Greek Islands at a Glance

Kindly Use the menu above to see individual Greek island guides and their ferry schedules (after it loads - its worth the wait) but read this page first!

Yia-sas! Joy to you! Within this section is extensive Greece Island travel info on the 60 or so major inhabited Greek islands within all seven Greek island Groups as well as their ferry schedules. Note about Ferry Schedules. (this note is at the bottom of this page)

Depending on ones definition of a Greek Island, there are over 3,000 islands of which only about 168 are inhabited. If you count every rock you'd want to avoid with your boat then there are millions of Greek islands!

Each of you will have their own expectations of a Greek Island Vacation or Holiday. Fortunately its hard to have a bad time on any of the Greek islands and all of them have something to offer. But just before we get into that..

Direct route from Athens Airport to the Port of Piraeus
(Train and metro transfer take approximately 90 minutes)

Take the airport train to Monastiraki Sq. and change lines there, click to see the metro map, (from Blue to Green line) and go to the end: the Piraeus terminus.

From the airport Its about 45 minutes to Monastiraki by train. Once in Monastiraki you have to change lines from the new train to the metro, which entails a bit of a hike (and sometimes a wait) to reach Piraeus in about 30 minutes.

You'll debouch at the Piraeus docks with Cyclades quays right outside straight ahead, Saronic departs 300 mt left and Crete and Dodecanese far right and around the harbor. Its a well thought out port and if you allow yourself some time to spare you will have no problem finding your boat or buying your ticket. If you are late and its last minute and its holiday then its another story. Greek Authorities have become much stricter in not overloading ferry boats as you will learn below. Another variable is the weather and If the wind is up past  8 on the Beaufort scale boats may be cancelled or delayed or both. This will happen at least once every summer and in that case it wont matter if you have a ticket or not.
Read more about Athens Greece airport to Piraeus port and return.

Click to see Greek islands map I | Greek Islands map II in a new window.

Planning you Greek Island Itinerary

There are 7 Greek island groups of which 3, the Saronic, Sporades, and Cyclades are closest to Athens and most suitable for those short on time. Also close by is beautiful Euboea, the 2nd largest Greek island and only an hour from Athens by train, bus or car.  

Extremely time constrained visitors should consider the 1 day 3 island Saronic Gulf Cruise or the regularly scheduled Saronic islands ferry service. The Saronic Islands are the closest Greek island to Athens (you could actually swim to Saronic Salamis if you wanted to but its not recommended for several reasons). The closeness of several of the Saronic islands may be ascertained personally from the heights of the Acropolis or Mt. Lykavittos the two best views in town.

From Athens, the Ionian and Dodecanese groups are many nautical miles distant and require more of a time commitment or a flight. There is no one best way to enter Greece. The best way for you will depend on many factors. If you are flexible then consider the most common ways to enter Greece by rail, boat, flight or bus.

The Cyclades is the 'most popular' Island group for those with more than a day or two to spare

In the central Aegean, the Cyclades group is perhaps the most famous and consists of 55 islands, 24 of which are inhabited, of which Kea, is closest to Athens (3 hrs via Lavrion). The Cyclades is far enough offshore to give a true sense of the Greek islands and offers, in summer, good inter-island connections between its major islands. What's more, most of its islands are relatively small and impart a true "I am on an island feeling" unlike Crete, Euboea and Rhodes.

Getting to the Greek Islands

The majority of Aegean islands are served by Athens' main port, known today as Piraeus and known in antiquity as Kantharos. Besides its main harbor, Piraeus has two smaller harbors, Zea and Micro-limani (Munychia). From Zea high speed hydrofoils depart for Saronic Gulf and Peloponnesian destinations. Athens secondary ports of Lavrion and Rafina also help to alleviate the congestion of Piraeus and offer certain advantages to travelers depending on destination but tend to operate, as do all ferries and flights, most frequently in summer.
For an at a glance overview of Greek Islands ferry service and schedules click here.

See the 18 or so Greek Islands with airports.

There are also islands so near the mainland that driving is possible: Euboea (or Evia, 2hrs) due north of Athens, Poros & Spetses (4 & 5 hrs) southwest and Lefkada northwest (6hrs).

