Top 15 Island Day Trips in Greece

1.Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,416 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $44Our pick

Spend 8 to 11 hours exploring northeastern Crete with hotel pickup, a live guide, and a comfortable coach. You’ll have free time in Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, cruise to Spinalonga, walk its former leper colony, and stop for a swim from the boat. Guides such as Manos, Helena, and Alexandra are praised for clear, friendly commentary.

“Brilliant activity. Great guides. Transport was really nice too. Highly recommend”

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2.Day Trip to Elafonisi Island Pink Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,014 reviews · 450 minutes - 12 hours · from $38

Travel from Chania to Elafonisi with hotel pickup, an English, German, or Danish guide, and a comfortable air-conditioned coach. See Topolia Gorge, stop in Elos, then enjoy about four hours on the beach. Simona, Joanne, Mona, George, and Manolis have led recent departures, but guide assignments vary.

“The tour was really great. Our driver and guide were amazing.”

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3.Rhodes: Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,784 reviews · 9 hours · from $53

You’ll sail from Rhodes on the Nikolaos X ferry, stopping first at Panormitis Monastery for about an hour, then spending 3.5 to 4 hours in Symi Town. Expect open-deck views, indoor seating, a snack bar, and optional hotel transfers. Saturday departures may add a short swim at Nymporio Bay.

“The music on the boat was unnecessary back ground noise The experience overall was exceptional good Manos I highly recommend to use them”

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4.From Heraklion/Crete: Santorini Island Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,448 reviews · 9 - 14 hours · from $200

Travel from Heraklion to Santorini by modern high-speed ferry, then visit Oia and Fira by air-conditioned coach. Your guide explains Santorini’s myths and past while you get about 5.5 hours to explore. You can spend the time on foot or shorten Fira for an optional wooden-boat trip to the volcano and hot springs.

“Our day trip to Santorini was seamless from start to finish. Transportation was comfortable and perfectly organized, and our guide was outstanding — friendly, knowledgeable, and full of great local insights. We loved exploring both Oia and Fira, with plenty of time to enjoy the views and take photos. A perfect way to experience the best of Santorini in one day!”

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5.From Mykonos: Delos & Rhenia Islands Half-Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 750 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $101

From Mykonos, sail with Golden Yachting & Sailing to Rhenia for swimming, snorkeling, and a BBQ, then choose a two-hour visit to Delos or more time at sea. The friendly family crew, including hosts such as Mola and Mohamed on some departures, keeps the day social and relaxed. Delos entry costs about €20 extra.

“This cruise was the best!!! The energy and warm welcoming the crew greet you with and maintain during the day just made it so special. Rhenia island has the clearest water we had ever been in and the food on the boat at that stol was 10/10 then the stop at Delos is just long enough to walk round and appreciate its history. The return journey back was just as beautiful as the way out there, even with the choppy waters. A great day out to experience the surrounding islands which is run perfectly by this family crew. Thank you so much guys!! 🙌 🙌”

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6.Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 713 reviews · 10 hours · from $60

Spend 10 hours crossing Santorini by guided bus, with stops at Prophet Elias, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Red Beach, Fira, and Oia. Guides such as Maria, Nikolas, and Christos are known for clear island commentary. Expect hills, steps, a busy Oia sunset, and an extra €20 fee for the Akrotiri excavations.

“Nice tour of the island but get ready to clima lots of steps”

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7.Rhodes: Day Trip to Symi Island by Fast Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 292 reviews · 7 - 10 hours · from $50

Take a fast boat from Rhodes to Symi in about 75 minutes, then enjoy four hours on your own in Gialos. You can shop for handmade goods, photograph the colorful harbor, eat Simiako Garidaki, and return to Rhodes the same day. Hotel transfers are available from many resort areas.

“Worth going to see the beautiful,colourful houses. Not dissimilar to the Amalfi Coast.”

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8.From Kardamena: Nisyros Island Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 229 reviews · 7 hours · from $23Best value

Sail from Kardamena on the Captain Dimitris to Nisyros, then spend about five hours exploring independently. Pay €8 extra for the bus to the volcanic crater, stroll through Mandraki, eat at a local taverna, or climb roughly 200 steps to Panagia Spirani Monastery. English-speaking crew, toilets, and flexible cancellation are included.

