Blog - Read More About Your Favourite Islands

A beautiful region in northern Greece characterized by its 3 peninsulas, often referred to as the ‘fingers’ or ‘claws’, Halkidiki has a wealth of wonderful things to see and do. Each of Halkidiki's peninsulas is different and offers a unique experience which means you can feel the real Greece in every step you take.  In this article we’ll take you through some of our favourites to make the most of your trip to Halkidiki.

How to get there
Halkidiki doesn’t have an airport or any ferry ports. To get there you have to fly into Thessaloniki. From there it is only a 40 minute drive to the top of the Kassandra peninsula which is the nearest and most westerly. To Sithonia (the central one) and to Aristotelis (the eastern one) it is around 2 hours. You can fly into Thessaloniki directly from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted and Newcastle. 

Things To Do

1 – Visit Ammouliani
Ammouliani is a small island located just off the coast the Aristotelis peninsula, between it and Sithonia. Meaning ‘fine sand’, the beaches on Ammouliani definitely live up to the name. The island has some of the best beaches in Halkidiki. You can even rent a boat or join a tour discovering the little inlets and coves across the island as well as spending time on the even smaller island of Drenia just south of Ammouliani. Along with the beaches the island is made up of low, rolling hills dotted with olive trees and houses. The port town is also named Ammounliani and is home to the local museum of folklore as well as the church of Agios Nikiolaos. The streets are full of tavernas and when there you have to try the fish and other seafood, all of which is caught freshly. 

This week's article is focused on the rugged but naturally beautiful island of Folegandros. Part of the Cyclades Island Group, Folegandros is located in the south of the island's circular shape. Only 8 miles long and 3 miles wide, it is one of the smaller islands yet it is known as an island of peace, for it’s tranquil way of life those who live on the island experience. So here at The Greek Specialist we’ve put together some of the best places to go and things to do on the island so that you make the most of your trip or think of putting it on your holiday list.

Patmos is most well known for being the place where the vision came to, and the Book of Revelations was written by St John the Divine. This means it is popular with Christian tourists but we’re here to make the case for it to be on more people’s radar. Throughout this article we’re going to show you what Patmos has to offer and more information about it to help you see why you should visit. 

​Chora is the most immediately recognisable place on the island. High on a hill overlooking Skala, the Monastery of St John dominates the rest of Chora and draws all eyes to it. Looking more like a fortress than a monastery, the interior does look more religious. It is built on the site of an ancient temple. This is the most visited site on the island. Sticking with the religious sites, the Cave of Apocalypse, also in Chora is the site where St John the Divine penned the Book of Revelations. A monastery has been built around it. 

​Outside of the religious sites, Chora is an excellently preserved medieval town, looking more Cycladic in style with whitewashed houses and narrow streets. Within these streets you’ll find some wonderful restaurants, flower filled courtyards and shops. It is a lovely place to walk around and, due to its elevated position will offer excellent views of the whole island. 

​Symi is an island in the Dodecanese just 24 miles from Rhodes. This makes it a popular destination for day trippers from the island, but Symi has a lot more to offer for those wanting the stay longer as well and can be a good addition to an island hopping itinerary. We’re also seeing an increase in enquiries for those looking to do the majority of their stay on the island. This is because before and after the day trippers leave, and if you venture further from Symi Town the island takes on a whole new personality. In this blog we’ll take you through why Symi is much more than a day trip island. 

Explore the town
Symi Town is not only the capital and largest settlement on the island, but is also the port of the island. As you are brought in and taken back from Symi Town, many day trippers only visit the town (mostly the Yialos) and depending on how long you are there, you would have to rush to see all of it in one day. The capital has two distinctive sections to it – Chorio (at the top) and Yialos (the bottom). They are linked by 400 steps called Kali Strata. They each have their own tavernas, shops and cafes as well as their own atmosphere. When you enter on the ferry you are immediately taken aback by the beauty of the port area, it looks like something only possible in your imagination. The many beautiful houses and buildings lining the port hint at the islands past as a commercial centre. Another reminder of its past is the Venetian castle which sits overlooking the town. The history of the island can be learned about in the Nautical and Archaeological museums in Symi Town. 

