Upmarket and dramatically beautiful, the cliff-top towns of Thira and Oia overlook the sea-filled, volcanic caldera. Many of their whitewashed, cubic buildings are now boutique hotels, classy restaurants, and fashion boutiques. See our Santorini Travel Guide
Mykonos (Cyclades)
Glamorous, gay-friendly, celebrity-attracting Mykonos is best-known for its hedonistic nightlife. Expect quaint, whitewashed cubic buildings, chic design hotels, and sand beaches with daytime bathing and after-dark clubbing. See our Mykonos Travel Guide
Paros (Cyclades)
Low-key (except in August when moneyed Athenians invade) Paros offers sandy beaches, clear blue seas, gently rolling countryside, and Cycladic architecture. Accessible by boat, neighboring Antiparos is even more laid back.
Corfu (Ionian)
A green, fertile island of olive groves and cypresses, Corfu is a popular package destination. Rich North Europeans patronize the northeast coast’s villas, while Corfu Town retains its Italianate elegance.
Hydra (Argo-Saronic)
Close to Athens, this tiny, unspoiled island’s sole settlement overlooks a pretty harbor. Several of its 18th-century stone mansions are now boutique hotels (Leonard Cohen has a house here).
Rhodes (Dodecanese)
Steeped in history, Rhodes offers ancient monuments, 14th-century fortifications built by the Knights of St John, plus 21st-century sophistication. Expect long golden beaches, a lush fertile interior, and the aptly named ‘Butterfly Valley’.
Patmos (Dodecanese)
St. John supposedly wrote Revelations on this island, a popular religious retreat with 300+ churches. The Cave of the Apocalypse and the Byzantine Monastery of St. John the Theologian are both UNESCO-listed.
Skiathos (Sporades)
Green Skiathos is known for aromatic pinewoods and excellent sand beaches. The capital, 19th-century Skiathos Town, offers waterside restaurants and late-night bars. Hotels and villas string along the south coast.
