The islands constitute the main characteristic of the identity of Greek nature and the basic element of Greek culture. There are 6,000 islands and islets in total dispersed in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, from which only 227 are inhabited. However, only 78 islands have more than 100 inhabitants (census of 1991, National Statistical Service of Greece).
The Greek Archipelago with 7,500 kilometers of insular coasts –out of the total of 15,000 kilometers of coastline in the country- makes Greece the ideal destination for summer and sea tourism.
The Greek islands have numerous and wonderful dentelated beaches with a big diversity of form: beaches stretching for kilometers, small bays and inlets, sandy beaches with dunes, pebbles and off-shore caves, with steep rocks and the characteristic dark sand of volcanic grounds. The diversity of the Greek coasts is such that it has established a particular type of morphology known as “Greek style beaches”. Greek beaches offer crystal-clear waters and are awarded many of the “Blue Flags of Europe”, prizes given to beaches with clean waters, proper beach administration, swimmers’ safety, good services and environmental information. Greek seas are unique for swimming, diving, scuba diving, water skiing, sailing, wind surfing and all kinds of sea and underwater activities.
Apart from the beaches, Greek islands offer archaeological sites, extremely beautiful architecture and enchanting local traditions –examples of an age-old and multifaceted culture. The unique wealth of the Greek seas in combination with the wonderful climate, their well known safety and the small distances between the harbours and the coasts make the visit to the Greek islands a simple and enchanting experience.
The islands of the Aegean Sea (Egeo Pelagos) are dispersed in a very original way following the imaginary arc of a circle formed from Euboea, to the islands of the North Aegean and the islands of Asia Minor with the Cyclades as the connecting link and Rhodes, Crete and Cyprus in the southern borderline. The Greek islands offer numerous, attractive peculiarities, as their morphology, traditions and culture are concerned. Islands very close to each other, but at the same time with many differences in their cultural, architectural and geo-physical characteristics.
The islands of Argosaronikos (Aegina, Spetses, Hydra, Poros, Salamina, Agistri and the coastal area of Methana) are the ones closer to Athens. Because of this proximity, these islands are very popular with the inhabitants of Athens as well as foreign visitors who enjoy their rich history, natural beauty and the numerous options for entertainment and recreation. Hydra- the picturesque island on which cars are forbidden- is a traditionally cosmopolitan island with its maze of cobbled alleys and the impressive, old mansions as its trademark. Spetses, the beautiful island with its rich maritime tradition, attract thousands of visitors every September for the well-known celebrations ‘Armata’ (3-8 September). During these celebrations, which last for a whole week, the islanders stage the incident when the Turkish flagship was set on fire by Greek fighters of the War of Independence in 1821. Aegina –the island with the rich cultural tradition and the famous Doric Temple of Aphaea Athena. Poros –the island with its protected Lemonodasos (Lemon forest) and the ruins of the Poseidon Temple in the center of the island.
The Sporades include four inhabited islands (Skiathos, Alonnisos, Skyros, Skopelos) combining mountains full of trees and beaches of insuperable beauty. Skyros, with its characteristically amphitheatrically built insular town, its beaches full of pines on the northern area of the island, the inaccessible and wild landscape on the southern side of the island, the rare Skyrian small horses, is the biggest and most southern island of the insular complex of Sporades. Skopelos is one of the greenest islands of Greece, covered by virgin pine forests that combine with the deep blue of the sea creating an enchanting mixture. Skiathos, an island full of trees and many kilometers of manifold beaches, is one of the most developed island of the Sporades with its picturesque Chora and the exquisite fortress of Burtzi. And finally, Alonnisos, the peaceful island with the sea park, one of the few shelters of Monachus Monachus, the sea seal which is a mammal on top of the list of the mammals of Europe threatened by extinction and among the most threatened all over the world.
