Best Greek/Cypriot islands
Best Greek/Cypriot islands
My OH wants to go back to a greek/cypriot island as he went years ago to Faliraki and Ayia Napa but now these places have become another Ibiza!
Can anyone recommend a nice greek/cypriot island with lots to do, nice beaches, nice accomodation and shops etc but not another Ayia Napa! Ie gangs of girls and guys drinking all night. :rolleyes:
Answers:
Hi there
From my travels in Greece with a friend, i think my favourite island group is the Sporades i.e. Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.
Skiathos is the most popular of the group, some really nice beaches and plenty of resorts which are fairly busy, especially in summer. Skopelos is much quieter but a bit more picturesque, Skopleos town has a gorgeous harbour and little winding streets. Alonissos is perfect if you are really wanting to get away from it all, there was hardly anyone there when we went! It's easily the most beautiful Greek island I've visited and excellent if you like walking, but it is seriously quiet.
The drawback to Skopelos and Alonnisos is that you need to fly to Skiathos and take the ferry up to the other islands - it's dead easy to do but if you're pushed for time it might be better to visit an island with an airport. Also bear in mind that they are the most northern Greek islands so if you're after the hottest places, maybe head south. However i have to say we visited at the end of May and the weather was lovely for walking, so i would imagine that in the height of summer it would be plenty hot enough.
Rhodes is another nice island, depending on where you go (avoid Lindos like the plague! full of bright red Brits with their shirts off) We stayed in Pefkos recently which was farily quiet but had a few restaurants and bars. Rhodes town is nice to wander round and has plenty of restaurants and bars. It really depends on what you want. I would avoid Faliraki on Rhodes as that is reportedly like Ayia Napa (i've never been but travelled through on the bus and it looked grim) I lived in Greece for a short time and the kids i used to teach would just roll their eyes if you mentioned Faliraki - I think it is where that programme about drunken Brits abroad was filmed!
Kos is really nice too, and Kalymnos (a short ferry ride from Kos) is really pretty too. On Kos, I would avoid Kardmena - again its meant to be a very busy 'party' town. I've stayed in Kefalos and Tingaki, which are both nice resorts.
On most islands there is a good bus service which is easy to use, so often it doesn't really matter where you are as you can travel around the island and explore. We tend to avoid the tour operators trips which they charge a fortune for and are ususally rubbish, most of the time you can do the same thing for much cheaper and at your own pace. It just takes a bit of imagination.
I've been to few other islands, and would go back to any of them, but I think the ones I've mentioned above might be closest to what you're looking for.
Hope that helps, let me know what you decide! I love Greece (as you might have guessed) and you'll have a great time!
xGBGx
Answers:
Sorry, just realised that you said that your OH had already been to Faliraki! Brain and typing not in tandem!
Here's a useful website though http://www.greeka.com/greece-maps.htm
Answers:
5363006) Hi there
From my travels in Greece with a friend, i think my favourite island group is the Sporades i.e. Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.
Skiathos is the most popular of the group, some really nice beaches and plenty of resorts which are fairly busy, especially in summer. Skopelos is much quieter but a bit more picturesque, Skopleos town has a gorgeous harbour and little winding streets. Alonissos is perfect if you are really wanting to get away from it all, there was hardly anyone there when we went! It's easily the most beautiful Greek island I've visited and excellent if you like walking, but it is seriously quiet.
The drawback to Skopelos and Alonnisos is that you need to fly to Skiathos and take the ferry up to the other islands - it's dead easy to do but if you're pushed for time it might be better to visit an island with an airport. Also bear in mind that they are the most northern Greek islands so if you're after the hottest places, maybe head south. However i have to say we visited at the end of May and the weather was lovely for walking, so i would imagine that in the height of summer it would be plenty hot enough.
Rhodes is another nice island, depending on where you go (avoid Lindos like the plague! full of bright red Brits with their shirts off) We stayed in Pefkos recently which was farily quiet but had a few restaurants and bars. Rhodes town is nice to wander round and has plenty of restaurants and bars. It really depends on what you want. I would avoid Faliraki on Rhodes as that is reportedly like Ayia Napa (i've never been but travelled through on the bus and it looked grim) I lived in Greece for a short time and the kids i used to teach would just roll their eyes if you mentioned Faliraki - I think it is where that programme about drunken Brits abroad was filmed!
