Where do you find the most islands in Europe? Of course, Greece has at least 1,200 – some say as many as 6,000 – islands of all sizes scattered along the coastline. Of these, 227 are inhabited year-round, with most also experiencing a surge in tourism during the summer season.
Of course, everyone knows or has heard of Crete (the largest), Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Rhodes, which are the most famous and most visited. But in addition to these, there are a whole host of lesser-known islands (though…) that are just as, if not more, worth a visit… if you leave from the Czech Republic, for example, you can find your favorite CBD products on the Justbob.cz legal in most of Europe, pack your swimsuits and your hat and let’s discover the best parts of the Mediterranean paradise!
The Dodecanese islands
First, we’re heading for the Dodecanese islands, which are home to the tourist Rhodes and a number of other less-frequented islands that are nonetheless well worth a visit.
Karpathos
Between Crete and Rhodes, this beautiful mountainous land is one of the most pleasant islands in the Dodecanese. It has it all, with villages that have preserved their traditional architecture and culture, indented coastlines, secluded coves, and sublime beaches for swimming and diving, surfing, and windsurfing spots for those who love walking. These paths go deep into the land and allow you to enjoy the scenery as you would in the island’s northern part. Not to be missed…
Kastellorizo
Just two kilometres off the Turkish coast, this tiny mountainous island of less than 10 km² and 500 inhabitants, known to divers, has just one village nestling in a superb bay. It is one of the prettiest of the Dodecanese islands, with its neo-classical architecture, the pastel colour of its houses, the minaret reminiscent of the Ottoman era built on the water’s edge and the remains of a medieval fortress built by the Hospitallers.
Lipsi
Lipsi may not be the best-known of the Greek islands, but it has nevertheless managed to find its audience, with visitors keen to enjoy its tranquillity away from mass tourism and its superb beaches.
So if you too are looking for peace and quiet, or are interested in old churches and monasteries (there’s even an ecclesiastical museum in the main town), Lipsi is the place to go in this part of Greece…
Rhodes and the others
The Dodecanese consists of more than 160 islands, 26 of which are inhabited, between Crete and the southwest coast of Turkey. Of these, Rhodes is the most popular and attracts the most people, with its mix of beaches, seaside resorts, historical heritage, nature, and hiking opportunities.
Several of the other islands in the archipelago are well worth a visit, including the mountainous beauties of Kalymnos and Karpathos, Kos, famous for its beaches and nightlife, and Patmos, with its monasteries and the Cave of the Apocalypse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tranquil Cyclades
We’re now heading for the Cyclades. But not with the best-known, most-visited or busiest islands like Mykonos or Santorini. No, these are much quieter places that offer a different face of the Greek islands and which may also attract ‘real lovers’ of the country.
Amorgos
Amorgos is the most easterly of the Cyclades, long and only a few kilometres wide. Sparsely populated, with just 2,000 year-round inhabitants, it has always been off the tourist map despite Chora, its beautiful capital, and the perched monastery of Chozoviotissa.
The first thing you’ll appreciate here is the wild, unspoilt nature, with hiking trails that go deep into the mountains. The island is mountainous, with a central chain of mountains interspersed with small valleys, peaking at over 800 metres. And then there’s the coast, with not so many beaches but rather jagged cliffs, and above all, the diving, for which the island has long had a confirmed reputation. After all, it was here that part of the film The Big Blue was shot.
Anafi
This is a quiet, simple little island, especially compared to its neighbour Santorini, which is only fifteen kilometres away. Its 300 inhabitants live in harmony with an arid landscape, a beautiful monastery, and a few relics that tell the story of the island’s history from Antiquity to the Venetian period.
Folegandros
Folegandros is an island of just a few hundred inhabitants next to Santorini, with beautiful arid and mountainous landscapes, beaches (including Katergo Beach, the most pleasant), three friendly villages and opportunities for hiking in unspoilt countryside or taking boat trips along the coast. In short, everything you need to avoid the summer crowds…
Antiparos
This island of around a thousand inhabitants is a good place to relax and dive, and it is not too crowded in the summer. It is the best place to enjoy your cultural holidays and a relaxing massage with your JustBob. Shop CBD oil!
As well as recharging your batteries, taking advantage of the beautiful beaches and turquoise waters of the sea and going for walks or bike rides, you can also explore the island’s village and its small historical heritage, with the old Venetian Fort, a few chapels and churches built here and there, plus the remains of the ancient temple of Apollo and Artemis erected on the island of Despotiko just opposite Antiparos. And then there’s the Grotto, at the heart of the island, which remains the main tourist attraction. Long forgotten, although inhabited since prehistoric times, it is home to a large number of stalactites and stalagmites.
