News
Need some inspiration for your next holiday to Greece?
Keep up to date with the latest developments from resorts, airlines and hotels..
Our news articles aim to keep you informed of the latest developments and offer insights into how to maximise your holiday.
Think of it as an information hub.
Greek Island Hopping Holidays
Greek Island Hopping Holidays
Planning a multi-island adventure in Greece? Here’s a compact, search-ready guide that answers the big questions with real, practical tips.
What are classic Greek island combinations?
Cyclades (great for first-timers & frequent ferries)
-
Santorini → Naxos → Paros → Mykonos
-
Milos → Sifnos → Serifos
-
Andros → Tinos → Syros
-
Naxos → Koufonisia (Small Cyclades) → Amorgos
Dodecanese (historic towns, turquoise water, longer hops)
-
Rhodes → Symi → Kos → Kalymnos
-
Leros → Patmos → Lipsi
Sporades (green & beachy, easy short hops)
-
Skiathos → Skopelos → Alonissos
Ionian (emerald water, some flights, ferries less interlinked)
-
Corfu → Paxos/Antipaxos → Lefkada → Kefalonia → Zakynthos
Tip: pick one island group to avoid backtracking and make ferries easy. For route density and live routes, use a ferry map/schedules tool.
Are the Cyclades the best islands for multi-centre trips?
Usually, yes—especially for a first island-hopping holiday. They’re close together, have many daily crossings in season, and give you a mix of buzzy (Mykonos), iconic (Santorini), and laid-back (Paros, Naxos, Sifnos) islands. Other chains are fantastic too (Sporades for short, calm hops; Dodecanese for culture and castles), but the Cyclades’ ferry frequency makes them the easiest sandbox to play in.
Are Greek ferries expensive?
Short answer: not usually—especially for short hops.
-
Short inter-island legs (e.g., Paros ↔ Naxos): commonly ~€5–€20+ for a foot passenger on a conventional ferry. (Example fares start at €5.50 on some dates/routes.) r
-
Longer legs from Athens (Piraeus ↔ Cyclades): conventional ferries often ~€30–€60+; high-speed catamarans usually ~€60–€100+ depending on date and seat type. (Indicative Santorini routes show from ~€29–€46+ before extras.)
-
Add-ons: seat upgrades, cabins, or vehicles raise the price. Look for seasonal offers on booking platforms.
Money-saving tip: keep hops short & consecutive inside one island group, and use conventional ferries where time isn’t critical.
When is the best time to travel to get the best value?
Shoulder seasons are your friend: late April–June and September–October. You’ll get warm weather, open businesses, swimmable seas (especially Sep/early Oct), thinner crowds, and lower hotel rates than peak summer.
Note: in July–August, the Meltemi winds can bring occasional ferry delays/cancellations in the Cyclades—build in a buffer day.
What are good islands to fly to for the start of an island-hopping trip?
You can start in Athens (ATH) and ferry out, or fly directly to an island with an airport and hop from there:
-
Cyclades: Santorini (JTR), Mykonos (JMK) (seasonal international flights; easy onward ferries). j
-
Crete: Heraklion (HER), Chania (CHQ) (big hubs; connect to Cyclades or Dodecanese by ferry/flight).
-
Dodecanese: Rhodes (RHO), Kos (KGS).
-
Ionian: Corfu (CFU), Zakynthos (ZTH), Kefalonia (EFL).
-
Sporades: Skiathos (JSI).
Greece has 15 international airports, many on islands, with seasonal direct flights—great for starting close to your first hop.
Pro itinerary tips (so your trip just works)
-
2–4 islands in 8–12 days is the sweet spot.
-
Sequence smartly: move in one direction (e.g., Mykonos → Paros → Naxos → Santorini), then fly out.
-
Choose the right Athens port: Piraeus (most routes), Rafina (handy for northern Cyclades), Lavrio (some western/lesser-known Cyclades).
-
Book key ferries and first/last hotels in advance (especially Jul–Sep).
-
Pack light—you’ll board via gangways, not jet bridges.
-
Buffer a final night on your departure island or Athens before your flight home.
Sample 9-day Cyclades route (balanced & easy)
Fly in Santorini → Ferry to Naxos (3 nights) → Ferry to Paros (3 nights) → Ferry to Mykonos (1–2 nights) → Fly out. Use conventional ferries for value; switch to a high-speed only if timing is tight.