While the Greek mainland is known for some truly amazing hikes (Menalon Trail, Vikos Gorge, Pelion Peninsula, Meteora and others), there is something special about hiking the Greek islands. As with most island vacations, time slows and the world’s troubles seem far removed. Coastal breezes caress your skin and secluded beaches offer shade and rest to the weary hiker. Beachside cafes entice you away from the trail. To hike in Greece, you must slow down and savor everything. It is a priceless experience. Lucky for us, Greece happens to be a very affordable place to visit if you choose wisely, so keep reading for the best Greek islands for hiking and how to plan a Greek walking holiday.
Of all peoples, the Greeks have dreamt the dream of life best.
Things to Consider when Hiking a Greek Island
As with every culture, the Greek people have their own way of doing things and learning those cultural nuances will improve your experience. Understanding the terrain and weather is also important. Based on our personal experiences and that of others, here are some tips you may find helpful:
- Assume nothing will arrive on time. Ferries are usually quite punctual, but the same can’t be said for other forms of public transportation. Get comfortable with ambivalence, be flexible and have a plan B.
- If relying on public transit, keep the phone number of your hotel or innkeeper always at hand. You never know when you’ll need to beg for a ride.
- Don’t assume everyone speaks English on the islands. Be prepared to work a little to communicate, but don’t let that stop you from doing so. Greek people are very friendly and welcoming to visitors.
- If booking lodging yourself, try to book directly. The prices are usually cheaper and your money stays local. You can usually find reviews on Booking.com or Airbnb for the same lodging.
- Make sure to visit the island’s “old town” or Chora and be prepared for a trek up as these are usually on top of a hill.
- Bring something modest to cover up with if you plan to visit any churches.
- SLOW DOWN. I once had a Greek tavern owner look at me in horror while I was drinking coffee. He told me “this drink, it should take you one hour. ONE HOUR to drink.” While I can’t say I’ve ever managed to sip coffee for a full hour, I have learned the fine art of leisurely meals and drinks on a beach. Special places in the world will teach you this and the Greek islands are one of those places.
Our Favorites for Greek Island Hiking
The Island of Sifnos
Sifnos is our personal favorite, mostly because we’ve been there. Sifnos is an excellent choice because it’s easy to build your own center-based walking holiday. The Sifnos Trails site provides everything you need to walk their waymarked paths and they have enough trails to keep you busy for more than a week. There are excellent options for lodging and dining, especially if you prefer a local experience instead of larger hotels. You won’t need a car as long as you’re comfortable relying on taxis (which is what we did). For details, personal stories and photos of our hiking trip on Sifnos, visit our sister site Planes Terrains & Avocados. We published 7 stories about it so there’s plenty of info there to plan your own trip.
The Island of Serifos
Serifos is just a short ferry ride from Sifnos so it can easily be combined for a longer journey or added on for a quick day trip. Depending on who you ask or what site you use, there are anywhere from 8 to 21 footpaths, most of which are short distances but can be combined for longer walks. The best website we’ve found for these trails is Discover Serifos which lists each trail by mileage and estimated walk time. Best of all, this site gives you honest details about trail conditions and which trails to avoid. They also provide links to accommodations and very useful transportation info.
The Island of Tinos
Like Sifnos, Tinos has an excellent trail site which provides everything you need to plan your own walking holiday (with the exception of lodging). Tinos is known for its marble statues and long history of artists who spread this craft worldwide. There are 12 paths that can be combined for a total of 93 miles of trails. Lodging can be found at the official tourism site for Tinos. The village of Tripotamos is an excellent choice in terms of location and dining options, but you can find other good choices if you read about Tinos villages at Tinosecrets.gr. Their site is also a good place to find lodging.
The Island of Kythera
Kythera (also spelled Kythira) is an island south of the Peloponnese Peninsula that is known for beautiful architecture and secluded beaches. The Kythera Trails site lists 11 routes which are all day hikes and many are loop trails. Unlike Sifnos or Tinos, Kythera’s trails don’t interconnect so you will need a car for this trip. On a positive note, a car means you can take advantage of the beautiful beach accommodations and stay wherever you wish! Visit Kythera’s tourism site for accommodations and more details about this island.
The Island of Ithaca
This Ionian island is famous for its place in Homer’s Odyssey but it seems to have remained off radar from the hiking world. This is good news for walking holiday enthusiasts because this hidden gem of an island boasts 7 trails (3 of which are circular). The Ithaca Trails site needs some work in the translation department but it does provide the necessary route details and maps plus excellent photos. Ithaca’s tourism site provides an extensive list of accommodations as well as boat rentals and sailing excursions, which could be an excellent way to rest your weary feet and enjoy the hidden beaches for which Greek islands are famous.
If you don’t want to rent a car, make this a center-based walking holiday by booking guided hikes with Odyssey Outdoor Activities. They offer 4 guided hikes with transportation to and from Vathy. Also consider booking a walking holiday with No Footprint, which offers an Ionian islands walking holiday.
The Island of Crete
We end with Crete because it is the largest and most well-known island for hiking in Greece. If you see a tour company offering walking holidays or hiking excursions in Greece, chances are high that Crete is one of their destinations. Multiple mountain ranges, cavernous gorges, waterfalls, beautiful beaches and cities with exceptional cuisine make for an epic hiking vacation. The E4 Trail runs through Crete, covering roughly 310 miles of the total 6,200 mile long distance European trek. You’ll find a good explanation of the E4 at Discover On Foot where you can also purchase walking guidebooks for the E4 and other trails.
Our top picks for tour companies offering self-guided hiking in Crete are:
More Options for Hiking the Greek Islands
Need more options and want to use a tour company? Look at On Foot Holidays for the islands of Andros, Naxos and Amorgos. For nature enthusiasts, try No Footprint which covers Santorini, Naxos, Amorgos and Iraklia. Sticking closer to Athens, look at Wild Rover Travel for the islands of Hydra and Poros. For walking holidays in Corfu you can’t go wrong with The Natural Adventure, which offers several itineraries including our favorite Hidden Gems of Corfu.
Join the Family
Subscribe today to receive a FREE copy of Things to Ask Before Booking a Walking Holiday
Monthly newsletter includes a recap of our trip suggestions, advice, inspirational quotes, new routes and more. That way you don’t have to stalk us on social media, unless you want to…which would be great!