The islands of northeastern Aegean (Samos, Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Samothraki, Thasos) are big islands each one with its particular character. Samos, homeland of the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, fascinates visitors with its neoclassical elegance and natural beauty. Samothraki, the island of the Big Gods and Kaviria Mysteries of antiquity, is full of wild vegetation and displays an extremely impressive landscape that reaches its peak on Feggari Mountain (1611 m) over valleys with dense olive groves, forests, waterfalls and fonts. Chios –the island with its Mediaeval and more recent scheduled settlements, Mastichochoria, where the famous mastic is produced, and the numerous natural beauties, either coastal or mountainous ones. Lesvos, the biggest island of the eastern archipelagos and homeland of Sapho, the lyric poet, as well as of the Nobel prize winner poet Odysseas Elytis, fascinates visitors with its numerous beauties, its rich cultural heritage and the monuments dispersed all over it.
The Cyclades is a complex of 56 small and big islands created by volcanic activity and submerging of the land. They constitute some of the most frequented tourist destinations of the Greek islands because of their position in the heart of the Aegean archipelagos and their beauty. Due to their geographical position, the Cyclades were right from the start a flourishing civilization and played a pioneering role in the developments in the Greek region. They were named Cyclades in ancient times because they surrounded they island of Delos, the center of the then Greek world and today a vast open-air museum. .
The Cyclades is an experience of austere beauty, original nature, sky, sea and civilization. The Cycladic beauty is unique in the world and has been praised throughout the centuries by artists, poets and simple admirers. The islands’ beauty is wild and at the same time peaceful. It lies in the harmonious contrast of the rocky, naked land with the endless deep blue of the sea surrounding it. The dazzling light of the Aegean Sea highlights even more the absolute white of the Cycladic architecture creating visual contrasts that fascinate the eye. Natural beauty is completed by the warmth of the hospitable inhabitants who have hosted and welcomed visitors from all over the world for many years now.
Mykonos is one of the most well known islands of the Cyclades and the epitome of the perfect example of summer night entertainment and cosmopolitan life. With its 360 churches, its picturesque windmills, its Small Venice (Mikri Venetia) and the Museum full of exhibits is a pole of attraction for tourists from all over the world.
Thera or Santorini is well known too. It’s an exquisite volcanic island –the legendary Atlantis is said to be found in the bottom of the sea surrounding it- with its famous Kalntera (that is, the remaining part of the crater after a strong volcanic eruption). The impressive geological formations, the spectacular and unique in the world calderas (craters), the wonderful architecture and the numerous options offered by the tourist infrastructure have brought the island to the top of the list of the tourist destinations in the world. Other islands of the Cyclades, each one with its own beauty and peculiarity, are: Andros –the elegant island with the rich fauna, the Goulandri Museum of Contemporary Art and its tasteful settlements. Paros –a picturesque, much frequented island, specially loved by the fans of sea sports and mainly surfing. In Paros you can also visit the Valley of Psychopanion with the thousands of butterflies as well as the numerous ancient monuments dated 6,000 years ago. Naxos, with the impressive changes in the landscape and the picturesque Chora combining Cycladic and Venetian architecture, is the biggest island of the Cyclades. The big emery mines of Koronos-Aperathos are worth visiting by the overhead small train. Syros –the island with the rich history, the special neoclassical architecture, which makes it different from the other Cycladic islands, and the so important for the Greek history harbour. Milos -Aphrodite’s island with the Catacombs (from the oldest Christian monuments of Europe of the first era), ancient theaters and its ‘multi-coloured’ landscape. There are as well other extremely beautiful islands such as: Sifnos, Tinos, Ios, Kea, Kythnos, Amorgos, Anafi, Serifos, Kimolos, Sikinos, Folegandros.
The heavenly Mikres Cyclades (Small Cyclades) are just a small group of tiny islands between Naxos and Amorgos. From these only Koufonisia, Donousa, Schinousa and Iraklia are inhabited. Nopals and palm trees, crystal clear sea in every possible shade of blue and green and hospitable people guarantee unforgettable peaceful holidays.
