The question people actually ask is not which island to visit but where on it to sleep, and the honest answer is that on most Greek islands there are only three or four real choices. Getting it wrong is rarely a disaster, but it can cost you an hour of driving twice a day for a week.
The three kinds of base
Almost every Greek island offers a version of the same three options, and each one buys you something at the cost of something else.
- The port town โ where the ferry lands and where every bus route starts. Cheapest for the same standard, walkable, and the only option that genuinely works without a car. The trade-off is noise and the fact that the best beaches are usually somewhere else. Parikia on Paros, Adamas on Milos, Naxos Town, Rhodes New Town.
- The beach base โ you wake up on the sand and you drive for everything else. Right for a week where the beach is the point, wrong if you want to see the island. Agios Prokopios on Naxos, Platis Gialos on Mykonos, Pefkos on Rhodes.
- The inland village โ by a distance the cheapest, cooler in August, and the only version where you eat next to people who live there. You will need a car and you will drive to every beach. Lefkes on Paros, Ano Mera on Mykonos, the mountain villages of Naxos.
There is a fourth on some islands, the pretty village that became expensive: Naoussa on Paros, Lindos on Rhodes, Oia on Santorini. Beautiful, and priced accordingly.
Five questions that settle it
- Are you hiring a car? If not, stay in the port town. This one question eliminates most of the map.
- How many nights? Under four, stay near the port and do not move. A week or more, an inland base or a quieter beach starts to pay off.
- Which way does the wind blow? On Rhodes the west coast takes the meltemi and the east is sheltered. On Naxos and Paros it is the west coast that gets hit. In July and August this decides whether you swim.
- Do you want dinner within walking distance? If yes, that rules out most beach bases, where the choice is often two tavernas and the hotel.
- Who is coming? Shallow, organised and sandy for small children. Ornos, Agios Georgios on Naxos, Golden Beach on Rhodes. Everything else is negotiable.
Where to stay, island by island
Each of these has a full breakdown of its areas, what each one is like and what it costs you.
CreteChania, Rethymno, Heraklion, the east or the south coast โ and why one base is not enough
NaxosChora, Agios Prokopios, Plaka, Mikri Vigla or the mountain villages
ParosParikia versus Naoussa, plus the east coast and Lefkes
MykonosChora, Ornos, the party beaches, or Ano Mera inland
RhodesOld Town, New Town, Lindos or the quieter southeast
MilosAdamas, Pollonia, Plaka or the syrmata villages
The other destinations on GreeceDays each carry their own guide, and we are adding the same level of detail to them one at a time.
Two things worth knowing before you book
- The port matters more than the map suggests. Some islands have two, and arriving at the wrong one with luggage is a bad start. On Mykonos most ferries use Tourlos while the old port handles Delos boats. Check what your ticket actually says.
- August prices are a different island. The same room can double between June and August, and on Mykonos the gap is wider still. June and September give you the same sea for noticeably less.
Common questions
Where should I stay in Greece for the first time?
In the main port town of whichever island you choose. It is the cheapest option for the same standard, everything is walkable, and it is the only base that works properly without a car. You can always take a quieter base on a second visit.
Is it better to stay near the beach or in town?
In town if you have under four nights, no car, or you want dinner within walking distance. On the beach if you have a week, a car, and the beach is the point of the trip. Beach bases usually mean driving for everything except swimming.
Do I need a car in the Greek islands?
It depends entirely on your base. Port towns and the main beach strips are well served by buses on most islands. Inland villages, remote beaches and anywhere on a large island like Rhodes or Crete effectively require one.
When is accommodation cheapest in Greece?
May, June, late September and October. The same room can cost double in August, and on Mykonos the gap is wider still. The sea is warm from June to October, so the shoulder months give you most of the summer for much less.
Where should families stay?
Near a shallow, organised, sandy beach with tavernas in walking distance. Ornos on Mykonos, Agios Georgios on Naxos and Agathi on Rhodes all fit. Avoid bases that need a long drive to every meal.
Last updated: 23 July 2026 ยท Spot something out of date? hello@greecedays.com
What about Athens? Nearly every trip starts or ends there, and a night near the centre saves a lot of trouble when the ferry leaves Piraeus early. Athens guide →