Similarly, to reach the Sporades from Athens one must travel by land to the ports of Aghios Konstandinos, Kimi or Volos and then board ship.

By ship, to reach the Ionian islands from Athens, departure from the ports of Patras or Igoumanitsa is required.

Corfu also has an airport and a port in its extreme south which may be, depending on your final destination, more convenient that of Corfu town in the north.

Crete which has several ports, may be reached via Piraeus or by air. In summer Crete is also accessible via ferry from Gythion on the Peloponnese.

From Crete itself one may reach both the Cyclades and the Dodecanese with varying frequency by air and sea. Crete has several ports with Heraklion offering the most frequent connections.

Can I see 3 islands in three days?

No you cant! You can see them in one day but not spend the night. For those of you short on time do not try to see too many islands - you will spend more time traveling than on the islands. Ideally, and even for an island close to Athens (and this is pushing it), visitors need one day to arrive and get settled, one day to soak up some atmosphere and one day to depart assuming there is a boat available to where you want to go next. This is the bare civilized minimum and not enough to really relax and smell the bougainvillea. The only possible exception to this is to day trip the Saronic Gulf islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra and how relaxing that will actually be is a matter of conjecture. If you take the cruise its a piece of cake. If you use regular ferries you cant necessarily meet time obligations with certainty.

Getting between Island groups

Itineraries: To get between island groups a trip back to Athens is often necessary. If you are on a tight schedule and don't have the time to wait for the next scheduled boat (if you' re lucky enough to find one that meets your requirements) often you'll have to go back to Athens or the nearest major hub and start again.

For most people this is inconvenient. Say you want to go from Cycladic Mykonos to NE Aegean Samos or from Cycladic Folegandros to Sporadic Allonisos or from Saronic Hydra to Crete or from Crete to Ionian Zakynthos? Sorry, no direct connections are available so its back to Athens or Crete's Heraklion airport for you.

Flights: Booking a flight well in advance can alleviate this problem. One could fly from Mykonos to Rhodes in the Dodecanese for example, once a week in summer. Not at all in winter. But why fight city hall? Go with the flow, the magical Greek islands are the undiscovered ones, the ones you fall in love with in spite of yourself are the hardest to forget!

Ferries: Ferries have ticket classes, with deck or third class the least expensive. On a slow ferry you will likely stop at other islands on that particular ferry companies route on the way to your particular island destination so you'll get at least a glimpse of other destinations. These ferry routes vary by time of year or tourist season. More in summer, far fewer in winter. August being peak season. The same holds true for fast ferries which are usually about double the price of a normal ferry except some offer express routes which cost more still. On an express, just like a train, the ship wont pull into 5 islands on the way to Mykonos, maybe just one. A fast ferry could cut your ferry time to Crete from 20 hours to 9 hrs but booking an additional sleeping cabin to get some sleep would add to your cost. Many prefer to go 3d class and sit it out or use sleeping bags which is permitted.

Leap and the net shall appear

No matter which Greek Island(s) you choose, you are sure to find enjoyment and beauty including: sandy beaches, secluded coves, spectacular scenery, ancient and medieval sites, lively nightlife, peace and solitude or a just good dose of traditional Greek hospitality, cuisine, wines and atmosphere.

Of course some islands are more equal than others depending on your personal point of view, desires and budget so choose wisely. If you do have the time and the money then jump and the Greek island net shall appear! Either way you won't be sorry.

To me at least, Islands vary most in the amount of tourism received. This simple fact changes everything about an island. There are popular islands and those less so but for different reasons than you might expect. Some beautiful islands get very little tourism either because few know about them and they are undeveloped or hard to reach or both. They might also suffer from a lack of water and thus escape the developers machinations. This is true of many island beaches that are just screaming to be ruined by development but which, due to lack of abundant water or access are thankfully left alone. Oft times its worth packing a day kit and taking the local caique to remote beaches.
For some Greek island hopping suggestions this may be illuminating.

