Introduction
If you’re dreaming of a trip to Greece but don’t know which islands to visit, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re sharing our top five must-visit Greek islands for 2025!
These recommendations come straight from our personal travels—places we’ve explored and experienced first-hand on multiple occasions. Keep in mind, that our top five picks aren’t ranked—each island shines in its own unique way. Whether you’re after relaxation, adventure, history, or nightlife, there’s something here for everyone.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, check out our YouTube video below.
1 – Crete
Crete is the ultimate all-rounder and a top pick for first-time visitors to Greece! As the largest Greek island, it offers something for everyone—whether you’re chasing adventure, relaxation, or a mixture of both. With two international airports and excellent ferry connections, getting to Crete is a breeze. Plus, it’s one of the most budget-friendly destinations in Greece, with a wide range of affordable accommodation, food, and drinks.
If you’re looking for lively vibes, head to the northern coastline, where hotspots like Hersonissos, Stalis, and Malia deliver plenty of energy with their buzzing bars, affordable restaurants and shops—all within easy reach of relaxing sandy beaches.
If you prefer a quieter escape, discover the charm of Palaiochora on the southwest coast or the serene beauty of Elounda in the northeast, perfect for soaking in that laid-back Greek island lifestyle.
For a more dynamic experience, the vibrant cities of Chania, Rethymno, and the capital, Heraklion, are packed with museums, shops, restaurants and cafes as well as a buzzing nightlife scene.
Elsewhere, you’ll find plenty of quaint villages like Spili with its famous lion-head fountains, archaeological sites like Knossos, Phaistos and Gortyn, stunning beaches like Elafonissi and Balos and dramatic caves like Psychro Cave and Milatos Cave.
If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also find numerous water parks dotted around the island like the excellent Acqua Plus just south of Hersonissos where you can keep cool under the summer sun and enjoy a variety of slides, rapids and wave pools with family and friends.
Crete’s vast size means you would need several weeks to fully explore, so the best strategy, if you have limited vacation time, is to pick one area and spend a week or two discovering its secrets. If you enjoy yourself, make plans to return later and find out what the rest of the island has to offer.
2 – Naxos
The largest island in the popular Cyclades group in the centre of Greece, Naxos offers a picturesque blend of history, culture and relaxation. The western coastline from Agia Anna to Plaka offers over 4 kilometres of sandy beach, one of the longest in Greece, making it a paradise for sun-worshippers.
Elsewhere, you can explore the island’s rich history by visiting the iconic Temple of Apollo – its Portara or archway greets you as you arrive in the vibrant port town. There are also remains of the Venetian fortress in Naxos Town, the Temple of Demeter to the south, and the famous Kouros – ancient marble statues, three of which can be found dotted around the island.
Popular resorts on Naxos include Agia Anna and Agios Prokopios on the western coastline, Agios Georgios or St George’s Beach just south of Naxos Town, and the capital itself. You’ll find a great selection of studios, hotels and apartments to suit a range of budgets in each of these locations, with a regular bus service offering fast and frequent connections.
Naxos also boasts the highest point in the Cyclades, Mount Zas, which stands over 1000 metres above sea level and offers stunning panoramic views of Naxos and the surrounding islands.
We love Naxos for its amazing beaches, sightseeing opportunities and traditional Greek vibe.
3 – Santorini
Despite its worldwide reputation and immense popularity generating vast crowds in peak season, we still think Santorini is worth seeing for its iconic Caldera views, black volcanic sand beaches, excellent wineries and selection of historic sites.
Accommodation in Fira and Oia can be eye-wateringly expensive if you want the best views, but if you’re travelling on a budget you can find cheaper places away from the caldera with villages like Kamari offering a great selection of hotels, tavernas and bars at reasonable prices. If you do want those Instagram views from your balcony, take a look at options in Firostefani, Imerovigli and Akrotiri, where hotels offering incredible caldera views can be found at more reasonable prices and with fewer crowds.
We recommend staying three or four nights, giving you plenty of time to experience all that Santorini has to offer without blowing your holiday budget. Regular ferry services provide frequent connections with most nearby islands, making Santorini a great destination for island-hopping. Its international airport means you can fly directly to or from most major European cities at the start or end of your trip.
4 – Ios
Ios is a lesser-known island situated between Naxos and Santorini. While it has a reputation as a ‘party destination’, its secret lies in a great selection of beaches, delicious food and a surprisingly relaxing and traditional Greek atmosphere. We first visited back in 2017 and were so impressed that we’ve returned four times and loved every moment.
Although sightseeing opportunities are limited, it’s a perfect destination to relax and unwind on stunning golden-sand beaches like Mylopotas, Gialos and Agia Theodoti. If you do like to party, the vibrant nightlife scene at Far Out Beach Club and down the narrow painted streets of Chora will keep you buzzing until dawn.
Ios is on a popular north-south ferry route between Mykonos and Santorini, making it an ideal island-hopping destination. To find out more, check out our recent Ios Island Guide video below.
5 – Sifnos
We’ve saved the best for last – okay, it’s our favourite anyway. Sifnos captured our attention back in 2020 with a combination of stunning beaches, delicious food and a quiet and traditional atmosphere that’s becoming increasingly hard to find.
In fact, we liked it so much that we returned multiple times over the past five years, introducing it to our friends and family who’ve all agreed it’s a top destination.
With many Greek islands becoming increasingly crowded – even islands such as Milos and Paros – it’s refreshing to find a beautiful destination with everything you could want in a Greek vacation: impressive scenery and hiking trails, stunning beaches, superb food and a traditional and relaxed atmosphere, all without crowds of tourists fighting for the same experience.
The port town of Kamares is one of our favourite resorts in Greece, with a stunning wide sand beach and shallow, clear and calm water, plus a decent selection of tavernas and an excellent local bus service to get you around the island.
Elsewhere you’ll find picturesque sights like the Church of the Seven Martyrs, Chrisopigi Monastery and breathtaking sunset spots like Agios Simeon.
Its popularity is growing each year, however, so our advice is to visit sooner rather than later if you want to experience Sifnos at its authentic best. To find out more about Sifnos, check out our comprehensive Island Guide video below.
