If you’ve ever seen a photo of Greece and thought “I want to go there”, chances are you were looking at the Cyclades. Whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, volcanic beaches, and crystal-clear water stretching as far as you can see. It’s the postcard version of Greece, and it absolutely lives up to it.

The name gives you a clue about the geography: Cyclades comes from the Greek word “cyclos,” meaning circle, because the islands form a loose ring around Delos, the sacred island at the heart of the group. There are around 220 islands in total, out of which about 24 are inhabited. Needless to say, while they share similarities, each one has its own pace and offers various reasons to visit.

Know before you go

Greece collects a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee at checkout. During the peak travel season (April to October), this ranges from €2 to €15 per room, per night depending on your accommodation’s star rating. Furnished apartments and 1-2 star hotels charge €2, 3-star hotels charge €5, 4-star hotels charge €10, and 5-star luxury hotels or large villas cost €15 per night.

For non-EU travelers, the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now operational, which means biometric registration at border control and longer processing times at airports. And ETIAS, the EU’s pre-travel authorization system, similar to the US ESTA, is expected to launch in late 2026. Neither affects EU citizens, but if you’re traveling on a UK, US, Australian, or Canadian passport, check the latest requirements before you fly.

Getting to the Cyclades

The main gateway is, of course, the capital of Athens. From Piraeus and Rafina, both ports close to the city, ferries run to most of the Cyclades throughout the year, with significantly more frequency in summer. High-speed catamarans are faster but more expensive; conventional ferries take longer but are cheaper and often more comfortable for overnight crossings.

Several of the larger islands — Santorini and Mykonos — have major international airports with direct connections from across Europe during the summer season, bypassing Athens entirely. While Paros and Milos also have airports, they only handle smaller aircraft for domestic flights, meaning you will still need to connect through Athens or Thessaloniki if flying in.

Read more about:
>> Flights to Santorini
>> Flights to Mykonos

The islands

Amorgos

The easternmost island of the Cyclades and one of its most dramatic. Amorgos is all steep cliffs, terrific views, and secluded beaches that require a bit of effort to reach. And these are some of the reasons why people fall in love with it. The island gained international fame as the filming location for Luc Besson’s The Big Blue. Also, the monastery of Hozoviotissa, clinging to a cliff face above the sea, is one of the most striking sights in the entire Aegean.

Anafi

Small, quiet, and located just east of Santorini, Anafi is close enough to get there easily, but far enough to feel like a completely different world. Anafi is still largely off the tourist radar, which means unspoiled beaches, genuine local life, and prices that won’t make your eyes water. Might be a good idea to visit before everyone else finds about it.

Andros

The northernmost of the Cyclades and one of its best-kept secrets. Andros has lovely beaches, mountain villages, and a surprisingly strong contemporary art scene. For those interested in art, the Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art is worth the trip on its own. It’s tranquil, green, and popular with locals.

Antiparos

Sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and a relaxed outdoor vibe that has been attracting a discerning crowd for years, including, famously, Tom Hanks, who owns a home here. It’s small enough to explore thoroughly in a few days and has enough charm to make you want to stay longer.

Delos

Technically uninhabited so you can’t stay overnight, Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entire island is essentially an open-air museum, with temples, mosaics, and ancient streets that date back thousands of years. Most people visit as a day trip from Mykonos.

Folegandros

Consistently described as the sophisticated alternative to Santorini, Folegandros offers dramatic clifftop Chora, stunning caldera-like views, excellent food, and none of the cruise ship crowds. It’s become one of the most talked-about islands in the Cyclades in recent years for exactly that reason. Small, beautiful, it’s worth every effort it takes to get there.

Ios

Ios has always had a reputation as a party island, it’s been rewriting that narrative. The Times ranked its hilltop Chora among the 25 most beautiful villages in Greece in 2026, and the island has been appearing on must-visit lists across Europe for its combination of great beaches, outdoor activities, and genuine local culture. The nightlife is still there if you want it, but there’s a lot more to Ios than that now.

Kea

It’s the closest Cycladic island to Athens, which makes it hugely popular with Athenians escaping the city for the weekend. But it’s still relatively undiscovered by international tourists. You’ll find traditional villages, excellent hiking, good tavernas, and a coastline with far more to offer than its proximity to the capital might suggest.

