To ask which one is your favourite Greek island?

[HambeldonGardens]

and why?

Me and my boyfriend are looking for a one week holiday in Greece in August - I know it's hot which is what we love and I know it is expensive but that's just unfortunately how it is if you want to travel in August.

We would like to visit an island where you can relax, enjoy the nice beaches as well as doing something cultural or different. Anything you can think of that you visited on a Greek island and was a great experience?

Any advice would be helpful! We are thinking of going for a week.

Naxos
Symi

@Ladybirdbookworm NW? The most amazing village ever! We fly Monday and can't wait to be 'home'.

For culture Crete is hard to beat, Knossos and all the history around WWII and the resistance, think Patrick Leigh Fermor.

Santorini is spectacular, sunset over the caldera. Agree about the donkeys though.

Mykonos is touristy but good fun and the town is enjoyable to wander round. Be careful in the sea, sat on a jellyfish when I went. Ouch!

Not mentioned by anyone else yet, Karpothos. Not sure about the flights now, had to go via Rhodes when I went some years back. Lovely beaches and not too busy. The town is pleasant to look around.

Will always have a soft spot for Corfu as it was the first Greek island I visited.

Naxos definitely ticks your boxes. I thought Santorini was horrible!

Lesvos!

Another vote for Symi - tiny and beautiful. You can't get there direct though, it's a ferry ride from another island (can't remember which).

I also recommend Thassos as some previous posters have. Very green and beautiful. I went to Greece loads in the 80s and early 90s on girly holidays but the heat would be too much for me now! have fun, OP .

Milos gets my vote. Not so touristy yet, but becoming more popular. Many beautiful beaches, interesting countryside, typical villages, amazing food. Can fly there from Athens or take the boat.

As a child I watched a channel 4 documentary about British women who married Zakynthian men and have always wanted to go. For those who have been, what is the best (quietest!) area? I did read that it has a Bride Abroad reputation that out me off.

Agree with pp about Milos. Absolutely beautiful with some gorgeous beaches and restaurants etc

Brits Abroad, not bride

We went to Crete in early Spring. It was wonderful. Going again next year. So much to see, great food, chilled out.

Loved Milos

Skiathos here too, been three times and would go again. It's a small island, quiet, clean beaches, never seen or heard of any crime or issues. Regular buses into the town which has nice little boutiques. Lots of nice places to eat too. Locals all friendly

We're on Kephalonia just now - stunningly beautiful place. Not so much older architecture etc because of the earthquake in 1953 which basically flattened the whole place. It's fabulously quiet, and not at all over developed.

Lesvos is gorgeous

I want to go back to Greece after reading this!

I loved Spetes, Antiparos, Paxos

same as Tamzin Grey, Andros is lovely but of a long ferry ride but once there,very pretty and friendly people

bit not but :-(

I really liked Corfu, it's so pretty and green. Not tiny but easy to drive around.

Crete felt much bigger, less pretty (to me anyway).

I've been to Rhodes and loved it-but again, it's not the prettiest island. Lots to do though, and I loved exploring the old town.

For me it’s lesvos, read Matt Barrett’s website, more than just another Greek island. I particularly love the hot springs at eftalou, and molyvos harbour. Been to a few island, Crete, zaythykos Rhodes, Kosovo, but we always go back to lesvos.

I'm just back from Santorini. It's beautiful and so relaxing but there's not a great deal of stuff to do. You might want to consider Rhodes. We went on honeymoon there and had great fun riding around the island on a moped.

100% Kefalonia for me and we have been to most of the other islands mentioned.

It still feels Greek with fewer of the 'tat' shops selling fake Ray Bans (Ray Berry's) and similar. Beautifully undeveloped too - fewer unfinished buildings with the rebars sticking out everywhere that are the eyesore of many other Greek islands.

Fabulous family run tavernas on every corner, amazing Greek hospitality and definitely worth getting a car for a few days. Myrtos beach is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been!

Myrtos beach

Santorini is also gorgeous though. The view from Vin Santo winery took my breath away when we went on a tour there.

Skiathos comes in third. Koukanarias beach is absolutely beautiful with crystal clear warm waters so clean that you can see all of the fish swimming around you.

I love Greece! 🇬🇷

Hydra. Not been there to stay but been for day trips from Athens several times and will do so again in October. No cars.