Best Greek Island for Your Next Mesmerizing Trip to Greece
The best Greek island for your next vacation could mean anything; there are too many to choose from. Plus, best is such a subjective term. Best views, best hikes, best history? The answer isn’t black and white. I spent hours pouring over blog posts, Instagram, Pinterest and here are my conclusions and notes:
Santorini: Best for Honeymoon (or Romantic Getaways)
Santorini is likely the most popular island to visit. For that reason, we decided not to go. Instead, I spent a few hours googling “What Greek Islands are like Santorini” where I found blog posts about Paros, Ios, Tinos, the list goes on. Truth is, no island will compete with Santorini. It is one of the most romantic places in the world and therefore the best Greek island for honeymooners. So, if you want to go to Santorini, go to Santorini. But if you want a similar vibe with less tourists and lower prices, keep reading!
Mykonos: Best for Nightlife
After Santorini, Mykonos is likely the second most popular island to visit. Mykonos is known as the best Greek island for nightlife, plus known for its mansions, colorful Cycladic architecture, and more. Because we were not interested in nightlife, I found colorful Cycladic architecture on another island – see Milos! But like Santorini, if you want to go to Mykonos, go.
Milos: “Best” Beaches/Most Remarkable Beaches
A lot of blogs I read claimed Milos has the “best” beaches. And while I don’t disagree, after visiting, they are the “best” because they are remarkable compared to neighboring islands. If you’re looking for crystal clear water, Milos will not disappoint (and here’s why you should add it to your list). But if you’re looking for soft, white sand, you may want to change your expectations. Interested in visiting? Check out our full travel guide here.
The beaches are unique – hidden under exciting cliffsides accessed via ladders and steep stone stairs, rocks and formations that look more like the moon than the earth, and some only accessible via boat.
Karpathos: Best “Authentic Greek Island” Experience
Karpathos was on our go-to list until we realized how far it was from the others we wanted to visit. We were interested because it’s a little lighter on tourism, which meant more authenticity and cultural experience for us. Maybe next time.
Fun fact: Karpathos was named as National Geographics “23 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023.”
Paros: Best “Well-Rounded”
I first found Paros in my research for islands similar to Santorini. I was looking for blue domes, white cubic buildings, cascading pink flowers… and Paros has it all. You can find these elements on other islands as well, but Paros just has this charm to it. Additionally, Paros has multiple towns each with delicious food, beautiful architecture, relaxing beaches, nightlife, boat tours, you name it. The tourism industry is built up, but you don’t have to wait in a twenty-person line to take a picture. Want to visit? Check out our full travel guide here.
From our experience, Paros is the best Greek island if you want a taste of everything the Cycladic islands have to offer, but the chance to enjoy it without the crowds.
Naxos: Best for Water Sports
At this point in my Greek island research, I started seeing reoccurring themes. Beaches, water sports, food, nightlife, architecture, ruins. All of the islands start blending together. Naxos is known for kite and wind surfing (not to say you can’t do it on other islands!), it’s famous marble gate, and white sand beaches. The best part for us, was it’s 30-minute proximity to Paros. Here at MGoTravel we like to optimize our time but not sacrifice on experiences, so Naxos was a perfect addition to the list. If you need more convincing, check out our full travel guide to take you around the island
Zakynthos: Best for Nature Excursions
Zakynthos is known for its nature – Turtle Island with the sea turtles, Navagio Shipwreck beach only accessible by boat, beautiful cliffsides, scuba diving, sulfur beaches, etc. The best parts of the island should be visited by boat, which is why it’s the best Greek island for nature and outdoor excursions.
Zakynthos isn’t as well-known by American tourists, likely because it sits to the west of Greece, farther from the popular islands of Mykonos and Santorini. It’s frequently visited by British teens looking to party and other European travelers. For inspiration on why you should visit Zakynthos, check out our post Top 10 Things to Do in Zakynthos or our full travel guide.
Crete: Best for Families
Crete is the largest island in Greece. It’s known for its hiking, history, food, etc. Also came up on the list of “like Santorini” islands. Because it’s so large, it’s easily accessible via plane and should have plenty to keep a family busy without having to hop around from island to island.
Controversial Opinion: Best Sunset
The best Greek island for sunset is likely a hot topic. So many people will claim Santorini has the best sunset. Technically, the sunset in Oia, Santorini, is the same sunset as in Paros, Milos, and Naxos, just a short 100 km away.
Our vote for the best Greek island for sunset is Milos.
But Paros and Naxos also did not disappoint.
Other
And now I get into the islands that likely deserve more than what I can offer here, but unfortunately, I can’t speak to more than what I found quickly on Google:
- Corfu: Similar to Zakynthos but more architecture
- Serifos: Known for outdoor activities and picturesque architecture
- Kythira: Beaches, hiker’s paradise, architecture
- Syros: Colorful architecture, festivals, food
- Ios: Beaches, partying, history
- Kea: Architecture, outdoor adventures
- Tinos: Religious history, also came up on the “like Santorini” Google search
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