Cyclades Island Hopping: Best Islands & Route for 2024
Planning a trip island hopping around the stunning Cyclades island? My guide tells you everything you need to know – including the best route to take, what to do on each island and the one place I’d avoid


Island hopping in the Cyclades had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, so I couldn’t have been more excited when we finally landed in Mykonos back in 2021.
We spent two magical weeks hopping from island to island, diving into crystal-clear water, wandering the charming white streets and gorging on Tzatziki.
Visiting the Cyclades was one of my favourite trips I’ve ever taken, and I want to help you make the most of your trip there, so I’ve put together the ultimate Cyclades island hopping guide.
In this post I’ll give you the exact route we took for our 2 week island hopping trip, as well as a guide to each island we visited, and some essential information on transport, accommodation and the best time of year to go.
YOUR CYCLADES ISLAND HOPPING ROUTE
#1 Mykonos
#2 Syros
#3 Paros
#4 Milos
#5 Naxos
#6 Santorini
Why island hop in the Cyclades?
There’s around 6,000 Greek islands (although only about 200 are inhabited). So, there’s lots of choice when planning your island hopping trip.
You’ll often hear the islands spoken about in groups and there’s six to choose from:
The Ionian Islands
Including Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia. Their known for their beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes
The Sporades
Found in the Northwest Aegean Sea, the Sporades consists of just 4 islands; Alonnisos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros. These islands are known for beautiful beaches
The Dodecanese
Located in the Southeastern Aegean Sea including Rhodes, Kos and Symi. They’re known for their stunning architecture with a unique Venetian style
The Saronic Islands
Hydra, Aegina, Poros, Spetses, Salamis and Dokos. They’re the closest islands to Athens so they’re a great choice if you’re heading there first
The North Aegean Islands
Lesbos, Chios, Psara, Oinousses, Ikaria, Fournoi Korseon, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios and Samos
The Cyclades
Cyclades means “encircling islands,” and they get their name because they form a circle around the sacred island of Delos (Dílos) – the birthplace of Artemis and her brother Apollo.
This group of island includes Mykonos, Santorini, Syros, Naxos, Sifnos, Paros, Milos & Ios, and more.
These are most popular islands for Greek island hoppping (and the ones we visited). They’re known for their white and blue churches, and charming, cobbled streets. If it’s your first time island hopping, this is the perfect group of islands.
CYCLADES ISLAND HOPPING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Before you book
Before you head on your Cyclades island hopping adventure, there’s a few things that will be helpful to think about.
When’s the best time to go Cyclades Island hopping?
For that true ‘Mamma Mia’ experience – you have to visit the Cyclades in summer. The waters are warm enough to swim in, the Bougainvillea trees are in bloom, and there are more frequent ferries, so it’s easier to actually ‘island hop’.
That being said, I’d try and avoid peak summer – accommodation will be expensive, especially on islands like Mykonos & Santorini, crowds are hectic, & it’ll be a lot harder to get reservations at restaurants.
We visited at the very end of August into the start of September and it was perfect.
How many Cyclades islands should I visit?
Obviously this completely depends on how long you’re going for and what type of holiday you want.
We went for 2 weeks and visited 6 islands in total (although Santorini was just for a day as we were flying home from there).
I’d say that was one too many. It was a lot of packing bags, running for ferries, and walking around in the hot sunshine trying to find where we were staying.
If you’re going for 2 weeks, I’d recommend 5 islands max, but 4 is probably ideal so you get at least 3 nights on each one.
Where should I start?
It doesn’t matter too much where you begin in the Cyclades, the determining factor will most likely be how easily you can get there.
We flew from London Gatwick to Mykonos in around 4 hours. Equally, we could have easily started in Santorini.
Travel tip: Bigger islands like Mykonos or Santorini make a great starting point for Cyclades island hopping as they’re better connected, so you’ll have more choice as to where you can go next. Plus, it’ll stop you from going back on yourself.
Our original plan was to fly into Athens and then get the ferry down to Mykonos, which takes about 2 and a half hours.
I really wanted to see Athens but our flight was cancelled last-minute so we had to change our route and fly directly into Mykonos.
