Top islands in Greece with developed services and amenities

Are you looking for a Greek island that has it all? Read the list below and find the top 6 Greek islands offering first-class amenities, from extensive coastlines and stunning sunsets to restaurants, parking spaces, and free Wi-Fi. So pack your bags for the majestic Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Ionian islands, or Crete, and you thank us later. 

1. High-quality restaurants and traditional taste in Crete
2. Sophisticated accommodations in Santorini
3. Culinary alchemies in Mykonos
4. Well-equipped beaches in Rhodes
5. Smooth rides in Corfu
6. Elegance and culture meet in Syros 

Sunbeds in Syros waiting for you to soak up some Vitamin D

1. High-quality restaurants and traditional taste in Crete

Are you looking for a well-developed island with a wide range of services and amenities to spend your holidays? Say no more! Crete is the largest island in Greece, offering plenty of options, from stunning beaches and diverse landscapes to medical facilities, supermarkets, banks, and ATMs. 

The largest city in Crete, Heraklion, is located in the heart of the island and is a hub for commerce, culture, and transportation. There, you can find everything from cultural landmarks and museums (the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion) to bars, cafes, restaurants, and many accommodation options. 

Depending on your budget, you can stay in a city hotel, a nice resort, an apartment, or a traditional Greek villa. As for health care, Crete has several hospitals including the University General Hospital of Heraklion, and smaller medical clinics throughout the island.

Crete is also one of the more accessible islands in Greece for travelers with disabilities. Rethymnon, in particular, is leading in terms of accessibility having installed wheelchair ramps in major monuments, as well as making provisions for disabled parking spots and wider streets.

Its superpower: Crete is known for its strong traditional flavors, high-quality restaurants, and tavernes. Besides, it is no coincidence that many Michelin-awarded chefs are based on the island during the high season.

How to get to Crete

So, if you can't stop thinking about the crystalline waters, the golden sand and all those amazing restaurants, take the ferry from Piraeus to Crete to try authentic Cretan paximadi (barley rusks) and raki.

There are at least 3 daily ferry crossings during summer from Athens (Piraeus) to Crete and the journey takes between 8 and 11 hours. Ferry tickets start at €23.

Alternatively, you can see the ultimate guide and find useful information on how to get to Crete from other Greek ports (Santorini, Mykonos) or abroad.

The picturesque port of Chania ideal for morning coffee by the sea

2. Sophisticated accommodations in Santorini

Santorini, the volcanic island with the fiery sunset, the black-sanded beaches, and the renowned caldera is among the top destinations in Greece! And with a simple google search, it’s easy to see why. 

The island with its breathtaking views, blue-domed churches, and gorgeous white-washed Cycladic houses offers plenty of hotels and resorts that cater to tourists’ needs, including those that are close to the best beaches such as Perissa, Kamari, or Red beach. 

Except for the lunar-like landscape, the volcanic rocks, and the red cliffs, all of them are well-equipped with plenty of sun loungers, beach bars, and restaurants at close distance. And in case you have a little cutting from the volcanic rocks don’t worry!

Santorini has a General Hospital located in Fira, the island’s capital. It offers medical facilities to serve its visitors and residents. There are also 2 smaller medical facilities in the village of Oia and Imerovigli, providing emergency care to tourists.

Parking space is not Santorini’s strongest feature as the island’s morphology does not allow easy access to many locations. Therefore, you should be prepared for long walks around the island’s picturesque alleys. 

Its superpower: Santorini is renowned for its luxurious accommodations, offering several options from 5-star hotels to charming private villas with iconic architecture and breathtaking views of the caldera and the Aegean Sea.

How to get to Santorini

If you’ve already dreamed of yourself in a white-washed villa drinking your wine, hop on the ferry from Piraeus to Santorini and prove that dreams do come true!

There is at least 1 daily ferry crossing from the port of Piraeus to Santorini year-round. The journey usually takes between 5 hours and 13 hours and the ferry ticket price starts at €40.

In case you're not traveling to Santorini from Athens you can read the Ferryhopper's complete guide on how to get to Santorini from several destinations.

Beautiful sandy beach with amenities in Santorini

3. Culinary alchemies in Mykonos

Mykonos keeps high the standards that Santorini puts. Its reputation precedes it as Mykonos is a very popular destination for its vibrant nightlife, wild beach parties, and happy hangovers by the sea the next day! But Mykonooos is so much more than that. 

Its iconic windmills, charming traditional villages, and variety of distinct bars, first-class restaurants, and several accommodation options make it one of the top Greek islands in terms of high-regarded services and amenities.

Plenty of hotels and resorts offer excellent amenities, as well as a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. As for the beach bars, most of them are equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas. Some of them also offer towels and flip-flops for an extra fee or are included in the price of the sunbed use. 

Some of the most stylish, high-end beach bars can be found on Psarou, Paraga, Panormos, and Super Paradise beaches. You can soak up the sun and enjoy refreshing drinks from a variety of premium drinks and cocktails.

As for health care, Mykonos doesn’t have a hospital. However, there are 2 health care centers; one is located in Chora of Mykonos and the other in the village of Ano Mera. You can also find several pharmacies, especially in tourist areas.

Its superpower: Mykonos is known for its excellent dining scene with a range of high-end restaurants. Have an imaginative Mediterranean culinary experience that fuses traditional Greek recipes with modern innovation and try unexpected molecular gastronomy flavors.

