Regional Guides

Samos is a one of a kind island in the Eastern Aegean. It is known for its lush greenery, quaint villages, and stunning beaches. Uniquely, Samos is very close to the Turkish coast, so there are daily ferries to Kusadasi in Turkey. Samos is also a great place to hop to the nearby islands of Ikaria and Fourni.

Elafonissos (sometimes spelled Elafonisos) is a tiny island in the southern Peloponnese that is not far from Monemvasia. It is known for its complete relaxation. The name means “island of the deer.” It has Carribean-like beaches with gold sand and clear waters. Simos and Lefki beach are well-known as the top beaches of the island. The evening time is a great time to head to town for a taverna dinner and a drink as you watch the sunset. The island should not be confused with Elafonisi, which is an even smaller island off the west coast of Crete.

The ferries of Greece are like a wonder of the world. During the summer, they connect dozens of Greek islands, bringing millions of travelers to their destination. The boats are well-maintained and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each island group has their own ferry companies, and some ferries also let you take your car.

Greece has thousands of islands, and its coastline is over 13,000 kilometers long. It’s no wonder that Greece has a very extensive network of lighthouses. They were first built in the 15th century, and the first lighthouse of the modern Greek state was in Aegina in 1829. Although many of Greece’s lighthouses were destroyed in the 2nd World War, many were since rebuilt by the Hellenic Navy. Today, there are 120 lighthouses still standing in Greece. Each one is unique and many of them are listed as Historic Monuments by the Greek Ministry of Culture. In this article, we display some of Greece’s most famous and picturesque lighthouses.

Have you heard of the island of Lipsi? It’s one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese, and it is known as one of the most sustainable Greek islands. In Lipsi, both the municipality and local residents have agreed to discourage the building of swimming pools in order to stop water waste.

The gem of Chrissi (Chrysi) island is off the south coast of Crete. It is a protected ecosystem within the Natura 2000 initiative. It is known for its natural beauty, white sand beaches, and turquoise water that is ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Spinalonga is an 8.5-hectare island in the Gulf of Mirabello, located close to the town of Plaka on the island of Crete. You may recognize the name of the island from Victoria Hislop’s record-selling book The Island (To Nisi). The rocky outcropping was once used as a military base during Venetian and Ottoman rule. The medieval citadel there is a testament to this phase of history. In 1904, the Cretans pushed out the Turks from Spinalonga, and the island was turned into a colony for lepers. In 1913, when Crete was added to the Greek nation, all people with the disease were sent to Spinalonga.