Where to stay:
• Athens • Crete • Milos • Mykonos • Naxos • Paros • Santorini
Greece is my favorite country in Europe. It’s loaded with great beaches (Naxos, Mykonos, and Paros have the best sand and swimming), iconic historical sites (Athens, Crete, and Delphi top the list), fantastic hotels, and stunning natural beauty (Santorini, Milos, and the Meteora are my favs). The magical Greek islands are perfectly scattered for island hopping and adventure, while mainland Greece is packed with ancient cities and less-visited regions that will surprise and reward the unhurried traveler.
My Top Tips for Greece
1. Build Around Athens
Whether you’re passionate about ancient history or just want a quick taste of urban Greece, plan on at least two nights in Athens. The Acropolis, Plaka’s winding alleys, and world-class museums (like the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum) provide critical context before you hit the islands. As well, Athens welcomes the majority of international flights into Greece and boasts plentiful direct ferry routes to most islands (aside from the Ionian). That makes the capital an ideal launchpad for hopping to the Cyclades, Dodecanese, or other Aegean gems.2. Open-Jaw Flights
To avoid unnecessary backtracking, fly into one destination (like Athens or Santorini) and out from another (e.g., Mykonos, Crete, or Rhodes). This strategy maximizes your island-hopping time and leverages Greece’s network of ferries.3. Know Your Island Style
Not all islands are created equal. Mykonos rages with nightlife, Santorini flaunts caldera magic, Naxos balances beaches with inland villages, and Crete offers a “mini-country” feel. Pick two or three that truly match your vibe. Better to immerse than to race around.4. Shoulder Season Sweet Spot
Consider traveling in May, early June, or mid to late September, or early October. You’ll dodge the peak crowds (and prices), yet still enjoy good weather. Plus, ferry schedules remain fairly robust, making it easier to get around.5. Book Lodgings Early
Especially true for coveted hotels with caldera views in Santorini or beachside suites in Mykonos. These fill up fast – sometimes a year in advance. Lock in those prime spots as soon as you confirm your travel dates (ideally at least six months before you travel).6. Ferry vs. Plane
Ferries can be scenic and fun, but meltemi winds sometimes cause delays or cancellations—particularly in the Cyclades. If you’re tight on time or traveling in high-wind months (July–August), a quick flight on Aegean or Sky Express will save hassles. That said, ferries go pretty much everywhere, flights are only between the most popular destinations.7. Two-Night Minimum per Island
Each island boasts distinct character — slow down and soak it in. Hopping to a new island every day can wear you out and inflate transport costs. A leisurely pace often leads to those spontaneous local interactions you’ll remember most.8. Add Mainland Gems
Extend your horizons to mainland destinations like Meteora (towering rock monasteries), Delphi (sacred ancient oracle site), or the Peloponnese (ruins of Mycenae and Epidaurus). Greece’s wonders aren’t confined to the islands alone.9. Mind the Heat
Summer in Greece gets hot — easily hitting the mid-90s (Fahrenheit) or higher. Schedule outdoor sightseeing (like the Acropolis) for early morning, then retreat to museums or shaded tavernas when the sun’s at its peak.10. Savor Greek Cuisine
From fresh-caught seafood to robust salads with tangy feta, Greek food is a standout. Don’t miss local island specialties—like Assyrtiko wines on Santorini or cheeses from Naxos. Seek out family-run tavernas (often a bit off the main streets or outside the most popular towns) for the most authentic meals.11. Invest in Guided Experiences
An expert-led walking tour in Athens, a catamaran cruise in Santorini, or a cooking class in Crete can add depth to your trip. You’ll gain historical context, local insights, and possibly new friends.12. Public Transport vs. Rental Car
Many islands offer decent bus systems, but routes can be limited. If you crave hidden beaches or remote villages, renting a car or ATV grants freedom. Just be prepared for narrow roads and occasional steep switchbacks.13.Mix Iconic with Lesser-Known
If you’re drawn to global icons like Santorini, consider pairing it with a quieter spot (Sifnos, Folegandros, or Milos) for balance. The contrast — bustling vs. relaxed — often complements each destination.14. Learn a Few Greek Phrases
A simple “Yassas” (hello) or “Efharisto” (thank you) can open doors. Locals often respond warmly to visitors who make an effort — no matter how small or imperfect.15. Respect Cultural Sensitivities
Greeks are famously welcoming, yet certain sites (like monasteries) require modest attire—cover shoulders and knees. Always be mindful when photographing church interiors or sacred monuments.My 2025 Greece Travel Guide
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Travel Guides
My two sons and I on a boat tour in the Santorini caldera.
