When people ask me why I was in Greece, the easy answer was always, “Why not?” But the real answer was much deeper than that. Greece had been my number one dream destination since I was younger, and island hopping the Greek islands was the biggest dream within that dream. So when it finally happened, it did not feel like just another trip. It felt like I was living something I had imagined for years.
And that is why this page matters to me. The Greek islands were not just beautiful. They were emotional for me. Each island had its own personality, its own look, its own mood, and its own memories attached to it. Some gave me sunsets. Some gave me people. Some gave me loneliness, clarity, or pure joy. Altogether, they became one of the most meaningful chapters of my time in Europe.
Ionian Sea
Corfu (First Destination in Greece)
Corfu isn’t just an ordinary island to me. Sure, it was way more touristy than I anticipated. Sure, there was tons of commercialism, for god knows what reason. But this was my first Greek island. Hell, it was my first step into a country that had been my number one dream for years. Corfu officially holds that mark, and I will never forget the infinite flow of happiness running through me as I saw the island grow bigger and bigger on the horizon until I could see Corfu Town in pure detail.
I arrived from Sarandë, Albania via fast dolphin ferry with a newly made travel friend from New Zealand. We roamed around much of Corfu Town, which resembles a typical Venetian-style town, considering it was once part of the Venetian Republic. We split up, and I made my way to Sidari in the north, where a cheap hostel awaited me. I was slightly late, but I still made it to the beach in time to catch a beautiful sunset over the island with the Albanian coastline in the distance.
Sidari unfortunately reminded me of a typical tourist town, filled with souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants trying to pull you in. But for my full day in Corfu, I decided to give hitchhiking a shot over to Paleokastritsa. If I didn’t put out the thumb, I would have had to take a painful bus into Corfu Town and then another. No thanks. Fortunately, it worked out very well for me, and I caught three rides to where I wanted. It was crowded with tourists, but my god, it was insanely beautiful. In the end, Corfu was definitely touristy and commercial, but dammit, it was my first island and place in Greece, and that alone made me excited for the journey ahead.
Paxos & Antipaxos — Most Beautiful Beaches
Paxos, a small island directly south of Corfu, became my absolute favorite island in Greece for a while. When I say lucky, I mean I got extremely lucky to make it there at all. Because of my budget, Paxos seemed way too overpriced for me to stay for only two nights. Maybe booking a week in advance would have helped, but two nights before was certainly not happening.
With very little hope in Couchsurfing, I still messaged the only two partially active Couchsurfers on the island. The night before I left Corfu, I had basically decided to pass on Paxos and Antipaxos, as much as I really wanted to go, because I just couldn’t afford it.
Then luck struck. Before I headed to my hostel to pack, a lovely Greek woman — one of the two Couchsurfers — accepted my request and invited me into her home in the middle of Paxos. Being accepted by a Couchsurfer is always an incredible feeling, but this one was beyond that. The fact that I could be in a place I wanted to be so badly, staying with a local, and living an experience I had almost walked away from — now that is what I call amazing.
What was supposed to be two nights turned into three. Paxos is without a doubt an island to slow time down and chill out, and I became a prisoner to that mindset in the best way possible. Her having zero Wi-Fi made it even better, because I drifted farther from the internet and deeper into the island. In that time on Paxos, I walked through Longos, Gaios, and Lakka in the north, where I met two incredible girls, one from the UK and the other from Northern Macedonia, drinking wine and watching incredible sunsets.
As for my day trip to Antipaxos, I’ve got to say, I’ve never been to a beach as beautiful as the one I swam at there. The water was the clearest I had ever seen, it was quiet, and I even had the pleasure of swimming into my first cave with an Italian couple I became friends with on the beach. I’ll be honest, as much as I had to continue on with my journey, I really wanted to stay another week. It’s such an incredible island, with an atmosphere that forces you to chill out. I will never, ever forget this place and certainly hope to return.
The Cyclades
Andros — First Island in the Aegean Sea
Arriving in Rafina, the port directly east of Athens, I hopped on board my first ferry in the Aegean Sea. Although my first Greek islands were technically Corfu, Paxos, and Antipaxos, when I think of the Greek islands, I think of the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and the North Aegean islands. I think of the ancient history and mythology I learned in school that took place on many of these islands. I think of the islands where you can see other islands on the horizon.