How to get to Mykonos

Are you ready to experience molecular mixology while drinking cocktails by the beach? Then, get on the ferry to Mykonos from Piraeus today!

There are usually 1-2 daily ferry crossings from the port of Piraeus to Mykonos year-round and the ticket price starts at €43. However, if you're not planning to travel from Athens you can read our blog on how to get to Mykonos from various ports.

Seaside tavernas in Little Venice, Mykonos

4. Well-equipped beaches in Rhodes

Leaving the Cyclades behind, we set sail to the Dodecanese islands. Let’s hop off to Rhodes to explore its rich history and eventful past through the medieval Old Town. It is no secret that the architectural complex of the Knights of Rhodes is one of the best-preserved attractions, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.

Being the largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes offers a range of hotels and resorts, as well as several restaurants and cafes. It has many beautiful beaches including the famous Tsambika beach, Faliraki and Lindos. There, you will find beach bars, sunbeds and umbrellas, water sports, and parking lots.

Regarding accommodation, you can choose between luxury resorts with swimming pools, fitness facilities, and spa services to budget hotels and apartments. Considering that Rhodes is a large island, you may also want to explore it by car. 

Therefore, you can book accommodation that offers parking space. Otherwise, you can find public and private parking lots on the island. However, parking space can be limited around the historic center, particularly in the Old Town.

There are several hospitals and medical centers on the island, including the Rhodes General Hospital. Pharmacies are also widely available throughout the island and especially in tourist areas.

Its superpower: Rhodes offers a rare combination of stunning cultural attractions such as the Butterfly Valley and the Acropolis of Lindos, paradisiacal beaches equipped with stylish beach bars and sunbeds, and high-quality accommodations.

How to get to Rhodes

You can get to Rhodes from Piraeus (Athens) by ferry. There are ferry crossings between Piraeus and Rhodes all year long with up to 2 daily connections during summer and the ferry ticket price starts at €70.

The impressive entrance of the Rhodes Castle 

5. Smooth rides in Corfu

A good and favorable wind led us to the Ionian Sea and the second largest island of the Ionian island group. Corfu is known for its stunning beaches, rich history, and charming traditional villages. 

Many hotels and resorts cater to tourists’ needs, as well as several restaurants, cute cafes, and bars in the pedestrian streets around the picturesque Liston square.

Corfu's wide range of hotels includes luxury hotels and resorts for a more upscale experience, budget-friendly hotels, family-friendly hotels, and apartments. Many hotels and resorts offer guest parking facilities. 

However, it’s better to stay in Corfu Town, as it is close to many attractions, beautiful beaches, restaurants, and bars. If you only wish to lie on a sunbed and relax by the sea, you can choose from numerous seaside hotels, resorts, and villas.

As for medical services in Corfu, the island has several hospitals and health clinics, including the Corfu General Hospital. You can also find several pharmacies on the island where they can purchase over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs.

Its superpower: moving around is easy, and you can rent a car or take a water taxi. There are buses that travel across the island. This is a convenient way to move around and explore central locations and secluded villages and beaches. You can also find taxi ranks. 

How to get to Corfu

If you want to go to the Ionian Sea this year, hop on the ferry to Corfu from Igoumentitsa and explore the second-largest Ionian island easily and comfortably!

During the high season, there are up to 35 daily ferry crossings to Corfu and the ferry ticket costs around €6. The journey takes around 1.5 hours.

6. Elegance and culture meet in Syros

The capital of Syros, Ermoupoli, is also the capital of the Cyclades and the South Aegean. Syros is well-developed, offering several tourist services and amenities.

It’s known for its picturesque architecture, impressive Town Hall, rich cultural heritage, and stunning beaches. The beach of Agathopes on the southern coast of Syros is perfect for swimming, with excellent facilities, including comfortable sunbeds, umbrellas, free Wi-Fi, and water sports equipment.

Also, the beaches of Galissas and Kini are more relaxed, with calm, clear waters, a tranquil atmosphere, and many beachside tavernes and cafes to enjoy a nice day on the beach.

There are several accommodation options in Syros, from luxury and boutique hotels to guesthouses and apartments. You can also find adults-only and family-friendly hotels near the capital of Syros.

As for the island’s health services, Syros has a modern and well-equipped hospital, the General Hospital of Syros, located in Ermoupoli. In addition to the General Hospital, there are several private clinics and medical centers on the island, offering various medical and health services.

In addition to its natural beauty, Syros offers various activities and attractions, including hiking, water sports, and cultural events. So whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation while enjoying high-quality services, Syros is your “go-to” island.

Its superpower: Syros has one of the most enchanting capitals in Greece, filled with a well-preserved 19th-century architectural style, with grand neoclassical public buildings, impressive mansions, and elegant squares. And a big plus: the majority of the historic center is friendly to people with disabilities as there are ramps, lifts, disabled parking spots and helpful signs.

How to get to Syros

You can get the Piraeus to Syros ferry up to 4 times per day. The trip duration lasts around 2 to 4 hours and ferry tickets cost approximately €36.

Enjoy fluffy sunbeds and cool dives in Vaporia

So, now that you’ve read the magic list of the top 6 Greek islands with developed services and amenities, which one do you choose? If you can’t pick one, you can also consider going island hopping! Find out how to plan your 2023 day tours from Santorini to Mykonos and Crete and book your ferry tickets with no hidden fees on Ferryhopper.