If you do want to start in Athens, I’d recommend booking Monsieur Didot. It’s centrally located with a gorgeous design & some rooms have a terrace. Rooms start from £150 per night in summer, including breakfast.
*I’ve since been to Athens and fell in love with it, so I’d really recommend starting here if you can. You can read my guide to three days in Athens here.
Cyclades island hopping: transport
How do I get between islands?
The best way to travel between the Cyclades islands is definitely by ferry.
In peak season, they’re really regular, and they go to the smaller islands you might not be able to reach by plane.
How do I book ferry tickets?
We booked all of our ferries through Ferry Hopper before arriving in Greece. This is mostly because I’m a control freak and can’t deal with the thought of being stranded somewhere because the ferry sold out.
In reality, I’m sure you’d be perfectly fine to show up and get a ticket on the day. But if you want to book them in advance, you can do so here:
Ferry ports can get really busy and often, several ferries will arrive at once. Make sure you know the company you’re travelling with and listen really carefully to the announcements as it’s likely there’ll be a few companies going to the same islands on different routes.
Some of these routes are really quick as the ferry will go direct, and others will take hours as they’ll stop off at all the islands before going to your destination (usually a cheaper ticket).
We learnt this the hard way when we ran onto a ferry in Naxos thinking it was the one we’d booked to take us to Paros in just 30 minutes, only to find when we got on that we’d accidentally got on a slow ferry that was going to take 2 hours.
Learn from our mistakes because that was one rubbish ferry trip!
How much does the ferry cost?
There’s different types of tickets you can buy depending on the ferry company and how long the journey takes.
You don’t always pay more for the shorter routes, so it’s best to select your dates on Ferry Hopper to get the most accurate price.
But to give you an idea of cost, here’s what we paid for each journey (August 2021):
- Mykonos – Syros – £10pp
- Syros – Naxos – £31pp
- Naxos – Paros – £13pp
- Paros – Milos – £50pp
- Milos – Naxos – £50pp
- Naxos – Santorini – £35pp
Total ferry costs for 2 weeks Cyclades island hopping: £189pp
how long do the ferries take?
Our ferry times were:
- Mykonos – Syros | 1 hour 15
- Syros – Naxos | 1 hour 10
- Naxos – Paros | 35 minutes
- Paros – Milos | 1 hour 40
- Milos – Naxos | 3 hours 40
- Naxos – Santorini | 1 hour 20
Do I need to hire a car on the islands?
We didn’t hire a car on any of the islands except in Milos where we hired one for a day (we were there for four), and Paros where we hired an ATV (quad bike) for a day.
I’d definitely recommend having a car or an ATV for at least some of the time you’re in Milos as there’s so many incredible beaches that are really hard to get to without one.
Plus, it gives you the freedom to stop off anywhere that catches your eye.
In Paros, we stayed in the harbour town of Naoussa but really wanted to see Lefkes, so hiring an ATV made it really easy to get there. I’d definitely recommend visiting Lefkes, but you can get a bus or a taxi if you don’t drive.
I definitely wouldn’t hire a car in Mykonos, but it’s worth noting that there’s hardly any taxis available (and definitely no uber!).
If you do manage to get a taxi, expect to pay a lot more than you would on the other islands. With that in mind, I’d choose where you stay to make it easier to get around on foot and public transport.
We didn’t hire a car in Syros or Naxos and that was fine for us, it completely depends on what you’re interested in seeing.
If you want to hire a car, I’d recommend booking with Discover Cars. They compare costs across loads of different companies, show you all the costs upfront (including the fees & the extras), and provide free cancellation.
Cyclades island hopping: accommodation
Should I stay in hotels or Airbnbs?
This is completely dependent on personal preference and availability when you book. We mostly stayed in Airbnbs and we loved that it allowed us to live island life more authentically.
One of my favourite memories from the trip was sitting on the steps outside our Airbnb in Syros, drinking and eating local delicacies with the owner and his friends.
Our Cyclades island hopping route took us 2 weeks, so we wanted a mix of relaxing by a pool drinking mojitos, and being able to cook for ourselves and save some money, so we booked a hotel for a few nights of the trip.
I cover where we stayed on each island below.
Cyclades island hopping: 2-week itinerary
This is the exact route we took (in the same order).
Mykonos > Syros > Paros > Milos > Naxos > Santorini.
