This is a guest post by freelance travel writer Matthew Hawking.
In the hit movie Mamma Mia!, Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan lit up the screen but the real star was the stunning land and seascape of the Greek Islands. The Abba-themed romp was filmed on Skopelos and Skiathos, but Greece has nearly 1400 islands studded throughout the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean and surrounding seas. While the Caribbean and Hawaii are typical honeymoon destinations for Americans, the Greek Islands are a beautiful part of the world for vacationing newlyweds.
Most of the islands can be reached by ferry only. They vary from secluded retreats from the modern world to party islands with hopping nightlife. Get acquainted with some of the more interesting and romantic spots with this quick guide.
The Dodecanese Islands
Located in the southeastern most corner of the Aegean Sea, the Dodecanese Islands are some of the most popular with travellers and offer an appealing blend of history, scenery and culture.
The largest and most popular of this island group is Rhodes. The island’s largest city shares its name and is ringed by a medieval wall that once protected a castle built by the Knights of Saint John. The city offers nightlife and important archaeological sites open for touring while the rest of the island is more rural with the occasional beachside resort community. Daily ferries connect Rhodes with nearby smaller islands and provide a great chance for daytrips to nearby Turkey.
Other interesting spots in the Dodecanese Islands include Nisyros, which is actually a dormant volcano with black pebble beaches and a romantic natural thermal spring. Creative couples would do well to visit Symi, which hosts several writing and photography classes by its resident thriving artists’ community. Finally, Kos features ruins from cultures throughout the ages as well as great bargains for couples on a budget.
The Cyclades Islands
Representing another popular island chain for Grecophiles, the Cyclades islands are located in the center of the Aegean Sea, about halfway between mainland Greece and Turkey. They include the tourist favorites Mykonos and Santorini as well as less-travelled isles such as Maxos, Paros and Kea.
A party-centric hotspot, Mykonos is a fast-paced and fun-filled destination, perfect for a portion of your honeymoon when you want to let loose. The island is packed with crowded beaches and resorts for the daytime and tons of bars and clubs for all-night celebrations. When you’ve had enough reveling, plenty of ferries offer day trips to uninhabited archaeological islands or out to quieter neighbouring islands.
Santorini is one of the most geologically interesting Greek islands and is actually part of an extinct volcano. Its gigantic caldera forms the island’s ringed harbour and is responsible for the sheer cliffs that rise nearly 1,000 feet from the sea along its western shore. One of the most romantic destinations in all of Greece, the island offers the perfect mix of quiet villages, world-class hotels, beaches both bustling and peaceful, great nightlife and amazing food.
The Ionian Islands
Located in the eastern part of the Ionian Sea, the Ionian Islands make up Greece’s western border and shares portions of its culture and geography with Italy. Its best known islands include Ithaki, Corfu, Paxos and Kythira.
Widely accepted as the home of the legendary Odysseus, Ithaki is decked with archaeological sites linked with Homer’s epic The Odyssey. The mountainous island is also a nature-loving couple’s dream, with miles of trails between historic sites, fishing villages and sandy beaches. The island is also home to picturesque olive and orange groves that make a fittingly Mediterranean backdrop for your honeymoon.
Corfu, the Greek island nearest Italy, is also a tourist favourite, known for its spectacular and abundant beaches and picture perfect scenery. The island is home to the tourist hub of Paleokastritsa as well as numerous inland villages that offer many peaceful places to take in this island’s distinctly Greek charm.
Photo credit: “Μανδρακι – Mandraki” by Atli Harðarson on Flickr. Photo licensed for commercial use with Creative Commons.
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The cyclades Islands are a wonderful place for a honeymoon. I actually wrote about the island of Mykonos on my blog. Check it out, hopefully you will find some helpful advice on your next trip there!
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