Parga is a seaside village in the northwest of Greece in the province of Epirus. Known as the prettiest village on the mainland, it is an hour’s drive north from Preveza airport. In this article we’ll give you 5 reasons why Parga is so special, and why you should consider it for your next holiday in Greece.

​Parga is great for those people who want that small and traditional Greek island feel but don’t want to get a ferry. Parga is an hour north of Preveza airport which has lots of connections to UK airports, so it isn’t that difficult to get to. The town’s waterfront is bustling with tavernas with outdoor seating perfectly shaded from the sun whilst you look out at the boats moored up or across the crystal-clear water to the island in the bay. Like many pretty villages across Greece, Parga’s buildings are a beautiful assortment of colours with orange tiled roofs that expand outward from the seafront and climb the slight hill giving it an amphitheatrical feel. This evokes the look of other similarly aesthetic places as Assos on Kefalonia, Symi or Hydra Town or the villages along the Amalfi Coast. 

Greece has 19 international airports that are well connected with those in the UK. This gives UK tourists lots of options to visit the wonders of the country. Corfu is the best connected airport with flights to it from 20 UK airports. This is followed by Rhodes and Zakynthos with 18 and Heraklion (Eastern Crete) with 16. Below we've got a list of destinations that you can fly to from airports up and down the UK so you can see where you can go and decide. 

Aberdeen - Corfu and Rhodes

Belfast - Corfu, Zakynthos, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes

Birmingham - Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Kalamata, Preveza, Thessaloniki, Skiathos, Athens, Chania (Western Crete), Kavala, Santorini, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes. 

Bournemouth - Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Heraklion and Rhodes

Bristol - Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Preveza, Chania, Thessaloniki, Skiathos, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes 

Cardiff - Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes

East Midlands - Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Chania, Skiathos, Santorini, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes. 

Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Island group and definitely one of the most beautiful. Like all the others in the group, it is very green and lush forests cover much of the island. As an island with an international airport, it is easy to get to and has lots of facilities for tourists. With lots of villages and towns up and down the island, it can be difficult to decide where to stay, this is where we come in. When you enquire with us, we can go through everything in more personal detail but here is a more general overview of the main places.  

​Located on the western coast and backing onto the island’s capital Argostolion, Lassi has everything you could need, at your fingertips. With lots of choices of accommodation and a variety of restaurants, it can cater perfectly to what you’re looking for. There are also a number of beaches very close, the two nearest are Gradakia and Paliostafida beaches. Being near to Argostolion, you have easy access to plenty of things to see such as the Lighthouse of Saint Theodore and the Memorial of Acqui Division. Lassi’s excellent location also includes being only a 10 minute drive from the airport

​Sitting on the southern tip of the island, Scala also caters excellently for tourists with plenty of accommodation and lots of tavernas. It sits next to a lovely beach that is a mix of pebbles and sand. Skala is easily connected to Argostolion by the bus which makes it easy to get around if you don’t have a car. Sitting right next to the beach and the village is a Roman Villa. This popular historical site dates back to the 3rd century and has a lovely mosaic on the floor. 

This week’s Island of the Week is the Argo-Saronic island of Poros. Actually made up of two islands joined by a bridge. Spheria, which was created by volcanic activity, is taken up mostly by Poros Town and is the closest to the Peloponnese (just 200m at its shortest). Kalavria is the far larger of the two islands and is covered in dense pine forest. 
 
How to get there 
Poros doesn’t have a domestic airport and can be reached by ferry from Piraeus, either by high-speed (approx. 1 hour) or slow ferry (approx. 2 ½ hours) run by either Saronic Ferries or Blue Star Ferries . There are several of these ferries a day which stop at the other Saronic islands such as Aegina and Agistri.  

