Filter | Greek island Directory

Greek island Picker: Which Greek island to Visit

Choosing the right Greek island isn’t always easy. With more than 100 inhabited islands and hundreds of different combinations of beaches, scenery, nightlife, accessibility, cost and atmosphere, finding the destination that matches your travel style can quickly become overwhelming.

The Greek Island Finder helps simplify that decision. Instead of reading dozens of individual guides, you can use the tool below to filter islands using ten different criteria and instantly discover the destinations that best match the type of holiday you’re planning.

Find Your Greek Island – Orange Pill + Filter

Find Your Greek Island

Orange pill table format + working filters — 125 islands linked

Island	Description
Aegina	Pistachio island. Famous PDO pistachios, Temple of Aphaia with Parthenon views, fishermen at Perdika, and 45 mins from Athens so big weekend scene.
Agathonisi	Northernmost Dodecanese. 3 hamlets, wild thymes, close to Samos and Turkey, 2 ferries a week feel.
Agios Efstratios	Silent island. Used as political exile island, now almost empty, Mediterranean seals.
Agios Georgios	Small pine islet off Iraklia / Venetiko area, bird nesting, day anchorage.
Agios Minas	Monastery islet. Part of Fournoi, monastery with 3 monks, old church, goats.
Agistri	1 hour from Athens. Pine island, bike everywhere, Chalikiada and Aponissos beaches, Saronic quick escape.
Alimia	Bay with WWII wrecks. Uninhabited deep bay anchorage between Rhodes and Chalki, German war wrecks diving.
Alonissos	Marine park island. Center of National Marine Park of Alonissos with endangered monk seals, old Chora on hilltop, crystal snorkeling.
Ammouliani	Chalkidiki's only inhabited island. Former monastery island, sandy beaches like Alykes, close to Mount Athos views.
Amorgos	The Big Blue. French film Le Grand Bleu filmed here, 300m cliff monastery Hozoviotissa bolted to rock, endless hiking and freediving.
Anafi	Anafi rise. Monolith Kalamos – second highest rock in Mediterranean after Gibraltar, wild hiking, empty beaches.
Andros	Greenest Cycladic island. Waterfalls at Pythara, Chora with neoclassical shipowner mansions, contemporary art museum, and strong hiking network.
Ano Koufonisi	Tiny paradise. Barely 3.5km, but Pori beach and Gala – sea pools – voted among best beaches in Europe, no cars needed.
Antikythera	Mechanism island. Where Antikythera Mechanism ancient computer found in wreck, bird migration station.
Antiparos	Paros's laid-back little sister. Famous huge cave, Soros beach, developed by Tom Hanks / celebs, but still boho low-key beach bars.
Antipaxos	Vineyard islet. Famous for Voutoumi and Vrika beaches – neon blue water, no villages just vineyards and one taverna.
Antipsara	Uninhabited sister of Psara, bird reserve, no beach facilities.
Arkoi	Four people island. One taverna at port run by island's family, goats, anchorage for yachts.
Arkoudi	Bear-shaped. Uninhabited Ionian between Lefkada and Ithaca, bear silhouette, one beach.
Aspronisi	White volcanic fragment. Part of broken Santorini volcano rim, uninhabited white ash islet.
Astypalaia	Butterfly island. Shape like butterfly, Venetian castle Chora like Santorini but empty, Dodecanese + Cyclades hybrid architecture.
Atokos	Private Onassis island. Uninhabited goat island owned by Onassis family, Ionian.
Chalki	Restored elegance. Once abandoned, now restored Italian mansions, Nimporio harbor painted in pastel, car-free peace.
Chios	Mastic island. Only place in the world where mastic gum grows, medieval mastic villages like Mesta and Pyrgi with xysta scratching, Anavatos ghost village.
Chrissi	Golden island. Off Crete, golden sand + Europe's largest natural cedar forest, uninhabited protected park.
Corfu	Most Italian / Venetian of the Ionian islands. Known for Liston arcade in Corfu Town, Achilleion Palace, Paleokastritsa, and Kavos – the 18-24 foam party, boat party, strip capital.
Crete	A country in itself. Largest island in Greece, known for Knossos Minoan palace, Samaria Gorge, Elafonisi pink beach, Balos lagoon, and Malia's party strip plus Heraklion / Chania nightlife.