Geologically the Greek islands are mountain tops around which the sea has risen since the last ice age. Things warmed up, water melted, land bridges disappeared and islands formed. The Aegean lies at the conflux of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa and there are many species of fauna, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and even birds common to all three. There are also many niche species that are not to be seen elsewhere because of the hindrance of the intervening sea. This barrier to colonization means that some species common to others areas of Greece and the 3 continents do not occur on some of the islands while others thrive. Miniature elephant remains have been discovered on several Greek islands so the land bridge was no myth.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to spend 2 to 3 weeks on the Greek Islands or even on just one Greek island, only then, will you really start to experience the decompression and lightening of soul that such an extended stay on a Greek Island will surely impart.

As your jet lag fades and one day blends into another your inner clock will adapt to a new heliocentric lifestyle freeing you of the hustle, bustle and regimentation of so-called modern civilization. Your most important daily decisions may be where to eat and what beach or bar to go to. You will still need money but the best things in life are almost free. Slowly but surely if you allow yourself to be exposed to them, the primeval rhythm of the pounding surf and the wonder of the star filled nights will cleanse your psyche. With care, and like your tan, these feelings of deep relaxation may last a few weeks after departure as well! People with pale complexions should be careful of sunburn and bring a sun hat and an extra large tee-shirt for beach wear.

After a few long and sunny Greek island days, (summer: sunrise 5:15am / sunset 9:30pm) you will soon begin to adapt to island ways, usually by the 2nd week in my experience. Separating the artificial from the natural may not always be easy in establishing a Greek island rhythm.

Birds and Bees do it

If you are party oriented then you don't have to feel guilty about sleeping late because the beaches don't get crowded until mid-afternoon and you can still work on that badge of health, your tan, until after 8 pm. After a nap and dinner, club life begins after midnight. Although in high summer you'll find bar or clubs on most any Greek Island with over 500 people living on it year round, islands that are particularly well known as places to meet other people, dance, drink, lay around on nice beaches are: Mykonos, Paros, Ios, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and several more islands described here.

There are very few Gyms

On the other hand those of you with a different approach to activity will no doubt want to get up with the 5:30 sun to enjoy the moderate heat of the early morning while you get that long walk or jog under your belt. The heat of the day is best passed in a prone and shaded position. Hikers and others may want to consider islands that receive fewer tourists. Or traveling off season.

Greek Island Food and Aroma-therapia

Your other senses, taste and smell, will be piqued too I bet and olfactorally you will experience many non-city aromas; some of which you may recall from home: basil, wild rosemary, wild thyme, lemon blossoms, orange, laurel, dandelion, cinnamon, sage and apple. Others may be new to you, such as those unique to certain locales: Mastic, poppy, olives, figs, chamomile or the delicious smell of grilled octopus from the nearby seafood tavernas or ouzopolia. I always order the grilled octopus, not the sauteed. An early afternoon sit down with an an ouzo and octopus meze (appetizer) will have you wondering why you haven't done this long before!

Much later that night, will come your evening repast, hopefully, at least once on the seashore, or around the small limani eating fresh fish at reasonable prices. Fish has gotten expensive over the last few years and what with over- fishing its not going to get any cheaper. Plenty of local people fish on Greek islands standing on the shore with rigs as varied as a piece of nylon filament with a baited hook to snorkeling and spear fishing. You can catch fish and if you do, most local tavernas will grill it for you for a small fee. If one wont, move to the next. It works every time! Ask for plenty of lemon too!

For dessert fancy cakes are only available if you seek out a patisserie or zacharo-plasteio. Tavernas usually only have the Turkish style sweet Halva for dessert and fruits such as watermelon (kar-pousie) and cantaloupe (peponi) to freshen ones palate in the summer. Halva made mostly from farina and almonds can be a remarkable confection, as light as air, or a tragic bore. I prefer mine with cinnamon and lemon.

