I’m back from a week of island hopping in Greece! We started in Mykonos and hopped across three islands, finishing in Santorini. After a similar trip in Croatia last year, we wanted to see how the Cyclades compared. If you’re looking for a holiday with beautiful views, delightful food, welcoming people, and exciting things to do – this is the trip for you!
As with all my travel reviews, I’m going to share my itinerary with you, and also highlight the best discoveries, and some tips to make the most of your time. We kept to a tight timeline – seven days, four islands, three ferries – but there’s plenty more to discover, so I’ll highlight a few extra options along the way.
How To Go Island Hopping in the Cyclades, Greece
Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, and for good reason. The country is steeped in history, with incredible food and friendly people. The Cyclades are a group of 33 volcanic islands in the beautiful blue Aegean sea. If you’re looking to hop between islands, I recommend flying into either Mykonos and Santorini, as they have the most international airports, and hopping between the two destinations. The most popular islands include:
- Ios
- Milos
- Mykonos
- Naxos
- Paros
- Santorini
After our previous impromptu island-hopping trip in Croatia, we were much more prepared this time round! We made an itinerary of the islands we wanted to visit first, then booked our accommodation, and then our ferries. I recommend using Ferryhopper, which works out cheaper than going to each ferry operator directly. You’ll be able to compare ferry times and prices, and decide on the most convenient timings. It also gives you scannable QR codes which will gain you admission to each boat without needing to print tickets.
Which Islands Are Worth Visiting in The Cyclades?
With 33 islands to choose from, the Cyclades have a lot on offer. On our trip, we wanted to relax at beach clubs, visit fine dining establishments, and see the sites – both historic and natural. As two adult women travelling together, we also wanted to avoid too many family-oriented places. For us, Mykonos, Paros, Milos and Santorini were the most appealing islands. Naxos seems to be a better island for families, while Antiparos, Ios, and Folegandros are smaller options which would have made great additions had we had more time. Saying that, there is something to do wherever you go – it’s just about doing the research beforehand!
7-Day Itinerary For Island Hopping In The Cyclades
Day 1: Mykonos
On our first day, we flew into Mykonos airport in the early afternoon. The airport is a 10 minute drive from Chora, and we stayed in the Old Town, which was another 10 minute walk with suitcases. The Old Town is a maze of footpaths, and it took us a little while to find our stay, but once we did we could freshen up and then get ready for dinner. From there, we walked to La Petite Maison, a French fine-dining restaurant, and enjoyed live music while eating our dinner and overlooking the city!
Day 2: Mykonos → Paros
For our first full day in the Cyclades, we decided to spend it at beach club in Mykonos, and travel late to Paros. I popped out in the morning to get coffee and croissants from Papu Café before taking a pre-booked taxi to Nammos Beach Club. If there are designer beach clubs, this is one! The beach club sits within Nammos Village, a incredibly well-pruned shopping district full of designer boutiques and home to the Nammos Hotel. At the beach club, the decor was designed by Giorgio Armani himself, and I have to say the staff really provided a five-star service. Be sure to enquire before arriving, and get there at the specified time.
Top-Rated Beach Clubs on Mykonos
- Nammos: 360€ for two sun-loungers in a very glamorous location.
- Principote: 300€ for two sun-loungers, set along Panormos Beach.
- Scorpios: 240€ for two sun-loungers, sat along from Nammos.
- Elia Resort: 80€ for two sun-loungers, slightly further from Chora than the rest.
After our day of sun, sea, and serious glitz, we freshened up and took a taxi to Mykonos port to board our ferry. Tip: Be sure to specify which port when booking your taxi – there is both an ‘old’ and ‘new’ port. Here, we boarded our first boat and rode relatively smooth seas to Paros, landing at 10pm. In Greece, mealtimes are a bit later in the day, so we were still able to find a place for dinner and eat around 11pm, before heading to bed.
