Cyclades

The blue-domed, whitewashed island group in the central Aegean, where Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Milos are top picks for island hopping.

The Cyclades lie in the central-southern Aegean and consist of more than 200 islands, about 24 of them inhabited. They take their name from the ring they form around the sacred island of Delos. They are the source of Greece's "blue and white islands" image. Highlights: Santorini's caldera-cliff towns of Oia and Fira with their sunsets, and the prehistoric site of Akrotiri; Mykonos's Little Venice, windmills and beach parties, plus nearby Delos (a UNESCO World Heritage site); Naxos's Temple of Apollo gate (the Portara), long beaches and mountain villages; Paros's fishing harbor of Naousa and Antiparos; Milos's moonscape-like Sarakiniko beach and Kleftiko bay; and the quieter Folegandros, Sifnos (for food) and Koufonisia. Classic itinerary: fly in and out of Athens and pick 2–3 islands to hop between, for example Mykonos – Paros/Naxos – Santorini, 2–3 nights each, for 7–10 days in total; Santorini is the top choice for honeymooners and photographers. Getting around: fast and slow ferries run from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina, and tickets should be booked in advance in high season; Santorini and Mykonos have international flights. The Cyclades were once a region of Greece and were split into several regional units after 2011; they are included here as the island group travelers commonly use. Accommodation on the popular islands is expensive, so book early in high season.

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