If the waiter/owners really like you they may treat your party to a platter of such fruit for free. They may not. If they really really like you they will also offer shots (sphee-nakia) of after dinner liqueurs with the fruit for free too! These are nice way to try aperitifs unique to each island bottles of which make nice gifts and souvenirs. (below right, wall mural from Acrotiri in Santorini - Athens National Archeology Museum)

Unique to Greece, I think you'll also find is the smell of incense from a Greek Orthodox Church and perhaps you'll even wonder why are there so many of these churches everywhere? The reason is that most were built by families or individuals - sailors mostly - for the Greeks are a sea faring people and particularly so in the islands. Each church is devoted to a specific saint to which its builder wishes to thank for blessing received. Much like the ancient temples devoted to Artemis or Athena or Apollo. Some small islands have 400 or more such tiny chapels and all are up kept by the villagers or builders family. Many you will find unlocked and many you will find locked. If you light a votive candle be sure and place it upright in the sand dish and leave some change to help the upkeep.

Your taste buds too will have to adapt but rest assured the Mediterranean diet is among the healthiest. Its reliance on olive oil, fresh vegetables, fish, yogurt and honey should be taken advantage of in their natural surroundings. Greece has more kinds of honey, types of grapes and varieties of olives than any country in the world and has had, for thousands for years. The islands, to varying degrees, possess them all in abundance.

After dark, and away from towns, the sky is brilliantly lit by many, many stars. You'll see a few familiar ones like the Big Dipper and Orion but no doubt from a different perspective. The clean and dry island air increases ones ability to see great distances and also improves radio reception. Twirling the dial of a small transistor radio from the Greek Islands at night is just one more way to expand your horizons as it will receive from many different countries across the levant. This brings to mind the common Greek explanatory phrase "akou na thees" or "listen to see".

For hikers and nature lovers the mountainous nature of the terrain is something to take into consideration. Many ancient acropolises, temples and island horas were purposely built in hard to access and defensible positions and come replete with steep winding tracks and purposely maze-like flag-stoned roads. Brambles and thorns are common and carrying a good supply of water and small first aid kit is prudent. A white hat is mandatory and preferably one you can fold up and even swim with. The lightest, sturdy hiking boots you can buy will be well worth any extra cost in the comfort and convenience they will provide you.

Older island ports or Limania were designed to purposely confuse marauding pirates and strolling around their back streets will more likely than not be accompanied by disorientation. On most maps Greek Island capitols are usually delineated by 'Hora' or 'Chora' ('Hora' means " the town" and 'Horio' means a village in Greek but Hora implies a major concentration or capital). The older Horas had defense to worry about as well and were designed for donkeys and carts not cars and trucks. Horas are generally not ports and tend to be mountain bastions. Mykonos town which boasted many pirates of its own under the Turks is a good example of this Greek Island form of confusing town planning. Also Common to many Greek islands and their maps is that many have a mountain called Profitis Illias and its usually the highest peak. (Illias was a mountain dwelling prophet conveyed to heaven by chariot and receives this special distinction more often than not).

Islands for those short on time

Saronic Gulf Islands

Visible from the heights of the Acropolis are the near reaches of the Saronic Gulf and its islands of Salamis (5 minutes) and Aegina (1hr) with Hydra, Poros and Spetses (5hrs) close behind.

Salamis, the very closest island to Athens is historically important because in ancient times, the Athenian navy, under Themistokles, defeated the Persian, under Xerxes, in the worlds first recorded naval encounter.

The island is not suitable for most tourists due to the industrial activities nearby. Aegina and the other islands of the gulf are however, and each is different in its way.

Aegina is so close that some people commute to Athens or Piraeus but also receives the most visitors. The well preserved Doric Temple of Aphaia is a must see and Aegina grows the best pistachios of all Greece. Its beaches are nothing to write home about however but good enough for a quick dip. Poros is the next scheduled stop and only 5 minutes from the Peloponnese. Its beaches are quite good and the town fun. For ruins it has a well placed temple but in poor condition. Further south lies Hydra with rocks to swim from vs. beaches. Its historical atmosphere, car free environment and sophisticated shopping and dining establishments make it a favorite of many well heeled weekend Greek visitors. A few artists, both foreign and Greek live on Hydra. Spetses, farthest south and actually in the Argo-Saronic Gulf is best of all for its slower pace, sandy and shaded beaches, greenery and good restaurants. It also takes the longest to get to and consequently has fewer tourists.

