Luxury Greece Tours & Travel

With their exotic coasts, diverse landscapes, and historical and cultural attractions, choosing just one island for your trip can be a challenge. Fortunately, you don’t have to do that as you can always combine multiple Greek islands to sample some of the best each has to offer. There are not only many ferry connections between neighboring islands, especially between May and September but opportunities for island-hopping cruises. Choosing islands in the same island group, like Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, and Paros in the Cyclades, makes it easy to squeeze several in one trip.

Summer is the best time to enjoy beautiful beaches and swimming. For warm water temperatures and a more tranquil atmosphere with fewer tourists, consider the second half of September. For sailing and island-hopping cruises, April through early November is the season, with summer the peak time. Mid to late spring brings lush landscapes and blooming flowers, while mid-September and early October are still great for swimming with more opportunities for quiet seclusion. For a sightseeing-focused trip consider April through mid-May or late September through early November, with typically mild weather and thinner crowds.

Mykonos and Santorini are the most popular islands for couples with their ideal combination of breathtaking scenery, romantic whitewashed villages, glorious sunsets, fine dining, and luxury sea-view resorts with a chic, sophisticated atmosphere. With well over 200 inhabited islands, they aren’t the only options. There really is no one “best” with plenty of other alluring options. Paros is fabulous too, with beautiful stretches of sand and ancient ruins. Crete, the largest Greek island, is incredibly diverse with everything from wide sandy beaches and hidden coves to rugged canyons, mountains, fascinating history, and mouthwatering cuisine. 

Crete offers some of the best sandy beaches in all of Greece along with some of the top beachfront hotels and resorts. Naxos is also known for its beaches with long, powdery sands that include stretches for a wide range of activities as well as more secluded spots. Mykonos offers some great options as well, particularly for those who are looking to party in the summer, while Paros, a bit like a small Mykonos, is also known for its idyllic sandy stretches. Milos, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos are great choices too.

You need at least seven days in order to explore Athens or other historic cities on the mainland combined with time on one of the Greek islands. Ten days to two weeks is even better, as you’ll be able to experience multiple islands at a more relaxed pace. You might take a mainland tour and then head to the sea to discover the Cyclades or perhaps Crete – as such a large, diverse island, offers a little of almost everything all in one place, best experienced with at least five days on its own.