Posted May 5th, 2008 - 8:13 am by 
from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)
from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)Hello Andres!
That is the most difficult question you can ask!! Anyway I will try to answer but have in mind that these things are absolutely personal! I could categorize the islands to very very touristic and less very touristic! (I think that the non touristic at all won't be very interesting to you at this point, maybe in another trip).
So let's see! If you have only 1 month and you plan to travel to 12 islands (wow!!!) that means that you have to stay to the Aegean islands and try to visit those that connect with a ferry (there are others that you have to return to Athens and take another boat!) In any case here you go:
1. Mykonos! (very touristic but Delos is there so History!! ***** 5 stars like the movies)
2. Santorini! (very touristic but the volcano is there!***)
Naxos! (a touristic one but very nice landscape and beaches ****)
3. Anafi! (a small but very beautiful island ****)
4. Rhodes! (big island with a lovely old city and very close to Symi which is another must!****)
5. Symi! (small but its nick name is the Paris of the Aegean! no need for more *****)
6. Amorgos! (one of my favorites! its where the movie Deep Blue was filmed so ... *****)
7. Ikaria! (just ... unique! ***)
8. Ios! (the party island! ***)
9. Serifos! (quiet but wonderful!****)
10. Folegandros! (the amazing rock! ****)
11. Milos! (just amazing rocks on the beach, lovely sea!***)
12. Paros! (touristic but nice!***)
So I tried! This is not my top twelve but for me is the must-see islands! Have in mind that most of those connect with ferries (check schedules www.gtp.gr)
Also, I did not put in there Crete that is a huge island and needs a month! and also Lesvos which is my favorite because I lived there for 3 years.
The end!
I hope this is helpful!
Have a nice time
Katerina
That is the most difficult question you can ask!! Anyway I will try to answer but have in mind that these things are absolutely personal! I could categorize the islands to very very touristic and less very touristic! (I think that the non touristic at all won't be very interesting to you at this point, maybe in another trip).
So let's see! If you have only 1 month and you plan to travel to 12 islands (wow!!!) that means that you have to stay to the Aegean islands and try to visit those that connect with a ferry (there are others that you have to return to Athens and take another boat!) In any case here you go:
1. Mykonos! (very touristic but Delos is there so History!! ***** 5 stars like the movies)
2. Santorini! (very touristic but the volcano is there!***)
Naxos! (a touristic one but very nice landscape and beaches ****)
3. Anafi! (a small but very beautiful island ****)
4. Rhodes! (big island with a lovely old city and very close to Symi which is another must!****)
5. Symi! (small but its nick name is the Paris of the Aegean! no need for more *****)
6. Amorgos! (one of my favorites! its where the movie Deep Blue was filmed so ... *****)
7. Ikaria! (just ... unique! ***)
8. Ios! (the party island! ***)
9. Serifos! (quiet but wonderful!****)
10. Folegandros! (the amazing rock! ****)
11. Milos! (just amazing rocks on the beach, lovely sea!***)
12. Paros! (touristic but nice!***)
So I tried! This is not my top twelve but for me is the must-see islands! Have in mind that most of those connect with ferries (check schedules www.gtp.gr)
Also, I did not put in there Crete that is a huge island and needs a month! and also Lesvos which is my favorite because I lived there for 3 years.
The end!
I hope this is helpful!
Have a nice time
Katerina
Posted May 5th, 2008 - 8:15 am by from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)
from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)There are 13 in the list ... sorry! You can discard Paros which is not one of my favorites!
Posted May 5th, 2008 - 2:35 pm by 
from Athens, Greece (Permalink)
from Athens, Greece (Permalink)Andres hi
as Katerina said which island in Greece is nicer than the rest purely depends on personal taste and this is due to the fact that each one of them is so different. It depends on what you are looking for and what you really like (nightlife, landscapes etc). Nevertheless, she has managed to include in her list those islands that would never fail to pleasure a tourist. If I were to answer your question I would most probably include the same.
Personally I would not miss Santorini (been there 3 times already and definitely going back), Ios (for its alternative atmosphere) and Folegandros.
It is great that you will manage to visit 12 of them (mind you most Greeks visit an island every summer and not a lot of them have managed so many ;-)
Have fun
Sissi
as Katerina said which island in Greece is nicer than the rest purely depends on personal taste and this is due to the fact that each one of them is so different. It depends on what you are looking for and what you really like (nightlife, landscapes etc). Nevertheless, she has managed to include in her list those islands that would never fail to pleasure a tourist. If I were to answer your question I would most probably include the same.
Personally I would not miss Santorini (been there 3 times already and definitely going back), Ios (for its alternative atmosphere) and Folegandros.
It is great that you will manage to visit 12 of them (mind you most Greeks visit an island every summer and not a lot of them have managed so many ;-)
Have fun
Sissi
Posted May 8th, 2008 - 10:26 am by 
from Kifisia, Greece (Permalink)
from Kifisia, Greece (Permalink)Nice list from Katerina but there wasn't a single island from the Ionian sea!
Corfu, Lefkas, Kefalonia & Zakynthos are really great too and seem better choices than smaller islands like Anafh and Folegandros who have less things to see & do...
Also a very good choice is Crete (go for Xania first)
From the islands on the list i would mostly prefer Santorini (5 stars from me too!) and Symi for the great beaches and astonishing scenery it has to offer.
Corfu, Lefkas, Kefalonia & Zakynthos are really great too and seem better choices than smaller islands like Anafh and Folegandros who have less things to see & do...
Also a very good choice is Crete (go for Xania first)
From the islands on the list i would mostly prefer Santorini (5 stars from me too!) and Symi for the great beaches and astonishing scenery it has to offer.
