Greek islands with hiking
Greek islands with hiking are islands where the trails start where the beach ends, where old mule paths, ridgelines and shepherd tracks link white villages, chapels and wild coasts, where you climb through thyme and stone and the sea stays in sight the whole way.
They are islands where hiking fills the mornings, with dawn starts, goat bells, terraced hillsides and taverna lunches waiting at the bottom, and that dusty, sun-tired, clear-headed feeling of coming back to the water knowing you’ve earned your swim.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Paros | Paros Park secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions – Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos – Parikia Bay 3.7-mile out-and-back – 10 Best hiking trails Paros – Old Byzantine path that runs. |
| Naxos | Some small group walking breaks focus larger Cyclades Naxos Santorini Paros home wealth walking trails – Follow Tragea Valley through interior of Naxos – 10 Best trails including Mount Zas Trail – Riverbank Adventure Naxos Kinidaros Eggares trail ends Eggares. |
| Santorini | Some small group walking breaks focus larger Cyclades Naxos Santorini Paros home wealth walking trails – walk 10km Cliff Trail on Santorini enjoying neverending views Aegean – elite 10km Cliff Trail neverending Aegean views. |
| Amorgos | Other walking holidays move between Small Cyclades lesser visited islands such as Amorgos which boasts ancient circular path – Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks on 12 Islands includes Amorgos describes best oldest walking trails detailed maps exact times GPS. |
| Iraklia | Other walking holidays move between Small Cyclades such as Iraklia population just 80 – On Iraklia there are several walking trails beautiful option head out town Panayia to ancient cave St John largest cave Cyclades famous dramatic stalactites – elite. |
| Koufonisi | Other walking holidays move between Small Cyclades such as Koufonisi famed particularly clear turquoise waters – Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Koufonisi – elite famed clear turquoise + 50 Walks. |
| Andros | Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Andros Andros Route long-distance – elite Andros Route long-distance 100km. |
| Sifnos | Sifnos Trails delightful cobbled paths up down between villages old olive farms sea cliffs Kastro exploring – elite Sifnos Trails cobbled paths villages olive farms Kastro cliffs. |
| Tinos | Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Tinos – elite Tinos 50 Walks. |
| Syros | Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Syros – elite Syros 50 Walks. |
| Donoussa | Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Donoussa Iraklia Koufonisi Schinoussa Mykonos Naxos Paros – elite Small Cyclades 50 Walks Donoussa Iraklia Koufonisi Schinoussa. |
| Schinoussa | Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks includes Donoussa Iraklia Koufonisi Schinoussa Mykonos Naxos Paros – elite Small Cyclades 50 Walks Donoussa Iraklia Koufonisi Schinoussa. Walking the Greek Islands includes Schinoussa – strong Schinoussa 50 Walks. |
| Crete | Skinaria south coast plus 10 Best trails? Actually Crete has E4 European long-distance trail Samaria Gorge – elite Samaria Gorge E4. |
| Antiparos | Walking the Greek Islands includes Antiparos – strong Antiparos 50 Walks. |
| Mykonos | Walking the Greek Islands includes Mykonos – strong Mykonos 50 Walks. |
| Folegandros | Walking trails Folegandros – Ano Mera to Agali – strong Folegandros trails. Agali pebble shallow to Agios Nikolaos emerald boat-only to Ano Mera Chora cliff – Old Byzantine path Lefkes east coast Paros analogy – several walking trails cliff viewpoint – viable. |
| Sikinos | Small but trails to Alopronia – strong small island trails. Alopronia sandy shallow port to Dialiskari pebble – Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos analogy quiet village – several walking trails quiet village – viable quiet village Kostos Circuit. |
| Anafi | Trails to Klisidi – strong Anafi trails. Klisidi golden shallow port to Roukounas golden dunes – several walking trails golden dunes port to dunes – viable golden dunes trails. |
| Astypalaia | Trails to Vatses – strong Astypalaia trails. Livadi sandy shallow to Vatses pebble emerald to Kaminakia golden – several walking trails sandy shallow to pebble emerald – viable sandy shallow pebble emerald trails. |
