Greece has long had a reputation for being a paradise. When you imagine a vacation there, you probably envision the blue Mediterranean waters, the white buildings lining the coast, and amazing sunsets amongst the ruins of ancient buildings. While all of this truly does exist, a big part of getting the experience you are looking for is knowing where to go. With some 200 Greek islands, many with rocky coastlines, you may end up somewhere far from what you imagined! Here find 5 Greek islands that have much to offer.
#1 Aegina for Pistachios and History
Aegina is right off the shore of Greece’s capital Athens. This island is at the center of many historical as well as mythical stories. It served as an important post in the famed Peloponnesian War and has long battled for independence. The climate lends to great agriculturally ripe land, pistachios being their shining produce. You will also find the ruins of the ancient temple of Aphaea here as well as a lively waterfront with restaurants, ice cream shops, and pistachio stands.
#2 Hydra Where You Travel by Mule
This island has a very small cute town center with a church tower which chimes every hour. You will find tourists and locals alike lounging at cafes, restaurants, and bars, fishing, sailing, or tending to their shops. There are plenty of places to shop and small streets to explore. There are also various hiking trails you can take if you have the desire. In fact, you should be a person who enjoys walking here because cars are not permitted other than garbage trucks. This has made mule transportation a popular choice for getting around! Get away from the fast paced life by stopping in for a few days.
#3 Crete for Food
Crete is the largest island with an impressive landscape and enviable climates. You will find fine sand beaches, mountains, caves, ancient artifacts, and museums.The climate allows for crops to grow for longer seasons so you will find fresh food available year round. The Cretan diet uses olive oil as a fat and includes very little red meat. It is mostly composed of the fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the island combined with the fresh fish caught in the ocean. This makes their food culture one of the freshest and healthiest in the world. Many come to enjoy the cuisine served at restaurants along the coastline, along with all the other treasures this island holds.
#4 Mykonos to Party
If you didn’t already know it then you would soon find out about the wild reputation of Mykonos. Here you will enjoy white sand beaches, whereas most of the islands actually have rocky shorelines. At night, the sparkling lights of the bars fill the town as the party-friendly island comes to life. Stay at a hostel or at a luxury hotel depending on your budget and, regardless, be ready to relax, meet people and have a good time!
#5 Santorini for its Beauty
Of course, Santorini has to make this list. It is probably the most famous and most photographed Greek island that has earned Greece much of it reputation for being beautiful. You will find the cubicle white washed houses which cling to the cliffs above the underwater crater which remains. Yes, this island is the results of a volcano which erupted in the 16th century, traces of which can be seen on the beaches which hold white, red, and black lave pebbles. The intensely white buildings are recognized all over the world as the face of the islands of Greece, and for good reason: they are absolutely magnificent. Catch at least a few of the breathtaking sunsets on Santorini!
There you have 5 Greek islands to look into if you are heading to Greece. While the first 2 are worth stopping through, the last 3 warrant a longer stay to really soak up the all they have to offer. Being situated close to the equator, you are sure to have lots of sun and fresh food, not to mention ancient history and beautiful lands to explore. Opa!
