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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Beautiful places in Greece you can fly to

29 replies

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 25/02/2023 19:58

DP is a dreadful sailor so it knocks out all the fantastic islands you have to go on a ferry to get to. Can anyone recommend places to go that have that lovely island vibe without having to go on a boat? Places I've completely loved before: Paros, Paxos, Hydra, Skopelos etc

I think I'm imprinted on the slightly less accessible islands but would be happy on an island with an airport or on the Peloponnese, or on the mainland, but I just don't know them as well. Somewhere lovely and a bit out of the way would be perfect - near the sea rather than in the mountains.

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Original poster
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 25/02/2023 20:00

More info: we need to go within the last couple of weeks in August, happy to drive, will be taking 21yo DD with us, aiming for a very chilled holiday.

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Springisclose · 25/02/2023 20:02

Santorini. Try and get a little Airbnb on the caldera. It’s quite a busy island but one in the apartment with the view of the lake and a little plunge pool it is delightful.
Naxos also has an airport - it can be very windy though.

Original poster
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 25/02/2023 20:04

Santorini would be great. Do you have a particular Airbnb in your head, because what you've described sounds idyllic?

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Meandfour · 25/02/2023 20:08

We really liked Kefalonia. Travelled round the island on a quad and found some gorgeous beaches. Driving up through the mountains past the goats was fab and the views were stunning.

BeardyButton · 25/02/2023 20:08

Santorini is beautiful. But the Peloponnese is gorge. We stayed in a beautiful converted monastery - best holiday ever. Also Rhodes is lovely. V underrated I think.

TwoMonthsOff · 25/02/2023 20:09

Sivota on the mainland Ionian, fly to Preveza, this also serves Parga both beautiful, low key resorts

StarbucksSmarterSister · 25/02/2023 20:14

Kalamata for the Peloponnese, Preveza for Parga, both on the mainland. Crete, Kefalonia, Samos (only once a week from Gatwick), Lesvos, both less touristy, Skiathos.

Original poster
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 25/02/2023 22:30

Just spent a happy couple of hours looking at these lovely places. I get a bit of decision-paralysis when there are lots of options! They all look gorgeous.

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IwishIwasSupermum · 25/02/2023 22:47

I’ve been island hopping a couple of times in Greece and I hate ferry’s, there’s easily accessible islands if you fly to Santorini which is beautiful in itself, would your DH be up for the hydrofoil, these get to places so much quicker and is much more bearable than a ferry. I wouldn’t set foot on a Greek ferry ever again after spending 9 hours on one and literally everyone was sick, it was truly awful,

AmusableDragon · 25/02/2023 23:08

Lefkas, an island connected to the mainland by a pontoon bridge. Fly into Preveza. Really must go back!

Radiatorvalves · 25/02/2023 23:10

We went to Lefkas last year (ironically for à sailing holiday!) but had a week in Vasiliki which was great.

minipie · 26/02/2023 00:01

If you like quiet and unspoiled have a look at Kardamyli in the Peloponnese - I’ve not been but it looks lovely and is apparently much quieter than the islands in high season. You can fly to Kalamata which is not far.

Alternatively you can fly to Milos from Athens which might suit well. Astypalaea also has an airport I believe. Or what about Crete, plenty of direct flights and there are loads of less developed areas (south east coast for example)

PauliesWalnuts · 26/02/2023 00:16

Chania Old Town on Crete. Have a walk round on Google Streetview - it’s beautiful. Lots of good restaurants and shops, and a decent beach about 10 mins walk away.

Summerbe · 26/02/2023 10:06

We did Kefalonia and Zakyntos similar time of the year and loved it. Hired a car and drove around to discover the islands, towns, beaches. Kefalonia is beautiful. Rented airbnb or through bookings, Can remember

Teen favourite holiday is Greece

Summerbe · 26/02/2023 10:10

Santorini was nice for a couple of days; it was really busy and the beaches are black sand. Setting was nice but would not spend too long there

BorgQueen · 26/02/2023 12:23

I like Kefalonia and Rhodes, I found Santorini a bit soulless and meh.
Sea swimming was better in Kefalonia, we had a few days the beaches in Rhodes were steeply shelved into the sea and hard to get back out of!

Silversalt · 26/02/2023 13:36

Lefkas. Fly to mainland but cross a bridge. Lovely little island in the Ionian. Great for windsurfing and sailing.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 26/02/2023 15:15

Rhodes is gorgeous. Bluest sea I've ever seen. Even more dramatic than the Maldives.

Buildingthefuture · 26/02/2023 15:33

Zakynthos (bear with me, I know a large part of it is 18-30s hell!) But, if you go to the North, around Agios Nikolaos, it’s beautiful and unspoilt. Some fabulous restaurants, quiet beaches, it’s glorious. From there, you can get a ferry over to Kefalonia in an hour (and it’s very flat - I get seasick but never have on that boat!) Zante Town is also worth a look. Hardly any English, lots of locals, some really good restaurants. Flights are easy from any airport. You will need a car but the island isn’t that big, you can get anywhere in about an hour.

Shrubb157 · 26/02/2023 15:42

As above we love Zante. The first time we were so reluctant as the brain immediately goes to the 18-30s part, but it’s such a small part of the island and there are lots of beautiful areas that are overshadowed. You don’t have to go anywhere near that part.

We always hire a car and drive around the island, you can get around the whole of it in a day but there are so many places to discover you’d be able to find somewhere new every day for the whole trip.

We love Porto Roxa, Porto Limonias and Port Azzuro.

recklessgran · 26/02/2023 15:45

Skiathos. Fabulous and has own airport all be it a bit hair raising.
I second Crete - try staying in Platanias/Agia Marina which has great beaches and a quick, cheap, direct bus service into Chania old town mentioned above - beautiful town with lovely Venetian harbour from which you can take a boat trip or two and a warren of cobbled back streets containing loads of lovely atmospheric independent restaurants and little shops. DH and I love it and it is definitely our "happy place" - we try to visit once a year at least. Whilst in Crete try to get to Elefonisi beach. Simply beautiful with it's mountainous background and crystal clear water. Amazing. Hope you have a great time OP!

Ifeellikeateenageragain · 26/02/2023 15:47

As others have posted, Santorini is beautiful, Kefalonia is gorgeous - you can feel the Italian influence - and Crete is amazing (bigger island so options for bigger towns and resorts versus smaller towns versus tiny little villages) and you can see the different cultural influences being closer to Africa. Lots of ancient historical stuff in Crete as well. Been to the Peloponnese region and I wasn't overly impressed but that might have been because the places we went didn't do it for me - it's a big region!

Bohemond · 26/02/2023 15:54

100% Crete. We love Elounda.

harridan50 · 26/02/2023 15:55

Skiathos

Original poster
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 26/02/2023 22:13

Found an absolutely fabulous place on Evia. Bloody DP now says he doesn't want to go to Greece this year. 😡

Thank you all so much for the inspiration - such lovely places; so much the more is my rage at the moment!

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