That dream officially came true on July 14, 2016, when I set off for Andros, an island I chose as my first based on the travel path that made the most sense. Arriving in Gavrio, I walked around the port town taking pictures before catching the local bus to Batsi, the town I had discovered in a Greek islands book and also where I stayed. Even on just a few hours of sleep, I still dragged my zombie body to a local beach and enjoyed a swim under the hot sun. That evening, I grabbed a beer, swam under the sunset, and had more fun than I expected simply bouncing pebbles on still sea water.
With a full day on the island, I gave hitchhiking a shot. According to the reception guy, hitchhiking there was pretty good. I trusted him, gave it a shot outside of town, and the first car stopped. I rode with four Greek buddies trying to find a place to fish. They were amazing, and even if the English was little, we connected and laughed the whole way along the coastline. I ended up in Ormos Korthiou and made my way to a beach I had discovered in that same book.
That beach — Old Woman’s Leap — was incredible. It had many tourists, but mostly Greek tourists, a handful of Italians, and one American: me. The water was perfectly cool, the sea was clear, and I jumped off a cliff and enjoyed the Greeks soaking in the sun. Later, I met a lovely Greek couple who eventually allowed me to ride back with them to Batsi, where I chilled out, showered, watched a movie, grabbed some souvlaki, and watched the final light hit the beautiful white-and-blue town. I’ve got to say, I am in love with the Aegean Sea.
Tinos — The View of My Dreams
When I mentioned Tinos to someone on Andros, they joked that it was a religious island full of nuns and stuff. Realistically, it’s not some sacred island in that sense, but there is indeed a massive church-like structure above Tinos Town where people come on pilgrimage.
Anywho, aside from that, Tinos resembles Andros a bit in landscape, but it absolutely has its own personality. And to understand and appreciate that, you really have to be there. Unlike the few other islands I had been to, what took me off my feet here was my Airbnb. For the cheapest accommodation I could find, I ended up in the small village of Arnados above Tinos Town, and jesus christ, this village and that temporary home were absolutely breathtaking.
I don’t think I have ever fallen in love with a stay as much as I did this one. The village sat high up above Tinos Town, and my Airbnb overlooked the southeast of the island, Mykonos, Syros, and on clear days even more islands in the distance. The village itself was exactly what you would see on a postcard — white and blue, tunnels, faded red pots, vines, plants, all tucked into the side of a mountain. The sunsets I saw on this island were the best I had seen in my life.
As much as Tinos had more to offer, this was one of those rare times where a single stay in a single place was enough satisfaction for me to just stay there and fall in love.
Siros – The Most Beautiful Port City
Like Tinos, I chose to stay in Syros fairly last minute. I had decided to make a stop there en route to Serifos, and just like Tinos, I got lucky with a fairly cheap Airbnb. Speaking of Ermoupoli, this city took my breath away at first sight. People had told me it was like Athens but smaller. I can’t exactly agree with that, but it is certainly larger than most island port towns. What makes it stand out is that it does so completely differently from your average Cycladic island.
It is not riddled with blue and white, but instead warm colors, metal railings, shutters, and hills that rise like a neater, safer Greek version of a Rio favela. One hill holds an Orthodox church while the other is Catholic. Every street felt like a photograph waiting to happen. Hitchhiking worked out well for me there too, and I made it to Delfini beach, which I had no idea was a nude beach until I arrived. That didn’t bother me. I even befriended three girls from Thessaloniki who treated me to lunch.
All in all, Syros was certainly a surprise and yet another place I fell in love with in its own unique way.
Serifos – Mountain Chora
Honestly, Serifos and Sifnos originally sparked my curiosity because their names sounded similar. The “S islands,” I guess. Corny, sure, but true. I knew from the start I wanted to visit them simply because they were two more Greek islands I wanted to know.
Arriving in Serifos was one hell of a nauseating ferry experience, but once I got there, I was welcomed by its beautiful Hora high above the port. The first evening, I hiked all the way to the top and was rewarded with gorgeous views of the island, nearby villages, surrounding islands, and Sifnos in the distance. The whole way up was postcard-worthy.