Where to Stay in Greece
- Aegina – Best Areas
- Andros – Best Areas
- Athens – Best Areas
- Chios – Best Areas
- Crete – Best Areas
- Delphi – Best Areas
- Folegandros – Best Areas
- Hydra – Best Areas
- Meteora – Best Areas
- Milos – Best Areas
- Monemvasia – Best Areas
- Mykonos – Best Areas
- Nafplio – Best Areas
- Naxos – Best Areas
- Paros – Best Areas
- Poros – Best Areas
- Rhodes – Best Areas
- Santorini – Best Areas
- Spetses – Best Areas
- Syros – Best Areas
- Tinos – Best Areas
Me at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
What to Do in Greece
- Athens – Things to Do
- Crete – Things to Do
- Delphi – Things to Do
- Meteora – Things to Do
- Monemvasia – Things to Do
- Mykonos – Things to Do
- Nafplio – Things to Do
- Naxos – Things to Do
- Paros – Things to Do
- Santorini – Things to Do
Where to Eat & Drink in Greece
Island hopping by ferry is a great way to get between the Greek Islands.
Where to Go in Greece
- Best Greek Islands
- Greece with Kids
- Mainland Greece – Where to Go
- Peloponnese – Where to Go
- Halkidiki – Where to Go
- Where to Go in Greece
The Best Beaches in Greece
The Calilo Hotel in Ios is one of our favorite new beach resorts in Greece.
When to Go to Greece
- Best Time to Visit Greece & Greek Islands
- Athens – Best Time to Visit
- Crete – Best Time to Visit
- Mykonos – Best Time to Visit
- Naxos – Best Time to Visit
- Santorini – Best Time to Visit
Greece Travel Videos
- Athens Travel Videos
- Mykonos Travel Videos
- Naxos Travel Videos
- Paros Travel Videos
- Santorini Travel Videos
My wife and I at the Grande Bretagne hotel in Athens.
The Best Hotels in Greece
- Mykonos – Best Hotels
- Mykonos – Family Hotels
- Mykonos – Budget Hotels
- Mykonos – Beach Hotels
- Mykonos – Honeymoon Hotels
Mykonos Town harbor in Mykonos, Greece.
Getting To & Around Greece
- Greece Rental Cars
- Flights to Greece
- Greek Ferry Guide
- Greek Island Hopping
- Italy to Greece Ferries
- Maps of Greece
- Athens – Getting Around Athens
- Athens – Airport Car Rental
- Athens – Ferry Port Guide
- Athens – Maps for Travelers
- Athens to Delphi & Meteora
- Athens to Mykonos Ferries
- Athens to Santorini Ferries
- Athens to Crete Ferries
- Athens to Milos Ferries
- Athens to Mykonos Ferries
- Athens to Naxos Ferries
- Athens to Paros Ferries
- Athens to Santorini Ferries
- Crete – Heraklion Ferry Port Guide
- Crete – Heraklion Airport Car Rental
- Crete – Maps for Travelers
- Crete to Santorini Ferries
- Crete to Athens Ferries
- Crete to Santorini Ferries
- Mykonos – Ferry Port Guide
- Mykonos – Car Rental
- Mykonos – Water Taxi
- Mykonos – Maps for Travelers
- Mykonos to Athens Ferries
- Mykonos to Santorini Ferries
- Mykonos-Santorini Helicopter
- Naxos – Maps for Travelers
- Naxos to Athens Ferries
- Naxos from Athens Ferries
- Naxos to Santorini Ferries
- Naxos from Santorini Ferries
- Paros – Getting Around by Bus
- Paros – Maps for Travelers
- Paros to Athens Ferries
- Paros from Athens Ferries
- Paros to Santorini Ferries
- Paros from Santorini Ferries
- Santorini – How to Get There
- Santorini – Ferry Port Guide
- Santorini – Airport Guide
- Santorini – Car Rental
- Santorini – Maps for Travelers
- Santorini to Athens Ferries
- Santorini to Crete Ferries
- Santorini to Milos Ferries
- Santorini to Mykonos Ferries
- Santorini-Mykonos Helicopter
- Santorini to Naxos Ferries
- Santorini to Paros Ferries
Frequently Asked Questions about Greece
See Also: Greece: Itinerary for First-Timers
Where is Greece?
