Greece Vacation Spots: Top 5 Greek Islands

The second most-visited one is the Greek island of Crete. It is the largest island of the archipelago and an unrivaled destination of those who decide to set off on Greek island tours which combine relaxed-pace laid-back leisure time with active sightseeing.

The city of Heraklion is the major town of Crete, home to both its port and airport. Other adorable picture-perfect Crete towns with colorful buildings include Chania, Rethymno, and Agios Nicolaos. What's for the shores of the island, they are actually washed by several seas, including the Mediterranean on the south and the less known Sea of Crete on the north. Regardless of the part of the island, you'll get to visit, the emerald crystal clear waters will surely pleasantly surprise you! Speaking of things to see on Crete, this island is home to several well-preserved examples of the heritage of Ancient Greece. As such, the beautiful Knossos Palace is among the top Crete attractions.

The Greek island of Rhodes is another highlight which cannot be left without attention. Everything on the island seems to be transmitting a quaint and romantic feeling. It is the fourth-largest island in the country and is fairly considered among the most enchanting places to select for your vacation.

Undoubtedly, apart from endless opportunities for beach leisure, the medieval look of its cities is what makes it such a crowd-pleaser. Famed for being one of the oldest inhabited towns on the continent, the Old Town of Rhodes (up in the north of Rhodes Island) is a place to surely pin on your map. Here you can find the historic castle, the Palace of the Grand Masters, and the Great Hospital of the Knights.

The southern part has gorgeous nature with endless serene valleys and rich vegetation, so a ride across the island can be a memorable add-on. Touching upon the regions offering the greatest accommodation and resorts in Rhodes, the eastern coast is more advanced, towns like Faliraki, Kolympia, and Lindos are the often selected spots.

Placed really close to the shores of Albania, Corfu is frequently noted as the Greek island with the best beaches (or at least one of such islands). Surrounded by the Ionian Sea, Corfu offers endless opportunities for snorkeling in its sky-blue waters, breathtaking coves, and inlets. And it's needless to say that boat rides along the coastlines are among the most favored pastimes of those relaxing on the island.

The architecture of the island was in much influenced by the trends of Italy's Venice, as well as England and France, all giving the towns a very distinctive European look that mixes different styles from Baroque to Renaissance. The island is home to numerous palaces with marble exteriors and ornate promenades, including the fabulous Liston Promenade.

If the town of Corfu caught your eye (it is the main point of arrival, by the way), there's much to see.

Also called Kerkyra, its cozy old town, Spianada Square, the Old and New Fortresses, and several charming churches, such as Panagia Vlacherna, and monasteries, are the Corfu sights to definitely be seen. For great views of the natural and city landscapes, consider saving some time for rising to the top of the historic Angelokastro Castle.

If you look on the Greek islands map, the vast choice of the spots to visit might be overwhelming at first. Below, we have listed the top locations to consider putting on your bucket list, yet before switching to the top-picks, let's figure out when's the best time to go to Greece and its fabulous isles.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the summer months of June, July, and August are the tourists' most favored ones, and, therefore, these three are definitely not the greatest choice for you. For starters, weather conditions of Greek summers promise a lot of hot burning sun with daytime thermometer marks jumping above 30°C (86°F and more). Not to mention the endless crowds of tourists, trafficking all the petite streets, buzzing around every highlight attraction, and jamming the nicest places to eat. Plus, during this peak season, the prices skyrocket for basically everything, meaning many things, including souvenirs, will be overpriced.

Based on the years of experience in organizing tours to Europe, we can surely state that the greatest months to consider for your Greece trip (especially if the isles are on your travel radar) are late April and May, as well as September and early October. These are the months during which you can avoid the tourist rush and still enjoy pleasant weather (as there are about 300 days of sunshine in Greece per year). To find out more about wonderful destinations of Greece you can by following 10 Best Things To Do In Greece.Now let's dive into the list of the most iconic islands in Greece!