On my full day, I walked over to a local beach with a church sitting right above it. It was there that I realized I needed to start purchasing my flight home, and it was also there that I realized how lonely I was beginning to feel. As optimistic as I’d love to portray this trip, realistically, the Greek islands in the middle of summer are not always the easiest place to be solo for a long stretch. But later that day, a couple from Athens invited me to sit with them on the beach, and that changed everything. Even though I felt isolated and lonely in Serifos, it was that connection with two great people that added to the memories on this great island.
Sifnos – Church over the Sea
After a short ferry ride from Serifos, I arrived in Sifnos and caught a bus to Apollonia, where I found a decent and cheap hotel. Being in the center of the island helped a lot. First evening was simple: I walked around the village and up to a church sitting above Apollonia to watch the sunset.
Next day was what you expect from island life: wake up, eat, pick a beach, and go. My choice was Chrissopigi. I caught a ride with two kind Greek women from Athens who took me a little out of their way to get me there. I spent a few hours swimming and walking toward Faros. I thought my feelings were bad in Serifos. Sifnos was where I really felt lonely. Sadly, I didn’t meet a single person that day for even a short conversation.
But later, I walked to nearby Kastro, and my god, this place was insane. It sits high above the rocky eastern coast of Sifnos, and tucked there is a small Orthodox church on a rock over the sea. The sunset there was out of this world. This was one of those places on an island that will forever remain in my memory.
Milos – Island of Secret Adventures
Traveling the Greek islands, there were always a few islands that pulled me more than the rest. Milos was one of those. I had anticipated it for so long that I stayed three nights instead of two. The first evening I climbed to Plaka, where I caught a beautiful sunset. The next day I turned into a hiking day and fulfilled a dream I’d had for years: climbing to the highest point on the island.
After walking out of town, hitching five rides, and hiking for two hours, I found myself at the top of Milos with insane views of the island and the surrounding sea. It was so windy I could barely stand straight. What I loved about Milos was that it felt split into two. One side held the villages, hotels, and paved roads. The other side felt for adventurers like myself — rougher, wilder, and away from the lovey-dovey atmosphere.
The next day, sore as hell, I let myself relax until the evening, when I went to a nearby beach I had saved on Google Maps: Sarakiniko. This place looked like it came from the moon. Smooth white volcanic formations, a natural wave pool, and one of the most unique swims I’ve ever had in my life.
I love Milos.
Folegandros – A Small Rocky Gem
Folegandros originally entered my route simply because it helped me get from Amorgos toward Paros. Then I met a lovely couple in Serifos who told me it was beautiful, and that sealed it. I only stayed one night, but it hit hard.
Arriving and walking around Chora, I quickly found myself at a cliff edge realizing I was way higher above the sea than I had thought. The town sits high above the sea, and above it still sits a beautiful Orthodox church. I made it to a local beach, swam, and later hiked up past the church to the top of the mountain and caught the most unbelievable sunset.
It was there that I had one of the deepest emotional moments of the whole journey. I thought about all the hard work it took to get me there, all the years I suffered through depression, the prison of my own mind I had once lived inside, and the free-spirited soul I had become. In the end, no matter what I had gone through, what mattered was where I was. I was here. I made it.
Naxos – The Largest Cycladic Island
Naxos is one of the largest islands in the Cyclades, and unfortunately I only gave myself time in the port town because of the little budget I had left. Otherwise I would have gladly spent days visiting villages and ruins. But personally, I was still satisfied with the day and evening I spent there.
After settling into the hostel, I roamed the old town and citadel, then wandered into an abandoned Italian-style home filled with old furniture and ceiling designs. Later, I walked to the nearby beach and to the Portara, the great marble gate of the unfinished Temple of Apollo, to catch the sunset. While I wish I could have seen more of Naxos, I was still satisfied with the beauty of the port city.
Paros – Best Hitchhiking Island Tour
The neighboring island of Paros became yet another island where I could travel on a budget thanks to the presence of a hostel. Unlike Naxos, I gave myself an extra day here. Despite being tired the first day, I decided to hitchhike the whole island. I made it to each end of the island, including two villages in the interior. My final ride back into port was incredible — a Greek guy on a scooter, and we rode toward the sunset over the port town. One of the most amazing things I had seen in my life.
The next day, despite terrible sleep, I made it to Antiparos and later convinced a British girl to join me hitchhiking to Naoussa. We made it there and back, and the joy in her eyes really made me happy. Not just because I enjoyed the experience with someone else, but because I could open up a new way to travel for another person too.
