Asking in conjunction to but as a different question to my other post in the cruise thread.

my daughter and her childhood friend are wanting to visit the Greek Islands - but have no idea what's there or even why they want to go there - just that it sounds magical and they want to experience different things. They certainly hope to have some small village experiences and possibly due to movies think that the Greek islands will give them a tick off their bucket list.

I also have no knowledge of the Greek islands at all so my starting question is simply this - which of the Greek Islands that you think are must sees for anyone to have on their bucket list and also happy for you to say why (links to TRs, websites, etc would be welcomed)

Thanks

PS visiting in June 2025 - but I don't really want to get bogged down in too much detail right off the bat

What age is your daughter and her friend? If they are young (20's?) They'd probably enjoy Mykonos and Santorini. Both islands are very touristy and I would avoid in peak season, July/Aug. The reason they are full of tourists is because they're beautiful. I was in Mykonos about a hundred years ago but remember stopping every few paces to take yet another photo.

They could spend the whole time on Crete, Chania is lovely. Rhodes has a lot of history, if that's appealing, and Symi is different again and within easy reach from Rhodes by ferry.

There are over 200 inhabited Greek Islands, some similar to each other and some very different, so your question is virtually impossible to answer without knowing what interests they have. Crete is a large island full of history but also touristy. Corfu is further away from the main body of islands, very touristy but beautiful. There are too manty to list so they need to do some research to narrow their choice down.

Yes in early 20s
but not into drinking and parties or clubs. Will largely stick to themselves. Think of them more like an older couple but with a bit more energy for sightseeing etc

In regards to their interests, they want to see some villages, markets, eat good food, see nice scenery and just the usual stuff. Thus my question is all about what YOU consider to be the must sees.... not what you think will be the must sees for them

Thanks

Problem is what I like may not be what they like.

I've enjoyed Rhodes and Symi. Rhodes more than Symi. Symi is prettier . Rhodes is big enough you'll find a bit of everything. The beaches on one side are more rocky. Lindos and Rhodes old town give you the historic bits. Ranging from antiquity to the middle ages. It's easy to get around. The buses will take you anywhere.

The cliche donkey rides up the hill? Lindos.

But good food? It's okay but personally It wouldn't be my favorite. But that gets back to what you like.

In some areas you'll run into little Britain. Good and bad. Good if you want to watch the football or have a Sunday roast. Bad if you want Greek food.

Faliraki used to have a reputation for drunken 18 year olds but they've tried to clean that up.

Lindos tries to be more upmarket. Older crowd.

I'd expect any of the bigger islands to have a range that's similar.

One thing I'd suggest is to think of groups. Rhodes is in the Dodecanese group of islands. That's one area. OTOH Santorini would be the Cyclades. If you stay in one group of islands it can be easy to get around. For example Rhodes and Symi are an easy ferry ride. If you try and combine different groups it almost becomes a chore. There are other groups.

Excellent point from Traveler-Nick about island groupings. Ferries work well within a group but if they pick two islands in different groups, they may have to return to Piraeus/Athens and then head back out again, which could waste hours. A group that we loved was Naxos, Mykonos and Santorini.

I'd visit Santorini last as the impact of the caldera views may make everything else seem a bit blah. Catching one of the big ferries to Santorini, where they can be up on deck and see the island as they approach, is pretty special.

And I'd visit Santorini last -- I found it such a profound disappointment!
To each his / her / their own.

Kja - it's so interesting to know that everyone has a different view. That's why taking someone's suggestion of where to go, or where to eat, is risky. You know what you like but it could be the complete opposite with others. I'm like that with Paris. Visited many times but don't get the rave reviews at all. It's good we can share all our views here.

@ KayF -- So true! And IMO, vive la différence! Wouldn't it be awful if we all had the same tastes and preferences?

(P.S.: I meant to say that I'd visit Santorini first or not at all. Sorry for the confusion!)