Greece is located in southeastern Europe, at the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece has a land area of over 50,000 square miles and comprises a large mainland peninsula between the Ionian and Aegean seas, surrounded by an archipelago of about 6,000 islands and islets. Sharing its northern land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, Greece is positioned at a historically rich crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
What is the population of Greece?
The population of Greece was estimated by the United Nations to be 10,445,365 in 2021. Some estimates put the current population as high as 10,600,000. The country’s population grew from 5,000,000 in 1920 to a peak of nearly 11,000,000 in 2010. The five largest cities in Greece are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and Heraklion. The vast majority of Greeks live in Mainland Greece. Approximately 1.2 million people live in the Peloponnese and 1.3 million on the Greek islands.
How many islands are in Greece?
Greece has between 1,200 and 6,000 islands depending on the measure used to establish an island vs an islet. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227. The ten largest Greek islands by land area are Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes, Chios, Kefalonia, Corfu, Lemnos, Samos, and Naxos. The ten largest Greek islands by population are Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesbos, Corfu, Chios, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kos, and Samos. The Peloponnese has technically been an island since the completion of the Corinth Canal in 1893 but is generally not considered to be an island due to its artifical nature.
What language is spoken in Greece?
The official language of Greece is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population. The most common foreign languages learned by Greeks are English (48%), German (9%), French (8.5%), and Italian (8%). English is widely spoken in the largest cities and on the most popular Greek islands.
What are the best things to do in Greece?
The must-do destinations and attractions in Greece:
• Acropolis in Athens
• National Archaeological Museum in Athens
• Caldera hike in Santorini
• Boat tour in Santorini
• Wineries of Santorini
• Helicopter ride around Santorini
• Staying in a caldera hotel in Santorini
• Nightlife & beach clubs in Mykonos
• Beaches of Naxos
• The beaches and solitude of Antiparos
• Sarakiniko Beach on Milos
• Staying in Chania Old Town
• Staying in Rhodes Old Town
• Visiting Delphi
• Meteora Monasteries
• Staying in Nafplio
• Island Hopping by Greek ferry
Naxos is one of my very favorite islands in Greece. Relaxed vibe, wonderful local food, and great beaches.
How to get to Greece?
Most people will fly from a hub in western Europe (usually London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Rome, or Venice) to Athens, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Kos, Rhodes, or Corfu. If you’re arriving from the east you could fly via Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, or Singapore.
My top tip for choosing flights is to fly into and out of different airports so you don’t waste time and money backtracking to your arrival point. For example, fly from London to Athens, then ferry to Mykonos, ferry to Paros, ferry to Santorini, then fly Santorini to London (and don’t go back to Athens for your return flight). You may pay slightly more for 2 one-way tickets than a round-trip ticket, but it will be more than made up for by the savings for the extra ferry and hotel night.
How long is the flight to Greece?
Flying times to Athens, Greece. For direct flights to the Greek islands (when available) flight times can be up to 30 minutes longer or shorter.
• Rome to Athens: 1 hour, 50 minutes
• Barcelona to Athens: 2 hours, 50 minutes
• Paris to Athens: 3 hours, 10 minutes
• Amsterdam to Athens: 3 hours, 15 minutes
• London to Athens: 3 hours, 40 minutes
• Boston to Athens: 9 hours, 15 minutes
• New York to Athens: 9 hours, 30 minutes
• Toronto to Athens: 9 hours, 30 minutes
• Chicago to Athens: 10 hours, 10 minutes
• Atlanta to Athens: 10 hours, 50 minutes
• Istanbul to Athens: 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Dubai to Athens: 5 hours, 10 minutes
• Delhi to Athens: 10 hours, 15 minutes
• Singapore to Athens: 11 hours, 30 minutes
Boarding a Sky Express flight from Athens to the Greek islands.
When is the Best Time to Travel to Greece?