Sporades Islands

Tied with the nearer Cycladic island of Kea, the Sporades are the second closest island group to Athens. Time wise, its a toss up between the Sporades and say, Mykonos in the Cyclades, which is only 6 hours from Piraeus by regular slow ferry. If you count the time required to get to your embarkation port and the time on the ferry itself they are about equal depending which Sporades island you decide to go to. The advantages of the Sporades are many; lower prices, lush foliage, beautiful Scandinavians and the Alonissos marine preserve being among them.

Skiros is the closest Sporades island and to reach it you have to get to the port of Kimi in Euboea which is a 3 hr drive and then one hour or so on the ferry. So that's 4 hours. Skiros is inexpensive, has nice beaches, clear waters, good fishing, fewer tourists and excellent seafood. Its much quieter and less annoying than Skiathos.

To reach the other 3 islands of the Sporades, the closest embarkation port from Athens is Aghios Konstandinos or if you are coming from Northern Greece: Volos. Aghios Konstandinos (see map above top) looks farther away than Kimi but because its reachable via the National Road is actually quicker to get to. The ferry boat durations are a bit longer however. Skiathos unfortunately, is overdeveloped and overpriced but has some of the best sandy beaches in Greece. Visit off-season to enjoy it best. Skopelos has one of the more attractive island ports and great trails for walking and hiking. Its a green island with excellent honey and sandy beaches. There are a decent number of nighttime activities and its a favorite haunt of Scandinavian female tourists.Allonisos boasts the marine preserve among its 9 satellite islets. It also offers many walking and hiking opportunities and sandy beaches.
Its the eco-tourism destination of the Greek islands. Protected species include the mediterranean monk seal and the rare Eleanora falcon. This island has caught on recently particularly with those with yachts.

The Cyclades

The Cyclades or 'cyclic chain', offers advantages to visitors with more time especially if staying within the group. For one thing, these Greek islands are a little piece of paradise only a few hours from Athens. The 18 major islands ensure quite a bit of variety and that's without counting the several lesser Cyclades with their pristine beaches and laid back lifestyle.

Most island groups have a HUB island or administrative center. Some like the Cyclades have several; Syros the capitol, with its beautiful buildings and sandy beaches, Mykonos, third most popular island in the Med and gate way to ancient Delos, Tinos the religious center of the Orthodox faith, Naxos, in its day, seat of a duchy, most fertile and largest. Green Paros rich in wine and marble. Milos with its beautiful beaches, geologic formations and obsidian deposits exported since pre-historic times. Incidentally, The Venus de Milo, discovered on Milos was made of marble from Paros (Parian).  Beautiful Ios, where youth is wasted on the young and the young get wasted. And last and certainly not least, romantic Santorini with its hot black sand beaches, unparalleled caldera views and prehistoric ruins reminiscent of Pompeii. For these reasons and many more the Cyclades island group is the most popular among tourists both Greek and foreign.

The Dodecanese

Hugging the coast of Asia-minor or ancient Ionia, the Dodecanese, much like the Cyclades, have something for everyone, just a bit further away and with a twist or two thrown in. Despite having 16 inhabited islands, this group is known by the sobriquet of 'the 12 island group' or Dodeca-nissa.

In general transportation is good between the Dodecanese Islands with Rhodes and Kos having its 2 airports. Rhodes and Kos are also the only islands of the group with any appreciable greenery and consequently are two of the most popular islands attracting package tourists and those seeking upscale resorts.

Long sandy beaches and plenty of historical attractions in the form of castles and temples have convinced many to begin their 12 islands tour with one or the other by air. Patmos and Astypalaea are the points where you may jump the island group barrier and enter the Cyclades or vice versa by ship. The beauty of ferry travel is that you will pass by many other islands and even pull into port at some on your way to your final destination. You also get to meet people on board the slower boats.

In light of the fact that the Dodecanese were occupied by the Italians until 1948, the barrenness of the other 14 islands somehow makes them all that much more precious. Particularly so, as you discover traces of Itallianate influence and older marks left by the Knights of St. John and Ottomans. These islands, with the exception of Patmos also have lower prices and wonderful beaches.

