cyclades -which ones for first trip?
 

i am planning a visit to the greek islands in september - i am considering mykonos and delos, or amorogos, or paros - any others highly recommended? i am also going to athens and possibly the sporades islands -at least one of them. i can't do it all on my first visit. i like off the beaten path and want a great beach on at least one of the islands. santorini does not have great beaches so i am willing to see it another time. thanks for the help. lisa

Don't let the lack of "great beaches" keep you from seeing Santorini. It's one of the most spectacular islands in the world, let alone in the Aegean. By the way, just what makes a great beach, anyway? You do know, don't you, that the Aegean is not a tropical sea? There's no palm trees, coral sand or tropical fish or coral. You'd be surprised how many people expect to see these things in Greece.

Santorini is quite beautiful and exciting, the view from the top spectacular. To get to the top, you may chose a cable car or a donkey (you get your money's worth on this one!). They also sport the world's sweetest squeezed orange juice.
Mykonos is a laid back island, not as fast and developed as Santorini, but interesting nevertheless.
Delos is just historical, ruins and mythology, not much to do there but a visit.

The cable car and donkey are only for those arriving by cruise ship at the port under the main town of Fira. There's also an airport and a ferry port on the island, taxis and buses everywhere.

In addition you may like to consider the small islands between Amorgos and Naxos, they are best approached from Amorgos.
A couple more are Folegandros and Sifnos in the western cyclades.
In the N Sporades Skyros is the one most off the beaten track, the disadvantage is that at present there is no easy connection with the other N sporades islands of Alonissos, Skopelos, Skiathos. These in the main have good beaches.

Palm tree forests can be found in the east end of Crete ;=)

Santorini--and then anything else.

Paros was my favorite, then Santorini (very different islands) and Mykonos my least favorite.

First time, well yeah, Santorini. Truly a sight to behold. But, don't expect a lot of traditional Greek culture - the only Greeks you'll see are the ones working the hotels and restaurants for the most part.

After that, I would recommend my favorite, Amorgos. Gorgeous island, very rural, lots of great hikes and secluded beaches, and spectacular scenery. Would also recommend you stay in the Aegiali side, too.

You also mentioned Paros. I like it but would stay away from the busy port town, Parikia. Naoussa is great with close access to Santa Maria, a very nice beach, and Lefkes, a traditional hill town.

No matter where you choose, you can't go wrong on a Greek island.

I've got lots of photos on all these places here:

http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleri...level2_all.htm

I also have a Greece travel links page:

http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleri...level2_all.htm

I'm not affiliated with any but have used them all.

Have a great trip,
Bruce
www.brucegcollier.com

"The only Greeks you'll see are the ones working the hotels and restaurants for the most part."

This is quite misleading. There are about 12,000 permanent residents on Santorini, many of whom do work in the tourist industry either directly or indirectly, but there is a predominant "small-village" culture that exists in spite of the annual tourist influx and has thrived and survived in spite of all the outside influence for a very long time.

"The cable car and donkey are only for those arriving by cruise ship at the port under the main town of Fira" Quite obviously not true, I think the small ferry to Thirasia and excursion boats to the volcano still call in here.

"There's also a .... ferry port on the island" Truely amazing information could never have guessed....

It's true about the excursion boats at the port under Fira, a fact I inadvertently omitted. Thank you for the correction.

As for the ferry port, well, some people who've never been to Greece, someone like "lili1" for example, might appreciate knowing what's available to them for transportation on and off the islands. It might not be so obvious to someone not as well-travelled as you, Ouzo.

bg collier, I found your second link leads to the photos of the first link not to Greece travel links. I do think your photos are breathtakingly beautiful!

Thanks, yclarke123, I goofed on the travel link and didn't check my work. (Mrs. Embers, my 3rd grade teacher, would be quite unhappy to hear that). Here it is:

http://www.brucegcollier.com/links/l...vel_greece.htm

Again, no affiliation.

brotherleelove2004 - I stand corrected on the island natives. What I mean't to communicate is that Santorini, while very spectacular, is somewhat upscale and most folks visit only Fira, Oia, and a the tourist beaches. I loved the village of Pyrgos and ended up spending a fair amount of time there - but the number of travelers I saw there was miniscule. In other words, if folks are looking for that experience, they have to search it out. On other islands, it's all around.

Regards,
Bruce
www.brucegcollier.com