GuestA Greek Islands adventure is something that many people dream about all their life. What about realising that dream by organising now your next trip to Greece? Here you will find out three things to consider before setting off to the Greek Islands.
Is there any more magical destination than the islands of Greece? Home to ancient architecture, natural beauty, and of course some of the most sparkling blue seas in the entire world, many people are inspired to visit the Greek islands. If you are arranging your own island adventure, we have collected three top considerations to take into account before you set off on your travels.
1. Think about your inspiration
Have you been inspired to visit the Greek islands because you love a book, film or TV show that has been set on one of the incredible islands? For example, a huge amount of travellers choose to visit because they want to see the filming locations of hits like ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ – and if this is the case, you may wish to see Kefalonia, Skiathos or Skopelos.
However, you might be heading to the islands because you have heard of some amazing historical locations where you can see pieces of Ancient Greece which still stand today. For example, Crete features some of the most complete and impressive Bronze Age palaces and ruins – as well as the former leper colony island of Spinalonga. No matter your motivations, make sure to plan your adventure around what you want to see. This will help you to decide where to begin your trip, and where you can feasibly go to.
2. Decide your schedule
You can visit many different Greek islands during just one trip, but it is worth considering that Greece is a fairly large country where you may not be able to visit everything you want at once. Greece groups its islands into chains, and you may wish to plan your trip by deciding which chain you want to visit. This can help you to plan your schedule and book any tours or activities, as well as accommodation and transport, so that you have a realistic and manageable itinerary.
For example, if you want to visit Kefalonia to see the famous beaches and turtle activity, you can easily take a boat trip across to Zakynthos and even head to Corfu, as these are all part of the Ionian island chain. While it is possible to take longer boat trips and flights, limiting the distance between each destination can make for a less tiring and better organised holiday.
3. Island hopping versus island stays
Enjoying Greece does not have to mean travelling between islands and visiting as much as possible. If you wish to visit one of the larger islands, such as Crete or Kefalonia, you may wish to stay in one location rather than travelling. This can be especially true if you want to have some downtime relaxing on beaches, or you are heading to a certain spot to enjoy watersports (such as Naxos in the Cyclades).
Island hopping will require more planning and may turn out to be a more expensive and logistically complex journey, so choosing which type of holiday you want ahead of time is vital. However, if you are looking for true adventure, the Greek islands are generally well connected and you can even choose just two to travel between to get a taste of the island hopping experience.
With these three considerations in mind, you will be able to enjoy a fantastic time travelling to the Greek islands. Whether you are planning to island hop or spend your time on one specific island, there will be plenty to enjoy once you arrive and see the glittering blue ocean and iconic locations for yourself.
