8 Islands Near Athens for Perfect Beach Weekend

Crystal clear waters with dark blue colors and sandy beaches make Greece a popular destination for island vacations in Europe. However, with anywhere between 166 to 277 inhabited islands, it can be tricky which to choose. So, I asked experienced travel bloggers to give you ideas of some of the perfect islands near Athens worth spending a weekend. 

Folegandros

Folegandros, an island in the Cyclades, isn’t as showy as Santorini and Mykonos. Still, it is a charming destination, offering a calmer and more low-key experience than those more famous Greek islands – but it is still fantastic.

It’s a somewhat short ferry ride from Athens. 2-3 ferries depart from Piraeus in Athens to Folegandros every day; the fastest one takes 3:30hrs to reach the destination.

Here, you can explore the pretty harbor village of Karavostasis, with a small beach and a couple of places to eat overlooking the water.

You can also take a boat tour of the island to see its beaches, as some are hard to reach by land.

The natural attraction is the hilltop Folegandros Town (or Hora), which is on a cliff edge overlooking the ocean. It is a pretty town with the classic style of the Cyclades: white-washed buildings, paved pedestrian streets, and colored doorways. There is a viewpoint from which you can gaze at the Aegean, a choice of good restaurants, and also a picturesque domed church.

Recommended by May Cause Wanderlust

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Syros

The lovely island of Syros is the administrative capital of the Cycladic islands. Being one of those islands near Athens, it takes around 35 minutes by airplane and 3:50hrs by ferry. 

The island lies in the heart of the Cyclades, so it is perfect for island hopping within the region.

The main town of Ermoupoli reveals the island’s past wealth with its marble buildings and large squares. 

The Apollon Theatre is like a mini La Scala di Milano and hosts annual music festivals. The island is intrinsically linked to music as it is the home of Rembetika (‘Grecian blues music’) and has a yearly festival to commemorate the fact in the delightful village of Ano Syros.

The island has a coastline to suit everyone! Most of the beaches are on the south and west coasts. There are popular sandy ones and quiet secluded bays. All of the beaches have shallow water making them perfect for children.

The islanders grow their vegetables and fruit, produce their wine, and make their olive oil, so the food on the island is delicious!

Several dynamic young chefs take traditional island dishes and give them a modern twist – with great success.

Recommended by Greece Travel Ideas

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Kythnos

Kythnos is one of the lovely islands near Athens, but it takes less than 4 hours by high-speed ferry to reach it, unlike some of the other Cycladic islands.

There are a couple of charming towns that ferries come in – Dryopida and Merihas. There are also hot springs at Loutra in the north of the island.

However, the highlight of the island is Kolona beach. In fact, it is one of the highlights of the Cyclades Islands altogether. It is a picturesque location with a strip of yellow sand with clear turquoise bays on both sides and a white church on the hillside. 

What makes this place even more remarkable is that tourists do not overrun it! There isn’t much here other than the beach, the church, and a café that only opens in high season.

It is tricky to get to the beach by land (you need a 4×4), so the best way to reach Kolona is by sea taxi from Merihas.

Top tip: bring your shade, as there aren’t many options to avoid the sun when you’re out there.

Recommended by May Cause Wanderlust

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Andros

Andros is part of the Cyclades islands and has a population of about 11,000. It is a relatively small island and one of Greece’s hidden gems. 

The island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and small fishing villages that are picturesque with their white houses, blue shutters, and roofs.

Andros Island is one of those places where you can’t help but want to stay forever. You’ll never find yourself bored or without something new to explore. Hike through ancient olive groves, go swimming at Kolias Bay beach, explore all-natural beauty at Kalamos Beach, snorkel around shipwrecks, or walk through wild forests filled with flowers that only bloom during the spring.

You’ll find beaches with crystal blue waters, ancient ruins from the Minoan civilization (think Atlantis), picturesque mountain ranges, and more.

The locals are friendly, so it’s easy for visitors to get lost in this magical place without feeling overwhelmed or crowded. 

Recommended by Adventures of Alice

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Amorgos

Amorgos is one of the hidden gem islands near Athens that doesn’t have an airport; hence, not many tourists know it. However, being a part of the Cyclades, it is a great place to island-hop in the region. 

