Best Greek islands: forget Mykonos – book holidays to these top-rated destinations instead

What springs to mind when you picture the Greek islands? Whitewashed, blue-domed chapels clinging to cliffs atop pristine bays and glassy seas? 

More than 1,000 readers rated their favourite islands – and all 10 that made the shortlist have international airports. Some islands have dozens of flights a day during high-season. 

The problem is, the easier an island is to reach, the harder it is to escape the crowds. That was the experience of many of you who flocked to trendy celebrity hotspot Mykonos. The lively party island – which was described as overpriced and too crowded to be enjoyed –  came last in our survey. 

So where exactly should we be visiting? The top spot was awarded to a lesser-known island, praised for its peace and quiet and ‘stunning scenery’. Read on to discover the best Greek islands – as rated by you.

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The best and worst Greek islands

Where to visit

The best Greek island: Kefalonia

With its mountainous landscape, Kefalonia’s rugged beauty landed it five stars for scenery from Which? readers. As the largest of the Ionian islands, there is plenty of space too – making it the only one in our survey to clinch the full five stars for peace and quiet. One reader neatly summed it up by saying: ‘It’s very easy to find somewhere quiet and away from it all. The roads are not for the faint-hearted, but you can drive slowly and take in the amazing scenery.’

The villages of Mousata, Trapezaki, Afrato and Lourdata – all perched above scenic sandy beaches – are the best bases for exploring. Venture inland for citrus groves, vineyards (producing Kefalonia’s very quaffable white robola wine) and forests of cypress. 

A drive or hike up fir-studded 1,628-metre Mount Ainos will reward you with sweeping views over the Ionian Sea. Or explore the island’s spectacular cliffy coastline and secluded coves with a sea kayak expedition. Pearly white Fteri – framed by green hills – is arguably Kefalonia’s most beautiful beach. 

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Kefalonia.

Joint second-best Greek island: Lefkada

Peaceful, wooded and joyfully unspoilt, Lefkada is loved for its craggy coastline. But its lively capital shouldn’t be overlooked, guarded by a mighty 14th-century castle and encircled by water and wetlands on three sides. The wooden buildings have upper storeys adorned with colourfully painted corrugated iron, built according to the 1825 British aseismic code. 

Hire a boat to explore the green islets, waterfront tavernas and tiny beaches around Nidri Bay. Further south are the broad sands of Vassiliki and Ponti, where windsurfers flit over the waves in the afternoon breeze. Or park your towel on Lefkada’s rugged west-coast beaches wedged under huge vertical cliffs. They begin in the north at Mylos under Agios Nikitas and culminate at dramatic Porto Katsiki. 

Lefkada’s southernmost cape is a popular spot for enjoying the sunset. It also marks the original ‘Lover’s Leap’ where ancient poet Sappho jumped to her death for the love of a ferryman.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Lefkada.

Joint second-best Greek island: Skiathos

Endowed with 62 beautiful beaches, fragrant pine-wooded hills and a cosmopolitan town with just enough nightlife, little Skiathos is so irresistible that up to 70% of its annual visitors are returners. You don’t even need to hire a car: buses trundle to the beaches every 15 minutes – and they ‘have improved immeasurably’, according to one reader. 

For peace and quiet, rent a self-catering villa in the hills overlooking the beaches of Vromolimnos, Agia Paraskevi and Troulos. Don’t miss a boat ride to Lalaria, a show-stopper beach with its silvery egg-shaped pebbles and turquoise waters. Legend says that a swim through its natural rock arch will give you eternal youth.

Evangelistria Monastery, which was founded in 1794 – and gave shelter to fighters and refugees during the Greek War of Independence – is another highlight. If the serene views aren’t enough, the kindly monks make delicious olive oil and ‘wine that ends sadness’. 

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Skiathos.

Fourth best Greek island: Crete

With its long season in Europe’s far south, Greece’s biggest island attracts more than five million visitors a year, but the vast majority never venture far from the north coast. Avoid them by heading south of Chania to Chora Sfakion and Frangokastello, with its ‘miles of empty beaches, even in high season’ according to one reader. 

These secluded stretches of sand curve around towering cliffs on a breathtakingly savage coastline. Another good base in the south-west, Paleochora has two beaches (one will always be sheltered from the winds). Or stay in the traditional villages east of Chania, such as Gavalochori with its winding bougainvillea-lined lanes set amid the olive groves. As well as premium extra-virgin olive oil, the inhabitants also produce delicious honey, almonds and figs. 

The 8km Imbros Gorge hike is a must-do. A two-metre squeeze at its narrowest point, it’s almost as spectacular as Crete’s more famous gorge – majestic Samaria – but greener and safer for children.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Crete.

Where to give a miss

Mykonos

Mykonos might be a summer hub for the A-list, with its lively nightlife and stunning crystal-clear waters, but many readers gave it a figurative thumbs down. The island was bottom in our survey, rated poorly due to its crowded, noisy beaches and overpriced food and drink. 

With superyachts lining its marina, and designer villas dotting its rocky hills, it was never going to be a cheap getaway. In fact, prices verge on the ridiculous: two sunbeds and an umbrella start at £138 per day at one hip beach club.

Mykonos Town is a masterpiece of Cycladic architecture (think white cubic houses, sky-blue shutters, cobblestones), but ‘when cruise ships are around, you can’t move’ one reader complained.

The nearby uninhabited island of Delos is one of the great archaeological sites of Greece but, like Mykonos, it’s best visited off-season.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Mykonos.

Our research

In November 2022, we surveyed 1,024 Which? members about their experiences of visiting a Greek island in the previous two years.