Patmos, home to the Monastery of St. John and northern most of the Dodecanese ranks third in 'popularity' and is officially known as the 'Holy isle'. This ex-bastion of Byzantine religious power is reputed to be where Greek born, St. John (Aghios Ioannis), penned the Book of Revelations. (Actually he dictated it to his pupil Prochoros in 95 AD and its never been proven that he wrote it on Patmos). The fortress/monastery founded (1088) in his name, by the monk Christoferos Latrenos, holds pride of place and casts a beatific shadow on all and sundry. The monastery houses the second most important collection of Byzantine works in Greece after Mt. Athos including, besides the usual priceless icons and jewelry, a library with over 2,000 manuscripts and 33 leaves of the Codex Porphyrius - The Gospel according to St. Mark.

But "Holy" as it officially is, Patmos is not a quiet island and 'Papa don't preach here no mo', or if he does no one is listening and if its peace you seek, you'd do far better to try Kassos, Leros, Kalymnos or Tilos.

Oddly enough the most Cycladic looking island of the Dodecanese is Astypalaea with its enchanting cubistic mountain Hora. This just illustrates how arbitrary these island group names really are and how individualistic each island can be. The Greek islands are homogeneous culturally and religiously no matter what label you give them. That's what makes them Greek. That's what makes Cyprus Greek. Still a little Italian here and there may be a good thing. Costanza, please pass the parmesan.

For more of a balanced mix between tradition, remoteness and comfort Lipsi, Chalk, Karpathos and Nissyros  are all possibilities. The well heeled, admire Symi as the many yachts which linger off its shore testify. From Rhodes boats (and flights) go to Crete and Turkey. The more variables you put into an island hopping equation the less sure the result so if you have limited time and confirmed flight outbound from Greece make sure you can catch it. Allow two extra days to ferry home from Rhodes (18hrs or more depending on the boat). The winds could delay your departure. It happens every summer at least once. In such circumstances, I recommend flying back to Athens from Rhodes or Kos after touring the Dodecanese by ferry.

The North and East Aegean Islands

The North and East Aegean Islands were famous in antiquity and taken over from the existing residents by refugees from the Greek mainland subsequent to the Dorian Invasion c 1,200 BC. These same refugees also colonized the coast of Asia-minor and the whole area soon became known as Ionia and Aeolia. From here sprung many of the seeds of Western civilization and some of Hellenism's best poets, philosophers and mathematicians. The islands alone inspired geniuses such as Pythagoras, Sappho and likely Homer to name but three. In religion too, they played a role, with Samothrace hosting the Sanctuary of the Gods of the Underworld. Strategically placed Limnos was known for its Temple of Hephastius and Samos was a household word for its wines and its Temple of Hera was considered a wonder of the ancient world and today is highly geared towards tourism.

Today, while standing on the deck of a ferry pulling into Chios harbor, you might be put off at first glance by some of the ugly cement buildings lining the harbor front but if you venture ashore and leave the port area you will very soon discover an unspoiled, lovely and green interior with traditional villages, friendly people and an amazing plant called mastica that grows no where else in the world. In point of fact, the word masticate is synonymous with chewing and comes from this bushy plant called mastica which is used in many chewing gums and other products.

Ikaria, named after Icarus, who's wax wings melted off its southern coast, is famous for its eccentric and laid back residents who have clung to their identity through thick and thin. They even have a bank or two now! Lesvos is a place of pilgrimage for many and a large island with something for everyone including a petrified forest in its northwest quarter. Thassos, which rarely feels the effects of the meltemi winds is the northernmost of the Greek islands with excellent beaches and heavily forested.

The Ionian Islands

The 7 Islands close off the west coast of Greece are referred to by the Greek people as the '7 islands' or 'epta -nissa' and while well serviced, are not quite so easy to get around on as the Aegean islands. Since antiquity they have been fought over by empire builders of all stripes including the Greek. Their beauty and strategic location make them quite a valuable prize as staging areas if you are thinking conquest and expansion. They are ideal for those of you entering Greece via Italy by ferry. Their climate is wetter than the Aegean and due to an absence of the meltemi wind, humidity can be uncomfortable in high summer. This ample winter rain, particularly in Corfu, the northernmost, imparts a lushness and fertility only dreamt of in the Aegean.