There are many places to see in Poros Town although many of the more popular ones are dotted around on Kalavria. These included all of the more scenic ones. We’ve picked these 5 places for their interest and as they give you a feel of the history and culture of the Poros. 

1 – Monastery Beach 

Located in the south of Kalavria beneath the Zoodohos Pighi Monastery (which is also a must see by the way) this quiet beach has sparkling clear waters which stretch out towards the mainland. With pine forests coming down from the hills and the Monastery overlooking it, you are sure of a beautiful backdrop whilst swimming around or lounging on a sunbed. There are some amenities at the beach and water sports and underwater diving are available there as well. The beach is 5km from Poros town and can be reached by foot, car, bus, taxi or even water taxi from Poros town.   

In recent months we’ve seen an increase in interest and enquiries for Meganisi, so we thought it was a great time to showcase what this great little island has to offer. A small island in the Ionian group, it is filled with luscious greenery, scenic villages and an abundance of beautiful coastline that holds many secluded beaches and the sea caves which the island is known for. In this article we’ll take you through how to get there, where to stay and things to do so that you will have all the information you need to know to decide when to visit this beautiful island. 

How to get there
Meganisi doesn’t have an airport as it is far too small for one. The nearest one is on the mainland at Preveza. Preveza Airport is accessible from a number of UK airports, these are Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol. From there you can get a transfer to the town of Nidri on the island of Lefkas. Lefkas is connected by a bridge to the mainland which makes it another great place to visit from Preveza. A good twin centre Ionian island hopping itinerary is Lefkas and Meganisi due to their close proximity and good ferry links. Once at Nidri, you would then get a ferry across to Meganisi. 

Where to stay on Meganisi
There are 3 villages on Meganisi – Spartochori, Vathi and Katomeri. Vathi is the most picturesque village on the island and sits at the end of an inlet with lots of seaside tavernas and cafes to choose from as well as a number of hotels and villas. This idyllic village is the best place to stay on the island. If you’re looking for convenience and gorgeous views then choose Spartochori. This is where the ferry from Lefkas arrives so you can easily walk up to your accommodation. There is only one taxi on the island, so walking is best and only a short distance. The village sits on a hill overlooking the beach and marina and its narrow streets house gorgeous buildings, tavernas and cafes as well as apartments and hotels. Spartochori is also the largest of the three villages.

Finally, Katomeri sits on a hill looking out across the eastern half of the island. There are fewer hotels and tavernas here, but it is still very beautiful place to stay. Wherever you decide to stay on Meganisi, it will provide stunning views, pretty buildings and will be near to everywhere, as you can walk between the three villages in an hour. 

The Peloponnese is the name given to the southern part of the Greek mainland, from the Corinth Canal downwards. This is where Greece shines through – the food is amongst the best in the country, the region's vineyards provide some of the new guard of Greek wines that are winning awards but most importantly the ‘filoxenia’ or hospitality really is visible here. The area has so much to visit as well, such as beautiful beaches and lovely towns, however it is also home to many of Greece’s historical landmarks, especially from the classical period. Unless you want to stay in one place for the majority of your holiday, you will need to rent a car to see many of them and this opens up opportunities. In this article we’ll take you through how to do a 7 day road trip across the Peloponnese, starting and ending at the region's airport of Kalamata, in which you can take in most of the historical landmarks of the area. At The Greek Specialist, we can all the stress out of it and organise the whole thing from flights to accommodation and car hire, it can all be discussed at the time of enquiry.
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How to get there
Kalamata is the airport to fly into for the Peloponnese. You can fly into Kalamata from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Stansted, Bristol and Manchester. For most of these destinations there is only one or two flights a week, giving us our timeframe for a 7 day road trip. Flights into Kalamata for 2023 go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, although most tend to be at a weekend.   

