Get ready for 2025 travel to the Aegean
Nothing says summer holidays like the Aegean Islands! Whether you’re planning a luxury escape, organizing a multigenerational family vacation, or craving an adventure travel experience, the Aegean islands offer something for every kind of traveler. But with more than 170 Aegean islands scattered across the Aegean Sea, choosing where to go can be overwhelming. How do you even get started choosing where to go? That’s where we can help, from day trips to multi-day adventures.
The Aegean islands are grouped into four main regions: the Northern Aegean, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and Crete. Each island group offers unique landscapes, activities, cultural experiences, and unforgettable tours. Let’s get exploring!
Northern Aegean Islands
Away from the hoards on the busy tourist magnet islands, the Northern Aegean islands have scenic towns, less crowded beaches, and plenty of activities for family travel. Islands like Chios, Ikaria, Samos, and Samothraki offer some truly different experiences.
For example, how would you like to spend the night in a rock-hewn hut on Ikaria? Ikarians are a carefree people who appreciate slow living and a good dip in the refreshing waters off remote, but stunning, beaches.
Or, head over to Chios for a cycling holiday along their exciting mountain biking trails! Stop at the delicious citrus museum, the museum featuring the island’s famous mastic, and wander the picturesque black and white village of Pyrgi.
Top Tours on the Northern Aegean Islands
While you can of course bike on all the islands, for an island cycling holiday, it’s hard to beat the northern Aegean islands. These islands have green landscapes of forests, hills, mountains, and coasts uncommon in other usually-barren island groups. Moreover, they’re still largely under-touristed which means you’ll have significantly less traffic to contend with for road biking.
The islands also offer fun family travel activities. Myth has it that Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his wax and feather wings, crashed to the earth on the island that now bears his name. According to legend, part of his wind remains on the island. Enjoy a fun family treasure hunt across the island in search of the legend!
The Cycladic Islands
Possibly the most famous of the Aegean islands are those in the Cyclades, especially Santorini and Mykonos. If you’re not in the mood to fight the hoards on those popular islands, never fear! Adventure, luxury, and relaxation are available on all the Cycladic islands.
Dance the night away on Mykonos! Visit the sacred island of Delos or make a pilgrimage to the Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary Chozoviotissa on Amorgos. Learn the practicalities behind the iconic white and blue architecture common across these islands. There’s no limit to what you can do here!
Top Tours on the Cycladic Islands
Those who want hiking and walking tours on the islands have limitless options for year-round trails.
For lovers of history and culture, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Delos. One of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has basically turned the entire island into a museum.
While you’re on Delos, gather up the kiddos and go on a quest to meet the forest nymph Daphne, consult an oracle, and learn about the many powers of the sun god Apollo.
Of course no trip to the Cyclades would be complete without sipping the famous Assyrtiko! Head to a winery on Tinos to discover what makes this island grape the country’s premiere wine.
The Dodecanese Islands
The Dodecanese islands like Rhodes, Lipsi, Kos, and Patmos offer fascinating landscapes like the lunar landscape of volcanic Nisyros, rock climbing adventure, and incredible history…all a hop, skip, and a jump for Turkey’s Aegean coast if you want to combine Greece travel and travel Turkey!
Top Tours on the Dodecanese Islands
Built for adventure, on the Dodecanese you can whiz down the singletracks of Kos, scale seaside cliffs while rock climbing in Kalymnos, or hike the historic hilltop trails of Karpathos. When you need a rest, like all the beautiful Aegean islands, the beaches are waiting for you.
Should you prefer a less vigorous summer holiday, head to Karpathos’ Olympos during a panigiri. These traditional village festivals celebrate religious holidays with music, dance, and delicious food. Eat, drink, and dance the day away while soaking up the island’s culture and mingling with locals.
And of course, eating! The Dodecanese islands offer a wide variety of culinary creations to delight all taste buds, no matter your dietary style.
Crete
Crete stands alone as its own group. But, being as large as it is, it doesn’t need other islands to offer you an endless possibility of discovery!
Whether you head to Chania or Heraklion, or are really ambitious and try to tackle the entire island (!), Crete enraputures the history buffs, the foodies, wine lovers, beach bums, and adventure seekers.
Top Tours on Crete
Explore some of the ruins left behind by the Minoans and other cultures from Crete’s 50-odd century history: Minoan palaces at Knossos; various archaeological sites; the Heraklion Archaeological Museum; the Venetian harbours at Chania, Heraklion, and Rethymno; and so much more!
For the adventurous soul, Crete has you covered with hiking and walking tours through striking gorges. Prefer a cycling holiday? How does cycling down the dramatic drop-offs of the southern coast sound?
Crete is one of the largest agricultural centers in all of Greece which is reflected in the richness and diversity of Crete’s cuisine. The wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, legumes, wild edible greens, and fragrant herbs are combined with tasty goat and sheep meat: the outcome is a number of particularly tasty dishes that don’t come up anywhere else in Greece.
