The Beautiful Greek Islands

Greece is a country with about 6,000 islands. It is known for its tall cliffs, sparkling blue seas, sand beaches, and balmy Mediterranean climate.

One of the most amazing of all Greek isles is Santorini. It is known for its cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia on the west coast. There are many whitewashed cubic buildings that have been turned into boutique hotels with infinity pools.

Santorini is a lovely island for swimming and sunbathing on black volcanic-sand beaches on the east and south coasts.

Tourists enjoy visiting the archeological site of Akrotiri. This is an ancient Minoan settlement buried below lava. The volcanic eruption that created the caldera occurred some 3,600 years ago. There is an airport on this island and is served by ferries and catamarans from the port of Piraeus in Athens.

Mykonos is a glamorous island. Mykonos Town is known for its boutique hotels, seafood restaurants, and live music venues.

Among the highlights is Paraportian a whitewashed church.

There are many lovely sandy beaches.

Delphi located on the Greek mainland is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassus. It was a sacred site in ancient times. Pilgrimages were made to worship Apollo the God of light, prophecy, music, and healing and to ask for advice from the mythical Oracle. Here you'll find the ruins of temples, a theater, and a stadium dating between the 8th century and the 2nd century AD.

The Delphi Archeological Museum displays a collection consisting of finds from the site.

Corfu is one of the top tourist destinations in Greece. The island sits in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of the mainland.

Corfu Town, the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has pedestrian-only streets and 16th-century fortresses.

On the island of Corfu, the most popular beach area is Paleokastritsa on the west coast. There are curving bays, sand, and pebble beaches that stretch into the sparkling blue sea.

The Thessaly Plain is an unusual place with strange rock outcrops topped with the monasteries of Meteora. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Of all the monasteries, six are open to the public. You can see impressive Byzantine frescoes.

Kalambaka is the nearest town with small hotels and family-run restaurants.

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. Rhodes Town, the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the top tourist destinations in Greece. You can see monumental towers and gates that were built by the Knights of St. John.

Lindos is a lovely hillside coastal town.

Another beautiful town is Marmaris on the Turkish coast.

Zakynthos Island is located just 16 kilometers off the peninsula of Peloponnese in the Ionian Sea.

The most famous beach on the island is Shipwreck Beach.

Tourists enjoy the Blue Caves, stunning sea caves off the northern tip of the island. The most popular activities are snorkeling and scuba diving.

Samaria Gorge is a top attraction on the island of Crete. The gorge runs from Omalos in the White Mountains down to Afia Roumeli, on the Libyan Sea.

The beautiful city of Nafplio is a popular weekend destination for wealthy Athenians. It sits on a small peninsula on the east coast of the Peloponnese. The city was the first capital of modern Greece in 1828.

Among the highlights in the Old Town is the 18th-century Palamidi Fortress.

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece. The city overlooks the Aegean Sea in northern Greece. It has beautiful Byzantine churches.

Among the Roman monuments here is the Triumphal Arch of Galerius.

Naxos is one of the largest Cycladic Islands. Among the loveliest small towns are Filoti, Halki, and Apiranthos.

The main town on the island is Chora of Naxos.

Among the most beautiful beaches is Paradise Beach.