Greece has many islands, with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 to 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227.

The largest Greek island by both area and population is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island in area is Euboea or Evvia, which is separated from the mainland by the 60m-wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region. After the third and fourth largest Greek islands, Lesbos and Rhodes, the rest of the islands are two-thirds of the area of Rhodes, or smaller. Since Greece is often called the cradle of Western civilization. Many of these islands have been settled by human for thousands of years. Each island has its unique character both in geographical and cultural-wise.

You can island hopping by public ferries or flights. Most of people would go on a ocean cruises from 7 to 14 days. In any case these itineraries wouldn’t be able to cover many islands so it probably will require two to three trips to cover most major islands. Cruise in the Aegean sea is a very relaxing experience so repeating trips wouldn’t bore you. I visited these islands a couple of times. Here are the ones I visited.

Santorini

Santorini, officially Thira, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago formed by the Santorini caldera. The island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption, which occurred about 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of meters deep.

Rhodes

Rhodes, the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, is known for its beach resorts, ancient ruins and remnants of its occupation by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. The city of Rhodes has an Old Town featuring the medieval Street of the Knights and the castle like Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. Captured by the Ottomans and then held by the Italians, the palace is now a history museum. The Knights of St. John used the island as a staging/storage place. The island is well fortified and defended.

Mykonos

Mykonos has been known as the island of the winds, and it’s located in the heart of the Cyclades group. Its fame has spread across the world, as a cosmopolitan and luxurious holiday destination.  Bathed in the bright sunlight of the Aegean by day, she dresses in charm and mystery by night, beckoning its visitors to dance and have fun in the beach bars and clubs, go for a shopping spree in luxury stores, visit its art venues, or Church of Panagia Paraportiani, and -in short- have a truly memorable stay!

Delos

Delos is a Greek island and archaeological site in the Aegean Sea’s Cyclades archipelago, near Mykonos. The mythological birthplace of Apollo, it was a major religious center and port during the 1st millennium B.C. The island’s ruins encompass Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues. The Archaeological Museum displays statues excavated from the site.

Corfu

Corfu, an island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea, is defined by rugged mountains and a resort-studded shoreline. Its cultural heritage reflects years spent under Venetian, French and British rule before it was united with Greece in 1864. Corfu Town, flanked by 2 imposing Venetian fortresses, features winding medieval lanes, a French-style arcade and the grand Palace of St. Michael and St. George.

Chios

Chios is the fifth largest Greek island, situated in the northern Aegean Sea, and the tenth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. Chios is notable for its exports of mastic gum and its nickname is “the Mastic Island”. Chios Nea Moni Monastery was built by the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos who reigned from 1042 – 1055 with great Byzantine Mosaics.