The Greek Odyssey

One of the things in your “Must Do List” is to experience the Greek Island Hopping Experience while in Greece.

Imagine yourself being surrounded by turquoise waters, white-washed houses, scattered antiquities, and lazy seaside tavernas, and you are only at the tip of what the whole experience has in store for you. But with so many islands to choose from, the hardest part of your trip is to figure out which island to go to.

Our guide to the islands can help you figure out which one is right for you.

1. The hands-down star island is definitely Santorini. With its cliff-hugging architecture, crater excursions, Akrotiri archaeology, and toe-scalding black sand beaches, Santorini is a delightful destination. The town of Fira is for young barhoppers, while Ia is a lot calmer. But don't expect to enjoy that perfect Cycladic sunset alone---the island draws crowds.

2. Party Isles. The midnight oil burns especially hot all summer on some of the islands. Ios and Kos harbors cater to partying college-age crowds. On Kos, giant club Fashion lures an international crowd with huge TV screens outside its flashy outdoors bar. Meanwhile, pricier Mykonos remains a super paradise for Athenian and international socialites. Fashion-conscious vacationers don't panic---there are plenty of places to find the perfect chic outfit in which to be seen. Nearby Paros, a haven for windsurfers, stays up all night too.

3. I Want to Be Alone. If you prefer privacy, many teeny isles beckon. Fourni, east of Ikaria island, is a calm sanctuary with nice beaches. Gavdos, south of Crete, quietly boasts Agios Ioannis beach. Though Anafi, off of Santorini, is dense with traffic, the island has tranquil spots. Paxi, across from resort town Parga, and Alonissos, in the Sporades, also fall into this category. You can rent rooms on all of these islands, and even villas, but you'll find fewer restaurants and less public transportation.

4. Paradise Found. Tinos, with its 800 churches and sandy beaches, is a major pilgrimage point for the Virgin Mary's holiday each August 15. Conversations often turn theological on hip Patmos, where St. John the Theologian was visited by apocalyptic visions.

5. Pebbles or Sand? If you need to find beautiful beaches in a hurry, Naxos and Milos have lots of options. A lot of travelers came here to the blue waters and bleached sands of the Ionian Sea's Zakynthos and Corfu islands for decades. Nearby, lower-key Lefkada also has a host of eye-catching swimming areas. With the exception of Corfu's public beach, the beaches on these islands are free, but don't be surprised if you have to pay to rent that plastic chair and umbrella.

6. Strictly archaeology. Delos is the only island that can boast to this. No one is allowed to stay overnight on the island. So to see extensive excavations---a stunning 5th century temple, a theater that once seated 5,000 spectators---visitors are transported to and from Mykonos daily.

7. Day-tripping is easy from Athens. You can drive to huge Evia island to see fishing villages, the rocky Eastern coast, or go to one of the many great area spas. Or you can venture to careless Hydra, the beaches of Spetses, as well as popular Aegina and its imposing satellite, Angistri. Kea's isolated beaches are also not far from Athens.

8. Some of the most authentic islands are those long on shipping history and short on tourism. While this means there are fewer options for tourists, there is a strong local flavor to places like tiny Inousses, off of Chios island, and cosmopolitan Andros. The more touristy former shipping islands include Syros, with its seductive beaches and beautiful old Ermoupolis town, photogenic Symi, and Chios.

9. Boredom is not an option on big islands like Crete, Rhodes, and Lesbos. Crete could be a country in itself, with its Minoan remains, Samaria Gorge, and wonderful beaches and villages. Beyond Rhodes' walled-in old city, you can visit the mountain interior, the Valley of the Butterflies, and ancient Lindos. Lesbos' roads wind past picture-perfect beaches, a petrified forest, wetlands and quaint villages.

10. Beam me up. Some islands' geology makes them feel downright extraterrestrial. This is true of Nissyros, with its strange volcanic pit, and Amorgos, with its overwhelming cliffs. Don't be fooled by the bars and beaches, Antiparos is no mini-Paros. It houses a spectacular stalactite and stalagmite cave. You enter an opening on Mt. Agios Ioannis, then descend down flight after flight into what feels like the inside of a hollowed out cathedral.

How to get there
Currently there is no direct flight from Singapore to Greece (Athens) and the lowest airfare can be in the range of $850 onwards without tax. Several airlines ply this route with connecting flights such as Thai Airways, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Qantas and etc.

From Athens there are 2 ways on how you can get into one of the Greek Islands such as Mykonos or Santorini. First option is to take a ferry from Athens (Piraeus Port) to one of the islands. Boats fares depend on the type of vessel and the time of the year you are visiting the islands. Or another option is to fly from Athens Airport (Thessaloniki Airport) to Mykonos or Santorini where regular flights are scheduled especially during summer where the traveling time can be reduced dramatically.