What to see in the Greek Islands

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Greek Islands are home to 6 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Cyclades

Delos ★★★ (1990)
This tiny uninhabited island near Mykonos is famous for its UNESCO-listed ancient site.

Dodecanese

Monastery of Saint John and Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos ★★ (1999)
These two nearby sites are historic pilgrimage destinations listed by UNESCO.

Medieval City of Rhodes ★★★ (1988)
This is the part of the city enclosed by the high walls built during the time of the Knights of Rhodes. Remarkable, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ionian Islands

Old Town of Corfu ★★ (2007)
The blend of Venetian architecture with various other styles gives the fortified historic centre of Corfu Town a distinct charm, earning it a UNESCO listing.

Northern Aegean

Nea Moni Monastery of Chios ★★ (1990)
Alongside those of Daphni and Hosios Loukas (located near Athens), it is one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos Sites ★ (1992)
These are the UNESCO-listed ruins of a sanctuary and an ancient fortified port dating from ancient Greece and Rome.

Cyclades

Amorgos ★★★
Monasteries, preserved nature with hiking trails in the mountains, and a few beaches for this island, which was used as a filming location for *The Big Blue*.

Anafi ★★
A quiet little island near Santorini. It has a monastery, beaches, and trekking opportunities.

Andros ★★
In the northern Cyclades, this large island is worth visiting for its landscapes, beaches, and small villages. You can hike through the mountains here.

Antiparos ★★
Just next to Paros, it's a place for relaxation and diving with pretty beaches. There’s also a beautiful cave in the middle of the island.

Delos ★★★
This tiny uninhabited island near Mykonos is famous for its UNESCO-listed ancient site.

Folegandros ★★
A tranquil spot near Santorini with beautiful landscapes, beaches, charming villages, and hiking opportunities.

Ios ★
The island is especially made for party lovers and nightlife against a backdrop of beaches.

Kea ★
A small island with its beaches not far from Athens.

Kythnos ★★
This is a place with beautiful beaches and charming villages, plus a massive cave. You can also hike here.

Milos ★★★★
This stunning volcanic island boasts charming villages and beaches. It’s where the famous Venus de Milo was discovered during excavations. Nearby, the island of Kimolos is connected to Milos.

Mykonos ★★
Famous for its iconic windmills, Mykonos has long been a top tourist destination for its many beaches, vibrant nightlife, and "gay-friendly" reputation. While its high summer crowds can sometimes be off-putting, the island remains well worth visiting—especially outside peak season.

Naxos ★★★
The island of Naxos thrives on both agriculture and tourism. It boasts excellent beaches, museums, monasteries, and historical sites and ruins.

Paros ★★
The island is a popular destination with beautiful beaches, charming villages, and a few monasteries and historical sites.

Lesser Cyclades ★★
South of Naxos, this is an archipelago of six main islands (Iraklia, Koufonissia, Keros) and several other secondary islands or islets. You’ll find beautiful beaches and some historical remains depending on the island.

Santorini ★★★
With its cliffs, sunsets, and towns of whitewashed houses, it’s one of the most beautiful Greek islands—but also one of the most touristy. Of volcanic origin, it offers stunning landscapes, beaches, and a lively atmosphere. You can hike, dive, or take boat trips around the area.

Serifos ★★
Quiet beaches and a charming port on this small island in the western Cyclades.

Sifnos ★★
It's a relatively little-visited island where you can go for walks, see some historical remains, and enjoy the sea and landscapes.

Syros ★★
Beaches, a beautiful "capital," and some hiking opportunities on this island at the heart of the Cyclades.

Tinos ★
This island is primarily a place of pilgrimage with its churches and monasteries.

Dodecanese

Astypalea ★
A relatively untouristed island with a port of whitewashed houses dominated by an ancient fortress.

Chalki ★
Next to Rhodes, this sparsely populated island (also called Halki) has the remains of a medieval fortress.

Kalymnos ★★
This is a mountainous island with beautiful landscapes, historical sites and ruins, and pleasant beaches. Kalymnos is also popular with climbers for its cliffs.

Karpathos ★★
Between Crete and Rhodes, this beautiful mountainous island is home to villages that have preserved traditional architecture and culture. It offers stunning beaches and diving opportunities.

Kastellorizo ★
Just two kilometres from the Turkish coast, this is a "mountainous" island (also sometimes called Megisti) whose only village is nestled in a stunning bay.

Kos ★★
Less than 5 km from Bodrum in Turkey, Kos boasts several historical sites and ruins as well as beaches. A fairly touristy island, it’s also known for its lively nightlife and entertainment.

Leros ★
A medieval fortress overlooks the main village of this tranquil spot near the Turkish coast.

Lipsi ★
Located next to the island of Patmos, Lipsi is home to several churches and monasteries.

Nisyros ★
It's a volcanic island south of Kos where you can admire the crater.

