You can do some incredible Greek island hopping from Santorini! Here’s everything you need to know about these other unique Greek islands near Santorini. Whenever I visit Santorini, I try to see another Greek island if I have the time. I mean…why not?
Santorini is not only a magical place to spend your holidays or honeymoon, but it is also a great connection hub that you can use as your base to visit some other amazing Greek Islands.
These are the best islands near Santorini:
- Mykonos
- Naxos
- Folegandros
- Anafi
- Ios
- Milos
- Paros
Greek islands are awesome, and visiting more than one in your holidays is highly advisable if money and time allow it. In other words, this is what we call… Greek island hopping! With more than 10 direct flights per day (especially between April and November) from all over Europe, Santorini allows you to visit some less touristy but probably equally beautiful Greek islands.
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From Santorini, you can visit all of the Cyclades islands like Mykonos, Naxos, Folegandros, Ios, Anafi and each one has its exceptional beauty…so even-though I personally love Santorini more than anything, I do admit for example that Mykonos’ and Ios’ beaches are a-m-a-z-i-n-g and the food of Naxos is out-of-this-world…
VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW
- Unfortunately, it is very difficult logistically to visit the islands on the western side of Greece, such as Corfu, Zante (Zakynthos), or Kefalonia (located in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece). These islands are on the opposite side of Greece, and you would have to go to Athens first and then take another flight to those islands. Not easy. You would need at least 1 day of travelling, and you will spend too much time and money.
- Also, I DO NOT recommend visiting Crete or Rhodes from Santorini. It is 100% doable, but Crete and Rhodes are huge islands, and you need to dedicate at least a week to each one. A day trip or two to three nights is not worth it because you would spend too much money and won’t even see 5% of these amazing big Greek islands.
- Timetables for ferries are not fixed every year, so times and schedules might change. The Ferryhopper website provides you with an updated schedule.
So, the islands near Santorini that you can visit with a ferry boat are:
1. MykonosIsland
This is what I believe about Mykonos: If Santorini is a little romantic angel, then Mykonos is a sexy, dressed little devil! You can easily have the time of your life in Mykonos (…and in Santorini), whether with your other half, with your crazy girlfriends who take Instagram selfies 24/7, with your buddies, or even alone!
However, compared to Santorini, Mykonos has less to see and do, so your days in Mykonos will consist of a beach or swimming pool, cocktails, food, a club/bar/dinner, and repeat…and that’s fine because you are on holiday!
However, I do have to admit that Mykonos’s sandy beaches are some of the best you can find in Greece. However, everything is super expensive in Mykonos, so you may have to pay a lot to sit on those awesome sunbeds (from 5 euros to 1000 euros in some of the most exclusive celebrity-spot beaches!!).How to Get from Santorini to Mykonos
The best way to get from Mykonos to Santorini is by a 2-2.5-hour ferry. The Ferryhopper website has timetables and prices for ferries.
You can also take a direct flight (more expensive) from Mykonos to Santorini, which takes about 20 minutes. However, I do not recommend this as you will spend too much time at the airports, and by the time you arrive in Santorini, you will already be in Mykonos.
Read Also the Detailed Guide: How To Get From Santorini to Mykonos
Best Hotels in Mykonos
Mykonos has some of the best hotels in Greece (even better than Santorini in many cases). I dare to say that Hotels in Mykonos are slightly more luxurious than the ones in Santorini, and in many cases, the villas you would find on the island are much bigger and more impressive. Here is my list of the best places to stay in Mykonos (spoiler alert: wow!):
2. Naxosisland
However, to be honest with you, Naxos town is not an extremely picturesque Greek island town. You’d better head off to the amazing beaches and the awesome mainland villages (like Apeiranthos village…one of the most picturesque and different Greek Cycladic villages).
I’m literally in love with Apeiranthos village… (Here it is on Google Maps.) Naxos has amazing long sandy beaches (like Agia Anna beach) and is a fantastic destination for foodies.
I had the best Greek food of my life in Naxos (after my mother’s food)! Local produce includes good-quality lamb, beef, and, of course, the world-famous Naxos Graviera cheese.Don’t leave the island if you don’t try this amazing gruyere-like yellow cheese. It melts in your mouth! Naxos offers fantastic opportunities for watersports as well: waterskiing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, as its beaches are ideal with the strong winds of the Greek islands:
Naxos is very well organized, with B&Bs and hotels. I definitely suggest a two, to three-day stay on the island because there is so much to see and explore.
In case you are island-hopping, then you need to stay more than 1 night in Naxos because the island is pretty big (one of the biggest islands in Greece, actually), and you need to rent a car or a scooter to move around, as the distances are not short. Also, make sure you visit the amazing mountain village of Apeiranthos and DO NOT LEAVE THE ISLAND if you don’t eat at one of the best restaurants in Greece: Axiotissa (find it on Google Maps).How To Get From Santorini To Naxos
Naxos is about 2 hours by the slow ferry from Santorini and about 1 hour by the fast ferry. I do recommend taking the Blue Star Ferry (there is one that takes you from Santorini to Naxos and the other way around, every day).
If you want to check all the timetables or even book your ferry ticket to Naxos (which you have to pick up at the port anyway – that’s the Greek law…), you can visit the Ferryhopper website (or you can just check the timetables). There is no flight between Naxos and Santorini.
