Greek Island Hopping

Island Hopping around Greece and the Greek Islands is a great way to enjoy a low cost adventure.

The Greek Islands are perfect for an Island hopping holiday for a number of reasons.

Firstly there are lots of them According to the Greek Ministry of Tourism there are over 6000 islands. Island Hopping from one to the other is possible because of the vast network of ferries that run regular services across the Aegean sea.

Secondly, Greek Island Hopping is all about experiencing the differences between islands and finding the hidden gems that the mass of package tourists never find out about. If you want a more authentically greek holiday experience, Island hopping may well be the thing for you.

How to set about Island Hopping in Greece

Greek Island Hopping invariably involves getting a cheap flight to Athens or one of the larger islands further south such as Rhodes or Crete.

Tip 1 - Try and get an open return. Don't be fixed to an exact date if at all possible.

Once the plane lands in Greece, it is just a matter of getting down to the harbour and hopping on the next ferry. In summer they run regular services at all hours, but in winter some islands are only visited every couple of days, so bare this in mind.

Yes, the ferries would be a bit cheaper if you booked in advance but I don't know of anybody who would do that. By pre-booking your boat trips you are effectively limiting yourself to a preordained schedule which negates the freedom of the whole experience as far as I can see.

Greek Ferries

Greek Ferries are a little adventure in themselves. I enjoy the hustle and bustle, the arguments, the constant noise of the engines and the fascinating ways that backpackers and greeks interact as everyone tries to negotiate some personal space. If the weather is good there is nothing finer than sleeping out on deck under the stars. Inside, the atmosphere is often too smoke filled (haven't they heard about lung cancer?) for my taste.

When you arrive there will usually be locals offering you cheap accommodation as soon as you disembark. Be wary, but do not dismiss them out of hand. Some of the cheapest and finest accommodation and best Greek hospitality we ever saw was found when a young chap on Syros showed us pictures of his family farmhouse down the road. We went with him and his mother treated us like royalty. It was brilliant.

Some people ask me how long you should stay on an island before hopping over to the next. The answer is "as long as you want". Anyone who gets home thinking they somehow failed because they only visited two islands is missing the point. If the second island you come to is your idea of paradise, then stay and enjoy it.

The weather is an important factor in an Island Hopping  vacation as rough seas can leave you stranded on an island for longer than you wish. Of course this is less of a problem in the summer months when the weather is good, but even so, if you have an urgent appointment back home or a non-transferable return flight, them maybe Island Hopping isn't the best choice.

Greek Island Hopping is a brilliant experience for more adventurous travelers.

Reviews of Island Hopping Holidays in Greece

Island Hopping Rocks

Yes I agree that the greek ferries are a great way to see more than just the one island.

Chris

Rhodes Harbour

We started our island hopping in Rhodes so we could get around the Dodecanese islands. From the airport we got a bus straight to the Harbour (takes about 20 mins) and were confronted by 4 different ferry companies. In Greece they dont have a nationalised ferry system, but the prices seemed about the same no matter which ferry you choose.

We headed north to Symi, then acros to Tilos, then Kos (nice beaches) and then up to Leros and Patmos before heading back to Rhodes after two weeks for our return flight. It was a brilliant holiday. We got to experience so much and we knew we could just move on if we didn't like the accomodation.

Carol Richards

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