Updated: 02/04/2020 | February 4th, 2020
Most travel around Greece tends to focus on the Greek Islands — and for good reason. They’re beautiful, historic, relaxing, filled with great nightlife, and, overall, just exciting.
With over 6,000 islands, Greece has a lot of options for travelers.
It’s always been a dream of mine to spend a summer slowly moving from island to island, getting to know the character of each while also working on a great tan. Like most travelers, I started the Cyclades, the main island chain closest to Athens and the one with the most famous of islands. I had planned two months of travel but found myself barely moving as I ended up spending most of my time on Ios.
The following summer, I went back and visit this island change again. And, in subsequent years, whenever I’m backpacking Greece, I try to visit the Cyclades. I’ve visited the four major islands in the chain: Ios, Paros, Mykonos, and Santorini.
In this guide, I’ll give you tips and advice for picking the best island in the Cyclades for your travels!
Table of Contents
How to Explore the Cyclades
Ios
I’ve spent a lot of time on Ios. I fell in love with the people here and simply couldn’t bring myself to leave.
While the island isn’t the most beautiful of the group, it is the cheapest. Since the majority of people coming here are young travelers on a limited budget, you easily find cheap food and budget accommodation.
If you’re looking to party, drink specials can be found for a couple of euros (most hostels have their own bars, as well). There’s only one main town on Ios, and it’s easy to walk around, taking only about 10 minutes end to end.
However, even if hanging out with backpackers doesn’t appeal to you, Ios has some of the best beaches out of all the islands I visited. All of them are spacious, white-sand beaches and on the opposite side of the island, they’re deserted.
If you’re a fan of history, you can also visit the legendary burial place of Homer, author of the epic poems The Illiad and The Odyssey.
How to Visit Ios
Ferries leave from Piraeus (the port near Athens) several times each week. The journey will take between 5-7 hours with ticket starting around 40-60 EUR per person. There is no airport on Ios, so if you plan to fly you’ll need to fly to Santorini first. Flights from Athens to Santorini will cost around 30-130 EUR for a round-trip ticket.
Paros
Outside of Ios, Paros was my favorite island. While there are a few ruins, a cave, and a boat trip you can take, overall, this island is for those who simply want to relax. There’s no nightlife, no crowds, no cruise ships docking at the port. It’s quiet. Tranquil is the word I’d use.
More importantly, I thought this was one of the prettiest islands in the group. The mountains and valleys had more color to them, the towns looked nicer, and the views were spectacular. The island was simply striking and serene.
My favorite part? The port of Naoussa. Besides having delicious and inexpensive seafood, it was a simply stunning place to walk around. There’s a small beach, and you can go out to an old fort and explore. Sitting on the breakers watching the fishing boats going in and out is a great way to spend some time and soak up the local way of life.
How to Visit Paros
Ferries leave daily from both Piraeus and Rafina, the two ports near Athens. The journey will take between 4-6 hours and cost at least 40 EUR per person.
Flights to Paros will take around 40 minutes and cost between 50-150 EUR.
Mykonos
One of the main tourist destinations in Greece, this island attracts cruises, families, and honeymooning couples. It was the most expensive island I visited.
The night I went for seafood the going rate was 75 EUR per kilo for fish! On Ios, you can get a whole fish for 30 EUR!
The clubs charge a high cover (20 EUR), and the drinks are about 8-10 EUR. Even a light dinner of pasta and wine cost me over 20 EUR.
As you can see, this is more of a “vacation” island rather than a “budget backpacker” getaway. While it may be expensive, it’s still an amazing place to visit. There’s a reason it’s so popular, after all!
While I thought the island was pretty, the real highlight was the town. Out of the four islands I visited, Mykonos had the most beautiful town, with its quiet, winding streets and small alleys lined with whitewashed houses overlooking a beautiful harbor. Mykonos is famous for its “Little Venice” which, though beautiful, is nothing more than a row of houses on the water. It was a beautiful place, but I’m not sure I’d go back.
How to Visit Mykonos
Daily ferries are available from both Rafina and Piraeus, with the journey lasting between 3-5 hours. Expect to pay around 40-60 EUR for a ticket.
Flights are also available, lasting around 40 minutes and costing between 25-75 EUR.
