by WorldIslandInfo.com

Cyclades Islands: from the comfort of Kea to the lively Mykonos, sandy beaches of Milos or cornice volcanic Santorini, the Cyclades offer a score of options navigator. For many, Santorini is the most unique and beautiful Greek island circuit. What makes it unique is that it literally hangs on the tip of an ancient volcano whose explosion in 1500 BC, is considered one of the largest in history. This tourist island is very picturesque: they stress its famous sunsets, cozy homes turned into restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea and craft shops. At this location you can enjoy beautiful beaches, spectacular cliffs and almost deserted even places like the northeast coast. Of course, no shortage of tour guides, organized excursions and fine dining (like the famous kebabs to the Greek «souvlaki»). Since nightfall, the island offers a good nightlife, with Greek music and different parts of the world.

Mykonos is one of the most popular Cyclades Islands, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful beaches and distinguished jewelers, whose specialty is gold. Mykonos The advantages are obvious: more than 3000 hours of sunshine, clear waters, golden beaches and its typical architecture of whitewashed houses and blue with the classic windmills in the background. Delos Island Mykonos is very close and it is a significant archaeological park worth visiting.

Photography by L. Richard Martin, Jr.

Dodecanese Islands: Located between the Cyclades and the Turkish coast. They have an amazing variety of landscapes, rated among the finest in the Mediterranean. From Samos to Rhodes will see traces of different occupations throughout its history: Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and straightforward. Rhodes is one of the Dodecanese islands with greater significance for its scenery and historical significance. Precisely, this point was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, The Colossus of Rhodes, a huge statue has disappeared, which greeted the sailors. Its walls still safeguarding buildings of interest like the hospital and the Cathedral of the Knights, converted at the Archaeological Museum and the Byzantine Museum respectively. At Mount Smith remains of the Hellenistic Rhodes as the temple of Apollo, the Ancient Theatre and the Odeon. A 58 kilometers from the city, the town of Lindos with its famous Acropolis, is another of the must on the island. Crete is the largest of the islands of Greece and has everything for the tourist: ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, a cosmopolitan city and the rocky gorges longest in Europe. The large island of Crete is the largest in Greece and the fifth of the Mediterranean. It has a length of 360 kilometers and mountains over 2000 meters. Its width varies between 60 and 13 kilometers. Because of its size, is divided into central Crete, Crete east and west Crete. This fact should be taken into account by the traveler, it is an island that needs more time than the other for your visit.

Ionian Islands: most of the islands included in the cruise in Greece belong to the Aegean. But there is a jewel, called Corfu, located in the waters of other seas, the Ionian. The town of Corfu, in the center of the island, is one of the most beautiful in the country. In its acropolis is evidence of Greek as the temple of Hera, the monument of Menécrates and the Great Lion. All this without neglecting its beaches and nightlife.

Photography by palazio

Referring to the set of islands that make up the Greek Islands, we can not fail to mention and the Saronic Islands Sporades Islands. They are the ideal destination for those wishing to visit less popular places without sacrificing the enjoyment of marine landscapes, archeological sites and a pleasant mild and temperate climate.

Good trip to Greece!

Continue…Part I: Tourist destinations in the Greek Isles