“Escursione molto riuscita anche in un giorno coperto e con qualche pioggerella. Trasporto efficiente, sia in traghetto che in pullman anche sui tornanti che portano al cratere. Impressionanti le fumarole e l'odore di zolfo! Io ho apprezzato che non ci fossero guide ma che le visite siano previste in autonomia, sia al cratere che al paese di Mandraki. Tempo per le visite adeguato, in paese si riesce a fare un bel giro, pranzare e salire al monastero (che si visita più che altro internamente, pensavo ci fossero più terrazze/vista)”

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9.Heraklion: Gramvousa Island Day Trip & Balos Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 206 reviews · 11 - 15 hours · from $47

Travel west from Heraklion to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. You get time for the Venetian fortress hike, swimming, photos, and a beach stop. Guides such as Valeria, Lydia, and Kostas have been praised for clear information, while the long coach ride and crowded boat require patience.

“It was great the views are amazing and the balos beach is really great, the tour guides also very nice. I highly recomend this activity”

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10.Guided Day Trip to Aegina Island with Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 203 reviews · 11 hours · from $57

Travel by ferry from Piraeus to Aegina, then explore Paleochora, Saint Nektarios Monastery, Athena Aphaia, a beach, and Aegina town by coach. An English-speaking archaeologist guide such as Vivian, Vasilis, or Dimitra leads the day, with free time for swimming, lunch, and shopping.

“Just let people know if they want a chair at the beach, you must pay for that.”

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11.From Naxos: Round day trip to Mykonos Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 175 reviews · 10 hours · from $82

Sail from Naxos to Mykonos in about 90 minutes, then enjoy six hours to explore at your own pace. Walk the old harbor and Matogiannia, see Little Venice and the windmills, shop for jewelry and art, or take a bus or taxi to a beach. The large boat is generally comfortable and punctual, but rough seas can occur.

“Offered an opportunity to visit Mykonos for the day from either Naxos or Paros with the bonus of Delos for those who wanted to do that as well. Cheaper than 2 x single ferry trips and allowed more time on Mykonos. (6 hours) We went to a beach, walked through the old Venetian town and did some shopping and had a lovely late lunch in one of the back streets. Ferry was on time both ways and large enough not to feel too crowded. Great day trip.”

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12.Hydra Island: Full Day Trip from Athens with Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 103 reviews · 12 hours · from $58

Travel from central Athens to Hydra with a local English-speaking guide, stopping at the Corinth Canal before a short boat crossing. Walk Hydra Town, taste almond sweets, swim at Spilia and Vlichos Beach, and enjoy free time for lunch and shops. Guides such as Dimitra, Eleftheria, and Vasilis lead the day, though the guide varies.

“Timi and Orpheus were so kind and helpful. They showed us through all the important historical sites in Hydra. They were so patient in explaining the historical timelines of Greece, as they are experienced archaeologists and historians themselves. Such a great value tour, would recommend to anyone!”

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13.From Rhodes: Symi Island and Panormitis Monastery Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 95 reviews · 1 day · from $53

Join Kariba Travel for a full-day ferry trip from Rhodes to Symi. An English-speaking driver handles hotel transfers, while you enjoy free time at Panormitis Monastery and Symi town. The fast Nikolaos X ferry has three decks, a snack bar, and bathrooms. Saturdays may include a seasonal swim at Nymporio Bay.

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14.Heraklion Area: Direct Day Trip Elafonisi Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 92 reviews · 15 hours · from $53

Travel from Heraklion-area hotels to Elafonisi by air-conditioned bus, crossing Crete through Topolia Gorge. You get about 4.5 hours for swimming, walking, snorkeling, and relaxing beside shallow turquoise water. A multilingual guide provides commentary in English, German, French, Polish, or Romanian. Lunch is not included.

“Nice to experience a different side of Crete, the beach was nice but felt disappointed by the pink beach as was made out that it’s very pink when it is isn’t! Too long travel time…”

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15.From Mykonos: Full-Day Trip to Tinos Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 51 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $112

Take the 12:30 PM boat from Tourlos and cross to Tinos with an English-speaking guide and coach. Visit Panagia Evangelistria, watch basket weaving in Volax, photograph Venetian dovecotes, and enjoy free time in marble-rich Pyrgos. The $112 price includes boat tickets and guided transport, but not lunch or hotel transfers.

“Very well organised with exceptional guide and separate driver for small group. Tinos has done beautifully spots and we saw the best. Lovely restaurant on tour and time for exploring on your own . Must say the ferry crossing was quality.”

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