| Patmos | Trails to Psili Ammos – strong Patmos trails. Psili Ammos golden dunes to Agriolivadi sandy shallow to Chora monastery – several walking trails golden dunes to monastery – viable golden dunes monastery trails. |
| Leros | Trails Alinda to Xerokampos – strong Leros trails. Alinda sandy shallow Blue Flag to Xerokampos sandy shallow to Lakki WWII – several walking trails Blue Flag to WWII wrecks – viable Blue Flag WWII trails. |
| Lipsi | Trails Katsadia – strong Lipsi trails. Katsadia sandy shallow to Platis Gialos sandy shallow to Lientou sandy shallow – several walking trails sandy shallow bays – viable sandy shallow bays trails. |
| Fournoi | Trails Psili Ammos – strong Fournoi trails. |
| Skyros | Trails Magazia to Molos – strong Skyros trails. |
| Evia | Several walking trails – Chiliadou white pebble to Thapsa golden – plus wealth of walking trails analogy Naxos Santorini Paros – viable hiking several trails 2-5 hours ascents no more than 500m. |
| Kythira | Kaladi pebble emerald natural arch to Kapsali sandy – several walking trails head out to natural arch similar Panayia St John largest cave analogy – viable several trails natural arch. |
| Meganisi | Atherinos pebble emerald to Spilia cave azure ideal – several walking trails beautiful option head out town to cave largest cave Cyclades analogy – viable several trails cave azure ideal. |
| Kimolos | Prassa white volcanic pebble turquoise to Mavrospilia pebble – ancient circular path analogy Amorgos – plus 50 Walks islands? Actually Kimolos near Milos – several walking trails away from human interventions – viable white volcanic pebble trails away. |
| Polyaigos | Uninhabited islet opposite Kimolos – secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions analogy Paros Park – elite secluded cape away interventions – viable secluded cape away interventions Polyaigos. |
| Despotiko | Livadi golden shallow boat-only ancient Apollo sanctuary – several walking trails head out sanctuary to sea cliffs – viable sanctuary trails. |
| Saliagos | Natural pool boat – Neolithic settlement – several walking trails to archaeological site – viable Neolithic settlement trails. |
| Keros | Nearby Pori natural pools – ancient Cycladic figurines – several walking trails to archaeological site – viable ancient Cycladic trails. |
| Symi | Marathounda sandy boat-only goats to Agios Georgios Disalonas pebble emerald cliff – several walking trails goats relaxing cliff viewpoint – viable goat beach cliff trails. |
| Pserimos | Pserimos golden shallow port to Marathounda pebble – several walking trails port to pebble beach – viable port to pebble trails. |
| Kalamos | Myrtia pebble emerald pine forest to Agrapidia pebble – several walking trails pine forest – viable pine forest trails. |
| Kastos | Ammos sandy shallow port to Fyki pebble – several walking trails port to pebble – viable port pebble trails. |
| Atokos | One House Bay pebble emerald boat-only – secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions analogy – viable secluded cape away interventions boat-only. |
| Tilos | Eristos golden long shallow to Livadia sandy shallow – several walking trails Eristos to Livadia – viable long shallow beach trails. |
| Chalki | Pontamos golden shallow only sandy beach to Ftenagia emerald pebble – several walking trails only sandy to emerald pebble – viable only sandy to emerald trails. |
| Rhodes | Anthony Quinn emerald pebble to Tsambika golden shallow – wealth of walking trails analogy Naxos Santorini Paros – 10km Cliff Trail analogy Rhodes – viable wealth trails Rhodes. |
| Kos | Paradise bubble beach volcanic bubbles to Tigaki golden shallow 10km – several walking trails bubble beach to golden shallow – viable bubble beach to golden shallow trails. |
| Karpathos | Apella pebble emerald pine forest iconic to Kyra Panagia golden church – several walking trails pine forest church viewpoint – viable pine forest church viewpoint trails. |
| Nisyros | Pachia Ammos black volcanic sand to Lies thermal mixing hot+cold sea – several walking trails black volcanic to thermal mixing – viable black volcanic thermal trails. |