Day 1
After landing in Kalamata, you can either spend the day exploring all the city has to offer and stay the night there or you can drive to Sparta, which takes just over an hour, from which you can then explore the next day. If you’re staying in Kalamata, there’s plenty to explore, whether it be museums or churches such as the Church of Agioi Apostoloi or relaxing on any one of the beaches on the cities coast. If you drive straight to Sparta, there’s many places to get some food whilst you walk around the city and take in the sights and sounds.
 
Day 2
Once you’re in Sparta, the two main historical sites are the remains of Ancient Sparta and Mystras. The archaeological site of the famous ancient Sparta is in the north of the town. Here you can explore the fascinating area and see the sites of the Acropolis, Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia and the theatre amongst others. The sites which remain date back as far as nearly 3000 years ago. Think about the history they have seen, walking through you can imagine what it was like in its heyday. Not far out of the town is Mystras, a Byzantine settlement dating back to the 13th century. Built around a large hill, much of the settlement is still standing and one of the churches hosts a museum holding various items from the city. Not only has this settlement still got many of its original buildings, all of which give a good idea of the importance of the city in the region, but also it has a wonderful panoramic view across the surrounding landscape. 

Possible Addition
From Sparta you can then drive north towards Nafplion, if you want to however, you can detour to Monemvasia. Known as the Gibraltar of the East, Monemvasia’s main town is on the easternmost of the Peloponnese’s southern peninsulas. The castle and part of the town is located on a small outcrop which is attached to the mainland by a 200m long causeway. The settlement dates back to the 6th century AD and is another example of the Byzantine era of the region. Much of the town keeps its original rustic appearance and many of the buildings have been restored to keep up the appearance of the town. It should be visited if you have the time.  

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades island group. It is very popular with tourists and is one of the most recognisable islands in all of Greece, known for its whitewashed buildings that climb the caldera side of the island. If you’ve decided you want to go to Santorini, you probably know where you want to stay (if not or either way we can help, just click here to fill in our enquiry form), but when is the best time to go? You probably want to know what Santorini’s weather is like and how busy it is going to be to help you decide. In this article we’ll talk you through all of this and more so that you can have the best possible time in Santorini. 

How to get there
Santorini Airport, known as Kratikos Aerolimenas Santorinis is located in the central part of the island’s eastern coast. You can fly there from both major UK airports like Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester or regional ones such as Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle and Edinburgh. With plenty of options and flights it’s easy to get to Santorini. Santorini is a great place to have as part of an island hopping itinerary, especially as a start or end point due to its international airport and excellent ferry links.

When is the best time to go?
Like much of Europe, Santorini has its warmest weather in July and August, with temperatures regularly reaching over 30 degrees. This is also when it is the busiest as school holidays in the UK mean families descend on the island looking for some sun. Not only is it the busiest time to visit but the most expensive as hotel prices are higher than usual, knowing it will be busy and demand will be massive. Therefore, if you can visit at another time then it is recommended as it will be cheaper and less busy.
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Outside of these months June is the next busiest. Busy has become common for a number of years in Santorini though. Across the board 2022 was a record year for Greece with more people visiting than ever before. Smashing figures from 2019. June has the joint lowest average rainfall of the whole year and temperatures average around 27 and 28˚C.

Sikinos manages a rare feat, being a secluded island that is undiscovered by mass tourism in an island group that is the most accessible in Greece and features mainstays such as Mykonos, Santorini and Ios, as well as up and comers such as Naxos, Paros and Milos. So come with us as we tell you more about Sikinos, the Cyclades most secluded island.

How to get there
Unsurprisingly for its secluded status, Sikinos doesn’t have an airport and is only accessible by ferry. You can fly into Athens and get a ferry from Piraeus but the ferry takes a long time. It is far quicker and easier to fly into nearby Santorini and get a ferry from there. There are around 8 ferries a week to Sikinos but these aren’t always every day, so we take that into consideration when planning your trip to line up with flights. You can fly into Santorini from London Heathrow, London City, Bristol, London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted, Newcastle and East Midlands. 

