A Complete Guide To Island Hopping In Greece

The Greek Islands offer a unique opportunity for adventure in Europe that is hard to find elsewhere across the continent. In amongst the beautiful clear waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas lie between 1200 and 6000 Greek Islands, of which 227 are inhabited. However, with so many islands to see and experience and what is the best way to explore them? That is what our guide is here to answer, with details of the island groups, the best time to visit, how to get between islands and tips for travelling them. We have covered everything you need to know about island hopping in Greece.

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When Is The Best Time To Go Island Hopping in Greece?

The best time of year for visiting Greece and the Greek islands largely depends on your interests, what route you choose and which islands you’re planning to visit. However, the months of July and August are the busiest months of the year, so you’ll pay more to visit, have less space, and be subject to the hottest days of the year, so it’s wise to avoid these if you can.

Direct international flights to the islands that have them (such as Rhodes, Crete, Kos, Corfu and Santorini) only operate from the end of March to early November, so between these, in the winter months, the only option for flying into Greece is to go via Athens. While this may not make any difference for some, it can make a difference to those flying in from Europe, and the additional direct flights can open up more possibilities. It’s also worth noting that from November to March, many of the smaller towns and resorts on the islands, as well as some of the larger towns, can partially shut down due to the lack of tourists.

The weather in Greece is best in May, June, September and October. While July and August are beautifully warm, they can be a little too hot for most, making travelling around and sightseeing somewhat uncomfortable at times. The weather can even be kind in April, often reaching the low 20s (Celsius), but is more guaranteed from May to October.

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Which Are The Best Greek Islands To Visit?

The Dodecanese

One of the most popular island groups to visit, the Dodecanese islands include Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, and Kalymnos. They are located in the south-eastern Aegean sea and are well connected to the mainland by both ferry and airline, as well as by ferry to Crete, Santorini and other Greek islands. The islands are also well connected, making them ideal for island hopping in Greece. We recommend making Rhodes a top destination to visit on your Greece travels, due to its history, beautiful old town and easy accessibility.

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The Ionian Islands

The Ionian islands are located west of Greece mainland in the Ionian sea. Their placement within Greece gives them a slightly cooler climate, and landscapes which are beautifully green. Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia are the most visited islands of the group, but there are many others to explore. Ferry routes to Athens are few and far between throughout the islands, but routes to other ports on mainland Greece are regular, as well as flights into the main islands. Exploring the Ionian islands on a trip of their own is recommended due to their distance from the other island groups.

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The Cyclades

Stunning views, white-washed buildings and quaint old towns, this is the Cyclades. Located to the southeast of mainland Greece, the Cyclades consist of some of the most popular Greek islands including Santorini, Mykonos and Naxos. The Cyclades are also some of the best-connected islands in Greece, with ferry and flight connections to Athens and ferry connections to Crete, Rhodes and other island groups. This is the most accessible island group to visit, and one of the most diverse, making it a clear winner for those looking to cover multiple islands in a shorter trip.

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The Sporades

For a mixture of nightlife, Greek charm, natural beauty and family fun, head to the Sporades. Popular islands of this group are Skiathos and Skopelos, which are very different. Being so close to Greece, in the Aegean sea, ferry connections to the mainland are regular, as are connections to Evia island. However, there are no ferry connections to other island groups, making the Sporades less convenient for island hopping in Greece.

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The Saronic Islands

One of the lesser-visited island groups, the Saronic islands are one of the closest groups to mainland Greece. This, plus the great ferry connections between the Saronic islands, make them ideal for island hopping if you are wanting to stay close to the mainland. The most popular islands of the group are Salamis and Aegina, but there are many islands to choose from, each with its own distinct features.

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The North Aegean Islands

Located in the Aegean sea, closer to Turkey than to Greece, the North Aegean islands are some of the least visited islands by tourists. The islands of Lesvos, Samos and Limnos are some of the most well known in the group and boast features among them such as stunning beaches, delicious food and remote landscapes. While the islands are reachable by ferry from Athens, the trip is long and therefore a flight from Athens to Lemnos is advisable. Samos is the most accessible of the islands, located close to the Dodecanese, so if you want a quick taste of the North Aegean islands, this is your best bet.

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Crete

Located in the Aegean sea, Crete is one of the most southern islands in Greece. Crete is well known for its beautiful towns, fantastic culinary scene, stunning beaches and varied natural landscapes. With two international airports and several ferry connections to Athens, the Dodecanese and the Cyclades, Crete is one of the best-connected Greek islands. It is a perfect jumping-off point for island hopping in Greece or works well as a destination in its own right.

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Evia

One of the least visited islands in Greece, Evia is surprisingly one of the largest islands. Evia cradles the mainland from Athens to Glyfa and even has a bridge connecting them. Its varied landscape of fine beaches, small fishing villages, working cities and mountainous forests, make it one of the most diverse islands. Getting to Evia is easy from the mainland but ferry connections to other island groups are less common. Visit Evia if you are looking to stay in one place or have more time to explore but for those looking to experience multiple islands, its lack of connections will be an issue.

For a more detailed look at the Greek islands, the various groups, how well connected they are and their history, take a look at our complete guide to the Greek islands, where we have all this information and much more.

