# The best Greek islands to visit

The Greek islands that rank highest across U.S. News, Time Out, Greek travel experts and traveller votes — from busy classics to quieter favourites.

- 130 votes · 16 items
- Mar 30, 2025 · suitcase.salty
- https://even.best/en/l/120/the-best-greek-islands-to-visit

## Top 15

1. **Crete** (13 · ▲15 ▼2) — Greece's largest island: the Minoan palace of Knossos, Samaria Gorge and Balos and Elafonisi beaches.
2. **Paros** (12 · ▲13 ▼1) — Cycladic island of Naoussa's fishing harbour, Parikia and the marble-paved village of Lefkes.
3. **Santorini** (10 · ▲12 ▼2) — Whitewashed Oia and Fira on the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera, famous for its sunsets.
4. **Naxos** (10 · ▲10 ▼0) — The largest Cyclades island, with the Portara gate, long sandy beaches and mountain villages.
5. **Kefalonia** (9 · ▲9 ▼0) — The largest Ionian island, with Myrtos Beach and the Melissani underground lake.
6. **Rhodes** (8 · ▲8 ▼0) — Medieval Old Town of the Knights of St John (World Heritage) and the clifftop acropolis of Lindos.
7. **Milos** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — Volcanic island of coloured rocks, the moonscape of Sarakiniko and boat trips to Kleftiko.
8. **Lefkada** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — Ionian island joined to the mainland by a causeway, with Porto Katsiki and Egremni beaches.
9. **Folegandros** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — Small, quiet Cyclades island with a clifftop Chora and car-free squares.
10. **Corfu** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Green Ionian island with a Venetian-era Old Town listed by UNESCO.
11. **Hydra** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Car-free Saronic island an hour and a half from Athens by ferry, where donkeys carry the luggage.
12. **Kos** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Island of Hippocrates, with the Asklepion ruins and long sandy beaches.
13. **Zakynthos** (3 · ▲5 ▼2) — Home to Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach and loggerhead turtle nesting sites.
14. **Mykonos** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Cyclades island of windmills, Little Venice and the Greek islands' best-known beach clubs.
15. **Symi** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Dodecanese island whose harbour of neoclassical pastel houses greets every ferry.
16. **Sifnos** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Cyclades island known for its cuisine, pottery and the seaside chapel of the Seven Martyrs.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.