Best Greek islands for hiking
Best Greek islands for hiking are islands where walking is the best way to see them, where marked paths cut through gorges, over ridges and down to hidden beaches, where villages, monasteries and ancient ruins lie strung along old kalderimi and the wind carries thyme and sea salt.
They are islands where hiking shapes the whole day, with early starts, map-folding in kafeneia, wildflowers underfoot and swims at the end of the trail, and that leg-tired, sun-warm, utterly clear feeling of having crossed the island on your own two feet.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Paros | The island for variety. Start with Paros Park's secluded northern cape – easy coastal loops where you really do get away from human interventions to a lighthouse, monolith bay natural pool. Then Kostos Circuit, a mellow loop around the small village of Kostos. |
| Naxos | Best all-rounder. Follow Tragea Valley through the interior – green valley, Byzantine chapels, olive groves, villages – then climb Mount Zas, highest in Cyclades, from the spring at Agia Marina. Add the riverbank adventure Kinidaros to Eggares, ending at an. |
| Santorini | Not just sunset. The 10km Cliff Trail from Fira to Oia along the caldera rim gives neverending Aegean views, ancient sites like Akrotiri along the way. Short but dramatic, with cafes at each end. Perfect for a half-day hike. |
| Amorgos | The Big Blue island but also a hiker's island. Ancient circular path running the spine – long, narrow, dramatic, ending at Hozoviotissa monastery plastered 300m above sea. One of the 50 Walks islands, with crystal clear water below and real solitude. |
| Iraklia | Population 80, but several walking trails. Best is Panayia village up to ancient cave of St John – largest cave in Cyclades with dramatic stalactites. You climb to a high point for sunset, drop back to the taverna-bakery. Pure Small Cyclades magic. |
| Andros | Home of the Andros Route, 100km marked trail across the island – the only long-distance Cycladic route. Stone paths, watermills, waterfalls, connecting villages. Part of the 50 Walks collection, for serious walkers. |
| Sifnos | Sifnos Trails network – delightful cobbled paths up and down between villages, old olive farms, to sea cliffs at Kastro. Well signed, with churches along the way. Feels like walking through history, not just scenery. |
| Tinos | Similar to Sifnos but wilder. Part of the 50 Walks. Marble villages, dovecotes, paths from villages to isolated beaches like Livada. Lots of ups and downs, very authentic. |
| Crete | Big island hiking – Samaria Gorge, E4 European long-distance trail, Mount Psiloritis, Skinaria south coast walks. From easy coastal to serious alpine. A week isn't enough. |
| Koufonisi | Tiny but perfect for beach-to-beach coastal walks – Pori to Gala sea cave pool, clear turquoise water the whole way. No cars, just sandy tracks. Feels like a continuous beach walk, ideal with swims. |
| Donoussa | Small Cyclades pair, both in 50 Walks. Donousa's path from port to Kedros cedar forest Blue Flag beach and Livadi, Schinoussa's Almyros to Tsigouri golden beaches. Short, sandy, very relaxed island-hopping walks. |
| Schinoussa | Small Cyclades pair, both in 50 Walks. Donousa's path from port to Kedros cedar forest Blue Flag beach and Livadi, Schinoussa's Almyros to Tsigouri golden beaches. Short, sandy, very relaxed island-hopping walks. |
| Syros | Underrated – part of 50 Walks. Coastal paths around Ano Syros, old Catholic village, down to Galissas and Kini. More cultural, less wild, with villages and sea views. |
| Antiparos | Easy loop from Soros golden beach to Agios Georgios and Despotiko view. Flat, sandy, with ancient paths. Part of 50 Walks – good for a half-day away from Paros crowds. |
| Mykonos | Not famous for hiking but included in 50 Walks – coastal paths to Fokos and Mirsini beaches away from party beaches. Rocky, windy, surprisingly quiet north. |
| Folegandros | Stunning cliff walk from Chora to Ano Mera viewpoint and down to Agali pebble and Agios Nikolaos emerald boat-only. Like Sifnos – cobbled, exposed, with huge drops. |
| Karpathos | Pine-forest walk from Apella emerald beach up to Kyra Panagia church viewpoint, then to Achata pebble. Steep, dramatic, like Amorgos ridge. |
| Nisyros | Volcano crater walk – from Mandraki up to Stefanos crater, then down to Pachia Ammos black sand and Lies thermal mixing. Short, otherworldly. |