Cyclades island hopping map:
This map shows the route we took, from Mykonos to Santorini.
Mykonos
This might be a controversial statement, but I didn’t love Mykonos, and I don’t know if I’d go back. It was very expensive, which I expected, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
On top of that, it felt very inauthentic, almost like a Disneyland version of Greece.
Despite what it probably sounds like from my moaning, we did have some of our most fun days there – the bars are amazing and it’s the perfect place to go if you want beach clubs and big nights out.
But now I’ve visited, I don’t feel desperate to go back in the same way I do with other islands we went to.
Getting there:
Fly directly into Mykonos International Airport or get the ferry from another island. We flew from London to Mykonos directly.
Length of time:
We stayed in Mykonos for 3 nights
What area to stay in:
Stay in Mykonos town, also called “Chora” – home to most of the island’s bars, restaurants and sights.
Things to do and see:
- View Mykonos from the hidden viewpoint with this Google Maps pin
- Get the bus for €1 to Platis Gialos Beach and visit the beach clubs
- See the Mykonos Windmills
- Spend the day at Scorpios
- Eat at M-eating, Pili Mykonos, Hippie Fish, Beefbar, Gioras Bakery
- Drink at Negrita’s, Kastro’s, Principote and Katerina’s
OUR HOTEL
Although we only stayed in Mykonos for a few nights, we split our time between two different places due to our plans changing last-minute (we were originally meant to fly into Athens).
For our first night we stayed at Mykonos Moussa Suites. I probably wouldn’t recommend staying here for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it’s not in the best location in Mykonos, you have to get a taxi everywhere, although it is opposite Hippie Fish, which is a really popular restaurant on the island.
It was expensive, and we didn’t feel as though we got value for money. It was mostly small things like the beanbag in the room being really dirty, and there being no water in the fridge on arrival, but I wouldn’t expect that from the price point of this hotel.
For the rest of our stay in Mykonos, we were in the heart of the main town, in this Airbnb.
We absolutely loved our stay here, it was right in the centre of everything, so we could walk everywhere, but far enough away from the restaurants and bars that it wasn’t noisy.
This place was cheaper than the hotel, and definitely better value for money.
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Blanco Room
Mykonian Mews
Kensho Ornos
Boheme
Kalesma
Syros
Syros wasn’t on my list of Greek islands when we first started planning our trip, but my friend had visited the year before and raved about how beautiful it was, and in my opinion, there’s no better recommendation than one that comes from someone that knows exactly what you’d enjoy.
So we added it to the itinerary and I’m so glad we did.
On arrival, our Airbnb host, Ioannis, asked where we’d travelled from. We nervously claimed we’d arrived from Mykonos and he looked at us, slightly apprehensively, and said “well, forget everything you experienced in Mykonos, because Syros is completely the opposite”.
He was right, and it was a very welcome rest from the chaos of the previous few days.
Getting there:
From Mykonos, we got the ferry to Syros, which took just over an hour.
Length of time:
We spent 2 nights/1.5 days in Syros
What area to stay in:
We choose the capital, Ermoupoli. The ferry arrives here so it’s easy to get to your accommodation, and it’s well connected to the rest of the island if you want to visit the other beaches and villages.
Things to do and see:
- Asteria beach
- Ciel beach club
- Eat at Cantina Analogue
- Wander around Miaouli Square
- Drink cocktails at Jar
- Try Loukoumia (a sweet similar to Turkish Delight)
- Explore the streets of Ano Syros
our hotel
We stayed in an Airbnb in Syros and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s centrally located, with incredible views over the beach opposite, and the owner, Ioannis, is lovely (this is where we ended up spending an evening with him and his friends).
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Aristide
Oro Suites
Castro Hotel
Syros Soul Luxury Suites
Paros
After Syros, we headed to Paros, which was a strong contender for my favourite island.
It’s a smaller version of Mykonos, with lots of amazing bars and places to eat, but still maintaining its charm and authenticity.
Getting there:
We got the ferry from Syros to Paros (via Naxos) and the total journey time was around 1 hour 45 minutes (in theory – ours actually took a lot longer due to the previously mentioned ferry trouble).