Santorini
Like Mykonos, Santorini is very famous, sees a lot of older tourists, and is a frequent stop for cruise ships. The cliffside towns of Oia and Fira are the two main towns on the inner side of the island. Both towns overlook the famous caldera and both these towns offer great sunset views and angles to get photos of blue-topped churches and blue-rimmed houses.
From either town, you take the day trips to the old volcano and relax in the hot mud baths. Near the beach area of Perissa, you’ll find the bars and hostels that the younger travelers frequent. The beach area gets a lot of visitors and sun but has black sand, not white sand.
Santorini has the best restaurants out of the four islands, and I’d gladly come back to explore the ancient ruins and cliffs more.
How to Visit Santorini
Ferries leave from Piraeus daily (and from Rafina daily in the summer). Tickets cost between 40-75 EUR per person.
Flights from Athens to Santorini will cost around 30-130 EUR for a round-trip ticket.
Naxos
Naxos is just as gorgeous and picturesque as the more popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos, but without the crowds. Naxos is home to charming villages and pristine beaches so it will definitely satisfy your desire to enjoy that serene Mediterranean life.
Naxos will be able to keep you entertained as you enjoy your little slice of Greek heaven away from the tourist mob, offering relaxing beaches, hiking, water sports, and history. It has everything you need for a perfect getaway! In fact, it’s one of my favorite islands in he world!
How to Visit Naxos
Ferries from Athens will take between 4-6 hours and cost around 40-55 EUR per person.
Flights from Athens will take around 40 minutes. Expect to pay between 75-250 EUR for a round-trip flight.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see some of the other islands. But that just means one day I’ll have to return to explore them! As a history lover, Greece offers a never-ending treasure trove of amazing ruins and incredible mythology. And if you’re looking to let loose and party, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better location than the islands of Greece.
Yes, the Cyclades may all look the same on the surface, with their white buildings and similar landscapes. But each island has its own quirks and personality. Each island has something unique to offer.
Book Your Trip to Greece: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
- Paraga Beach Hostel (Mykonos)
- Caveland (Santorini)
- Francesco’s (Ios)
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Greece?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Greece for even more planning tips!
Scott
The islands sound beautiful, and Los sounds the most attractive with their budget prices. 75euro per kilo of fish on Mykonos? Crazy!
Matt
Amazing the price difference. That’s reason enough for me to steer clear of Mykonos. I spent about two weeks on the island of Chios which was very chill, cheap, and a great place to relax. Highly Turkish influenced as well as its only a 45 minute boat ride away.
Jan
Wow! So gorgeous. Definitely keeping this bookmarked for some tips! Thanks for posting!
Wendy
Another part of the world I’d like to see and the declining value of the euro makes it more appealing at this point in time.
NomadicMatt
No, I don’t really like those kind of tours but I saw a lot of people doing busabout while on Ios
Pythia
As a Hellenic Pagan, I’m dying to visit Greece and seeing all the temple ruins. It’s definitely in my top 5 must-visit locations.
Caroline Makepeace
I never made it to Mykonos, I always got distracted by Ios as well. Maybe it’s a good thing with those prices, but I’d still like to check it out. I also really enjoyed Paros. We took a schooner cruise to a place called the Blue Lagoon(i think), it was the clearest, deep blue water I’ve ever seen. Stunning! We camped there by the foreshore and had such a fun time. It was my first introduction to the Swedish Gods and Goddesses walking around. The bathroom area was eye-opening as they all chose to freely walk around without clothes on- very common in Sweden apparently. Might have to put that on my travel list.
Yoel
I love the Greek islands too. Santorini was especially beautiful and I do remember that somewhat awkward donkey ride up the steep climb from the fisherman’s village. The Aegean islands are nice too. Thanks for the post which reminded me of that beautiful place. I can’t wait to go back!
Dina
I had a great time in Santorini, and the sunset was indeed amazing. Whenever I think about Santorini, I always remember that the staircase from the port to the town was so slippery that evening I walked back down to the port, because of those thick pile of the donkey droppings. I was slipped and landed on that soft pile!
My favourite of Greek Islands is Crete. There’s a little town near Chania thhat I love so much because it was very relaxing to be there and the food was great (I ate moussaka every other day). Watching sunset was in every day’s agenda, and if we hardly ever saw any cloud in the sky. So gorgeous. Of course if you go there, you want to visit the Minoan civilization centre Knossos and its museum in Heraklion.