Best Hotels in Naxos
Naxos is a pretty big island with hundreds of available accommodations. As with every location outside Santorini and Mykonos, DO NOT expect the luxury and servicesyou will find in those other two islands. However, the following hotels are very good and very highly rated. These are the Best Hotels in Naxos:
3. Folegandros island
Folegandros has kept its remarkable beauty. The Chora of Folegandros (the capital town in the Greek islands, which is always called “Chora”), built on a sheer cliff, is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque among all the Greek islands. It’s really cute, to be honest (not like Oia, though…).
The beaches of Folegandros won’t disappoint you either, but they are generally difficult to reach (mainly by a small boat or through rocky roads). The great thing about Folegandros is that it’s fantastic for hiking, as the views are breathtaking:
How To Get From Santorini To Folegandros
Folegandros is not that close (as Anafi island is, for example…) to Santorini, so I’d suggest spending a night there (or 2…) instead of visiting as a day trip from Santorini. And to be honest, there are more things to do and see in Folegandros than in Anafi (but fewer than the things you can do and see in Mykonos and Naxos, for example). Folegandros is about 3 hours away from Santorini by ferry and 1.5 hours away with a speedboat (though that’s a remarkably more expensive option).
Travel agencies at Fira in Santorini or Santorini’s main Port (Athinios) can book your tickets and tell you the timetables of the available ferries when you are there. It’s super simple: you pop in at a travel agent in Fira (there are hundreds of them, so that you won’t miss them), ask for the timetables for the ferries to Folegandros, and that’s it. Alternatively, you can always book everything online at the Ferryhopper website, which will also give you all the available ferries for the route Santorini-Folegandros-Santorini.
Best Hotels in Folegandros
Folegandros has recently added some excellent hotels, making it an even more attractive destination to spend a few days or more there. These are the Best Hotels in Folegandros:
4. Anafi island
Don’t expect luxurious hotels with pools and fancy restaurants. Anafi is the wild side of the Greek islands, so you should visit it.
The myth says that Anafi is the home island of the famous Argonauts. It is a true gem…so go there before things change!
Anafi is probably the only island where you can have a decent day trip from Santorini, as there are not that many things to see and do, to be honest, but it’s perfect for a day trip to a nice beach. So, if you are island hopping, you don’t need to spend 2-3 days in Anafi. If you want, you can spend 1 night, but even so, I wouldn’t spend one of my precious nights in Anfi, to be honest. If you are considering staying in Anafi for more days, you will miss out on the things you can do in Santorini because Anafi is a quiet and small.
How To Get From Santorini To Anafi
There are frequent ferry connections to Anafi from Santorini. Any travel agency in Fira (the capital) in Santorini can tell you the ferry schedules and book you a ticket (or you can just check them and book them yourself at Ferryhopper).
It only takes1.5-2 hours for the ferry from Santorini to get you to Anafi’s little and picturesque port of Agios Nikolaos. There is usually one ferry every day departing from Santorini early in the morning (super early…like 4 a.m.), which is good because you’ll have the whole day in Anafi. Book your ferry tickets to Anafi (or check timetables) on Ferryhopper.
Best Hotels in Anafi
You will not find the luxury of Santorini, but these are the Best Hotels in Anafi:
5. Ios island
I never understood why. It’s an island with incredible beauty, and its golden sandy beaches are some of the best in Greece. Seriously…
Though I have to say that the island is mainly more appealing to younger people (up to 30 years old, probably), this shouldn’t stop you from visiting Ios and exploring its amazing beauty. Ios is very well organised, with B&Bs and hotels, and I’d suggest a 2-3 day stay on the island if you decide to visit it.
How To Get From Santorini To Ios
Ios is about 40-45 minutes away by ferry from Santorini (check ferry timetables and prices on the Ferryhopper website). The journey is quick and costs about 30-35 euros (one way). I know…expensive…
Best Hotels in Ios
Ios has some really good hotels. While not to the level of luxury and services that you would find in Santorini or Mykonos, the Ios hotels are awe-inspiring.
These are the Top Hotels in Ios:
- Ios Palace: Beautiful setup with a massive swimming pool next to the famous Mylopotas beach in Ios. Great services and a Margarita Bar that serves the longest list of margaritas in Europe!
- Liostasi Hotel & Suites: Designed to overlook the town of Ios, Liostasi offers world-class services and amenities, including the island’s biggest swimming pool.
- Levantes Ios Boutique Hotel: This unique boutique hotel is 10 minutes from the famous sandy Mylopotas beach. Some of the rooms offer their private swimming pool overlooking the beach!
- Island House Hotel (Ios): This is a value for money option for Mylopotas beach, as you get a lot for what you pay! A massive swimming pool and clean, decent rooms.
CONCLUSION
So, these are the best islands near Santorini: Mykonos, Naxos, Folegandros, Ios, and Anafi. If you have time for only one island, let it be Mykonos, as it’s worth it with its amazing beaches and the celebrity vibes.
If you want a more relaxing and quiet 1-2 day trip (especially with family and kids), visit Naxos or Ios. You can also visit Milos and Paros, though it might be more challenging as they are slightly further away from the ferry, and the times usually don’t allow that (check the timetables on Ferryhopper).
Anafi is the only island you can do a day trip to from Santorini. Any other islands near Santorini are worth at least 1 night of stay, otherwise you will waste too much time on the ferry boats and less on the island itself. The other important thing to remember is that visiting Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, or Kefalonia will be very difficult if you have Santorini as your base for island hopping.
It isn’t easy, as you must go through Athens and take a flight or another ferry boat. Also, bear in mind that these islands are all quite big (compared to Santorini) and you should spend at least a week on each one, as there are so many things to see and do. Happy island hopping!