Day 3: Paros
On our third day of the trip, we found ourselves battling against the etesians – strong, dry winds that blow across the Cycladic islands from May to September. In the city of Paros, this wasn’t so noticeable, but after getting a great breakfast smoothie and iced coffee at Menta, and found ourselves quite literally blown away by the winds. On our way to our pre-booked boat tour, we were alerted that it had been cancelled, and honestly for good reason. The seas were choppy, and after a quick swim at Aliki Beach, we decided to return to Paros Town and instead explore the nearby establishments. The day was saved by dinner – we dined at Mario Restaurant, which served traditional Greek food in an understated, elegant way.
Day 4: Paros → Milos
On our final day on Paros, we had booked another beach club, this time at Cosme. Despite the winds, we were welcomed onto our pre-booked sun-loungers (100€) directly on the beach, and were given service both on the beach and in the more shielded restaurant. I really liked this beach – a smaller, more private affair – and enjoyed reading and walking here, even in the fierce winds.
After a few hours, we packed up and took a pre-booked taxi back to Paros Port to catch our next ferry to Milos. This one was delayed by one hour (from 6:30pm to 7:30pm) to wait out the winds, and even then, was a rather uncomfortable affair on the 1-hour-45-minute journey. My friend and I slept for the most part, arriving into Adamas feeling a little green but not too bad. Tip: Take seasickness medication on your trip to avoid getting ill on the ferry. Just like Paros and Mykonos, stores and restaurants were open well into the night, so we were able to get some amenities and food before heading to bed.
Day 5: Milos
Waking up on Milos, we found the winds had died down and made way for our best day yet! We had booked another boat tour, and planned to rent an ATV to ride around the island. Tip: Pre-book your ATV and collect on the day – or you may spend the morning ringing around finding the last few available! We rented our ATV from Car Rentals Milos (80€ for the day), and were given helmets and a quick lesson before riding off to Plaka town for brunch. Here, we parked up in the free public car park before dining at Kyra. This is such a nice spot, sat out in the town square and shaded by the trees.
From here, we roamed around the city a little before heading south to Agia Kiriaki Beach for our tour. We’d booked a semi-private boat tour, and spent the afternoon and evening out on the water, swimming in hidden coves and through caves, visiting the volcanic beaches of Kleftiko and Sarakiniko, and eating dinner while watching the sun go down.
Day 6: Milos → Santorini
On our final full day island hopping in the Cyclades, we took a morning ferry to Santorini. Here, we scrambled for a taxi – go for a shared bus, where you’ll pay around 15€ each, rather than the private car we were offered for 180€! – and got to Fira for mid-afternoon. Fira and Oia seem to be the most popular places to stay on Santorini, and we loved it in Fira – it’s closer to the port, has an incredible expansive view of the islands, and is in walking distance of the iconic Three Bells. We stayed at Amelot Art Suites, which is hidden away from the busy streets and even has private outdoor hot tubs where you can enjoy the view.
After a few hours admiring the view from the hot tub, we dressed and dined at the 100-year old Aktaion Restaurant. This Greek restaurant makes the most homely food for incredibly fair prices and is well worth a visit, especially if you book and sit overlooking the lights of Santorini at night.
Day 7: Santorini
On our final morning, we enjoyed açai bowls at Galini Cafe before heading to the airport. Tip: give yourself plenty of time as service can be slow. Transfers take around 20 minutes, and you’ll need at least 1.5 hours at the airport, more if you’re checking bags. The week felt like it went so fast, but we had the most amazing time!
3 Top Tips For Island Hopping in The Cyclades
If you’re planning on island hopping in the Cyclades, these are my top tips!
1. Book your ferries in advance. We booked our ferries a few weeks ahead of our trip, and saw prices rise dramatically as it got closer to our travel time. Some travel routes – like Milos to Santorini – only had one boat per day, so be sure to check availability before confirming accommodation, too.
2. Budget according to each island. Prices vary wildly from island to island, with Mykonos and Santorini being the most expensive of the four islands we visited. Budget accordingly – spend more on these two more glamorous islands, and go for more adventures on the others. Riding the ATV on Milos was a definite highlight!
3. Travel light. My friend and I travelled with just one small suitcase and one bag each. Remember that you will be carrying these around a lot, especially onto ferries, so packing light is key!
Happy island hopping!
