The best Greek islands to visit
The top 3 according to 130 votes from people: Crete · Paros · Santorini. (Updated Mar 30, 2025.)
The Greek islands that rank highest across U.S. News, Time Out, Greek travel experts and traveller votes — from busy classics to quieter favourites.
Top 15
-
1
Crete
Greece's largest island: the Minoan palace of Knossos, Samaria Gorge and Balos and Elafonisi beaches.
-
2
Paros
Cycladic island of Naoussa's fishing harbour, Parikia and the marble-paved village of Lefkes.
-
3
Santorini
Whitewashed Oia and Fira on the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera, famous for its sunsets.
-
4
Naxos
The largest Cyclades island, with the Portara gate, long sandy beaches and mountain villages.
-
5
Kefalonia
The largest Ionian island, with Myrtos Beach and the Melissani underground lake.
-
6
Rhodes
Medieval Old Town of the Knights of St John (World Heritage) and the clifftop acropolis of Lindos.
-
7
Milos
Volcanic island of coloured rocks, the moonscape of Sarakiniko and boat trips to Kleftiko.
-
8
Lefkada
Ionian island joined to the mainland by a causeway, with Porto Katsiki and Egremni beaches.
-
9
Folegandros
Small, quiet Cyclades island with a clifftop Chora and car-free squares.
-
10
Corfu
Green Ionian island with a Venetian-era Old Town listed by UNESCO.
-
11
Hydra
Car-free Saronic island an hour and a half from Athens by ferry, where donkeys carry the luggage.
-
12
Kos
Island of Hippocrates, with the Asklepion ruins and long sandy beaches.
-
13
Zakynthos
Home to Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach and loggerhead turtle nesting sites.
-
14
Mykonos
Cyclades island of windmills, Little Venice and the Greek islands' best-known beach clubs.
-
15
Symi
Dodecanese island whose harbour of neoclassical pastel houses greets every ferry.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 15… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
-
16
Sifnos
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (3)
Milos is the most beautiful island I've been to. Sarakiniko looks like the moon.
Crete at #1 because you could spend a month there and not see it all. Balos and Elafonisi 😍
Folegandros is perfect if you hate crowds, quiet and stunning