Holiday season is just around the corner, bringing with it the sense of unbridled opportunity that can only come after a long and difficult winter. This sense of opportunity can be as much a burden as it is a blessing, given the sheer choice of amazing summer destinations we are lucky enough to have as holidaymakers. For the truly indecisive, there is one destination in the cradle of Europe that truly has something for everyone – Greece, with its 6000 incredible islands.
About Greece
Greece is a country which needs little introduction. It has furnished us with art, philosophy, culture and mythology, and remains one of the most brilliant tourist destinations in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also vast, with a phenomenal mainland and thousands of Aegean islands to explore. But which islands could you be exploring?
Standout Islands:
Santorini
Santorini is an iconic resort island in the Aegean Sea, and one of the most-recognised of the 220-plus islands that constitute the Cyclades – a cluster of Greek isles fanning out south-east of Athens’ peninsular form. It is iconic for a few reasons, too!
For one, its rocky, rugged landscape, bounded by stunning black-sand shores, is as it is thanks to the volcanic activity it experienced in Renaissance era; the hills and beaches are sublime to view, and thrilling to surmount. The esoteric flat-roofed architecture that fills in the cracks is every bit as thrilling, too – and home to some wonderful cuisine, amongst other cultural highlights.
Crete
Crete is Greece’s biggest island, and also its most well-populated; consider this the urban centre of the Aegean. It is an absolute stunner of an island when viewed from the sea, and all the more rewarding to explore on foot. For natural exploration, there are few better places to explore than Samaria Gorge; for urban exploration, Heraklion contains multitudes. Between the two lies a glut of relaxing downtime in a cosy villa, supplemented with excellent food and even better wine…
Mykonos
Mykonos is another Cycladean isle, and another iconic one to boot. This time though, Mykonos’ iconoclasm comes from its social and cultural capital as opposed to its stunning natural landscape; the island is the unofficial party capital of the Mediterranean waters, and home to some world-beating nightlife. This is an extremely popular destination for group holidays and major milestone getaways.
Island Hopping:
Of course, with literally thousands of islands to choose from, there is no evaluating them all here. However, neither is there any particular need to stick to one island in your journey to Greece. Indeed, island-hopping is a common way to explore the best of Greece’s Aegean presences, and something which can be done in a number of ways.
You might hop from major island to major island by plane, for ease and in order to treat your holiday as a multi-destination getaway. To explore the smaller, quieter and more arresting islands, a boating jaunt from shore to shore allows you VIP access.
