Decision guide · reviewed on 8 October 2026
Which Greek island: Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes or Corfu.
Santorini wins on the view and loses on space. Mykonos wins for beach and nightlife. Crete wins if you want to drive, mix days and more space. Rhodes is a large island with a long season. Corfu is another sea: rainy in winter, according to HNMS. The Aegean summer is long and dry; the July–August peak is the busiest. May–June and September–October ease the crowds and are still dry.
| Criterion | Santorini / Mykonos | Crete / Rhodes | Corfu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | Possible, but logistics are tighter. | More space, beach and a car. | Green and beaches; confirm the coast. |
| Summer | Peak season: high demand, book early. | Dry in Heraklion; still busy. | Summer is dry too; winter is when it rains. |
| Moving between islands | Two compact islands in a week are tiring. | Stay on one; Crete is enough. | Do not mix it with Santorini in the same short week. |
Who each island is for
Santorini is for anyone who will accept little space in exchange for the caldera. Mykonos is beach and nightlife. Crete is for anyone who wants to drive, mix beach and inland, and more space. Rhodes is a large island with a long season. Corfu is the Ionian: greener; Kerkyra is much wetter in winter.
Do not join Santorini and Mykonos in a short week just to “see both”. Do not treat Corfu as the southern Aegean in winter. With ten nights you can add a second island only if the ferry or domestic flight is in writing.
Planning example (not a package): seven nights on Crete with a car, or seven on Santorini without trying to “see Greece”. With twelve nights, Crete pays off more than jumping between Santorini and Mykonos.
What should appear in the proposal
- Island and area, not “a week in Greece”.
- Month: July and August are the peak; May–June and September–October ease the crowds.
- Transfers, ferry or domestic flight if there is a second island.
- Whether you are travelling as a family and whether you will accept a small island.
- Whether you want a car (Crete, Rhodes) or a plan without driving (Santorini).
Frequently asked questions
Santorini or Crete?
Santorini if the view is the reason. Crete if you want beach, space and days that differ from one another.
Is August a bad idea?
It is the busiest window. The sea is warm; so are the crowds. Compare June and September.
Can I join Santorini and Mykonos in one week?
It is tiring. A ferry or flight eats half-days. Stay on one, or give it ten nights and write the connection down.
Is Crete enough for a first visit?
Yes, if you want beach, a car and mixed days. A week does not cover the whole island — and it does not need to. Pick one coast and go from there.
Is Corfu the same as the Aegean?
No. It is the Ionian: greener, and much wetter in winter. Summer is dry too; the contrast is the cold season.
Can't find the trip you're looking for? Request a quote for any destination, departing from wherever you like. You can also check the offers catalogue.
Sources: HNMS — Heraklion, HNMS — Kerkyra, Visit Greece.