Rather handily, tour operators cover the best of these islands, so you can sail around them and see for yourself. Here’s our pick of the best.
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1 Mykonos
At the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, in the Aegean Sea, lies Mykonos. This island attracts a frantic mix of good-timers, cruise-ship crowds, and posturing fashionistas.
They come because Mykonos’s beaches are magnificent and the nightlife is pumping – plus, it’s the closest spot to
the sacred, archaeological island of Delos.
While Mykonos (or the Island Of Sails) might be well-trodden – the main beaches are packed and getting through the maze of Mykonos town is a jostle – parts of the island have maintained their authenticity. Off the beaten track, virgin coasts wait to be discovered.
Quieter spots include Kalafatis, for surfing and diving; Ftelia, for windsurfers; and Ornos, with a coarse-sand beach that has been described as a slice of heaven.
Similarly, in pockets of the narrow alleys of the labyrinthine old town, the city pulses to a quieter beat.
On the other hand, you can get amongst it with the throngs at stylish bars, restaurants and shops. Spend your holiday cash – or watch people do it – at popular fashion street Matogianni, and check out Alefkandra, Mykonos’s Little Venice, where bars and tavernas are perched on the seaside against a backdrop of crowning windmills. Also, get snap happy at the whitewashed Panagia Paraportiani, an architectural delight, and the most famous of Mykonos’s 250 churches.
With names like Paradise and Super Paradise, and an array of activities on offer, it’s no wonder tourists pack on to the island’s most popular beaches.
Don’t leave out Elia beach, which boasts endless golden shores and crystal-clear water. Paradise, indeed.
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2 Santorini
The sunsets are something to behold in fabulous Santorini, in the Aegean Sea. This island has the most dramatic of landscapes and is home to one of the world’s biggest volcanic calderas.
Visit the village of Oia and take photos of the white houses against dark volcanic stone cliffs. Swim in the warm sea, enjoy stretches of dark sand, and hang around Thira – a town crowded with shops, hotels and nightlife, perched on the edge of a volcano. Spectacular.
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3 Zante
Sweeping down Greece’s west coast, the Ionian Islands include the likes of Corfu and Kefalonia. But if you want
to get your party on, Zante is for you.
Find the big clubbing action on the south side of the island, particularly in Laganas, Argassi, Kalamaki and Tsilivi.
If you fancy an activity outside of boozing and beaches, take a daytrip to the Blue Caves, where the striking colour of the sea reflects on to these jagged formations.
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4 Ios
If it’s partying right through the night you want, then Ios is the place to do it, but bring bags of stamina to survive the late-night action in Hora.
If you manage to see daylight, take in characteristic Aegean architecture, including hundreds of the iconic blue-domed chapels.
Ios is said to be the home of Homer, the legendary poet, who is celebrated with an annual festival including theatre, art, and folk song and dance, in May each year.
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5 Amorgos
With its whitewashed houses, crystal-clear water and peaceful atmosphere, Amorgos is becoming the place to be among travellers in the Aegean Sea.
A tourist boon came soon after French director Luc Besson shot the first part of his film The Big Blue here. It’s no wonder he did. The coastline is 112km-long and surrounded by impressive mountains. The monastery of Hozoviotissa, wedged into a huge precipice 300m above the sea, is particularly impressive.