Delos	Holy birthplace. Birthplace of Apollo + Artemis, entire island is archaeological site UNESCO, no overnight stays.
Despotiko	Apollo sanctuary. Massive archaic Apollo temple excavation next to Antiparos.
Diaporos	Chalkidiki hidden lagoon. Green water, shallow, hidden houses for rich Thessalonians.
Dokos	Ancient wreck island. Oldest known shipwreck in world found off it (2700 BC), off Hydra, one shepherd.
Donousa	Remote Small Cyclades. Kedros beach nudist + free camping history, tiny Donousa Town, off-grid.
Elafonisos	Caribbean Greece. Simos beach double bay with white sand and emerald water, tiny island off Peloponnese, often called best beach in Greece.
Erikoussa	Tiny Diapontia. Beaches with coral sand, one village, cedar forest, next to Othonoi.
Evia	Second largest after Crete. Known for Edipsos thermal spas, strange tidal phenomenon at Chalkida Euripus, mountain villages, and Dragon Houses at Karystos.
Farmakonisi	Hippocrates exile. Where Hippocrates was exiled, now military outpost near Turkey, disputed.
Folegandros	Cliff-edge drama. Chora perched 200m over sea, Kastro medieval walls, Ano Meria, and Agali beach – known for minimalist luxury and quiet romance.
Fournoi	Pirates' archipelago. 20+ islets, old pirate base, best fishermen in Aegean, wasp hives of archaeological wrecks.
Gavdos	Europe's southernmost point. Off Crete, cedar forest, Tripiti chair at Libyan Sea edge, hippie / nudist history.
Gyali	Pumice island. Volcanic pumice quarry that supplies world, white pumice + black obsidian, uninhabited work island.
Gyaros	Dark history exile. Big barren island, WWII and junta prison, now Natura reserve.
Hydra	No cars at all. Donkeys only, stone mansions, Leonard Cohen's house, Hydra art school, chic yacht crowd, and sunset drinks at Hydronetta over the sea.
Ikaria	Blue Zone island where people live past 100. Known for wild Panigiri all-night festivals with Ikariotikos dance, anti-stress attitude, Seychelles Beach, and thermal springs.
Ios	The ultimate backpacker party island. Mylopotas Beach + FarOut Beach Club by day, Chora pub crawl by night with Scorpion, Sweet Irish Dream, and Disco 69. Young, cheap, and relentless.
Irakleia	Wild caves. Livadi bay and Cave of Polyphemus where Cyclops lived per myth, Small Cyclades quiet.
Ithaca	Homer's island. Home of Odysseus, Vathy horseshoe harbor, Afales Bay, myth + quiet sailing island with no mass tourism.
Kalamos	Ionian forest island. Densely pine-covered, two villages, no airport, quiet yacht stop.
Kalolimnos	Goat island. Between Kalymnos and Leros, lighthouse keepers, wild goats.
Kalymnos	Sponge divers island turned world climbing capital. 3,400+ climbing routes, sponge museums in Pothia, and quiet beach bars.
Karpathos	Time-capsule island. Mountain village Olympos where women still wear traditional embroidered dress and speak Dorian dialect, windy south for surf.
Kasos	Bare and brave. 100-year unspoiled Dodecanese, heroic 1824 massacre history, Bouka pirate port, strong traditional music.
Kastellorizo	Megisti. Farthest east Greece 2km from Turkey, pastel harbor, Blue Cave that glows blue inside, film Mediterraneo.
Kastos	Low flat Lefkada satellite. 30 people, 1 taverna, no cars, old windmills.
Kato Koufonisi	Uninhabited twin of Koufonisi. Taverna in summer only, Pori extended beach, no houses.
Kea	Tzia. Stone Lion of Kea ancient sculpture, Karthea ruins hike, oak forests – closest Cycladic to Athens, so Athenian yacht weekend island.
Kefalonia	Cinematic island. Myrtos Beach, Melissani underground lake cave, Assos village, Fiskardo yachts, and De Bosset Bridge. Captain Corelli's Mandolin filmed here.
Keros	Cycladic mystery. Uninhabited, major Early Cycladic cemetery – source of Cycladic figurines.
Kimolos	Chalk island. White chalk cliffs, Prassa beach, medieval Kastro, quiet neighbor of Milos with hot springs.
Kinaros	Lone woman island. One woman lived here alone until death in 2013, now empty lighthouse, most remote Aegean.
Kira Panagia	Marine park monastery island. Abandoned monastery, monk seals, center of Alonissos Marine Park.