To enjoy Greek beaches and hot weather, travel between June and September. For sightseeing, tours, hiking, and exploring the best months to go to Greece are late March to early June, and late September to and early November. Travel to the Greek Islands is not recommended between November and March; the weather will be gray, windy, and often rainy, and many most hotels and restaurants will be shuttered for the season. Athens is a good year-round destination; the weather is best in the spring and fall, but archaeological sites and museums are open throughout the winter, and there is the benefit of lower rates and thinner crowds in the off-season.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens. Though travel to the Greek Islands is best in the spring and summer, Athens can be a great destination at any time of year.
What are the Best Greek Islands?
All the Greek islands are wonderful. Really! I have never met someone that went to an island and said, “what a mistake, big disappointment.” It just doesn’t happen. (Though, admittedly, some might find Santorini and Mykonos too busy during high season.)
Perhaps a better question is what are the best Greek islands for a first time visitor to Greece? For that I would answer Santorini, Naxos, Paros, and Mykonos. Crete is also great for first-timers but it’s so big that it’s good to do on its own or perhaps along with Santorini – not much more or you’ll spread your time too thin.
Santorini is famous for its fantastic luxury hotels and caldera views.
How do you get between the Greek Islands?
Greek ferries are the primary mode of transport between the islands – especially for the islands in the Aegean (e.g. Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes). There are also some flights between the islands and (more commonly) flights via Athens between different islands but these are expensive and have inconsistent schedules. For most itineraries, using the ferry is best. I use Ferryhopper.com to book and purchase ferry tickets and it’s what I recommend for first-time visitors.
Passengers boarding a ferry in Mykonos. Traveling between the Greek Islands by ferry is easy, fun, and a highlight of a trip to Greece.
What are the best places to visit in Mainland Greece?
I love the Greek Islands, but there are so many great places to visit in mainland Greece that it’s worth making a trip to explore it all on its own. West and southwest of Athens is The Peloponnese, a vast peninsula peppered with romantic harbor towns, olive groves, and archaeological ruins. Northwest of Athens are the ancient ruins of Delphi and the incredible clifftop monasteries at Meteora. In Greece’s far north is the three-legged peninsula of Halkidiki, famous for its excellent beaches and mountain monastic republic.
The romantic harbor town of Nafplio is located in the Peloponnese peninsula, about two hours by car or bus west of Athens.
What are the Best Beaches in Greece?
My favorite islands for beaches are Naxos, Mykonos, Paros, Ios, Rhodes, and Crete. But there are many more with wonderful beaches and every island has great swimming even when the beaches don’t have the typical golden sand you’re expecting. Outside of the islands, the Halkidiki region of northern Greece also has excellent beaches running all up and down the coast of its three popular peninsulas.
With its pink sand and calm turquoise water, Elafonisi Beach in southwest Crete is my all-time favorite Greek beach.
What are the best places in Greece for kids?
The whole of Greece is incredibly kid-friendly. And with great beaches, interesting history, a laid-back vibe, and incredible (and kid-friendly) food, the Greek islands are an especially excellent choice for a family vacation. Greek island hopping adds a bit of adventure to a family trip and an opportunity to see several very distinct destinations – plus, riding the ferry is always fun. My favorite island for families is Naxos, but there are many others that are also kid-friendly and great for families: Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu are four more islands that have great beaches, cool towns, and a friendly atmosphere.
Paros is an idyllic mix of Naxos (slow pace, traditional, great beaches) and Mykonos (trendy, luxurious, lots of nightlife).
What currency is used in Greece?
Greece is part of the European Union, and the currency used is the Euro (€). Most major shops and restaurants across Greece accept credit cards, but there may be a minimum purchase required to use them. It is a good idea to have some cash on hand for bus trips and small purchases like bottled water and snacks. ATMs are plentiful in Athens and generally easy to find in most villages and beach towns across Greece.
Do you tip in Greece?
Tipping is not expected in Greek restaurants but is appreciated. Rather than a percentage of the bill, a restaurant tip in Greece can be a few Euros left on the table as a recognition of good service, or simply rounding up the tab to the nearest convenient amount. The more touristy (and expensive) a restaurant is, the more a tip is expected.
A seafood tavern in Ammoudi Bay below the village of Oia in Santorini. Most restaurants and stores in Greece accept credit cards, but it is a good idea to have some cash on hand for small purchases.
The spectacular walking path along the Santorini caldera.
About Santorini Dave