Guide to Island Hopping in Greece

Guide to Island Hopping in Greece: From Gatwick Parking to Sunset Tavernas

There’s a moment somewhere between your first sip of thick Greek coffee and the sight of sugar-cube houses tumbling toward turquoise seas when Greece wraps around your soul. I’ve island-hopped here for a decade, and trust me: nowhere else blends lazy beach days, ancient whispers, and impromptu plate-smashing nights quite like these 6,000 islands. But let’s rewind. Your odyssey doesn’t start in Mykonos. It starts in a rainy British car park.

Why Your Airport Parking Choice Matters More Than You Think

Two years ago, I missed a Santorini sunset because of a Gatwick parking fiasco. Lesson seared into my brain: stress-free island hopping begins the moment you lock your car. For my latest trip, I pre-booked long stay parking Gatwick through a trusted platform. £11/day, covered bays, and a 5-minute shuttle meant I was sipping Prosecco in departures while others circled lots like stressed-out seagulls.

Pro tip: Use comparison sites to snag airport parking deals 8+ weeks out. The savings? Enough for three seaside gyros and that bottle of Assyrtiko you’ll guiltily finish alone.

Island Hopping 101: Because One Paradise Is Never Enough

Greece understands restless souls. Why lounge on one beach when you can:

●Wander whitewashed Cycladic alleyways in Santorini

●Dance till dawn at Mykonos’ beach clubs

●Swim in shipwreck-blue waters off Zakynthos

●Trace Byzantine mosaics on lesser-known Patmos

The secret? Island groups. Base your route on these clusters:

1. The Cyclades: Postcard-Perfect Starter Pack

Best for: First-timers, Instagram addicts, and sunset chasers.

Santorini: Yes, it’s crowded. Go anyway. Hike Skaros Rock at dawn, then lose the crowds in Pyrgos village’s candy-coloured lanes.

Mykonos: Party at Scorpios (book beds weeks ahead), but recover on Agios Sostis’ untouristed beach.

Underrated gems: Milos for lunar beaches like Sarakiniko; Sifnos for foodies (try mastelo lamb at To Steki).

2. The Ionians: Emerald Isles with Italian Flair

Best for: Road trippers, olive grove ramblers, and Captain Corelli fans.

Corfu: Rent a Fiat 500. Drive the coast road to Paleokastritsa, stopping for kumquat liqueur.

Kefalonia: Myrtos Beach’s blinding-white cliffs >> Navagio.

Zakynthos: See Shipwreck Beach only by early-bird boat (after 10 a.m., it’s a tourist stew).

3. The Dodecanese: Where Greece Meets the Middle East

Best for: History nerds, slow travellers, and baklava enthusiasts.

Rhodes: The Old Town’s medieval streets feel like Game of Thrones meets a Turkish bazaar.

Symi: Photographers, weep at pastel harbour houses. Hike to Panormitis Monastery for silence.

Karpathos: Secret spot! Wind-surf in Diafani, then feast on makarounes (hand-rolled pasta).

Nitty-Gritty: Ferries, Beds & Backpacks

Booking Ferries: Don’t Wing It!

Tools: FerryScanner or Direct Ferries. Avoid third-party resellers – they charge £10+ “service fees.”

Speed vs. Savings:

●High-speed catamarans: Athens → Mykonos in 2.5 hrs (£65). Book months ahead for summer.

●Slow boats: Half the price, triple the views. Opt for open decks – the Aegean breeze is therapy.

●Golden Rule: Always arrive 1 hr early. Greek ferries wait for no one (especially you).

Sleep Smart

Splurge: Cave hotels in Santorini’s Oia (€300/night) for that Caldera view.

Steal: Family-run domatia (rooms) in Naxos’ Apiranthos village (€50/night, including mama’s fig jam breakfast).

Game-changer: Paros’ seaside camping at Santa Maria – glamping tents, €25/night.

Packing Like a Pro: What You Actually Need

Island hopping = lugging bags over cobbles, onto boats, up staircases. Pack light:

Footwear: Grippy sandals (no flip-flops on slippery ferries!) + trail runners for hikes.

Day bag: Waterproof 20L backpack for boat days (trust me, waves will soak you).

Essentials:

●Reef-safe sunscreen (regular stuff kills coral)

●EU plug adapter with USB ports (Greek outlets are scarce)

●Portable power bank (outlets on ferries? Ha.)

Cash: ATMs on small islands charge €5/withdrawal. Take €200/person.

Local Secrets: Live Like a Greek

●Eat Off-Season: Tavernas in Oia charge €25 for moussaka. In inland Pyrgos? €8.

●Ferry Hack: Buy tickets for unpopular times (2 p.m. departures = emptier boats).

●Bus Wisdom: Crete’s buses are reliable; Mykonos’ are chaotic. Rent a quad bike instead (€25/day).

●Avoid Crowds: Visit popular islands (Santorini, Mykonos) in May or September. October? Risk shuttered tavernas.

Why Small Airports Are Your Best Friend

●Skipping a 5-hour ferry ride = more beach time. Greece’s tiny airports are oddly efficient:

●Santorini (JTR): 8-min taxi to Oia (€20).

●Mykonos (JMK): 10 mins to Mykonos Town.

●Paros (PAS): New airport! 15 mins to Naoussa’s harbour.

Pro move: Book Athens → Island flights with Aegean Airlines. Prices from €50 if booked with main flight.

The Parking Peace-of-Mind Epilogue

As I watched the sunset from a Fira cliff bar last summer, I realised something: that £89 I saved on Gatwick long stay parking funded this very ouzo. Pre-booking meant no 4 a.m. lot-scouring panic, no £200 "emergency" valet charge. Just a smooth drive, a stress-free shuttle, and the blissful knowledge my car sat safe under CCTV watch.

Greece rewards the prepared. So lock in those airport parking deals, pack your sense of adventure (and factor 50 sunscreen), and let the Aegean work its magic.

Kaló taxidí! (Good journey!)