Kos	Hippocrates birthplace and cycling island. Known for Asklepieion ancient hospital, long sandy beaches, Roman ruins in Kos Town, and all-night clubs in Kardamena.
Kythira	Off the Peloponnese. Waterfalls at Neraida and Fonissa, Chora castle, Kapsali double bay, and myth of Aphrodite washing ashore here.
Kythnos	Hot springs island. Kolona – sandbar connecting two islands with beach both sides, Loutra thermal springs bubbling into the sea, 65 beaches.
Lefkada	Connected to mainland by causeway. Known for towering white cliffs at Porto Katsiki, Egremni, windsurfing at Vassiliki, and lively bars in Lefkada Town / Nidri.
Leipsoi	Calm Dodecanese. 24 islets around, Panagia tou Harou icon that blooms lilies, natural harbor, eco ethos.
Lemnos	Volcanic north Aegean. Pakies sand dunes desert, Myrina castle, Muscat of Alexandria wine, Hephaestus worship, and strong winds for kitesurf.
Leros	War island. Italian Art Deco town Lakki, WWII war tunnels and wrecks, mental hospital history, and calm yacht harbors like Alinda.
Lesbos	Third largest island. Ouzo capital (Plomari), petrified forest, Sappho birthplace at Eresos, sardines from Kalloni Gulf, and hot springs.
Levitha	One family island. One family lives here with taverna, halfway between Patmos and Leros, anchorage.
Makronisos	Exile prison island. Civil war political prison ruins, off Lavrion, dark history.
Marathi	Yacht anchorage. 5 people, 2 tavernas famous among yachtsmen, next to Patmos.
Mathraki	Smallest Diapontia inhabited. 174 people, Diaplo islet next door, completely unspoiled.
Meganisi	Sailors' hideout. Three villages on ridge, hidden sea caves like Papanikolis used by submarines in WWII, next to Skorpios.
Milos	Island of colors. Where Venus de Milo was found, Sarakiniko white lunar rocks, Kleftiko sea caves, colorful syrmata boat garages, and growing boho beach bar scene.
Moni	Deer island. Off Aegina, wild deer and peacocks, climbing + beach day-trip, no inhabitants.
Mykonos	The Ibiza of Greece. Known globally for luxury beach clubs at Paradise / Super Paradise, Cavo Paradiso clifftop megaclub, Little Venice, windmills, and A-list / gay party scene that runs sunrise to sunrise.
Naxos	Largest Cycladic island. Portara Temple gate, Mount Zas highest in Cyclades, endless sandy beaches like Plaka, kitesurfing, Kitron liqueur, and Ocean Club parties.
Nea Kameni	Active volcano islet. Walkable smoking crater in middle of Santorini caldera, boat tours.
Nisyros	Volcano you walk into. Active Stefanos crater with sulphur vents you can walk inside, whitewashed Mandraki, and tiny black-rock beaches.
Oinousses	Shipowners island. Wealthy shipping families from this cluster of 9 islands, goats + yachts + monastery.
Othonoi	Westernmost Greece. Lighthouse, Calypso myth cave, last island before Italy.
Pachia	Flat rock off Astypalaia, wild goats, anchorage.
Palea Kameni	Hot springs islet. Thermal sulphur springs where you swim next to Santorini volcano.
Paleo Trikeri	Only inhabited Sporades islet off Pelion. Old monastery, female monastic history, 10 people.
Paros	Chic cosmopolitan Cycladic hub. Naoussa fishing port turned luxury bars, Parikia, Kolymbithres rock beach, and world-class windsurfing at Golden Beach. Balanced party + family.
Patmos	Jerusalem of the Aegean. Where St John wrote Revelation in the Cave of the Apocalypse, huge fortress monastery of St John, Chora UNESCO, quiet spiritual luxury.
Patroklos	Atica islet. Private, near Sounion temple, pine + ancient fort.
Paxos	Tiny Ionian jewel. Dense olive groves, Tripitos Arch, Blue Caves, Gaios harbor with yachts, and nearby Antipaxos with insane blue water.
Petalas	Largest Echinades, private Ionian, scrub and swamp, uninhabited.
Polyaigos	Wild goats island. Largest uninhabited island in Greece, countless beaches, endemic goats.
Poros	Two islands joined by a bridge. Clock tower over strait, lemon forest across at Galatas, pine scent, and historic Russian dockyard.
Proti	Ionian hermit island. Old hermit monastery, Maronnisi beach, off Marathopoli.
Psara	Heroic rock. Home of admiral Konstantinos Kanaris who burned Ottoman flagship, black pebble beaches, tiny population 300.
Pserimos	Day-trip beach island. Off Kalymnos / Kos, one beach, one taverna, beach barbecue boats.