Posted May 8th, 2008 - 11:13 am by from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)
from Skiathos, Greece (Permalink)Dear John,
the truth is that I chose only islands that connect with each other by ferry!! Since Andres wants to visit 12 islands in 1 month (I would never even dare to think about it) I think that it is "wise" to keep in Aegean for this time! I would suggest many many of the islands in Ionio but I think that the most MUST SEE islands are in the Aegean.
Sorry!!!
the truth is that I chose only islands that connect with each other by ferry!! Since Andres wants to visit 12 islands in 1 month (I would never even dare to think about it) I think that it is "wise" to keep in Aegean for this time! I would suggest many many of the islands in Ionio but I think that the most MUST SEE islands are in the Aegean.
Sorry!!!
Posted May 12th, 2008 - 9:38 am by 
from San Jose, Costa Rica (Permalink)
from San Jose, Costa Rica (Permalink)Dear Friends,
I appreciate very much your input on this.
Katerina, you provided a great list of "must-see" islands in Greece, this is great valuable information to start with, special thanks to you.
Thanos; thanks for both links, very useful, also the tip about overnight traveling, i will definetely bear it on mind!
Thanks to Ceamor & Elias also, what can i say Ceamor...i don't come to Greece every year so i would love to see as much as i can, if i can squeeze all must-see islands, i would...don't get me wrong, i am far from being a rich guy, i just have a big desire & curiosity about Greece & its culture....
John, although i am sure Ionian sea and its islands are beautiful, i dont think i will be able to see it in this trip because of the reasons Katerina stated. I will be back though....
My plans changed a little bit and i think i will spend 3 months in Greece, i was lucky enough to land a 4 day job in Athens so i will be traveling the other 3 days to the different islands allowing myself to extend this portion of my trip and experience the Greek wonders....
I really hope to have the opportunity to meet you in person when i am there....
Have a nice day!
Andres
I appreciate very much your input on this.
Katerina, you provided a great list of "must-see" islands in Greece, this is great valuable information to start with, special thanks to you.
Thanos; thanks for both links, very useful, also the tip about overnight traveling, i will definetely bear it on mind!
Thanks to Ceamor & Elias also, what can i say Ceamor...i don't come to Greece every year so i would love to see as much as i can, if i can squeeze all must-see islands, i would...don't get me wrong, i am far from being a rich guy, i just have a big desire & curiosity about Greece & its culture....
John, although i am sure Ionian sea and its islands are beautiful, i dont think i will be able to see it in this trip because of the reasons Katerina stated. I will be back though....
My plans changed a little bit and i think i will spend 3 months in Greece, i was lucky enough to land a 4 day job in Athens so i will be traveling the other 3 days to the different islands allowing myself to extend this portion of my trip and experience the Greek wonders....
I really hope to have the opportunity to meet you in person when i am there....
Have a nice day!
Andres
Posted July 12th, 2009 - 9:20 pm by 
from Brooklyn, United States (Permalink)
from Brooklyn, United States (Permalink)wow. so this is completely overwhelming! i am coming in october for about three weeks i think and wanted to have plenty of time to hang out, take pictures, and see some of greece. now that i know there are so many beautiful islands, i don't really know what to do.
Posted July 26th, 2009 - 10:09 am by 
from Athens, Greece (Permalink)
from Athens, Greece (Permalink)Just bringing this up again...
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Posted July 31st, 2009 - 6:54 am by from Athens, Greece (Permalink)
from Athens, Greece (Permalink)There are some islands that are more off the beaten track, and more quiet (no big party islands). You could also go free camping on some of them (free camping is technically illegal in Greece but still, there are designated freecamping beaches on some islands).
If anyone is interested in those, here are some random names (I haven't been to all... yet)
Koufonissia
Schoinoussa
Irakleia
Donoussa
Anafi
Kimolos
Sikinos
These are all Cyclades - there are lots more, also in Dodekanissa
If anyone is interested in those, here are some random names (I haven't been to all... yet)
Koufonissia
Schoinoussa
Irakleia
Donoussa
Anafi
Kimolos
Sikinos
These are all Cyclades - there are lots more, also in Dodekanissa
Posted August 3rd, 2009 - 1:37 am by 
from Bangalore, India (Permalink)
from Bangalore, India (Permalink)dear katerina
thank you for all the info..
i had planned 4 days in greece..:( looks like i will have to spend a lifetime there to see every place..anywyas..will check out at least oine island..thanks again
love
babi
thank you for all the info..
i had planned 4 days in greece..:( looks like i will have to spend a lifetime there to see every place..anywyas..will check out at least oine island..thanks again
love
babi
Posted August 22nd, 2009 - 9:39 am by 
from Berlin, Germany (Permalink)
from Berlin, Germany (Permalink)Hi katerina,
i have a question for you. My husband and i are planning a trip to the islands in mid october. I'm not interested in being anywhere touristic, all we are after is a charming place to stay, a nice beach, good food and a relaxing stay. All for as little money as possible.
Milos has been recommended to me by some friends who are getting married there next month. And i was looking at kimolos on the internet, which looks amazing, but maybe will be hard to get to around that time. we fly into Athens and have ten days to spend on the islands. We really don't have much money to spend, as we just moved to Berlin last year from Australia, but we both need a bit of a holiday.
what do you suggest?
best wishes
tania
i have a question for you. My husband and i are planning a trip to the islands in mid october. I'm not interested in being anywhere touristic, all we are after is a charming place to stay, a nice beach, good food and a relaxing stay. All for as little money as possible.
Milos has been recommended to me by some friends who are getting married there next month. And i was looking at kimolos on the internet, which looks amazing, but maybe will be hard to get to around that time. we fly into Athens and have ten days to spend on the islands. We really don't have much money to spend, as we just moved to Berlin last year from Australia, but we both need a bit of a holiday.
what do you suggest?
best wishes
tania