Schoinousa – An Island of Community
Oddly enough, I only heard of Schoinousa through an Instagrammer I had followed for a while. It’s one of the Smaller Cyclades, and just as the name implies, it is smaller. I only stayed one day because of budget reasons, but unlike other islands, Schinoussa is small enough to actually enjoy in one day.
What I loved most about it was that locals outnumbered tourists by a huge majority. It reminded me of home in the sense that many people knew each other. Whether I was at the beach or walking the island, not a single person hesitated to smile and wave back at a friendly traveler. That was completely refreshing to the heart and soul and made me insanely happy.
Amorgos – My Favorite Island
Amorgos was my number one anticipated island in all of Greece for nearly a year, and I left it remembering it as my favorite island in the country. I stayed three nights there for a reason and have zero regrets. The island is insanely beautiful, with a gorgeous chora, coastal towns, and mountains that shoot straight up. The nearly 1,000-year-old Monastery of Hozoviotissa, clinging to the side of the cliff above the sea, was like something out of fantasy.
Unlike other islands, Amorgos did not feel crowded with tourism or commercialism. It felt deeply traditional. But the best part was not just the scenery. I met a cool guy and girl on the boat before getting there, ended up spending two amazing days with them and their friends, and had one of the most social, warm, memorable stretches of my whole islands journey. We swam, cliff-jumped, explored caves, drank ouzo, and ate together. Amorgos lived up to its expectation and more.
Thira (Santorini) – A Gem of the World
World-famous Thira, aka Santorini. As much as I wanted to be there during almost any month other than August, that is when I ended up there. Arriving from Amorgos was definitely a culture shock. Not because I was on a volcano, but because of the level of tourism and the hordes of people from all over the world.
Still, even in August, I managed to enjoy the island in my own way. I stayed in Oia, close to the blue-domed churches you see everywhere online. I made those same photos. I also hitchhiked my way down to the south of the island and managed to hit the black and red beaches.
But the most unforgettable part was the sunset. Did I catch it in Oia or Thira, fighting for a place to stand? Nope. Earlier in the day I had stumbled upon an abandoned hillside resort, and I caught the sunset there alone. No one else. I could see the entire island from there, from Oia to the southern tip, plus the volcano and the western island. That ended up being one of the most incredible sunsets I have ever seen in my life.
Crete – The Big Island
Crete deserves a trip of its own, and even after 11 days I still felt like I had only scratched the surface. It gave me local hospitality in Heraklion, giant gyros, endless plates of food, late-night raki, ancient history at Knossos, beach time in Matala, harbor beauty in Chania, the incredible Samaria Gorge, a slower pace in Ierapetra, and pure vacation mode at Chrissi Island. Crete felt like its own world and not just another island stop.
Return to the Ionian Sea
Zakynthos – The Dream of all Dreams
The original plan after Crete had been different, but because seeing Navagio Beach had been one of my biggest dreams for years, I simply could not let it go. I would have regretted it too much. So after a long overnight journey to the mainland and a few days in Corinthos and Patras, I made my way to Zakynthos, my final destination after six months in Europe.
With only two days left before my flight home, I finally rented transportation — a motorcycle — and rode across Zakynthos in search of my dream beach. After hours on the road and a boat ride, I finally found myself on the infamous Shipwreck Beach. Even though it was crowded, the surreal feeling of being there filtered all of that out.
Later, I made my way to the overlook above it and watched the sun set over the Ionian Sea while looking down at the beach I had dreamed about for years. This really was the dream of all dreams.
Why I’ll Always Return to Greece
Although I’d like to say, “that wraps up my blog about the Greek Islands”, this voyage deserves so much more than that. This was beyond a dream come true. This was living a dream only that I never woke up. The endless beauty I’ve seen and the experiences I’ve had on these islands were incredible. Not to forget to mention, that each island has it’s own personality that stands out from the rest. And if that’s not the case, you will find yourself having a unique experience on an island that another island may not offer. In conclusion, Heaven on Earth does not exist, but there are pieces of it. Well, the islands of beautiful Greece, claims the biggest chunk of heaven. I am beyond grateful and blessed to have lived this incredible dream.
Until I return to Greece, γεια μας!