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What Are The Best Greek Island Hopping Routes?

There are so many route options for island hopping in Greece, thanks to a reasonably well-connected ferry network, domestic flights and a decent selection of international flights in the summer months. Taking a ferry, where possible, is the most scenic option and often the cheapest too, but journey times are considerably longer on some routes, so a combination of ferry and domestic flights may be needed depending on your chosen route.

Piraeus port, located just outside of Athens, is one of the most common departures and arrival points for ferries. However, Heraklion in Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Naxos and Kos ports are all host to a variety of ferry routes, making them a good stop for getting to harder-to-reach islands. If you’re starting in Crete or Rhodes then ferrying back to Athens via the Cyclades is one of the best options, as these islands have the widest options of ferry routes, so you can easily get to Athens and many other islands via these.

One of the easiest and most convenient ways to plan your route is to use Ferryhopper. They have an excellent map search function which shows an overview of all the ports in Greece and also shows what routes are available once you click on a port. We highly recommend using it as it is a really simple way to see what your options are and what prices are, plus they also have an app.

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How To Get Between Greek Islands

Ferry

If you’re planning on island hopping in Greece, then using the ferry is a must. Not only is it the most scenic option for getting between islands, but it is also the only option for getting from one island to another, in many cases. Ferries in Greece are run by several operators including Anek Lines, Bluestar, Seajets, Hellenic Seaways, Minoan Lines, Golden Star Ferries, Aegean Speedlines and Saronic Ferries, among others.

Essentially, there are generally two types of ferries, the larger ferries and the smaller, quicker ferries. The speedier ferries tend to be more expensive and more vulnerable to bad weather, whereas the larger ferries run more often, cost a little less, and take more passengers, but take longer. Both types tend to also take cars. On some routes, the journey duration between the two can be negligible, but on others, it can be quite some time.

There is really no right or wrong as to which option to take, it depends on your preferences such as departure time, journey time, comfort and price. In the summer months, when ferries can get booked up quicker, particularly on some of the most popular routes, it can just be down to which operator has availability.

Most ferry operators have different types of class tickets from standard or economy to first class. The more expensive ticket options tend to include larger seats, more space, a better view and seating on a higher deck. Ferries that run overnight also have cabin options to choose from. We recommend booking ferries through Ferryhopper, as this is the best way to see all the available ferries and prices for any island.

Flights

Flying into and out of Greece is something most of us can’t avoid, and for many, flying into Athens will be the most convenient option. However, it is definitely worth checking direct flights into some of the Greek islands, which could make your trip easier, cheaper and give you more time to explore. Crete, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Skiathos, Kos, Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia all have airports that cater to international tourist flights from various countries in Europe, through out the summer season.

For domestic flight routes within Greece, the main airlines that serve these are Aegean Airlines, Sky Express and Olympic Air, among others. However, many of these flights operate out of or into Athens, and not between the islands themselves. So, the only way to use flights within Greece to save time is to fly out of or into Athens at the beginning or end of your Greek travel adventure.

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Tips For Travelling Around The Greek Islands

• We’ve talked about getting between islands, but how about getting around the Greek islands? Well, if you’re looking for public transport, buses are the main way to get around the Greek Islands. Services vary depending on which island you’re on but KTEL is the main bus company in Greece. On most of the larger islands, they operate inexpensive and regular buses between major towns and cities, and sometimes even special sightseeing routes for tourists. You can usually buy tickets on board, but you can also find some long-distance services, such as those connecting Chania to Heraklion, having tickets available to purchase online. Otherwise, you’ll be getting around by taxi or car hire. Car or bike rental is available on most islands and can be a great way to see more of the islands in a short space of time.

• Food and drinks onboard ferries are fairly expensive, particularly when you compare them to the price of most things in Greece. The choice is also limited, so try to bring food on board or grab it at the ferry port, which will still be less expensive than buying it on board.

• It’s worth checking the prices of both flights and ferries between islands if you’re looking for the least expensive option, as flights can occasionally be cheaper, although there are far fewer options. This is particularly important when doing longer ferry journeys that go overnight, as the cost of a bed in a cabin can be higher than that of a seat on a flight, so it really depends on what you’re wanting to get out of the journey. We recommend using Skyscanner to check flight routes, prices and for booking flights.

• Both Stefan and I get seasick, so we know exactly how terrible it can be. Thankfully we haven’t felt seasick on any of the ferries that we have been on in Greece, however, the weather has never been that bad. It’s worth taking some seasickness tablets with you, just in case, if you are prone to seasickness. Going out onto the outdoor decks and looking at the horizon, as a steady line, will usually help too.

• Greece is a great holiday destination for families so it’s worth noting that children under 5 can travel on most of the ferries for free and children aged 5 to 10 usually go half price.

• Greek ferries can be, like anything, unreliable at times, so try not to plan anything too close to your arrival time as there is a chance that you may be delayed due to the ferry leaving late.

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If you have found our guide for island hopping in Greece useful then let us know in the comments below! Check out our Greece travel guides collection for more information on how to get in, out and around some of the top destinations in Greece, including what to do, where to stay and what to expect.

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