If you’re interested in visiting the Greek Islands but aren’t sure which one to choose, why not try island-hopping? Our comprehensive video guide will tell you everything you need to know to plan a successful multi-island Greek holiday.
Topics covered include how many islands to visit, how to choose suitable islands, international arrivals, getting to your first island, ferry routes and tickets, where to stay, getting around Greek islands, and some helpful tips.
Over the past seven years, we’ve spent over 200 days island-hopping around Greece, and we’ve produced this guide to share our first-hand knowledge and experience so you can get the most out of your vacation.
USEFUL LINKS:
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Some links are affiliated and earn us a small commission when you buy, at no extra cost, and help support our channel. 🙂
– Greek National Holidays: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Greece
(avoid travelling on these dates and the surrounding weekends, or book accommodation and ferry/plane tickets well in advance)
– OpenSeas website: https://www.openseas.gr/
– Skyscanner Flights: https://skyscanner.pxf.io/xkYXek
– FerryHopper: https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/?aff_uid=grgduk
– Airport Transfers: https://www.welcomepickups.com/airport-transfer-book/?tap_a=26297-438366&tap_s=3619827-45bcfd
DISCORD
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Join our new Discord community: https://discord.gg/XYCkUAWhr8
TIMESTAMPS:
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00:00 – Intro
00:50 – Contents
01:11 – How Many Islands to Visit
02:43 – Long-Haul Visitors
03:22 – Choosing Which Greek Islands
03:58 – Greek Island Geography
05:14 – Getting to Your First Island
06:57 – Greek Ferries Explained
08:44 – Fast vs Slow Ferries
10:28 – Boarding the Ferry
11:57 – Buying Ferry Tickets
13:33 – Booking Accommodation
14:53 – Choosing Where to Stay
16:56 – Getting Around Greek Islands
19:10 – Bikes and e-bikes
19:42 – The Journey Home
21:00 – Island-Hopping Tips
23:04 – Summary
23:30 – Outro
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43 Comments
A very usefull video but as an experienced (+30 years) islandhopper I have a few remarks:
– Samos, Ikaria, Fourni, Chios, Lesvos, Lemnos and Samothraki are known as the North-Aegean islands.
– If you buy your ferry ticket in a ticket office on the islands you never have to pay a fee for printing. That fee is only to print online prebooked tickets.
– Some ferry companies do offer early booking discounts.
– The remark on popular accommodation booking sites that there are no rooms available anymore doesn't mean it's like that in reality. Most owners don't put all their rooms on the booking sites. So, contacting an accommodation directly is often worth it. And most of the times you will get a better offer.
– And 1 more tip: Book directly with the ferry company. It will save time and trouble when your ferry is cancelled and you have booked it through a 3rd party. And some 3rd party brokers ask extra fees to deliver your tickets or even add an extra provision upon the ticket price.
My trips this year are Naxos-Sikinos-Naxos (6,5 weeks in Spring) and Kalymnos-Lipsi-Astypalea-Kos (7 weeks in September/October).
super useful guide and helpful for me planning my trip to Greece in September.
Excellent video, especially for first-timers! I'd love to see more individual island guides, the one for Sifnos is 10/10!
Brilliant video – thank you so much!!
!!
Have you tried the Eurail Greek island pass? It is not so easy to get information on it, even from the company that sell it.
I was so confused about planning this trip, and fortunately I found this. Thank you so much and congrats for this amazing video!! 👌🏼
Very informative video. Thank you. Hoping to visit the Greek Islands soon.
I’ve just booked flights 10days apart end of September. I was planning to include Mykonos then Santorini. Any other you would recommend?
So many wonderful tips. I knew you were sharp when you advised to finish off your trip with a stay in the location of your departure airport.
Hi i wanted to ask what would u advice me for a plan.cause me and my family are thinking of coming to greece for 1 august to 7 aufust and id love to ho island hopping but preferably to beaches with private beach seats.Can u reccommend me a plan(islands such as Zakynthos and other uniques island near that.We are traveling from Tirana,Albania btw
The best video. Thank you ❤
Hi, from where do you recommend buying tickets for blue star ferry? From their website or from ferry Hopper? Is there any price difference between the two? Do they both issue e-tickets?
Thanks
Excellent video it’s helping me to plan my upcoming holiday to the Greek islands thank you!!