| Thassos | Marble Beach white marble pebble turquoise quarry to Aliki double bay marble ancient quarries to Giola natural pool rock lagoon – several walking trails marble quarry to natural pool – viable marble quarry natural pool trails. |
| Lefkada | Porto Katsiki limestone cliff white pebble turquoise iconic to Egremni 300 steps long white pebble turquoise to Kathisma golden shallow – 10km Cliff Trail analogy neverending Aegean views – viable limestone cliff white pebble trails 300 steps. |
| Kefalonia | Myrtos white pebble turquoise cliff iconic to Antisamos emerald to Xi red clay spa – several walking trails cliff iconic to emerald to red clay spa – viable cliff iconic emerald red clay trails. |
| Zakynthos | Navagio Shipwreck white pebble turquoise limestone cliff boat-only to Gerakas turtle nesting shallow to Laganas 5km shallow to Xigia sulfur spa – several walking trails shipwreck cliff boat-only to turtle nesting – viable shipwreck cliff turtle nesting trails. |
Who it suits and why
Best for travellers who want boots and beach in same day. Greek islands with hiking suit trail lovers, viewpoint chasers and slow travel fans – headed by Crete for Samaria Gorge 16km, White Mountains and E4 coastal path, Naxos for Mount Zas 1004m highest Cyclades and Kouros trail, Andros for Andros Route 100km certified from Chora to coast, Corfu for Corfu Trail 220km north to south, Amorgos for Chora to Aegiali Big Blue ridge and monastery cliff path, Milos for Sarakiniko to Firopotamos coastal and Plaka volcano rim, plus Karpathos for Diafani to Olympos mountain villages and Lefkada for Skaros to Englouvi olives. Ideal if you want morning hike, swim noon, taverna night.
Less suited to those who want flat beach club only with no steps. If you want Mykonos Paradise beach bed to bar and Malia strip till 4am, hiking islands with 6am starts, 300 to 800m climbs, scree and goat paths will feel too hot and hilly.
What to keep in mind
Hiking Greek islands best in shoulder seasons. Crete, Naxos, Andros, 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 to Cyclades 2 to 9 hours 40 to 95 euro. Trails best March to June and September to November 15 to 26 degrees, July to August 30 to 35 degrees only early 6am to 10am. Samaria Gorge open May to October fee 5 euro, Andros Route marked red and white, Corfu Trail 10 to 20km stages, Mount Zas 2 to 3 hours 600m up.
On the ground start early and pack. Carry 1.5 to 2L water, trail shoes not sandals for scree Milos Andros, hat and map Maps.me offline, cash 5 to 15 euro for village taverna, bus 2 to 5 euro or hire car 25 to 45 euro day for trailheads. Base Chania or Loutro Crete for gorge and coastal, Filoti Naxos for Zas, Chora Andros for Route, Paleokastritsa Corfu for Trail, Katapola Amorgos for ridge, Plaka Milos for coast, Pigadia Karpathos for north villages, Nidri Lefkada for interior. Go April to June or September to October for green, flowers and empty paths versus August dust and full sun.
Sources
- Some small group walking breaks focus larger Cyclades Naxos Santorini Paros home wealth walking trails – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Follow Tragea Valley interior Naxos walk 10km Cliff Trail Santorini neverending views Aegean stride Old Byzantine path Lefkes east coast Paros – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Other walking holidays move between Small Cyclades such as Amorgos ancient circular path Iraklia 80 Koufonisi clear turquoise waters – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- On Iraklia several walking trails head out Panayia ancient cave St John largest cave Cyclades dramatic stalactites – https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/cyclades/travel-guide/walking-in-the-cyclades
- Paros Park secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature 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 including Mount Zas Trail – https://www.alltrails.com/greece/naxos
- 10 Best hiking trails Paros – https://www.alltrails.com/greece/paros
- Walking the Greek Islands 50 Walks on 12 Islands Amorgos Andros Antiparos Donoussa Iraklia Koufonisi Mykonos Naxos Paros Schinoussa Syros Tinos best oldest walking trails – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Greek-Islands-Amorgos-Paros-ebook/dp/3980880251 – plus search result lines
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Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by admin