Corfu is the most famous, most fertile and most beautiful of the Ionian islands. Unfortunately large parts of it exemplify (as does Chersonisos in Crete) the pitfalls of mass tourism and ill thought out un-restrained development. Although many areas are still lovely, certain sections retain little in the way of character or charm and are replete with all the ugliness that mass tourism entails - high-rise concrete and plastic. For some reason the British seem to play a large role whenever you dig deep into the financial backers of many of these package tour destinations. Many thousands live on Corfu year round. But its not fair to lay the blame only on the Brits as its the hungry Greek authorities that are really at fault. Zakynthos is another island with the same problem and where Greece is flaunting international laws to the detriment of the endangered Loggerhead turtle which are killed in their thousands by four wheel drive vehicles along the beach. Lefkada is also green and has some wonderful beaches of which my favorite is kathisma. Lefkada has a far more Greek feel to it.  Keffalonia and Ithaki while no longer cheap make for a good experience without the Cycladic cutesyness especially if you can sail around them!

Euboea (Evia)

For the many Greek vacationers who drive there, or go by bus or train (the latter taking only a little over an hour from Athens), it certainly must feel different than getting on a ferry to go to 99% of the other Greek islands.

Euboea is a green island with beautiful farmland and pastures, and noted for its wine. Its name means ‘with cattle’, of which it had more in the past than in the present, though its kid and lamb are highly esteemed.

A large forested mountain traverses most of the northern half along the inland road, and the drive along the west coast (accessible from a fork half-way up) is very scenic. Along the way are some very pretty valleys with nice woods. In the northwesternmost end are the ancient spa with mineral baths (Loutra Edhipsou) and the lovely fishing village of Limni, with neoclassical houses; in the central east a mountain peak of 1745meters/5725 feet (Mt. Dirfys) with good hiking. There is an ancient site (Eretria) with a temple to Apollo south of the main industrial town of 50,000 population (Halkidha), which is only 40meters/131feet across from the mainland, where the old train station sits beneath a fortress near the old drawbridge which can be walked or driven across. The southeastern part of the island is very narrow, with some lovely coves, and on the bottom tip the town of Karystos, with a population of about 3500. The east coast of Evia is extremely rugged, with high cliffs, and a small port for ferries to the island of Skyros below the village of Kymi. Evia is a popular island for camping, hiking, swimming and nature lovers.

It seems that uninitiated people see Evia as not sharing the familiar qualities of an island, because they see it as too similar to the mainland adjacent or as not having the important feature of a main port.

Evia IS an island however (and the second largest in Greece, after Crete), though geologists say that seismic activity separated it at some point from the mainland, leaving varying amounts of sea distance at different points, accounting for seven ferry crossings along its 175 km/108 mile length, running southeast to northwest (as does the mainland from which it separated). For more info on Euboea

Crete

Crete has something for everyone and is so big its not like an island in the usual sense. In a nut shell Crete has a very developed north coast while its other coasts are less so. The Island consists of 4 prefectures and is geographically the southernmost part of Europe which gives it the longest warm season too. This makes it very popular with tourists and busy when other places are not!

Everyone knows about Minoan civilization, King Minos, the Minotaur, Icarus and his father Deadalus, Ariadne and Theseus and if they don't they can read all about it the Crete section. Crete's major port and big international airport are centered around Heraklion. Its major Minoan tourist attractions are Knossos, the Heraklion Museum and Phaistos. Its has several gorges including the Samaria Gorge which is the longest in Europe and very popular with hikers. Its beach resorts are many and you need two weeks and a car to do Crete properly. Please see the Crete section for more info.

Note about Ferry Schedules

Ferry Schedules Note: Since the sinking on October 26th, 2000 of the overloaded and 34 year old C/F Express Samina off Naxos with a loss of 80 passengers, official ferry schedules NOW only come out 2 weeks before the sailing date.

The Saminas' currently incarcerated captain and crew were inattentive and watching a football match at night during cold, windy, rough weather and ran into a known navigational hazard: the huge rock formation left.

