Greek island holidays

A firm favourite when it comes to top holiday destinations in the Greek islands, Kos has some of the country’s most spectacular scenery and a seemingly endless choice of beaches. The island has more than 290 kilometres of coastline, giving you everything from secluded coves to superstar golden sandy beaches to choose from for your sunbathing or water sports. Those looking to journey into Greece’s past will enjoy Kos’ selection of ancient places of interest including the Asclepion, an ancient temple, the medieval Neratzia Castle and the Tree of Hippocrates.

One of Greece’s most popular holiday destinations, Corfu is ideal for taking time away from the bustle of everyday life and unwinding with the simple pleasures. The island is steeped in authentic Greek culture and heritage, and is the lushest of the Ionian Islands with plenty of scenic coves and traditional fishing villages. If you’re looking for a destination that blends tradition and heritage with modern amenities and world class tourist attractions, then a Corfu holiday might just be the ticket!

The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is also the 5th largest island in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to its huge size, there’s a staggering 650 miles of coastline to explore, from tourist-friendly super beaches to quiet little coves worthy of a postcard. With a history going back more than 4,000 years, many of the island’s top attractions are historic places of interest including the Minoan-inhabited Heraklion area and Rethymnon’s Old Town. Rounding out an already stellar roll call of attractions are natural marvels like the epic Samaria Gorge, cementing Crete’s status as a top European holiday destination.

There’s plenty to like about Santorini, from world-renowned sunsets to traditional whitewashed villages. One of the most picturesque Greek islands, a volcanic eruption caused the centre of Santorini to collapse into the sea in 1450BC, creating a spectacular steep crater called a caldera. The caldera is one of the island’s best-loved sights and can be enjoyed from the island’s clifftops. With its scenic vineyards and rustic buildings, the island embodies the best of traditional Greek heritage and culture, making holidays to Santorini increasingly popular. Attracting around 1.5 million tourists each year, Santorini is on many traveller’s must-see lists for its picturesque panoramas, romantic sunsets and dramatic dark volcanic beaches.

With a stunning landscape dotted with traditional villages, imposing mountains and lush green olive groves, there’s good reason that Zante was named the Flower of the Orient by the Venetians. With expansive natural landscapes, the island has plenty to do for outdoor lovers, including trekking routes and scuba diving. Zante holidays have something to suit everybody’s tastes, ranging from historic ruins and ancient monasteries to nature reserves and a fascinating natural history museum. You can experience some once-in-a-lifetime treasures here, like diving with sea turtles and seeing rare Platonia deer.

Holidays to the Greek island of Rhodes are snapped up quicker than hotcakes, thanks to the island’s beautiful beaches, laid back lifestyle and fascinating historical sites. If you love beaches, you’ll love Rhodes, as the entire eastern side of the island is an almost-uninterrupted stretch of sand. When it comes to history, you can’t get much better than a holiday in Rhodes, with historic places of interest including the Grand Master Palace, an impressive collection of artefacts at the Archaeological Museum and the monastery of Filerimos. If you prefer the natural world, then a visit to Rhodes Aquarium or the Valley of Butterflies is highly unlikely to disappoint.