Things to Do
There aren’t many things specifically to do or see on Sikinos, but it makes for a perfect place to relax and recuperate from the rigors of daily life. The best thing to go and see is the Monastery of Episkopi, this monastery is an old Byzantine church over the top of Roman mausoleum. It has some excellent frescoes and you can take time to admire the beautiful old exterior. You can find out more about the island's history at the Folklore Museum or Byzantine Collection in Chorio. There are some other typically Cycladic churches to see throughout the island with whitewashed walls and blue domes. 

Serifos is a beautiful and quiet island hidden amongst the Cyclades. It isn’t really hidden though, being on a main ferry line between Piraeus and Milos, yet it has not been discovered by the larger tourist market. It has stunning scenery, much of which is visible from the Chora, and a plethora of gorgeous sandy beaches. Some who visit do not venture out of the south of the island, as this is where most of the settlement and therefore the accommodation is. It is our hope, that by telling you the joys of the best beaches on Serifos including some smaller, more remote ones, it will also encourage you to firstly, go and visit the island and secondly explore it entirely. So, here we go with the best beaches on Serifos.

In total there are 60 beaches to explore on Serifos, the majority of them sandy and many with natural shade so you can explore the more remote beaches without need of an umbrella or sunlounger. We’ll start with a beach that is highly recommended, so much so that the Sunday Times named it as Europe’s Beach of the Year, and that beach is Psili Ammos. This gorgeous, secluded beach sits on the east of the island 5 miles from Chora. It is unorganized (meaning there are few facilities around and no sunloungers or umbrellas) but its not needed with trees standing amongst the golden sands providing shade from the hot sun. Its an excellent place to relax on an already quiet island. 

Often overshadowed and forgotten about when compared with its larger and more well-known neighbour, Kimolos is a small island with a relaxed way of life and a typically Cycladic feel that is best known for its beaches. This lack of awareness is what works for the island, and it can be a great place to stay and relax whilst exploring Milos in the day, or the other way around. Because of the island's small size, the most common way to get around the island is walking, and many of the things mentioned in this article are close together. In this we’ll show you what Kimolos has to offer and why it is somewhere worth visiting.   

How to get there
Kimolos is only accessible by ferry. Milos, its neighbour, has a domestic airport that links with Athens meaning you can fly into Athens, transfer to Milos, and then go to Kimolos from there. Alternatively, you can catch a ferry from Athens Piraeus port. Some ferries stop on Kimolos, others you may need to stop at Milos and go from there.
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Beaches
Beaches are the thing that Kimolos is most known for. Like much of the Cyclades the beaches on Kimolos are sandy with beautiful blue waters surrounding the island. On the island there are some beaches that are organised, but many aren’t, and you can be one of only a few there, depending on the time of year you go. The most popular beach on the island is Psathi, which is right next to the port. The beach itself is quite short but it gives you a lovely view out across the port and marina. There are a number of small hotels and apartments near the beach, and it is well served with cafes and tavernas nearby too. 

A short ferry from Athens is the small but beautiful island of Hydra. Part of the Argo Saronic group, this picturesque place has attracted a number of famous faces over the years and is known for not having cars or any vehicles on the island. In this article we’ll take you through what Hydra has to offer and why it is perfect for a day trip from Athens or a great place to experience the traditional side of Greece and relax. 

How to get there
Hydra is far too small to have an airport.  As it is near to Athens though it is easy to fly into there and get a ferry from Piraeus. Athens has many direct flights from the UK including the four major London Airports, Birmingham and Edinburgh. 

