The Common Greek Island Mistake That Could Leave You Stranded

There are many Greek islands to visit (hundreds, in fact) and you have only one life to live. Why limit yourself to just one island when you can use the country's many interisland ferries to visit several of them in one trip? It's a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time, as long as you don't get off at the wrong island. With so many ferry companies and routes and schedules to keep track of, this mistake is more common than you might think when traveling in Greece and can put a serious damper on your travels.

Picture this: It's a gloriously sunny day in the Mediterranean. The wind tousles your hair as you lean over the ferry's railing to gaze into the water's azure depths. You lose yourself in the moment, as you're supposed to do on your island getaway. But suddenly, other passengers begin lining up to exit because the ferry is approaching a port. You snap out of your reverie and follow the crowd as it pours from the boat into the ferry terminal. In the next moment, the ferry departs, and you settle into a nearby café to sip a coffee and nibble on a spanakopita before heading to your accommodation. Then, it hits you like a cold wave from the River Styx as you check your phone — you weren't supposed to arrive at your island destination for another hour. Your heart sinks. You got off on the wrong island. And the next ferry to the correct island — the one where you have your hotel reservation — doesn't leave until tomorrow morning. To minimize mishaps like this one, it pays to remember a few things when traveling between Greek islands.

Always keep it simple when island hopping. On your first trip to Greece, it may be tempting to get the most "bang for your buck" by trying to see as many islands as possible. But recognize that each time you island hop, you introduce complexity, stress, and costs into your trip. This is especially important when you're traveling to Greece on a tight budget. One way to manage complex ferry travel is to set an alarm on your phone for your scheduled arrival time so you don't disembark at the wrong port or island. This is especially helpful on longer ferry trips, where you may doze off and lose track of time. The trip between Athens and the island of Santorini, for example, takes from five to 11 hours depending on the ferry operator and route.

You can also limit yourself to a small group of islands, of which there are six groups in total. The Saronic Islands are closest to Athens. The Sporades, Cyclades, North Aegean, and Dodecanese island clusters are in the Aegean Sea, and the Ionian islands are, of course, in the Ionian Sea between mainland Greece and Italy. These island clusters are distinctive but often have similar features that can help you decide which is best for you. For example, architecture lovers may appreciate the fairytale towns and villages in the Ionian islands. Nature lovers will adore the lush pine forests and hidden beaches of the Sporades islands. Meanwhile, partiers often head to the action-packed islands in the Cyclades, which include famous Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini. Besides ferries, plane travel is also a helpful way to island hop. But before you book your flights, you should also see why traveling by plane between islands has its annoyances, too.