Tips for visiting the Greek islands, from a travel expert on Greece

Of the greater than 3,000 Greek islands, a superb 100 are inhabited. And Klaus Botig has been to most of them.

“I do know 87 islands and every one is nice in its personal manner.

An knowledgeable on Greece, he’s written about 70 journey guides concerning the nation within the Mediterranean, and he says he has travelled there about 270 instances. So who would know higher which islands are the right introduction for newcomers to Greece?

As a result of if you happen to consider the tour operators, many holidaymakers are heading there this summer season, and demand is growing. Listed below are Botig’s island suggestions for Hellas newcomers – and an insider tip for everybody else.

Kos

Botig has an anecdote about Kos. He as soon as flew there from Crete after which took a taxi to Kos City, 25km from the airport.

“I began speaking to the taxi driver and instructed him about Crete – that there have been extra museums and extra historic websites than in Kos, and that the mountains have been larger.”

The taxi driver merely requested, “Why are you travelling round? Do you wish to see museums and mountains or meet good individuals? You’ll discover them right here.”

Discover is a little bit of a key phrase right here, as a result of Kos is a really touristy island. A ratio of 80% vacationers and 20% locals could be seen right here in summer season, Botig estimates.

However for newcomers who’ve already spent their holidays in Italy or Spain and are actually going to Greece for the primary time, it’s a superb journey vacation spot.

It’s additionally nice for households. “There are some very lovely seashores and the distances are quick,” which means the children received’t have to sit down within the automobile for hours on finish. There are many locations to go to, from the traditional web site of Asklepieion or the Zia Pure animal park to the Aquatica water park or the sandy seashores within the south of the island with illustrious names comparable to Magic Seashore and Unique Seashore.

Those that prefer to be extra energetic whereas on vacation can discover Kos by bike. “That is the place one of the best cycle paths in Greece are,” says Botig.

The medieval fortress ruins of Neratzia are situated on the harbour of Kos City.

Corfu

The island within the far north-west of Greece provides some Italian aptitude. That’s due to the Venetians, who dominated right here for a very long time and formed the structure – together with constructing the primary theatre in Greece.

Botig enthuses, “Corfu City is among the most lovely island cities,” … with the outdated city winding via a number of bays alongside the coast.

The Venetians additionally left their mark on the panorama. As a result of they wanted oil for his or her lamps, they planted olive bushes everywhere in the island – that are nonetheless standing, and are actually a whole lot of years outdated.

In accordance with Botig, these are historic olive forests. Particularly within the northern half of the island, winding and hilly roads lead up and down via slim olive groves.

“It’s nearly like driving a curler coaster,” he shares.

Corfu doesn’t have the ruggedness of the Aegean, the writer says. “That’s why I’d suggest it to any newbie.”

In relation to the seashores, nonetheless, Corfu just isn’t so perfect. Particularly the place many of the resorts are situated, the seashores are very pebbly, he says.

His recommendation: “Make sure you take some water footwear with you.”

Rhodes

Nice seashores, numerous inexperienced, historic websites, a variety of sports activities together with the “greatest driving stables in Greece” – these are the highest issues Botig lists about Rhodes. You may say the island has one thing for everybody.

That’s additionally true of the island’s capital, which has the one of many largest and best-preserved outdated cities in Europe, Botig says. “There are solely two new-build homes there.”

The town of Rhodes has quite a lot of bars and tavernas that he can suggest, he provides. Those that like good meals are in excellent arms there, he says, and there’s additionally a good nightlife.

Limnos: The insider tip

If you realize nearly 90 Greek islands, you’ll in fact be requested for an insider tip. Botig then names Limnos, within the northern a part of the Aegean Sea.

“It’s largely solely Greeks that go there for a vacation,” he says, and the island is subsequently not too overcrowded.

And this even supposing you may go to the ruins of Poliochni from the Bronze Age right here, greater than 4,500 years outdated. Poliochni is taken into account the primary city settlement in Europe.

Limnos is relatively cheap and provides good situations for windsurfers and cyclists, says Botig. Nevertheless, you may solely get there with a stopover in Athens or Thessaloniki, and journey onwards both with a home flight or ferry. – dpa