Choosing the Right Holiday Loan

Greek Island Holidays in the Cyclades Islands

Author: Bea Metcalfe
Source: ezinearticles.com

Greek island holidays offer a mix of holiday diversions from beautiful beaches and warm water to major cultural sites. One of the best choices for Greek island holidays are the Cyclades islands: awash with blue domed Byzantine churches rounding off white villages that look they have been painted by cubist architects then decorated with bougainvillea and cats. These towns tumble down rugged, multicoloured hills to golden, sandy beaches and crescent bays lining up against azure seas, and all coated in warm sunshine. Holidays in Greece, particularly here, offer a nice travelling lifestyle.

There are around 200 Cyclades Islands so don’t expect to be able to tick them all off in one Greek island holiday. Most people plan their Greek island holiday to include Santorini, for the volcanic harbour and the famous whitewashed cubist architecture and blue domed roofs, Naxos for the wide, sandy beaches and the Archaeological Museum, and Mykonos for more beaches and the dancing in the cafes. A good Greek island holiday itinerary will mix them up with some of the smaller, less touristy islands, though all the guide books say there’s not really a bad Cyclades Island Hopping itinerary, and some people just recommend packing your bags and playing it by ear depending on which ferry comes first.

Here’s a Greek island holiday itinerary example: Holiday day 1 & 2: Popular Mykonos is one of the easiest islands to start your holiday on, after which it’s time to hit Mykonos Town’s maze of streets, cafes and bars, or hit the beach. From Mykonos, it’s a short day trip to Delos for the historic Hellenistic ruins and excavations.

Greek island holiday day 3 & 4: Set off to Naxos in the morning and arrive in time for a swim and a stroll around town, visiting the Portara and the castle. Wake up early and take a drive into the interior to see the 7th Century frescos in the church of Panayia Drosiani, and the pretty town of Apeiranthos then spend the afternoon in the Archaeological Museum.

Greek island holiday days 5-7: After a morning swim at one of the many beaches, ferry yourself over to Paros for a stroll along the coast and dinner in one of the pretty port towns, Naousa is particularly nice. Paros has a mountainous interior with little scenic outposts of civilisation, so this is a good island on which to rent a scooter and go for a drive. Head to the Hundred Doors Church and drive into the mountains then back along the coast before packing up to literally sleep on the beach at one of the campsites on small and quiet Antiparos.

Greek island holiday day 8 & 9: From Paros sail to Milos: a lower key version of Santorini, where the Venus de Milo was found, and a good place to try sea kayaking, then spend a night on another of the quieter islands, Kythnos; for the traditional villages and sandy crescent shaped bays which attract mainly Greek holidaymakers.

Greek island holiday day 10 – 12: Santorini is the place of a million Greek Travel brochure photos: the volcano caldera with the picturesque towns clinging to its slopes, anchored in the deep blue, deep blue harbour. Once you’ve settled in take some time to appreciate the view on a whitewashed cubist terrace. On the days that follow visit the Prehistoric Museum of Thera and swim off the black sandy beaches at Kamari and Perissa.

Greek island holiday day 13 & 14: Crete, with all its archaeology and mythology is included in this island group, but Crete still has the kind of coastlines you’ll be coming to expect by the end of your Cycladic fortnight. The Palace of Knossos is a highlight for the frescos and stories of the Minotaur, the archaeological dig at Phaistos is a must-see for the layers of history it uncovers, then spend some time on the beach.

The best time for a Greek island holiday in the Cyclades islands is May through June or September, at the beginning and end of the season when it’s not too hot, not too busy and the accommodation is cheaper. Holidays in Greece don’t get any better than this!

WorldReviewer.com is a travel website with independent reviews on worldwide travel. If you are looking for Greek Island Holidays particularly the Cyclades Islands you will find many options, reviews and guides to help you make your choice for the best Holidays in Greece.