Length of time:
We spent 2 nights/1.5 days in Paros
What area to stay in:
The harbour town of Noussa is the best place to stay if you want to be amongst good restaurants and bars.
Things to do and see:
- Visit the gorgeous village of Lefkes
- Eat at Yemeni, Stilvi and Soso
- Drink at Trickster Bar, Fotis, Agosta, Sommaripa Consolato and Linardo’s
- Visit Parikia Village
- Get the boat to Antiparos
- Visit Agios Ioannis Detis church
OUR HOTEL
Paros was the only place where we had a hotel with a pool and we absolutely loved it. It was in the middle of our trip and all we wanted to do was relax with a drink and not do much.
We stayed at Anemomylos Residence and it was perfect. It’s a boutique hotel only a 5-minute walk from the centre of Naoussa.
The staff were so friendly (and made some of the best mojitos I’ve ever had), the pool was a brilliant size and it’s opposite an ATV rental shop, which was perfect for exploring the rest of the island.
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Milos
Milos was without a doubt my favourite island we visited. It’s the one place I’d strongly advise you not to miss when planning your route. Think crystal-clear waters, hidden coves and dramatic landscapes. It’s everything you imagine when you think of a Greek island.
Getting there:
We got the ferry from Paros to Milos which takes around 1 hour 40 minutes.
Length of time:
We spent 4 nights in Milos, a deliberate decision because we just wanted to stay still for a while. You could easily do it in just a few days though.
What area to stay in:
The three most popular places to stay in Milos are Pollonia, Plaka and Adamas. I researched all 3 before visiting and settled on Pollonia, a stunning fishing village on the North of the island.
It’s less crowded than Adamas and Plaka, but still home to great restaurants and a quiet buzz.
I only visited Adamas briefly as its where the ferry port is located, and my initial impressions were that it was much more hectic and slightly too touristy – it doesn’t allow you to really get to know Milos.
Plaka’s another great option, it’s the capital of Milos and its hilltop position lends itself to incredible views of the Aegean sea.
Things to do and see:
- Papafragkas beach
- Sarakiniko beach
- Mandrakia fishing village
- Firopotamos
- Klima
- Tsigrado beach
- Milos cave winery
- Eat at Medusa
OUR HOTEL
We stayed in an Airbnb in Milos and I get asked for the link all the time. I’m not surprised, it’s one of the most magical places I’ve ever stayed – the garden leads down into a (pretty much) private beach!
It was the most expensive place we stayed (we paid £220 a night but it’s more expensive now) but for us it was worth every single penny.
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Domes White Coast
White Pebble Suites
Nino’s Country House
Sunset Nest
Naxos
Naxos was the final island we stayed on and was a last-minute contender to our route. We toyed with the idea of staying in Santorini but settled on lesser-visited Naxos.
Naxos is known for its beaches, stunning scenery, and food (this one swayed me), a lot of which is grown locally on the island.
Getting there:
We got the ferry from Milos to Naxos which takes around 3 hours 40 – the longest journey we did.
Length of time:
2 nights.
What area to stay in:
Stay in Naxos Town (the Chora) to be amongst the restaurants and bars. You can easily get around the island with public transport.
Things to do and see:
- Drink at 520 cocktail bar for views over the harbour
- Eat at Lithos
- Spend the day at Macao beach club
- See the Temple of Apollo
- Hike Mount Zas
- Go windsurfing
our hotel
We stayed in an Airbnb near Naxos town which was perfect for what we needed. The room was a generous size with a great terrace and the host, Alexia, was lovely.
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Flèria Seaview Suites
Cyano Suites
Almi of Naxos
Santorini
We spent our final day of our Cyclades island hopping trip in Santorini, a whistle-stop tour before our flight home to the UK departed in the evening.
We very nearly extended our stay by a couple of nights so we could properly explore the island, but our bank balance wasn’t co-operating with that idea.
But this year we made it back to Santorini and spent 4 days exploring the island.
Santorini is one of those places that you see all over Instagram, which often leads to high expectations and subsequent disappointment. But for me, it lived up to all of my expectations, and more.
With white-washed houses built into the cliffs, jaw-dropping views of the caldera, and winding cobbled streets lined with bougainvillea, it’s easy to see the appeal.
Getting there:
We got the ferry from Naxos to Santorini which takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Length of time:
We only visited for the day during our island hopping route but have been back since for 4 days.