Kos is really nice too, and Kalymnos (a short ferry ride from Kos) is really pretty too. On Kos, I would avoid Kardmena - again its meant to be a very busy 'party' town. I've stayed in Kefalos and Tingaki, which are both nice resorts.
On most islands there is a good bus service which is easy to use, so often it doesn't really matter where you are as you can travel around the island and explore. We tend to avoid the tour operators trips which they charge a fortune for and are ususally rubbish, most of the time you can do the same thing for much cheaper and at your own pace. It just takes a bit of imagination.
I've been to few other islands, and would go back to any of them, but I think the ones I've mentioned above might be closest to what you're looking for.
Hope that helps, let me know what you decide! I love Greece (as you might have guessed) and you'll have a great time!
xGBGx
Thanks for your reply and all your info, you have been really helpful.
Yes my OH went to Faliraki before it got like it is now and he said it was nice...its a shame that its gone downhill.
Answers:
Faliraki has quietened down now - we went to Rhodes 2 years ago and Faliraki was a bit like a ghost town - this was in August too! We stayed in Kolymbia which has some very nice hotels and is handy for buses to Rhodes town and Lindos if you want it - LIndos is great at night when the tour buses have gone home!
Samos is another island that has not been mentioned yet, it's really beautiful with lovely friendly people , we stayed at Votsalakia which has a lovely beach , enough tavernas and bars to keep you occupied but is nowhere near as populated as Ayia Napa! It's a big island with lots to see, Samos town is lovely as is Pythagorian which has a beautiful harbour.
Also you could consider Lesvos - again a big island and 'late to the party' in terms of tourism - I would suggest Molyvos as a nice place to stay, it has a castle at the top of a hillside village with lots of winding streets lots of nice little places to eat and shops tucked away, a harbour and nice beach .
Read my comments on Santorini too - see other post- it's my all time fave place in the Greek isles but may not appeal to you owing to the black sand beaches?
Wherever you go do your homework first: check TripAdvisor or Holidays Uncovered for honest reviews. Get a good guide book or check the internet so you can maximise your time there as you may never pass that way again! Above all have a lovely time. Let us know what you decide .
GT
:beach:
My OH wants to go back to a greek/cypriot island as he went years ago to Faliraki and Ayia Napa but now these places have become another Ibiza!
Can anyone recommend a nice greek/cypriot island with lots to do, nice beaches, nice accomodation and shops etc but not another Ayia Napa! Ie gangs of girls and guys drinking all night. :rolleyes:
Answers:
Hi there
From my travels in Greece with a friend, i think my favourite island group is the Sporades i.e. Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.
Skiathos is the most popular of the group, some really nice beaches and plenty of resorts which are fairly busy, especially in summer. Skopelos is much quieter but a bit more picturesque, Skopleos town has a gorgeous harbour and little winding streets. Alonissos is perfect if you are really wanting to get away from it all, there was hardly anyone there when we went! It's easily the most beautiful Greek island I've visited and excellent if you like walking, but it is seriously quiet.
The drawback to Skopelos and Alonnisos is that you need to fly to Skiathos and take the ferry up to the other islands - it's dead easy to do but if you're pushed for time it might be better to visit an island with an airport. Also bear in mind that they are the most northern Greek islands so if you're after the hottest places, maybe head south. However i have to say we visited at the end of May and the weather was lovely for walking, so i would imagine that in the height of summer it would be plenty hot enough.
Rhodes is another nice island, depending on where you go (avoid Lindos like the plague! full of bright red Brits with their shirts off) We stayed in Pefkos recently which was farily quiet but had a few restaurants and bars. Rhodes town is nice to wander round and has plenty of restaurants and bars. It really depends on what you want. I would avoid Faliraki on Rhodes as that is reportedly like Ayia Napa (i've never been but travelled through on the bus and it looked grim) I lived in Greece for a short time and the kids i used to teach would just roll their eyes if you mentioned Faliraki - I think it is where that programme about drunken Brits abroad was filmed!
Kos is really nice too, and Kalymnos (a short ferry ride from Kos) is really pretty too. On Kos, I would avoid Kardmena - again its meant to be a very busy 'party' town. I've stayed in Kefalos and Tingaki, which are both nice resorts.