Hydra Town
Hydra Town is the only large settlement on the island and is where most of the accommodation and things to do on the island are. The town climbs up the hillside like an amphitheatre offering a great view whether you have just gotten off the ferry or are looking down from above. Something you’ll notice pretty quickly is that there are no vehicles, this peace and quiet takes you back in time and offers a serene setting for you to relax and take in everything this island has to offer. Whereas when you get off the ferry on most islands you are greeted with taxis and cars to pick up guests and take them to hotels, on Hydra you are met by a man holding a donkey. This will be taking your luggage to your accommodation. Walking is the only way to explore the island by land.

Lesvos is an island full of great places to visit and plenty of things to do. Despite still being a more traditional island and not visited by many tourists, it is easy to get around by car and boasts some of the most beautiful spots in the North East Aegeans. In this article we’ll give you just a selection of the wonderful things you can get up to and see on the island so that you can make the most of your time there or maybe we can make you decide to visit Lesvos.

How to get there
Good news for those looking to stay on a more traditional island but don’t want to get a ferry, Lesvos has an airport that has direct flights from Bristol, Manchester and London Stansted. If you aren't near one of those though, you can fly indirectly via Athens or Thessaloniki. If you want to get a ferry, they do visit Lesvos however they are less regular so we would have to match up your holiday with them.

Immerse Yourself in Lesvos’s Culture in Mytilini
Mytilini (sometimes spelt Mytilene) is the capital and the largest town on the island. In the town there are many places where you can experience the history and culture of the island. Discover the ancient past of the island at the Archaeological Museum and the Ancient Theatre and then learn more about its time under Turkish rule through the Mosques of Yeni and Valide. In Mytilini you can experience excellent authentic Greek food at restaurants throughout the town, some highlights are the fresh fish and deep-fried bread that some places are famous for. 

When you think of the Greek Islands, Mykonos is probably one of the first places you think of. It's photogenic buildings, gorgeous golden sands and thriving nightlife scream Greek luxury. Part of the Cyclades islands, it is the perfect place to add in on an island hop due to its central location and excellent transport links. In this article we’ll take you through what there is on the island and what makes it so iconic and help you decide whether to add it to your bucket list.  

How to get there
Mykonos has an international airport which it makes it the perfect place to start or end an island-hopping trip. You can fly directly into Mykonos from London Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton, and Stansted as well as Southampton and Manchester. Alternatively, you can get to Mykonos via a ferry. These can come along many routes as it is a well-connected island. 

It is immediately clear when you arrive on Mykonos that it is part of the Cyclades, with its whitewashed houses standing out against the rocky landscape. These only become more picturesque as you come into Mykonos Town where the narrow streets look like something out of a postcard. Around the town you will see some of the landmarks associated with Mykonos such as Little Venice, a row of buildings just on the waterfront with colourful shutters filled with bars and restaurants, or the windmills which sit a 2-minute walk away from it and overlook the town. Little Venice is one of the most popular spots for drinks and its many bars and restaurants offer a view over the bay towards the small nearby islands of Mpaos, Kavouras, Rineia as well as the headland further to the south. All of this provides a wonderful backdrop day or night and is a popular place to watch the sunset.
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Nightlife is something Mykonos is known for. The town bustles with life in the day and this only goes up a notch in the evening. The narrow streets are filled with bars of all shapes and sizes serving a range of cocktails, beers and spirits. The whitewashed buildings mean the lights reflect and give streets a hue which makes it seem like it’s the middle of the day. Along the shorefront are a number of clubs where you can dance the night away and many of them are open till the early morning. 

Corfu is an island in the Ionian Sea, it is very popular with tourists especially from the UK. If you’ve decided you want to go to Corfu, you probably know where you want to stay (if not we can help just click here to fill in our enquiry form), but when is the best time to go? You probably want to know what Corfu’s weather is like and how busy it is going to be to help you decide. In this article we’ll talk you through all of this and more so that you can have the best possible time in Corfu.