Patmos ★★
While there are beaches, it’s primarily the monasteries and the Cave of the Apocalypse (both UNESCO-listed) that draw visitors more interested in cultural tourism than nightlife.

Pserimos ★
It's a small island loved by tourists for its tranquility and beaches.

Rhodes ★★★★
The largest island in the Dodecanese, Rhodes is a favorite among visitors for its blend of beaches, diving, seaside resorts, rich heritage (the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes, ancient sites, and historic ruins), and landscapes perfect for hiking.

Symi ★★
This small island has one of the most beautiful ports in Greece with its 19th-century architecture. Visitors come here to explore its monastery and other religious buildings, but above all to enjoy its beaches and hiking opportunities.

Tilos ★
The island has the remains of several small medieval fortresses. It is also home to many bird species.

Ionian Islands

Corfu ★★★
The main island in the archipelago, facing Albania. Corfu is known for the beautiful architecture of its UNESCO-listed capital, as well as various historical sites (monasteries, fortresses) and villages. You can also hike there and enjoy the beaches, though some can get quite crowded in summer.

Cephalonia ★★★
The largest and one of the most visited of the Ionian Islands. It is renowned for its beaches (several seaside resorts) and mountainous landscapes that shelter some peaceful villages. You’ll also find caves and the Mount Ainos National Park.

Ithaca ★
Made famous by Odysseus, Ithaca is a mountainous island with cliffs overlooking the sea. It’s especially popular with sailors.

Cythera ★★
At the southern tip of the Peloponnese, this island is not very touristy. It's a destination for landscapes, hiking, and beaches.

Lefkada ★★
Beautiful landscapes, stunning beaches, and religious buildings await on this island, also known as Lefkada, which is connected by road to mainland Greece.

Paxi and Antipaxi ★★
These are two small islands usually "paired" together, known for their landscapes and beaches.

Zakynthos ★★
Facing the Peloponnese, this large island boasts stunning beaches (some with sea turtles), sea caves, a marine national park, and several seaside resorts. Zakynthos also has a lively local nightlife scene.

Northern Aegean

Chios ★★★
This large island of 50,000 inhabitants is less than 10 km from Turkey. It boasts numerous historical sites (the citadel of Chios, medieval villages, and the UNESCO-listed Nea Moni Monastery).

Fourni ★
It's a small archipelago of a dozen rarely visited islands.

Ikaria ★★
Not far from Mykonos, this is one of the largest Greek islands, though it’s quite sparsely populated for its size. It’s mountainous, with charming villages and several beautiful beaches. It’s also known for its thermal springs.

Lemnos ★★
Also called Limnos, this island is known for its landscapes, villages, historical sites and ruins, and its beaches.

Lesbos ★
It is the third-largest island in Greece, close to Turkey. You’ll find several historical sites, particularly in Mytilene, its capital, as well as a petrified forest in the west.

Samos ★★
Close to Turkey, Samos is quite a popular destination. You can visit several archaeological sites, including the Tunnel of Eupalinos and, most notably, Pythagoreion and Heraion, both UNESCO-listed. There are also some beautiful beaches.

Samothrace ★★
Close to the northern coasts and on the periphery of the North Aegean islands, Samothrace remains little-visited even though it offers beautiful hiking opportunities, several beaches and waterfalls, as well as some historical sites.

Thassos ★★
A large, mountainous, and forested island near the northern coast (Kavala). It's a local tourist destination known for its beaches, landscapes, hiking opportunities, and a few ancient sites.

Saronic Islands

Angistri ★
Next to Aegina, this small forested island of a thousand inhabitants offers a few beaches.

Aegina ★★
Just across from Athens in the Saronic Gulf, Aegina has a very pretty main town, several small villages, a few beaches, and above all the well-known Temple of Aphaea.

Hydra ★★
In the southern part of the archipelago, this is a stunning mountainous island that attracts many tourists. There aren’t really any beaches, but there are churches and monasteries to explore.

Poros ★★
Just off the Peloponnese, it’s a lush, hilly island with several beaches. Poros has a charming main town with beautiful houses.

Salamina ★
It is the largest and most populous island in the archipelago, just two or three kilometres from Piraeus.

Spetses ★
South of the Saronic Islands, this island boasts beautiful mansions and beaches.

Northern Sporades

Alonissos ★
A rather quiet island, Alonissos is home to a few beaches and, most notably, a marine nature park (which includes other nearby, almost deserted islands) where diving is possible.

Skiathos ★★
This small, wooded island near the mainland has beautiful beaches that make it quite touristy.

Skyros ★★
The largest and easternmost of all the Sporades. It boasts quite beautiful landscapes and lovely beaches.

Skopelos ★★
It's the neighbor of Skiathos. Nestled in a landscape of forests, small mountains, and beaches are several charming villages and, above all, over 350 Byzantine monasteries and churches.