Rhodes	Medieval capital. The largest Dodecanese island, known for the UNESCO Knights Old Town, Lindos Acropolis, Faliraki's Bar Street and Club Street, and 300 days of sun.
Rineia	Delos necropolis. Used as cemetery for Delos, now wild with ancient ruins and beaches.
Ro	Patriotic island. Where Lady of Ro raised Greek flag daily for 40 years alone, one house, next to Kastellorizo.
Salamina	Largest Saronic island, known for 480BC Battle of Salamis, naval base, pine forests, and as a working island suburb of Athens, not tourist resort.
Saliagos	Smallest known Cycladic settlement islet. 0.014 km², uninhabited, famous Antiparos obsidian source and earliest Cycladic settlement 4300 BC.
Samos	Lush and mountainous. Birthplace of Pythagoras, Eupalinos Tunnel, Heraion UNESCO temple, sweet Muscat wine, and Karlovasi / Pythagorion bars.
Samothrace	Wild mountain island. Mount Fengari 1,611m, source of Winged Victory of Samothrace statue, Vathres natural waterfall pools, and hot sulphur springs.
Santorini	The caldera. Oia sunsets, black sand beaches, volcano in the middle, luxury honeymoon caves, Assyrtiko wine, and PK Cocktail Bar – not clubbing, but high-end sunset drinking.
Sapientza	Cedar forest islet. Off Methoni, dense forest, Calypso myth islet, free wild horses.
Saria	Pirate ruins. Wild north of Karpathos, ancient Nisyros ruins, Eleonora falcons.
Schinoussa	Gastronomy in Small Cyclades. Fava and local products, Tsigouri beach, flat low island with great food.
Serifos	Iron island. Abandoned iron mines and rusting loaders at Mega Livadi, wild Cycladic minimalism, and Chora high on the hill.
Sifnos	The chef's island. Home of national chef Nikolaos Tselementes, pottery kilns everywhere, endless food festivals, and beautiful terraced hills.
Sikinos	Empty Cycladic. Manalis temple, Chora on ridge, one of least-visited inhabited Cycladic islands.
Skiathos	Mamma Mia island. 60+ beaches, Koukounaries pine beach, Bourtzi peninsula, and Skiathos Town with a dense nightlife of bars around Papadiamantis Street. Famous for low plane landings over the beach.
Skopelos	Greenest Sporades. Mamma Mia Agios Ioannis cliff church, dense Aleppo pine forest, plum-based cuisine, and traditional Platania.
Skorpios	Onassis private island. Where Jackie O married Onassis, private weddings, off Lefkada / Meganisi.
Skyros	Most southern Sporades. Skyrian horses – tiny wild horses, Mouria stone forest, Achilles hiding myth, and woodcarving tradition.
Spetses	Pine-covered Saronic luxury. No cars on waterfront – carriages, Bouboulina heroine mansion, Armata festival, old money Athens families, elegant cocktail bars.
Spinalonga	Leper island. Venetian fortress turned leper colony 1903-1957, famous from book The Island.
Strongyli	Lighthouse islet. Easternmost Greece, lighthouse, 4.5 km² off Kastellorizo.
Symi	Dazzling neo-classical harbor. Pastel mansions stacked like theater set, sponge diving history, Panormitis Monastery, and day-trip from Rhodes.
Syros	Capital of the Cyclades. Ermoupoli with neoclassical mansions, Miaouli Square, Ano Syros medieval town, Catholic + Orthodox mix, and refined café / bar scene, not beach-party.
Telendos	Rock island off Kalymnos. 500m strait, car-free, huge cliff for climbing, old early Christian basilicas.
Thassos	Emerald island of the north. Green marble quarries, ancient marble beach Giola lagoon, olive groves, and pine-covered mountains.
Therasia	Santorini's mirror. What Santorini was 30 years ago, caldera views without crowds, Riva port.
Thymaina	Fournoi cluster fishing hamlet. 30 people, old stone houses, Keramidou islet.
Tilos	Ecotourism pioneer. Dwarf elephant fossils, nature reserve, open-air museum of WWII, off-grid sustainable.
Tinos	Religious and artistic. Panagia Evangelistria – Greece's Lourdes pilgrimage, 750 marble-carved dovecotes, marble sculptors, surf at Kolymbithra, and Exomvourgo rock.
Trizonia	Only inhabited island in Gulf of Corinth. Tiny pine island with red beaches, no cars.
Zakynthos	Shipwreck Beach / Navagio from postcards, Blue Caves, and Laganas strip – 2km of clubs like Rescue and Zeros. Also loggerhead turtles at Laganas Bay.

