Island Hopping in the Cyclades
 

We arrive into Athens, for 3 nights to recover from the flight from Australia. We intend to fly from Athens to Santorini for 4 nights. That, is as far as I have planned. I have another 15 nights to play with before heading back to Athens to overnight before flying home. We would like to see the smaller islands, and see beautiful beaches, the typical white greek buildings, and eat fresh local food. We do not want to be constantly packing up and moving on. Perhaps thinking of ending up on an Island that enables us to be able to fly back to Athens. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
This is booked for August 2017.

There are dozens of Islands meeting your requests. May be you will have a look at http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/

Have been in contact (by email) with Blue Star for my
Piraeus---Ios--Santorin--Naxos--Piraeus

Today they gave me an update as follows

As you require information on May departures for that route
this is the following

Daily Piraeus-Naxos -Santorini and
" " Santorini--Naxos --Piraeus

The Ios route still to be approved by Ministry of Maritime

So as its not May for me wait and see

Coolmover, since you are so antsy about ferries that will be running a full 6 months from now, maybe you can cool your jets if you look at a Magic Website that gives the Usual ferry service on a given day in may ... it's called OPEN SEAS - http://www.openseas.gr/en/index.html You put in 2 ports and see if there is ferry service in between.

Here's the MAGIC part -- the little date on the calendar has a left-hand arrow that rolls BACK to May 2016 ... so you can see the typical service on the same day last year (NOTE: If you want to know service on Thurs May 11/2017, do NOT put in May 11. Put in the date for what was the 2nd thurs last year -- May 12). I did that, for service between Santorini & IOS and Presto! it showed 7 different sailings that day. Of course you can't guarantee anything but years of experience have shown that this method reliably shows you a regular Pattern of service. Try it, you'll llike it!

Ansty
Cool jets

You read possible impatience into the post

Its not that--its me keeping finger on pulse

Actually Santorini <i>is</i> one of the smaller islands, it's just busier and more touristy than most others. Paros and Naxos, for example, are both larger and more traditional. Paros and Naxos are on the main ferry route from Santorini, so are convenient second and third islands. From either you can do day trips.

August is the busiest month in the Greek Islands, and wherever you go it will be crowded. Some people make the mistake of thinking the very smallest islands will be quieter, while the reverse is true during high season. Small islands such as Koufonisi, Folegandros and Antiparos are packed in August, and rooms get booked far in advance.

Having been to Australia twice, and seen some of the beautiful beaches in NSW and Queensland, I can tell you that yours are much better than anything in Greece. I still dream about Whitehaven and Cape Tribulation!

Greece I like for the
life style

Beach's are secondary

Quite right too, Coolmover!

There are a few beach resorts in Oz that remind me a bit of Greece. Hastings Street in Noosa runs parallel to the beach, and has a few taverna-like sidewalk restaurants, unfortunately with higher prices than in Greece. That is my all-time favourite, with its national park for koala spotting. Last time I was there was during the Noosa triathlon, with crowds that reminded me of the Greek Islands in August.

Hi! I am from Crete and i would highly recommended it! But if you want small islands you can have a round trip in Paros, Naxos or Spetses, Hydra, Poros.

Only island I spent time on was Ios and stayed at a hotel
right on Mylopotas beach
Thought it good tho the experience of a completely different
life style was the thing

Favorite beach in Australia Whitehaven hands down

But traveling thru other lands very fond of Boracay(Phillipines) and Playa del Norte on Isla Mujere (Mexico)

Beach style my fav travel envioroment

Whitehaven Beach is so beautiful, it features on most Australia travel brochures. I had couple of good days snorkelling out of Airlie Beach, and we stopped at Whitehaven both times.

The most exotic beach I visited in Australia was Cape Tribulation, when I stayed at Cape Trib Beach House on the way back from Cooktown. Tropical rainforest all the way down to the beach, and beautiful coral sand!

Now wonder Australia is called "the lucky country"!

I would include Naxos, and you might want to consider researching the Little Cyclades accessible from there (I hope to return to visit these)

@ traverlerjan: The openseas website is great -- thanks so much!

One small Greek Island that doesn't get as busy as others is Astypalea, even has an airport. You can also get to Amorgos from Astypalea by ferry. Amorgos is just lovely, not overly touristy but will have people during High Season. You may want to consider some of the Small Cyclades Islands that are reachable from Naxos, Amorgos and Astypalea.

And I agree the Open Seas website is an excellent way to find out about ferrys even if you have to go "back in time" to get an idea of possible routes.

OP never came back since more than 6 weeks