The ferry schedules available on this site replicate the more straightforward way ferry schedules (since the law changed) used to be listed  i.e., IN - A - LIST and in general are easier to read and give a very good indication or near approximation of the ferry service available in the summer months even 6 years later. Just so you dont get the wrong idea, up until the accident mentioned above, Greece had a very good safety record. With over 30,000 ferry schedules and over 7,000,000 ferry departures a year you could even call Greece's record excellent today.

Market forces, including E.U. rules, will alter the fabric of entirely Greek owned domestic ferry fleet in the next year or two as foreign ferry companies may set up shop if deregulations really do go into affect. They may not too, as Greek Labor Laws, after Portugals, are the least competative in Europe and a free market isnt even a campaign promise. However, other changes have recently occured that directly affect travelers on Greek Ferry Boats.

'Government set' ferry ticket prices abolished

As of June 2006 'government set' ferry tickets prices were abolished and a bewildering array ferry ticket discounts do apply for Greek University students, many toursits, people with 85% disability, frequent travellers and children. Each company sets its own policy and you have to wade through them all if you want to be thorough or do you?

Go ahead and visit some ferry boat sites to your hearts content but wait until 2 weeks before the sailing date to do so. Database sites aren't much help when trying to plan an itinerary months in advance are they? You can waste many hours and add to your frustration level trying to get a simple answer out of them and an answer that, in the final analysis, is, among others, subject to the whims of the Meltemi wind and therefore not something you want to plan important aspects of your journey around.

Greek ferry boat departures and arrivals, just as flights and city buses all over the world, are often slightly delayed and that will be the extent of your discomfort here in Greece more often than not. Occasionally however, delays of up to 3 days may be encountered so allow extra time in your schedule. 90% of the time you don't really have to worry about ferry schedules because there are over 7,000 departures a month and plenty of opportunities to reach your Greek island destination weather permitting.

Delays happen on the way to Greece too

Did I tell you about the eight hour departure delay I had with a Tower Air Charter? How about my Swissair story of a day lost in the Zurich airport? I had missed a connection by ten minutes. Good thing I hadnt bought my ferry tickets already on those Greece travel occasions. Another time I got three, free, 4 star nights in Morroco because I was flying Royal Air Morocco who put you up in Cassablanca as they reach capacity for USA bound departures. I was flexible. Are you? If you arent, the bigger carriers may be the safe way to go. Allow extra time if you are making en route connections.

Depending on your island destination, and how off the beaten track it is, and the time of year you want to travel in the Greek islands the schedules listed within will let you know if you have a potential transportation problem looming or not. These ferry schedules are for the summer and not the middle of January when its freezing in Greece!

Its important to remember that the weather could care less about your finely timed itinerary and that every summer some percentage of unfortunate travelers miss flights home because they didn't allow enough time to return to Athens and the airport.

Ferries are a lot like buses and deserve as much attention. There are some differences however, especially if you are in a hurry, are traveling during a major Greek Holiday like August 15th, have a vehicle to transport and/or need an overnight cabin which, with the advent of the faster boats you will read about below, is less advantageous than it used to be. The differences you will notice in the schedules used here and the new schedules include but are not limited to:

• As older boats are retired new ones come into service and new vessel names crop up.
• Departure times may vary by a few minutes from what is listed, and then again they may not.
• There are more types of boats to choose from: faster and more expensive.

There are three kinds of Ferry boats today whereas in the past there was basically only one, i.e., the older slower boats. These include:

• The older slower boats (least expensive).
• Fast Ferries which are usually new and @20%faster than slow ferries.
• High Speed Ferries (30 knots plus) which are usually, but not always, Hydrofoils and Catamarans both large and small, which by the way are less stable platforms and in rough weather more likely to be confined to port than a slower boat.
• Prices for all the above: for third class tickets, the Greek government sets the price. For higher class fares the government allows the ship operator to set the fares. See ferry prices 2006
• Many High Speed Ferries and Fast Ferries do not have deck class tickets because they are not designed to transport passengers on deck for safety reasons. They do however have third class tickets which is their equivalent of a deck class ticket but more expensive than a slower ferry.
• For a Birds eye view of the whole Aegean Ferry System in High Season (July -August) click.
• For a lot more about Greek Ferry schedules