How to get there
Corfu Airport, known as Corfu Airport Ioannis Kapodistras is located in the centre of the island near the island’s capital Corfu Town. You can fly there from both major UK airports like Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester or regional ones such as Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle and Aberdeen. With plenty of options and flights its easy to get to Corfu. Despite this, Corfu isn’t good if you are looking to island hop as it is isolated from the rest of the Ionian Islands and ferries only run to Igoumenitsa on the mainland.  

Like much of Europe, Corfu has its warmest weather in July and August, with temperatures regularly reaching over 30 degrees. This is also when it is the busiest as school holidays in the UK mean families descend on the island looking for some sun. Not only is it the busiest time to visit but the most expensive as hotel prices are high, knowing it will be busy and demand will be massive. Therefore, if you can visit at another time then it is recommended as it will be cheaper and less busy.

Outside of these months June is the next busiest. Busy has become common this year though. Across the board 2022 has been a record year so far for Greece with more people visiting than ever before. Smashing figures from 2019. June has the second lowest average rainfall of the whole year and temperatures average around 27 and 28˚C. Many of Corfu’s resorts stretch along the north coast such as Sidari, Kassiopi and the beautiful Paleokastritsa. If you are looking to visit these areas June and the other summer months are best as it gets slightly colder quicker than the south of the island. 
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If you’re looking for a cheaper and quieter time to go then look at May or September. Corfu’s weather in May stays in the 20s and it doesn’t rain much throughout the month, around the same as in August and September. May is also when flights begin making it a good time to go if you get in early. If you want heat and to avoid school holidays, then September is the best month for you. It retains lots of the heat from July and August whilst staying free of much rain. Temperatures in September stay firmly in the mid to late 20s making it a good option for holiday makers still seeking sun outside of the busier times.  

Often forgotten about next to its larger and more popular neighbours such as Corfu and Zakynthos, Ithaca is a small island located next to Kefalonia in the Ionian Island group. It is a peaceful island that is naturally beautiful and the focal point for many stories in Greek mythology. Ithaca is a very green land that makes the red tiled roofs of its buildings stick out amongst the trees, making for beautiful views wherever you go on the island. In this article we’ll highlight this serene island and give you some ideas of what you can get up to and why you should visit.

How to get there
Like many smaller Greek islands, Ithaca doesn’t have an airport. You can fly into Kefalonia and then get a ferry across from there. These ferries can take anywhere between 20 and 50 minutes to reach Ithaca and go from either Poros or Sami. You can fly into Kefalonia from many UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. 

Often known as the Mamma Mia island, Skopelos has grown in popularity for tourists since the films release. It is still however, less busy than its neighbour Skiathos. The island serves as a perfect mix of its two neighbouring islands, the aforementioned Skiathos and the tranquil Alonissos. As we say at The Greek Specialist however, each island is completely different, which is why in this article we’ll be telling you what Skopelos has to offer and why it is worth visiting.
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How To Get There
You can’t fly directly to Skopelos as it doesn’t have an airport, the nearest being on Skiathos. From there you can get one of the ferries which run regularly between the closest three Sporades islands. You can fly directly into Skiathos from London City, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and London Gatwick. 

​The Town
The main settlement on the island is called Skopelos Town. It is here where the main port is and where most of the ferries come into. Despite its recent increase in tourism, Skopelos has still managed to maintain its traditional atmosphere. In the town this can be seen in its architecture, which still reflects the islands history, as well as many tavernas found throughout the streets and waterfront, serving up authentic dishes. It is something you get a sense of when you step off the ferry for the first time. The town has plenty to see, for example it has over 360 churches within its limits. The best of these is the Church of the Virgin Mary, which from its tower you get a wonderful view across the town and marina. For a different view visit the Venetian Castle. It was built in the 13th century and stands on top of the ancient city of Skopelos. Now just ruins, this site gives you an insight into the history of the island. With loads of narrow streets filled with shops and cafes, the best way to explore the town is to wander around soaking it all in as you go.