On most islands there is a good bus service which is easy to use, so often it doesn't really matter where you are as you can travel around the island and explore. We tend to avoid the tour operators trips which they charge a fortune for and are ususally rubbish, most of the time you can do the same thing for much cheaper and at your own pace. It just takes a bit of imagination.
I've been to few other islands, and would go back to any of them, but I think the ones I've mentioned above might be closest to what you're looking for.
Hope that helps, let me know what you decide! I love Greece (as you might have guessed) and you'll have a great time!
xGBGx
Answers:
Sorry, just realised that you said that your OH had already been to Faliraki! Brain and typing not in tandem!
Here's a useful website though http://www.greeka.com/greece-maps.htm
Answers:
5363006) Hi there
From my travels in Greece with a friend, i think my favourite island group is the Sporades i.e. Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.
Skiathos is the most popular of the group, some really nice beaches and plenty of resorts which are fairly busy, especially in summer. Skopelos is much quieter but a bit more picturesque, Skopleos town has a gorgeous harbour and little winding streets. Alonissos is perfect if you are really wanting to get away from it all, there was hardly anyone there when we went! It's easily the most beautiful Greek island I've visited and excellent if you like walking, but it is seriously quiet.
The drawback to Skopelos and Alonnisos is that you need to fly to Skiathos and take the ferry up to the other islands - it's dead easy to do but if you're pushed for time it might be better to visit an island with an airport. Also bear in mind that they are the most northern Greek islands so if you're after the hottest places, maybe head south. However i have to say we visited at the end of May and the weather was lovely for walking, so i would imagine that in the height of summer it would be plenty hot enough.
Rhodes is another nice island, depending on where you go (avoid Lindos like the plague! full of bright red Brits with their shirts off) We stayed in Pefkos recently which was farily quiet but had a few restaurants and bars. Rhodes town is nice to wander round and has plenty of restaurants and bars. It really depends on what you want. I would avoid Faliraki on Rhodes as that is reportedly like Ayia Napa (i've never been but travelled through on the bus and it looked grim) I lived in Greece for a short time and the kids i used to teach would just roll their eyes if you mentioned Faliraki - I think it is where that programme about drunken Brits abroad was filmed!
Kos is really nice too, and Kalymnos (a short ferry ride from Kos) is really pretty too. On Kos, I would avoid Kardmena - again its meant to be a very busy 'party' town. I've stayed in Kefalos and Tingaki, which are both nice resorts.
On most islands there is a good bus service which is easy to use, so often it doesn't really matter where you are as you can travel around the island and explore. We tend to avoid the tour operators trips which they charge a fortune for and are ususally rubbish, most of the time you can do the same thing for much cheaper and at your own pace. It just takes a bit of imagination.
I've been to few other islands, and would go back to any of them, but I think the ones I've mentioned above might be closest to what you're looking for.
Hope that helps, let me know what you decide! I love Greece (as you might have guessed) and you'll have a great time!
xGBGx
Thanks for your reply and all your info, you have been really helpful.
Yes my OH went to Faliraki before it got like it is now and he said it was nice...its a shame that its gone downhill.
Answers:
Faliraki has quietened down now - we went to Rhodes 2 years ago and Faliraki was a bit like a ghost town - this was in August too! We stayed in Kolymbia which has some very nice hotels and is handy for buses to Rhodes town and Lindos if you want it - LIndos is great at night when the tour buses have gone home!
Samos is another island that has not been mentioned yet, it's really beautiful with lovely friendly people , we stayed at Votsalakia which has a lovely beach , enough tavernas and bars to keep you occupied but is nowhere near as populated as Ayia Napa! It's a big island with lots to see, Samos town is lovely as is Pythagorian which has a beautiful harbour.
Also you could consider Lesvos - again a big island and 'late to the party' in terms of tourism - I would suggest Molyvos as a nice place to stay, it has a castle at the top of a hillside village with lots of winding streets lots of nice little places to eat and shops tucked away, a harbour and nice beach .
Read my comments on Santorini too - see other post- it's my all time fave place in the Greek isles but may not appeal to you owing to the black sand beaches?
Wherever you go do your homework first: check TripAdvisor or Holidays Uncovered for honest reviews. Get a good guide book or check the internet so you can maximise your time there as you may never pass that way again! Above all have a lovely time. Let us know what you decide .
GT
:beach: