The Greek Islands are a collection of over 6,000 islands and islets that belong to Greece. Only 227 of the islands are inhabited, and only 78 of those have more than 100 inhabitants.
The seas of Greece are sprinkled with over two thousand islands and islets.The Greek islands have been a popular tourist destination for a long time, and each island of Greece with its unique forms, history, and culture attract thousands of visitors from around the world every summer.
Tourists visiting the Greek islands each year enjoy warm weather, unique architecture and character of Greek hospitality. Greece has so many islands it is impossible not to find a favorite island for your holiday, return after year the same island.
Given the beautiful weather and the amount of sunshine that bathes the Greek islands in the summer, they have become the favorite destination of millions of Europeans and who choose the Greek islands to spend their annual vacation. Needless to say, several of the most popular islands of Greece are overrun by tourists in the summer, but depending on one’s taste, being among so many people who are there just to have fun together is not a bad place to be.
Alongside the most touristy islands of Greece are the quiet holiday spots with sleepy villages, picturesque promenades, endless sunny days, and crystal cool waters.
The major industry these days for most of the islands is tourism, but the remnants of the yesteryear activities of fishing, diving, commerce, and small-scale agriculture are everywhere. Greek islanders have a strong sense of tradition, and despite the considerable development of tourist infrastructure, they retain the unique cultural character of their individual island.
The major industry these days for most of the islands is tourism, but the remnants of the yesteryear activities of fishing, diving, commerce, and small-scale agriculture are everywhere. Greek islanders have a strong sense of tradition, and despite the considerable development of tourist infrastructure, they retain the unique cultural character of their individual island.
The unique topography, the long history of invasions, and the long tradition of commerce imprint each island with unique characteristics. Once you experience one Greek island, you will want to see them all. Searching for the perfect island is half the fun and might entice you to Greece annually for life.
Greece Island Groupings
Greece is surrounded by three seas: the Ionian Sea to the west, the Aegean sea to the East, and the Sea of Crete to the south. They are all northern extensions of the Mediterranean sea that touches the south of the Crete and Peloponnese.
Accordingly, the islands of Greece are divided into Ionian and Aegean Islands and they in turn are separated into smaller administrative groupings or prefectures.
The Ionian Sea
The islands of the Ionian Sea all belong to the prefecture of Eptanisa. Eptanisa means “seven islands” and the grouping is comprised of
- Corfu
- Paxi and Antipaxi
- Lefkada
- Kefalonia
- Ithaki
- Zakynthos (Zante)
- Kythira and Antikythira
The Aegean Sea
The islands of the Aegean Sea are divided into several administrative regions:
- Saronic Gulf Islands (Islands of the Saronic Gulf and the vicinity)
- Salamina
- Aegina
- Poros
- Hydra
- Spetses
- Sporades (Islands of the northwest Aegean Sea)
- Skiathos
- Skopelos
- Alonnisos
- Evia and Skyros,
despite their proximity to the Sporades, these two islands administratively belong to Sterea Ellada - Souther Aegean Islands that include
- Cyclades
- Andros
- Tinos
- Syros
- Mykonos
- Delos
- Paros and Antiparos
- Naxos
- Little Cyclades
- Iraklia
- Shinousa
- Koufonisia
- Donousa
- Amorgos
- Ios
- Santorini (Thera)
- Anafi
- Sikinos
- Folegandros
- Milos
- Kimolos
- Sifnos
- Serifos
- Kythnos
- Kea
- Dodekanese
- Rhodes
- Halki
- Karpathos
- Kassos
- Kastellorizo (Megisti)
- Symi
- Tilos
- Nisyros
- Kos
- Astypalea
- Kalymnos
- Leros
- Patmos
- Lipsi
- Arki
- Agathonisi
- North-Easter Aegean Islands
- Ikaria
- Fournoi
- Samos
- Chios
- Inousses
- Psara
- Lesvos
- Agios Efstratios
- Samothraki
- Thassos
Despite their position in the northeastern Aegean, Thassos and Samothraki islands belong administratively to the Easter Macedonia & Thrace prefecture. - Crete
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