Which Greek island?

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Which Greek island would people recommend for two adults (no children) if the following are priorities:
*Beautiful architecture
*Nice restaurants (don't have to be fancy, though)
*History and / or culture
*Good walks
*Reasonably easy to get to.

Thanks!

Crete, we went last summer and it was truly beautiful

Crete is amazing for the history side of things and also great hiking. Very easy to fly to as well.

Thanks, both! Very helpful.

Out of interest, how easy is it to get to Santorini for a day trip from Crete? I can't shake the feeling that I really want to experience Santorini as the architecture just looks so dreamy, but am aware the island may not score so well on some of my other criteria.

You can get to Santorini from Crete but it's 6 hours on the ferry.

If you absolutely want Santorini then look at staying somewhere else in the Cyclades like Naxos or Paros. Then you could also do a day trip to Delos which would max out your history and culture criterion.

Santorini does have beautiful architecture, walks (you can pretty much walk the length of the island along a coastal path) and restaurants. Is pricey though. If you stay somewhere like imerovigli, it's midway between Oia and Thira, both of which are busy tourist places.

Rhodes would also fit your bill re history - lindos area is lovely, very picturesque, there's an acropolis and meandering old village, and you can day trip to Rhodes old town to see the castle and museum etc... although the beaches do get busy in peak season.

Santorini is absolutely stunning, the walk from Fira to Oia around the crater is just wonderful. Go very early in the season though - in July and August it will be hell with cruise ships dumping thousands of day trippers on the island. There is also history on the island - at Akrotiri or hike up to Ancient Thera. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been - but we went in April.

I’ve been to quite a few Greek islands and Santorini is probably my least favourite out of them all. It was absolutely packed in May too! Well at least around all the architecture.

Rhodes ( the old town is unreal)

Rhodes is beautiful.

Does it have to be an island? Nafplio on the Peloponnese peninsula is billed as being the most beautiful old town in Europe. It’s Italianate father then Greek white with blue roofs but is very pretty with fantastic restaurants. There’s an awful lot of ancient unesco sites in easy reach and a lovely wine area Nemea. Under two hours from Athens. You could have a day or two in Athens as well.

We went to Nafplio a few years ago. It is very nice and is close to fantastic places to visit. Great trip to combine with Athens.

It's a very different experience to a Greek island though, no walks, and no good beaches. It doesn't have that whole taverna on a beach feel which I really love about Greece