Heather
I’ve not been to any of these islands – as my sister lives on Zakynthos I’ve only visited the Ionian islands and a bit of Mainland Greece – there are some really pretty towns on these islands – unfortunately a lot of the old stuff in Zante was destroyed in a big earthquake in 1953, so it’s not a picturesque although the countryside is still as lovely.
john lunniss
i have been visiting greece for 30 years now and have seen many changes but one thing never changes we always have a great holiday and always good value give it a try
Colleen
This is perfect! My friend and I are planning to visit Greece next summer and these tips were just what I was looking for. I want to visit a few islands, but I wasn’t sure which ones were the best. Thanks for sharing!
NomadicMatt
Great! If you need more information, don’t hesitate to ask!
Colin Boulter
Great blog Mat.
I am an award winning landscape photographer and have just returned from Kefalonia where I took some beautiful images of the landscape.
Your readers may enjoy viewing these images of the islands of Kefalonia. I hope you see this is quality and relevant content for your readers. Keep up the great work.
Ty
What’s the cheapest way to get around the islands? Is it worth booking the ferry ahead of time?
NomadicMatt
The ferry.
Jessica
Ekkk..thank you so much for this post as well as your whole website! I’ve been researching and planning out a trip for May…I will be turning 30 (shhh!) and need to relish those days/weeks prior by backpacking in Europe. I’ve always wanted to but never planned it out, lived as a expat in S.Korea and summers studying in South America (Ecuador and Galapagos Islands). I do have a question about backpacking around Europe, do any of the countries require a travel visa (or is this only China?)….we encountered this problem while in SK attempting to plan a trip to China. Just curious! Thank you again for this website 🙂
brie
I am so appreciating your information on this site! I think Greece will be our next adventure… any favorite places to stay?
Libby
This is so great! I’m planning a honeymoon for October and was wondering a little bit more about the cost on Santorini? It seems to be the only place you didn’t really talk about prices. From your description it seems like it has a good combination of what we are looking for. We just aren’t looking to spend a fortune on our trip. I’m just kind of wondering what food, activities, and accommodations are like price wise? Thanks!
Mary
Thanks for the post, u did a great job! Greece has amazing islands indeed… Ios and Santorini are my 2 fav. islands. In Crete there is also a small piece of heaven on an island called Chrysi, which is about 1 hour ferry ride from the port of Ierapetra. Its got golden sand and clear waters on one side and after a 15′ walk through a sandy path u get pure white sandy beaches and turquoise waters on the other!!! A complete castaway island with only a taverna available for water so for a daily trip its pure paradise!
Nicole
Hi Matt,
I am travelling to through Europe and am currently in Italy right now. We just decided to make a last minute decision to go to one of the Greek islands. Do you have any recommendations on the cheapest way to get there from Italy, most likely will be in Rome when departing. Thank you so much!
NomadicMatt
Fly!
Sarah
Am planning a trip here in about 5-6 weeks, was wondering if it’s better to book ferries in advance or to just wait and pay there?
Katy
I am looking forward to going to Paros for the tranquility, but just read an article claiming that it was extremely packed and busy… the article was from 2006 but it still made me worried. Has it become more crowded recently?
Neil Moser
Thanks for the well-written travel tips Matt. I love your website and your travels are inspiring. I’m heading off to Athens, Mykonos, Ios and Santorini in a week and will be taken your tips into consideration 🙂
Melanie Rabino
Thanks for the tips! My boyfriend and I will be traveling through Europe in the spring and will be spending just over a week in Athens. Which islands would you recommend we visit from Athens if we are on a budget? Also, where do you look to find the best ferry prices?
Rachel
Thanks for the tips! I was just wondering how the ferry transportation works to and from the greek islands? Is it difficult to get ferries from island to island and expensive?
Also do you need to get ferry tickets in advance?
Thanks!
Leah
Hi Matt (or anyone else who can answer these questions),
Have you visited Greece or any of the Greek Islands during the winter? Specifically the weeks spanning New Years? Are any of the hostels still open at that time? I am worried that most places will be closed in the off-season. What is the weather like? Is it too cold to swim in the ocean? What is the best spot to visit in Greece during this time of year? Thanks!