Pls tell me your favourite Greek island and why?!

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,

We are Mallorca people and love more traditional resorts with pretty beaches, squares and narrow winding streets.

Never been to the Greek islands...any info or recommendations would be great!

We have a little one (will be 10) with some special needs - she can be lively! 😬

Not sure if you can watch Channel 5 on catch up but Bettany Hughes just did a series about the Odyssey where she visited lots of Greek islands. Julia Bradbury did something similar not long ago, possibly also Channel 5. Might help with getting the feel of the islands!

Kos. It’s small but the beaches on the island are incredible and you can drive to the top of the mountain and watch the sunset. There are lots of terraced restaurants to choose from to enjoy a nice dinner with the sunset.

Cyprus!!

If you have never been before maybe do some 'island hopping '.
A good 'hop' is Paros...antiParos. .. Naxos..Maybe Sifnos .
But be prepared to divert from your plan. As you might find some other small island to visit.
Crete is brilliant but probably worth a holiday in itself...
Don't worry about booking ferry tickets and rooms in advance you will find those easily.

Crete in the Apokoronas area - fly into Chania. I love the little villages in this area. No big tourist resorts except for Almyrida which is a large village with a couple of low rise hotels, waterfront bars and restaurants.

We stay in a lovely working village with the best restaurant- simple food where the locals eat. Perfect.

Naxos.

I have travelled extensively in Greece and live in Cyprus. I don't think Cyprus has anywhere like you describe with the winding streets etc unless you go to Kyrenia in the North. That being said our food, beaches and weather here are better than anywhere I've been in Greece and all of Cyprus is very child friendly.

Corfu springs to mind if you are Majorca people. And maybe Rhodes because you can do smaller islands for day trips. I think you can get to Symi and Kos from there.

I liked Paros and Sifnos but we weren't very lucky with the weather and a bit too quiet for me. Mykonos was pretty but overcrowded and expensive.

I've never been to Crete but it's next on my list. My parents loved Chania.

I also loved Thessaloniki. DH had a great short break there and looked into taking the DC next time and staying in the Halkidiki area.

We love skiathos, have taken our littles ones before. It can be quite pricey though in some areas

@TheFaerieQueene do you mind me asking which village?

We stayed in a villa in Vamos last year and loved the village atmosphere. I cannot wait to return.

Skiathos everytime. It is much quieter and far more chilled out than other places.

Paros. Beautiful and not as touristy as other places we'd been. We didn't stay in the main town though. All depends what you want to do though - some of the smaller islands might be too small compared with Mallorca - all depends if you're comparing with somewhere like Alcudia (or a beach 'resort') or the tiny mountain villages.

Kefalonia. Captain Corelli’s mandolin was Filmed there- the best beaches I have ever seen in my life.

Santorini. The sunsets and the cave houses are fantastic. People and food is great. We love it there. Exclusive and not too busy. I usually head for Oia / Thira

Kefalonia is beautiful! Only place I have ever been that has topped it was Hvar Island in Croatia.

Yes, Kefalonia ticks all OP's boxes. Love it there.

Syros.
20 min ferry from Mykonos means that the extra bit of effort to reach there means it’s not overrun with Brits, making me feel like I’m away from home, rather the Costa del Home.
Beautiful capital town of ‘Ermopoulis’ was designed and built by the Venicians and so is stunning, and has lots a lovely restaurants, and there are lots of Greek Families so you will be fine to go with your child.
Great beaches, friendly locals - Syros always features in my island hops.

I agree with Skiathos and Kefalonia. I have family in the former and it was my favourite place to go as a kid/teen, endless exploration and much quieter.

Afritos on the Halkidiki peninsula has an amazing village atmosphere and stunning coast line - but its not an island vibe.

I love Nouassa on Paros but there's no airport. Fiskado on Kefalonia is the prettiest town of all but pricey accommodation.

Just back from Skiathos and would deffo recommend for a family holiday as the beaches are so amazing and its such a little island you can do a lot without much driving

Cyprus!!

Errr... Cyprus isn't a Greek island.

I love Paros...Naoussa

Naxos. There's a lovely big beach near the town. The main reason though is that it's a ferry hub so you can easily go island hopping and there are restaurants that stay open until the last ferry does in, we had pizza at 1.30 am. Plus it has the most amazing ice cream place.

Corfu is beautiful surprisingly unspoilt in parts with Italian influences. Kefalonia has some of the best Greek food I've ever eaten. Ithacia is so pretty and I could happily spend a year on that island drinking wine and eating olives. Santorini is as stunning as the pictures suggest.

This thread makes me realise that I haven't been to nearly enough Greek islands!

Paros is beautiful, had many holidays there before I moved to Cyprus - which is NOT a Greek island.

Anyone been to tilos?

Skiathos. I would love to go back.