Northern Aegean
Made up of large islands such as Lesbos, Chios and Samos, away from the crowds, with authentic island life.
Northern Aegean is a group of islands in the northeastern Aegean, close to the Turkish coast, mainly Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Lemnos and Ikaria. Lesbos is known for ouzo, olive groves and its Petrified Forest; Chios has distinctive mastic villages and the Nea Moni monastery; on Samos, Pythagoreion and the Heraion are World Heritage Sites; and Ikaria is famed for longevity and an easygoing way of life. May–October is the best time to go, with the warmest sea in midsummer. All the main islands have airports, with flights from Athens or Thessaloniki, and ferries also run from Piraeus.