Brilliant video thanks! I’m organizing a trip for the start of October (Milos, Sifnos, Paros) and this has helped heaps! Would you say it’s more expensive to book accommodation last minute? Or cheaper?
❤ thank you
Very good video guide!
Can we go down the boat with stops on some islands along the way? If yes, for how long can we stay in the island before the boat departs again?
Great video!! Reason I say that, is you are so thorough with all the information you've researched and shared.
thanx
❤
Excellent overview, thanks!
Hate your canned glamor video clips
Great tips. Here’s another – I always bring laundry sheets (like Tru Earth) bc I travel for over a month at a time and need to do laundry while I travel.
Thanks for this insightful video. Looking at Ikaria for a destination this June. We will be there two weeks to celebrate my wives 60th Birthday. Can you recommend any Island/Islands we should visit near Ikaria? Thanks for your time.
Thank you for making and sharing this video!
Curious what you would recommend on the western side of Greece, specifically near Messonghi beach near Albania & Italy?
I feel like all the action and pretty places to visit are on the eastern Turkey side?
But maybe you can change my mind?
Thinking 18 days as follows for May 2025: Santorini 3 nights; Naxos 5 nights: 10 days Crete.
Beautiful , new sub and bell )
Cheers for this. I going to go In June from 3rd tho the 3rd July. Fly to santorini then Ios, naxos, mykonos, Paros, milos, sifnos and then a few nights in Athens before flying back. This is ridiculous. My concern is the fact I wasn't going to book a return flight and just do it one way in case I wanted to come back earlier/if things change
Planning my first trip and no clue where to begin. This was so helpful. Thank you!
Excellent video. Our primary interests are history and architecture, natural beauty, culture and art, and good food. Definitely NOT interested in a party scene, crowds, or tourist t-shirt shops. We are a couple in decent shape and not on a tight budget. Our time is only limited by how long we can continue enjoying the vacation, so maybe a month or 6 weeks? Which islands do you recommend and what schedule? Thanks.
great video! i really appreciate all the detailed info you shared about the Greek islands. however, i can't help but feel that Santorini is a bit overrated. the breathtaking views are stunning, but the crowds can be overwhelming. what do you all think?
Brilliant advice! Really concise and perfectly presented! We've been to Mykonos a number of times, to Rhodes, Crete, Aegina and Athens only once…but the advice contained here counts for anybody's trip to Island hopping or otherwise…really good sensible stuff…well presented!
Great video! Thank you!
Brilliant video, I’m well travelled across Greece and I still learned a lot from this! 👍🇬🇷
What are your thoughts of this. Athens 3 nights, Paros 6 nights with day trip to Naxos, 4 nights Milos, 3 nights Santorini and 6-7 nights Crete…too rushed?
Such a well made video, congrats!
I wish I had seen it sooner 😂 My first island hopping experience was an adventure! My friend and I where at Amorgos and wanted to go to Naxos for 3 days. We took the ferry skopelitis and got down on the first stop. What we didn't know is that skopelitis does multiple stops and the first stop isn't Naxos but Koufonissia!! What a disaster 😅
But I feel more and more confident now, your guide is very complete and helpful. Glad you're mentioning FerryHopper too, after this mistake I will definitely need to educate myself on each boat and its stops as much as possible
I have questions:
My trip plan 1st Week of Nov 2025 is to do greece island hopping:
Athens(via flight) – Milos(remaining all on ferry)- Paros – Naxos- Santorini – Athens.
As of today. No websites is showing any ferry. Why ? Is it because of the end of the season. Is it worth going on island at this time. Is my plan too rush for couple with 1.5 yo kid.
Thanks for the informative video. ❤
What are the two best islands for islands history and best beaches.
Best guide for Greece island
Greece is not really about rushing about and squeezing many places/islands in holiday….better its about slowing down with reliable sunny days savouring a beautiful and timeless blend of culture, food, blue seas, heritage and rugged countryside.
Very Informative video, extremely helpful in my planning. We will have 16 full days not including overnight stays in Athens upon arrival and night before departure. Initial plan is to fly to Crete, stay 4-5 nights in Elounda at a splurge resort then another 5-6 nights in other parts of the island. We'd like to spend last 2-3 nights in Santorini before departure. Is it best to stay longer on Crete or squeeze in another island such as Naxos?
Planning two lesser known Cyclades islands in May, so some of this advice is helpful.