In Amorgos, you’ll cross tall hills and untouched cliffs. Visit the hidden beaches, relax in the quiet towns of Chora and Levrossos, dive beside the shipwreck in Navagio, or hike up the seaside ridge beside the rolling blue waters to reach the Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa. 

The only way to reach Amorgos from Athens is to take a ferry. From the port of Athens, or Piraeus, there is a daily ferry carrying passengers to Amorgos and other Cyclades islands. 

The ferry will take you to one of the two ports in Amorgos – Katapola or Aegiali. Katapola is closer to the middle of the island, and Aegiali is on the north side. 

The ferry takes from 5:35hrs (high speed) to 8:30hrs (conventional). Tickets cost €69.80 and €34 respectively. 

Blue Star Ferries operates the conventional cruise-sized ferry, and Seajet operates the smaller high-speed ferry. 

Recommended by Sandrine Nestenius

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Crete

Crete, the largest and one of the more popular islands near Athens, is a beautiful place with rural towns and more modern cities. 

Being so large, it has different landscapes to experience, from rolling rural hills showcasing ancient ruins, the famous White Mountains in the west, stunning beaches along the coast, and the quaint shops and restaurants of the capital, Heraklion.

To reach Crete, either take a flight from Athens International or a several hour ferry ride from the port of Piraeus. 

Flying will take about one hour and will land in either Chania or Heraklion Airport daily. 

A few ferry companies bring passengers to Crete, where ports of Heraklion and Chania are the most popular options to get off. 

A ferry can take from 8:30hrs to 13hrs, which would require an overnight booking. A ferry ticket ranges from €30 for a regular ticket to €160 for an overnight cabin.  

Recommended by Sandrine Nestenius

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Ios

Part of the Cyclades Islands, Ios is a short ride from Santorini. For years, it attracted younger crowds on the budget and has earned itself the reputation of a party island, thanks to the lively nightlife. 

But in contrast with the typical “package resorts” nightlight, here you’ll find quite a traditional one, concentrated around Chora.

You can easily reach the island by ferry boat from Santorini. But many travelers still arrive by ferry from Athens. The journey, on the high-speed ferry, takes a bit more than 5 hours.

Ios regularly gets voted as having one of the Top 10 beaches in Europe: Mylopotas. And while it is gorgeous and offers many activities to fill your day – aside from sunbathing – the island has a total of 75km of white sandy beaches, and some of them are pretty deserted.

Ios is a well-known island for watersports. Windsurfing, water-skiing, diving, paddle boarding are popular sports to practice at Yialos, Maganari, and Mylopotas beaches.

For those who enjoy hiking, the island doesn’t lack trails either. A very scenic one goes between Mylopotas Beach and Klima Beach, skirting the coastline.

Couples on a honeymoon or a romantic vacation would love to spend time here. From romantic sunsets to historical sites and excellent tavernas, there is no shortage of things to do on Ios during an anniversary. 

Recommended by Cris from LooknWalk

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Sifnos

Located in the West Cyclades, the Greek island of Sifnos is accessible only by ferry. The ferry runs from the port of Piraeus near Athens to the town of Kamares in Sifnos. 

Sifnos is a perfect escape to a beautiful Greek island off the beaten path of many tourists. Like the more famous Cyclades islands of Mykonos and Santorini, Sifnos too is full of sun-kissed little villages with white houses, beautiful beaches, and the Meditteranean Sea. Yet, it does not get anywhere near the same number of tourists.

Sifnos is one of those quiet and beautiful islands near Athens, perfect for people who want a relaxing getaway.

Don’t worry about being bored, though, as there are plenty of hikes on the island for an active holiday to mix in with lazy beach days, as well as lots of small cafes and bars, especially in the capital of Apollonia. Moreover, you can take a ferry to explore other islands in the Cyclades.

The island is also known as a foodie destination – it was a Sifnos chef who created one of the first Greek cookbooks. The local specialty is a chickpea dish made in clay pots following the centuries-old recipe. 

Recommended by Just Go Places Blog

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