As I mentioned above, there are a lot of Greek islands and to ask which one people prefer is likely to get you over 200 answers. We've been to Corfu, Samos, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos on separate occasions and have always preferred Corfu for it's countryside and Old Town. Most of the islands have lots of restaurants and bars as well as nice beaches and good hotels and apartments. Why not just stick a pin in the map and go to wherever is nearest to the point. They won't go far wrong.

I love the idea of getting over 200 answers. I am a researcher by nature, I love empirical studies. Bring on all of the different opinions that are based ONLY on what you like and probably not suited to what they would like and any other opinions that you can share from your experiences. The great thing about this place is that I'm not going to come back to you and rate the quality of your advice - I'm just going to be grateful because its an opinion that I didn't have access to previously. And if others rate the quality of your advice then I will still be grateful regardless of their rating.

In regards to even your comment of sticking a pin in the map - that gives me great confidence that it will be hard to go wrong - and that I am grateful for. So thank you

What ages are they and what are their interests? Do they want to party day and night or are they more into art, history etc? Are they looking for tourist hotspots or traditional and quiet? There are many greek islands (around 220 I believe) so you need to decide on the type of holiday first and then look for something suitable.

​​​​​​Greek Islands that are lively and touristy

1. Mykonos
2. Ios
3. Santorini
4. Paros
5. Rhodes
6. Kos
7. Zakynthos (Zante)

​​​​​​These islands are more traditional and quiet

1. Folegandros
2. Sifnos
3. Serifos
4. Amorgos
5. Astypalea
6. Nisyros
7. Symi
8. Alonissos
9. Anafi
10. Patmos

Good luck with your search!

Thank you for that well considered reply, very helpful

They are 2 x 20yr attractive enough to get a lot of unwanted attention but not wanting any attention at all - zero attention. They will go to bed early and rise early. So theirs is not a social/party holiday, it is literally a tourist experience of something new

So I wonder about Mykonos, Santorini and Paros in particular and if they should just avoid it or if they are still able to enjoy the scenery without being harassed by guys involved in the party scene. They're not particularly street smart so safety is a concern

The Greek mainland has more to see than the islands, especially for history and ancient sites. Many islands are jammed with tourists in summer, but very quiet outside July and August. Before settling on islands have a look at the Peloponnese, especially the area around Nafplio. Other places to consider for sightseeing include Delphi, one of the most amazing archaeological sites in the world.
http://www.visitnafplio.com/

I so agree! Unfortunately, I think the OP has started so many different threads that the advice given -- about his own travels and that of his daughter and her friend -- are going to become quite fuddled. I hope the OP and his daughter and her friend spend time with good guidebooks.

PS: I'm not blaming the OP -- it can be hard to know how / where to post one's questions! I just meant that it's unfortunate that the answers are scattered over multiple threads and forums.

I couldn't disagree more
I'm getting the help that I have hoped I can get and am very grateful. Every part of this research and information gathering process has been perfect for me so far - that said, I am welcome to more input from others. TBH I thought I would be receiving a swag of comments trying to point me in the direction of somewhere else and would have welcomed that as well.

@Heimdall
wonderfully helpful
thanks

I'm very glad to hear that you are getting the help you wanted and that my fears for you have proven groundless.
Best wishes!

Bhuty,
I'm forever trotting out the combo of Santorini-Folegandros in my suggestions, visited in that order. Larger and more-commercial Santorini will of course, have the WOW factor while nearby Folegandros will offer an impressive two-fer mix. That mix: one-half pretty Chora versus the other half of the isle full-on traditional rural hinterland. It also has a useful public bus, beaches plus a great hilltop church/hike. A lot to offer.
My buddy here in Toronto's close-by Greektown, always raves about Karpathos. In his (informed) opinion, that isle is among the best and works well as a combo including Rhodes.

I am done. the endahksi

loved your reply, thanks

200 inhabited Greek Islands?
May be. But less than 100 of them have regular frry connectiions, touristic accommodation and somewhat acceptable beaches.