Travelling to Greece & the Greek Islands

If you are looking for award-winning beaches, amazing cuisine and magnificent natural beauty, Greece and the Greek islands could be perfect for your next holiday. Read our top picks, and start planning your getaway in Greece.

Halkidiki

The peninsula of Halkidiki in northern mainland Greece often gets overlooked as the crowds head straight for the more famous Greek islands. While this means some are missing out on a treat of turquoise skies, white sand and the crystalline waters of the Aegean sea, the plus side is that the award-winning beaches aren't overcrowded and many are still holiday-brochure-quality pristine.

The land splits into three "legs" each with its own individual charms. The first, Kassandra, is nearest to Thassaloniki and has the busiest beaches of the three; middle leg Sithonia is much quieter with secret coves to escape to; the third, Mount Athos, is dominated by the imposing holy mountain and an area entirely dedicated to prayer and worship, a visit to the monasteries is a fascinating insight into the lives of the monks who live there.

While you will find some crowds in Halkidiki during peak season, it's still easy to find little pockets of peace and quiet.

Kos

This enchanting island in the Aegean Sea is overflowing with history and ancient ruins - with captivating treasures everywhere you look. The island's most famous son Hippocrates, "the father of modern medicine", is celebrated all over Kos, most notably at the Hippocrates Plane Tree, under which he is said to have taught his pupils. The most important historical site on Kos is the Asklepieion, an ancient sanatorium and temple to Asklepios, the Greek god of healing. Even Kos Town, the busiest part of the island, where the main ferry port is located, is flanked by a medieval castle and the remains of a city wall that dates back to the 4th century BC.

Kos is an island of breath-taking natural beauty, with lush valleys, huge expanses of forest and some of the best beaches in the Dodecanese. To try your hand at watersports head to Mastichari beach, a busy, sandy tourists' favourite. For something more secluded, try smaller Kamari beach which is surrounded by green cliff sides, or Thermes, a small pebbly cove with natural hot springs. You'll find some wonderful local food on Kos, with restaurant options ranging from idyllic tavernas in remote mountain villages to beach-side seafood cafes serving the freshest fish and glitzy waterfront restaurants in Kos Town.

Crete

Famed for its beaches, Crete has some of the best sandy stretches of all the Greek islands. Some highlights worth walking or driving to find include: environmentally protected Elafonisi, where the sand glows pink in some lights and water is crystal clear; Falasarna on the west coast where several beaches provide the ideal spot to watch the sun set; and Vai, a palm-fringed curve of golden sand.

Away from the beach, the wild, mountainous terrain makes for impressive scenery and the villages up in the hills are respite from the busy beaches and ideal if you want some peace. Crete proudly has its own traditions, culture and cuisine that differentiate it from the rest of Greece.

Cretan cuisine is particularly world-renowned thanks to the island's rich variety of local produce. The absolute must-try is dakos - barley rusks, softened in water or olive oil, then topped with fresh tomato and myzithra (a creamy sheep or goat's cheese) and drizzled with local olive oil.

Mykonos

The most glamorous island in the Cyclades, sun-soaked Mykonos plays host to a stylish crowd all summer long. A well-known party hotspot and celebrity hangout, world famous DJs play the clubs and beachside bars blare music. There are calmer attractions on offer though, like a day trip to the small island of Delos, where you'll discover one of the most important mythological and architectural sites in all of Greece.

These days, beaches on Mykonos get busy during high season. A young, cool crowd congregates at the famous Paradise and Super Paradise beaches, but there are some quieter ones to be found if you don't mind a trek. Lia in the south or Fokos and Mersini in the northeast are all off the beaten track and thus more peaceful. But Mykonos is all about the nightlife. Start off at a waterfront table in the Little Venice area of Mykonos Town and enjoy the spectacular sunset.

Rhodes

The largest and best known of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes is a stunning mix of sandy beaches in the east and pine forest hillsides in the west. For beaches, bars and a fortnight of sunshine, there are few better holiday options, but being Greece, of course there is a rich history to be explored too.

In the pretty town of Lindos sits the Acropolis of Lindos, a beautifully preserved site dating back to 200 BC. Rhodes old town's atmospheric tangle of ancient cobbled streets is like stepping back in time, with its mishmash of Byzantine, Turkish and Latin architecture. It's in the old town's backstreets that you'll find some fabulous tavernas offering traditional Greek fare. The island's most popular draw is Petaloudes Valley - otherwise known as Valley of the Butterflies. Between July and September, when the butterflies are out in force, so are the crowds. However, the sight of thousands of Jersey tiger moths covering the whole landscape is worth queuing for.

Santorini

Thanks to its somewhat melodramatic beginnings, Santorini does breath taking scenery particularly well. The volcanic explosion in 1450 BC that created Santorini is what gives the island its dramatic landscape - multi-coloured cliffs soar above a submerged volcanic crater and the hillsides are dotted with traditional white-cube houses.

The island is most famous for its awe-inspiring sunsets - when the sun goes down the orange glow of the mountains and the light dancing off the buildings creates one of the most astonishing sights you'll ever see. The gorgeous cliff-top village of Oia is one of the best spots to enjoy the sunset. Many hotels overlook the vast volcanic bay (the caldera) and you'll find yourself mesmerised as you look down and watch ships crisscross the azure waters of the Aegean. There are lots of lively tavernas all over the island and for food lovers a wealth of restaurants dishing up just-caught fish.

Zakynthos

Zakynthos - or by its Italian name, Zante, as it's also sometimes known - has been a staple of the Greek tourism scene for decades. It's the most southerly spot in the Ionian islands, off the west coast of Greece.

Many holidaymakers looking for a lively atmosphere head for the main resort of Laganas to the south, with its busy bars and long sandy beaches where, if you time it right, you may come across the island's most famous inhabitants - the endangered loggerhead sea turtles who come onshore to nest on the beaches. For those seeking to get away from it all, head for the west coast where you will find nature reserves and dramatic cliffs offering prime positions to watch the spectacular sunsets. You can fly directly from the UK using Zakynthos airport, or arrive by sea via the bustling port of Zakynthos Town.