Crete, the “megalonisos” (the big island) of Greece, the second island of the Eastern Mediterranean in magnitude and the fifth in all the Mediterranean, lies on the southern part of the country. Cradle of the insuperable Minoan civilization, it enchants the visitor with the numerous Minoan remains, the innumerable examples of its rich culture, the unforgettable beaches on the north and south coasts, the beautiful mountainous villages and the peculiar and so special traditions.
Euboea is the second largest island after Crete and lies along the Northeastern coast of Sterea Ellada (Mainland Greece). It is one of the most popular destinations in the country because of the harmonious changes between the mountainous and sea landscape, its rich history that dates back to the pre-historic times and its easy access.
The Dodecanese lie on the Southeastern part of Greece, along the coast of Asia Minor. Due to their strategic geographical position, these islands have always been, since ancient times, extremely important in terms of trade, transportation and politics and that is why, they faced many waves of invaders. The turbulent history of the Dodecanese and the various influences are reflected on the numerous monuments, their architecture and culture. Rhodes is the biggest island in the Dodecanese and its town is the largest inhabited mediaeval settlement in Europe. Being one of the most touristic islands in Greece, Rhodes attracts many visitors who come to enjoy the sights, the beaches and the lively night -life. There you can find ruins of ancient cities (Rhodes, Lindos, Ialysos, Kamiros), perfectly preserved castles and mansions, scheduled buildings of Mediaeval, Christian and Islamic style. The impressive Acropolis of Lindos hosts a beautiful castle of pirates which towers over the picturesque cobbled streets and the beautifully decorated houses of the town.
Other popular islands of the Dodecanese are: Kos, the land of Hippocratis, with its endless and extra-ordinary beaches and the tropical birds, which find shelter here during their migration to the south. Symi, the romantic and elegant island with the well preserved traditional houses. Kalymnos - the island with the original way of life and the famous sponge-divers. Karpathos -the island of strong traditions and wonderful nature. Patmos - the island where the Apostle John wrote the Apocalypse (that is why it is called ‘Island of the Apocalypse’). Astipalea -the island with the impressive Chora full of whitewashed houses and the Venetian castle. Nisyros, the volcanic island. And not to forget: Kasos, Leros, Lipsi, Chalki, Tilos, Agathonisi, Kastelorizo.
The only complex of islands not washed by the Aegean Sea is the Ionian Islands or Eptanisa. The green-clad Ionian Islands, the jewel of the Ionian Sea, lie along the western coast of mainland Greece and very near the neighbouring Italy. The Ionian Islands never experienced the Turkish occupation, but they were occupied by the Westerners. Their influence is evident in the exquisite architecture as well as their culinary tastes and folk traditions.
Kefalonia, the biggest of the Ionian Islands, is a cosmopolitan island with golden beaches, picturesque settlements and wonderful natural landscapes. The famous black fir forests of Enos, the biggest mountain of the Ionian Islands, the unique caves, the rocky sculptures, and its monuments pay tribute to a glorious past and fascinate visitors.
Corfu, the second island in magnitude in the Ionian Sea, is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. A real jewel with its wonderful, elegant town with the mazy slip roads, the Achillion palace, areas full of trees and forests, a dentelated coastline and a wealth of traditions, festivals and celebrations.
Lefkada, the island of exquisite beauty which has given birth to many representatives of intellect and fine arts, is another jewel in the Ionian Sea combining the wild beauty of steep rocks with the peace and magic of the milk-white sand and the deep blue waters.
The Ionian islands are completed with Ithaca, known all over the world as Odysseus’ homeland, Zante, which was praised by many Greek and foreigner visitors in a lyric way, Paxoi, the picturesque small islands, and the remote Kythera, Antikythera and Elaphonissos of the Myrtoo Sea.
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