Best Greek islands: forget Mykonos – visit these top-rated holiday destinations instead

The Greek Islands are synonymous with whitewashed blue-domed chapels, pristine sandy bays and glassy seas - but every island has its own distinct personality. 

That's why we asked more than 1,000 readers to rate their favourite – and all 10 that made our shortlist have international airports. Some have dozens of flights a day during high season. 

But 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 Mykonos. The lively party island and celebrity haunt – which was described as crowded and overpriced – came bottom in our survey. 

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.

For more expertly researched destination ideas and unbiased travel advice and recommendations, subscribe to Which? Travel

Where to next?

Discover inspiring destinations, recommended by our in-house travel experts. Know the best places to go, who to book with and how to pay less.

Join Which? Travel

Usually £49 - save 25%, £36.75 for a year, offer ends 3 August 2026

The best and worst Greek islands

Where to visit

The best Greek island: Kefalonia

With its mountainous landscape and rugged beauty, Kefalonia was awarded the full five stars for its scenery. As the largest of the Ionians, there is plenty of space too, making it the only island in our survey to clinch full marks 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 ideal bases for exploring. Venture inland for citrus groves, vineyards (producing Kefalonia’s very quaffable white robola wine) and cypress forests. 

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. 

Book a Kefalonia holiday with Which? Recommended Provider Jet2Holidays, Hays Travel and Sunvil.

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 either, guarded by a mighty 14th-century castle and encircled by water and wetlands on three sides. 

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 beneath 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 Greek poet Sappho is said to have jumped to her death, tortured by the unrequited love of a ferryman.

Book a holiday to Lefkada with Which? Recommended Provider Olympic Holidays, Trailfinders and Neilson.

Joint-second-best Greek island: Skiathos

Blessed 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 visitor. 

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 showstopper of a 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’. 

Book a holiday to Skiathos with Which? Recommended Provider Jet2Holidays, Hays Travel and Sunvil.

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, where you’ll find ‘miles of empty beaches, even in high season’, according to one visitor. 

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.

Book a holiday to Crete with Which? Recommended Providers: Kuoni, Jet2Holidays or Trailfinders.

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 thumbs down. The island took the bottom spot in our survey 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 visitor 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.

Book a holiday to Mykonos with Which? Recommended Providers: Olympic Holidays, Kuoni, Jet2Holidays or Trailfinders.

Our research

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