Travel Slowly, Travel Warmly
After 35 years of island-hopping in Greece, I've learned that the best trips happen when you stop rushing. Book your first legs, then leave room for spontaneity. The ferry schedule becomes your friend, not your master.
These are the islands I return to again and again - not as a tourist, but as a guest.
Mykonos: Beyond the Reputation
Yes, Mykonos has the nightlife and the crowds. But spend at least two days and you'll discover another side. The whitewashed Chora at dusk is pure magic. The inland village of Ano Mera is quiet and authentic.
Take an early morning boat to ancient Delos - the sacred island where no one is allowed to sleep. Walking among 2,500-year-old ruins with the Aegean wind in your hair is unforgettable.
Paros & Milos: A Perfect Pair
Paros is lively and stylish without overwhelming you. The harbor town of Naoussa is picturesque but real - fishermen still mend nets beside the restaurants. The beaches are excellent.
Pair it with volcanic Milos for extraordinary natural forms - sea caves, colored cliffs, and fishing villages with distinctive carved boathouses called syrmata.
Naxos with Koufonissi or Amorgos
Naxos is generous in every way - the largest of the Cyclades, with exceptional local cuisine. Try the potatoes, the cheese, the citron liqueur. The interior villages feel untouched by time.
From Naxos, escape to tiny Koufonissi for crystalline coves and barefoot simplicity. Or choose dramatic Amorgos, with cliffs that plunge into the sea and the clifftop monastery of Hozoviotissa.
Crete: A World of Its Own
Crete deserves five nights minimum - it's not an island, it's a continent. My son studies medicine in Heraklion, so I know it well now.
Chania's Venetian harbor is unforgettable. Rethymno offers easy access to archaeology. And the food - Crete approaches cooking with philosophy. The olive oil here is some of the finest in the world.
How to Travel
Book ferries through Ferryhopper or at the port. Allow buffer days for weather delays. Carry cash for small islands. Learn a few Greek words - they open hearts.
Most importantly, understand yourself as a guest. You're not just visiting places - you're entering into centuries of life that continue with or without you. That humility transforms travel.
