See Also
Table of Contents
Island Hopping Guides
- Guidance for Traveling in Athens
- Travel Directory for Crete
- Guide for Visiting Mykonos
- This link directs to a guidebook about traveling throughout Naxos
- Santorini Travel Information
An individualized account of travel experiences on the Greek island of Paros can be found at this location
- Guidance for the Ferry Terminal in Athens
- A Guide to the Ferry Port in Heraklion, Crete
- Premium Lodging in Koh Samui
- Car rental options on Santorini Island
The 2023 Guide to Island Hopping in Greece
Note: In 2023, Greek ferry routes, schedules and operations should face minimal pandemic-related changes.
Island Hopping Essentials
- Optimal time to visit the Greek Islands
- The finest shores found in Greece
- Famous Aegean islands
- Best Areas To Visit in Greece
- Visiting the Greek Islands with Children
- Air Travel to Greece
- Passenger Vessels in Greece
- Paros or Naxos?
- A comparison between Crete and Santorini destinations.
- Mykonos versus Santorini?
- Vehicle Rental Options at Athens International Airport
Where to Stay in Greece
- Athens – Best Zones to Stay
- Preferred sections of Crete for visitors to explore
- Suggested Areas to Reside on Folegandros
- Suggested areas to base oneself on Milos
- Areas to Stay in Mykonos
- Recommended regions to lodge on Naxos
- Suggested areas to base oneself on Paros
- Rhodes – Best Areas to Stay
- Selecting a spot to rest in Santorini
Greek Island Hopping – Tips and Information
Greek Island Hopping Cruises
Greek cruise voyages are not highly recommended. Hopping between the various Greek islands independently is a far better approach. Some of the top websites for organizing a Greek holiday are Booking.com (for lodging) • Kayak.com (for air travel) • Ferryhopper.com (for ferry transportation). It is an enjoyable and straightforward process to independently arrange your own trip – and much more gratifying in the end.
Greek Island Hopping Packages
A similar situation exists for package tours. You secure better hotels, better flight choices, better prices, and a better experience by independently booking accommodations, flights, and ferries. There are no ferry passes valid across Greece (though Eurail does include some ferry passes for some of their European train passes). Ferry tickets must be reserved for each leg of every itinerary as there is no discount for return trips or multiple-stop tickets.
Greek Island Hopping Tours
I highly recommend participating in one of the excellent guided tours of Santorini,Crete tours, or Mykonos tours. These tours take place on each island or surrounding areas as day trips. Smaller islands may also have their own tours but are generally better booked after arrival. It`s advisable to sign up for tours of Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete in advance.
Greek Island Hopping Itinerary
Your itinerary is determined solely by ferry scheduling. From late May through early October, there are ferry connections between most islands within an island group (the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Sporades, the Saronic islands, the Ionian islands) and from Crete to the Cyclades. However, there aren`t ferries between every single Greek island. To travel from one island cluster to another requires slightly more planning. For example, to get from Santorini to Rhodes you may need to ferry to Mykonos first and then catch a different ferry onwards to Rhodes. Yet again, this is half the fun. The Cyclades – a collection of wonderful small islands that are connected by brief frequent ferry routes – creates the best island chain for initial island hoppers to explore.
Booking Hotels in the Greek Islands
The top hotels for Santorini,Mykonos,Crete,Paros, and Athens get fully reserved 4 to 8 months in advance. For less expensive hotels and smaller islands you have more flexibility and last-minute bookings are possible.
Greek Island Hopping & Honeymooning
Not much can match the fun and romance achieved by hopping between Mykonos (great nightlife) to Naxos (outstanding beaches) and on to Santorini (jaw-dropping scenery). The finest Greek islands make an awesome destination for a honeymoon.
Greek Island Hopping from Athens
Athens is a logical starting point or conclusion to island hopping throughout Greece. The closest Cycladic island – the best group of islands for moving between islands – is 3 to 4 hours away from Athens by ferryboat – and from there the magic commences. When possible try to fly into Greece and depart from Greece using different airports to save yourself the time, hassles, and costs of backtracking. For instance, fly into Athens, travel through the Cyclades islands and farther to Crete, then fly from Crete to western Europe (and home) – there is no necessity to return to Athens to get your return flight. The Greek islands with the most flights are Santorini, Mykonos, Crete (both Heraklion and Chania airports), Rhodes, Kos, and Corfu.
Cheap Island Hopping
Taking the ferry in Greece does not involve steep costs but ticket prices are higher than in the past. An effective way to save funds is limiting stops (opting for 2 or 3 islands to thoroughly explore rather than briefly visiting half a dozen islands). During peak season, smaller hotel owners regularly meet boat arrivals with offers of affordable lodging. These accommodations are nearly always legitimate and suitable locations to stay. However, proximity must be confirmed. Hotels may say “very close, we`ll travel together” but upon arrival the destination is realized to be distant from beaches and main villages. Attempting to walk there with hotel owners verifies if the place is within walking range (though not practical on all islands).
Greek Islands and Public Transportation
Most regions in Greece, like Athens and all major islands, experience public transportation stoppages all year long. These stoppages can impact all forms of transit, like buses, trains, ferries, planes, and taxis. During stoppages very few buses, ferries, and only a handful of trains and flights will depart on schedule (or at all); taxis tend to be the least troubled mode of transportation. Even though stoppages can take place anytime, there is always an enormous stoppage on May 1. Avoid booking any ferries, flights, or trains on that date.
