What are the Best Greek Islands to Visit?

This is a hard question to answer because there is no one best island because they are all wonderful destinations to choose for a vacation. To find the best Greek islands to visit, the best thing to do is to look at what each one offers because what one tourist finds great does not quite match what the interests of another may be. To get started in your search of the Greek islands to find one that would be prefect for you, let's look at the most popular islands chosen by the tourist destination sites online.

Santorini is often referred to as the diamond of the Greek islands with its white sandy beaches. The villages nestled among the dramatic cliffs look as if they were carved from the cliffs themselves. The blue waters of the Aegean Sea provide the perfect backdrop for the spectacular scenery. If it's shopping, elegant restaurants and cafes and a myriad of galleries, then this is the island for you. The most popular beach on the island, Kamari, has pebbles rather than sand, but it does have a boardwalk lined with bars, cafes and restaurants.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is perhaps the most diverse. With the many beaches, archaeological sites, resorts and ancient cities, you will never run out of sights to see. The west coast of the island is covered in lush evergreens, while the east is hotter and drier. The centre of the island is popular with mountain climbers because of the towering mountain peaks. This is an easy island for getting around because of the excellent roads.

On the island of Corfu, you can take many day trips from the capital, Corfu Town. This includes trips to the beach at Glyfada and the turquoise waters and coves around Palestrikaeo. Within a hours drive, you can also spend the day on the beaches of Agio Giordos or Agio Georgios, both of which are on the southwest coast of the island. Take a day trip to see the location where the movie "the Blue Lagoon" was filmed or take a drive up into the mountains.

Experience the blend of Greek and Turkish culture on the island of Rhodes, which is visible from the coast of Turkey. The capital city of Rhodes is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval cities in the world. There are many charming villages, such as that of Lindos, where the restaurants are all on the rooftops. As you walk the medieval alleys, you will find numerous small shops as well as cafes.

For the younger generation, Mykonos is often the preferred destination of the Greek islands. If you don't mind crowd and want to lie on some of the best beaches, then this may be the island of your choice. You can have the world at your fingertips with a huge selection of restaurants, bars, cafes and accommodations.

With its golden beaches, cobblestone streets and archways covered in bougainvilleas when you visit the island of Paros. The historic older part of the city of Parioka is filled with winding alleyways that house small shops, restaurants and cafes. A small village just a short distance from Parioka is Nauossa where you will see a church and windmill that epitomize the Cycladic culture of the island.