If you’re planning on adding it to your Greek island hopping route, I’d recommend at least 2 nights and 3 full days in Santorini.
Things to do and see:
- Take pictures in charming Oia
- Do the cliff walk from Fira to Oia
- Eat seafood in Ammoudi Bay
- Stay in a cave hotel
OUR HOTEL
During our recent trip to Santorini, we split our time between three hotels, Nobu, Olvos Luxury Suites and Magma Resort. All three were complimentary stays and each one had their merits, but I’d recommend Olvos the most.
Located just a short walk from the centre of Oia, there’s just 3 rooms, each with their own private plunge pool, as well as a shared infinity pool overlooking the caldera.
Often you feel as though you have the whole place to yourself, and the views are simply breathtaking.
Our host, Anastasia, couldn’t do enough to make our stay special, including organising a home cooked meal to be delivered from a local restaurant. This was my favourite hotel from our time Cyclades island hopping – it’s a real gem.
Other hotels I’d recommend:
Armenaki
The Vasilicos
Rhenia’s Suites
Cyclades island hopping – FAQs
How do you travel between the Cyclades islands?
The best way to travel between the Cyclades islands is by ferry. There’s a number of companies to choose from so you can find the best option for your trip. In peak season, they’re really regular, and they go to the smaller islands you can’t reach by plane.
What is the best route to island hop in Greece?
For the best route to island hop Greece, I’d recommend starting in Athens or Mykonos. You can spend a few days exploring Athens before flying to Mykonos, and then visiting Syros, Paros, Milos, Naxos, Santorini. If you’re not fussed on Athens, you can fly directly to Mykonos and start there.
Which is nicer Paros or Naxos?
I preferred Paros to Naxos, but it depends on what you like to do. Naxos is much greener (it’s actually the greenest island in the Cyclades), and has incredible mountains perfect for hiking. Paros has the quintessential white washed buildings, traditional villages and crystal clear water.
Which is the prettiest Greek island?
Milos is the prettiest Greek island (in my opinion). Think crystal-clear waters, hidden coves and dramatic landscapes. It’s everything you imagine when you think of a Greek island. There’s so many beautiful beaches here you probably won’t have time to see them all, you’re simply spoilt for choice.
Which island to stay in Cyclades?
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to which island to stay in the Cyclades, so I’d recommend experiencing several of them as you can easily get the ferry in between them. If it’s your first visit, I’d suggest visiting Paros, Naxos, Syros, Milos, Paros and Santorini.
How long is the ferry from Athens to Cyclades?
The length of the ferry from Athens to the Cyclades depends on which island you’re visiting. The closest Cyclades island to Athens is Kea, and the ferry takes about an hour. If you’re visiting Mykonos, the ferry takes around 2.5 hours, and to Santorini is takes 5 hours.
What are the 2 best Greek islands to visit?
The 2 best Greek islands to visit are Milos and Paros. Both are absolutely beautiful islands, and much quieter (and cheaper) than Santorini and Mykonos. Paros and Milos both have incredible beaches with bright blue water, great restaurants, and traditional Greek villages to explore.
Is Paros nicer than Mykonos?
Yes, I think Paros is much nicer than Mykonos. It’s quieter, prettier, and much less hectic. For me, Mykonos felt very inauthentic, an unfortunate result of over tourism. Paros had brilliant restaurants, bars and plenty of things to do, so if you can only choose one, I’d definitely visit Paros.
Should I go to Santorini or Paros?
I’d recommend visiting Paros over Santorini. They’re similar in style – both have the traditional Cycladic architecture and whitewashed buildings, but Paros is much more affordable than Santorini, so you’ll get a lot more for your money. I also found the restaurants to be much better in Paros than Santorini.
Cyclades island hopping: travel tips
Get this: Book your ferry tickets in advance so they don’t sell out
Don’t miss: A catamaran sunset tour with a bbq dinner and wine around Santorini
Bucket list experience: Discover the incredible coastline of Milos including Kleftiko, which is only accessible by boat, and enjoy a Greek lunch on board
Flights | Find the cheapest flights to Greece with Skyscanner
Stay | Find the most affordable hotels in the Cyclades on Booking.com