How the Greek Island Finder Works: A Greek island Chooser

The Greek Island Finder has been built using the data contained within the Greek Island Directory. Rather than recommending the same handful of famous islands, it compares destinations across multiple characteristics, allowing you to narrow your options based on what matters most to you.

Select the tags that best describe your ideal holiday, and the tool will automatically identify the islands that are the closest match. Whether you’re searching for quiet beaches, family-friendly destinations, hiking, nightlife, sandy beaches or something completely different, the results are tailored to your chosen combination rather than a generic “best islands” list.

What is the Greek island selector?

The Greek Island Selector is designed for travellers who already know the type of holiday they want but aren’t sure which island best fits those preferences. Instead of browsing every island individually, you simply select the characteristics that matter most and let the directory narrow the options for you.

More about Greek Island Picker

If you’ve ever found yourself asking “Which Greek island should I visit?”, the Greek Island Picker is designed to answer exactly that question.

Rather than relying on popularity, the picker evaluates your chosen preferences and highlights the islands that best match your ideal trip. It makes discovering lesser-known destinations just as easy as finding iconic islands such as Santorini or Corfu, helping you explore options you may never have considered otherwise.

Why use a Greek island finder anyway?

Most Greek island guides start with the islands and ask you to choose between them. This tool works in reverse by starting with your preferences and then identifying the islands that best match them.

That approach makes it much easier to compare destinations objectively, discover islands that suit your travel style and avoid spending hours researching places that were never the right fit in the first place. It’s particularly useful if you’re visiting Greece for the first time or simply want to explore beyond the country’s most famous islands.

Author’s Pick: Crete

If I were planning a trip without already knowing where I wanted to go, this is exactly how I’d start. Instead of searching for “the best” Greek island, I’d select the things that matter most to me and let the directory narrow the possibilities. It’s often the quickest way to discover islands that don’t appear on the first page of every travel guide.

FAQ

What is the Greek Island Finder?

A free tool that helps match travellers with suitable Greek islands.
Filters islands using multiple travel preferences.
Designed to simplify the process of choosing where to visit.

How does the Greek Island Selector work?

Select the tags that match your ideal holiday.
The tool compares those preferences against the directory’s island data.
Matching islands are displayed based on your selections.

Is the Greek Island Picker free?

Yes.
There is no cost to use the tool.
You can experiment with as many combinations as you like.

Can I select more than one preference?

Yes.
The tool is designed to work with multiple criteria at once.
Combining preferences usually produces more tailored recommendations.

Does the Greek island chooser only recommend famous islands?

No.
It considers both well-known and lesser-known Greek islands.
The recommendations are based on your selected criteria rather than popularity alone.

What’s the difference between the finder, selector and picker?

They all refer to the same tool.
“Greek Island Finder”, “Greek Island Selector” and “Greek Island Picker” describe the same feature using different search terms.
You can use whichever term feels most natural.

Sources

Back to Tools

The Greek Island Directory is a project of passion where a love of Crete, Data Integrity and Directories converge to create something truly special for users: Learn More.

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by admin