Kimolos

Small, quiet, it’s home to some spectacular rocky formations and varied fauna and flora that most visitors to Greece never get to see. It sits right next to Milos and makes a natural addition to any trip to that island: the ferry crossing takes about 20 minutes and the contrast between the two is striking.

Kythnos

Famous among those who seek out its medicinal hot springs, it’s one of the few places in the Cyclades where you can combine a beach holiday with a thermal spa experience. It’s quiet, unpretentious, and has a loyal following among Greeks who’ve been coming here for years.

Milos

It’s one of the most visually spectacular islands in Greece. The volcanic landscape produces beaches in colors you didn’t know beaches came in: the white lunar rocks of Sarakiniko, the sea caves of Kleftiko, the red cliffs of Fyriplaka. Milos has grown enormously in popularity over the past decade and now sits firmly in the top tier of Cycladic destinations. It’s best explored partly by boat to reach the beaches that aren’t accessible by road.

Mykonos

Famous, glamorous, and expensive — that’s Mykonos in a nutshell. The windmills, the maze-like streets of Chora, Little Venice , the beach clubs, the nightlife are what Mykonos is famous for. It receives over a million visitors a year and gets seriously crowded in July and August, so manage your expectations and your budget accordingly.

Naxos

The largest and greenest island of the Cyclades, and arguably the most underrated. Naxos has everything: long sandy beaches, mountain villages, ancient ruins, Venetian architecture, excellent local food, and a scale that means it never feels completely overrun even in peak season. If you’re visiting the Cyclades and can only choose an island, make it Naxos.

Paros

It’s the reliable crowd-pleaser of the Cyclades: popular enough to have good infrastructure and connections, yet authentic enough to still feel genuinely Greek. Great beaches, charming villages, excellent windsurfing conditions, and easy ferry links to pretty much everywhere else make it a great choice for a trip and natural hub for island-hopping.

Santorini

You already know about Santorini, famous for the caldera, the sunsets, the white and blue, and the volcanic beaches. All of it is real and all of it is worth it at least once in a lifetime. Just know that it’s busy and expensive. The best way to experience it is to go in the shoulder season (May-June, October – November), stay a few days, and find the corners that the day-trippers don’t reach.

Serifos

It’s small, tranquil, and crowned by one of the most dramatically positioned Choras in the Cyclades: a cluster of white houses perched high above the port that looks almost too good to be real. It delivers great beaches, traditional villages, and a pace of life that feels unhurried even in summer.

Sikinos

It’s one of the least visited inhabited islands in the Cyclades. Close to Ios, Sikinos is for travelers who want to experience Greek island life as it was before tourism changed everything: quiet, authentic, and completely untouched by the tourist industry. There’s not a lot to do here in the conventional sense but that’s the point.

Sifnos

It’s known for two things above all else: the hiking trails and the food. The island has a long tradition of pottery and cooking, and the tavernas here consistently rank among the best in the Cyclades. Laid-back nightlife, lovely villages, and excellent walking trails make it a well-rounded choice.

Syros

It’s the capital of the Cyclades and its most architecturally interesting island. Ermoupoli, the main town, is unlike anywhere else in the group, with neoclassical buildings, a miniature replica of La Scala opera house, and a grand town hall that wouldn’t look out of place in a European capital. It’s the most developed island in the Cyclades but also one of the most genuinely rewarding.

Tinos

Tinos has long been known as a place of religious pilgrimage, being home to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, one of the most important religious sites in Greece. But it’s also become one of the most exciting food and craft destinations in the Cyclades, with excellent tavernas, a thriving artisan scene, and a growing reputation among travelers looking for something more real than Mykonos next door.

Small Cyclades

Schinousa, Donousa, Irakleia, and Koufonisia make up a small group of inhabited islands between Naxos and Amorgos, collectively known as the Small Cyclades. All four have lovely beaches and secluded coves, virtually no tourist infrastructure to speak of, and the kind of quiet that’s becoming quite rare in the Aegean. Koufonisia in particular has been building a reputation as one of the most beautiful small islands in Greece.

Island hopping

The Cyclades are made for island hopping as the ferry network connects most islands to each other directly, and it’s perfectly possible to design a trip that takes in three or four islands in a week without spending half your time on boats. A classic circuit might combine Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Santorini for a mix of glamour, beaches, and volcanic drama. For something quieter, the western Cyclades — Sifnos, Milos, Folegandros — make a lovely alternative itinerary. The Small Cyclades work well as an add-on from Naxos.

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