| Astypalaia | Butterfly island – Livadi to Vatses pebble emerald and Kaminakia golden coves, with views of both sides of island. Undulating, like Old Byzantine path. |
| Patmos | Monastery to dunes – Chora monastery cobbled mule path down to Psili Ammos golden dunes. Historic and beautiful. |
| Leros | Harbor to beach walks – Alinda Blue Flag along bay to Xerokampos and WWII tunnels at Lakki. Easy, Parikia Bay-style out-and-back. |
| Thassos | Marble to lagoon – Marble Beach white marble quarry to Aliki ancient quarries and Giola natural pool rock lagoon. Coastal, turquoise water below. |
| Evia | Chiliadou white pebble waterfall beach to Thapsa golden beach – forest, river, beach mix. More mainland feel, green. |
| Kythira | Natural arch hike – Kaladi pebble emerald with arch to Kapsali. Steep descent, rewarding swim. |
| Rhodes | Interior trails around Profitis Ilias – olive groves, Byzantine chapels, like Tragea Valley. Wealth of trails away from resorts. |
Who it suits and why
Best for travellers who want trail by morning beach by afternoon. Best Greek islands for hiking suit ridge walkers, gorge fans and slow village hoppers – headed by Crete for Samaria Gorge 16km 1200m down, White Mountains and E4 coast from Chania to Loutro, Andros for Andros Route 100km certified trail Chora to sea with stone villages, Naxos for Mount Zas 1004m highest Cyclades summit 2 to 3 hours and Kouros Trail Filoti to Apollo, Corfu for Corfu Trail 220km north to south olive groves and Venetian forts, Amorgos for Chora to Aegiali Big Blue spine and Hozoviotissa monastery cliff path 300 steps, Milos for Sarakiniko to Mandrakia lava coast and Plaka crater rim, Karpathos for Diafani to Olympos mountain ridge and Saria boat plus, plus Lefkada for Skaros to Englouvi plateau and Meganisi view. Ideal if you want marked trails, tavernas mid route and swim finish.
Less suited to those who want flat sunbed to bar only. If you want Mykonos Paradise bed to club till 6am and Malia strip 50 bars till 4am, hiking islands with 6am starts, 400 to 800m ascent, scree and goat bells will feel too steep and early.
What to keep in mind
Best hiking islands shine shoulder season not high summer. Crete, Andros, Naxos, Corfu, Amorgos, Milos, Karpathos, Lefkada via Preveza have direct UK flights 3 hours 10 to 4 hours 30 May to October or via Athens 45 to 75 minutes, ferries Piraeus 2 to 9 hours 40 to 95 euro. Best months March to June and September to November 15 to 26 degrees with flowers and green, July to August 30 to 36 degrees hike only 6am to 10am. Samaria open May to October fee 5 euro bus boat extra 30 euro, Andros Route red white marks 8 to 15km stages, Corfu Trail 10 to 20km stages, Zas 600m gain.
On the ground plan early and light. Carry 1.5 to 2L water, trail shoes not flip flops for Milos lava Andros slate, offline map AllTrails or Maps.me, hat and 30 SPF, cash 5 to 15 euro for taverna. Base Chania or Sfakia Crete for gorges, Chora Andros for Route, Filoti Naxos for Zas, Paleokastritsa Corfu for Trail, Katapola Amorgos for ridge, Pollonia Milos for coast, Pigadia Karpathos for north, Nidri Lefkada for interior. Hire car 25 to 45 euro day for trailheads or local bus 2 to 5 euro and go May early June or late September October for cool air, empty trails and taverna tables versus August full and dusty.
Sources
- Wealth of walking trails Naxos Santorini Paros – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Tragea Valley Naxos 10km Cliff Trail Santorini Old Byzantine Lefkes Paros – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Amorgos ancient circular path Iraklia 80 Koufonisi clear turquoise – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Several walking trails Panayia St John largest cave Cyclades dramatic stalactites – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Paros Park secluded northern cape away from human interventions – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/paros-park
- Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/kostos-circuit
- Parikia Bay 3.7-mile out-and-back – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/parikia-bay
- 10 Best trails Mount Zas – https://www.alltrails.com/greece/naxos
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Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by admin