The Islands of Greece

The islands of Greece are more than 6,000 in number, of which less than 250 are inhabited and, of those, less than 100 have a population over 100. The islands tend to be grouped by the sea they are located in, the Aegean, the Ionian or the Karpathion. They then are subdivided into clusters according to administrative areas. The Cyclades is the best known and archetypal of the Greek groups. They include Santorini with its volcanic setting and black sandy beaches; Mykonos with its happening nightlife and beautiful beaches, and Delos, originally dedicated to Apollo, which has many ruins and shrines to the ancient gods. In the Ionian Sea are islands that have a more Italian flavor and classical architecture. These islands include Corfu, which, while having a large population, still offers unspoiled and uncrowded beaches. Kafellonia is a big tourist destination with its dramatic cliffs and the cove at Myrtos Beach.

The Dedocanese group is closest to Turkey, and includes Rhodes with its classical ruins, inviting beaches and 300 days of sun per year. In the Sporades group are golden beaches and rich vegetation. Skiathus and Sykos in this group offer excellent diving, snorkeling and fishing. Crete, with its 1000km of shoreline, boasts endless beaches and, for history buffs, has the Minoan civilization ruins.

With its unique topography, culture, beautiful beaches and rich history, the islands of Greece attract thousands of tourists to their shores every year. Greece has developed an extensive ferry system that has recently been modernized and expanded, allowing accessibility to almost every major and minor island in Greece. Many larger islands can by reached by plane, and even some of the smaller ones have private airports. Despite tourism, which is the main industry for the islands, they cling to their strong sense of tradition, retaining their culturally unique character.