North Aegean Islands Holidays

For most holidaymakers, the North Aegean Islands tend to be the ones that get away. These islands, which are closer to Turkey than Greece, slip through the net while travellers book holidays to their better-known neighbours in the Ionian and Dodecanese ranges.

Of the 7 islands in the North Aegean Island chain, Samos and Thassos tend to ring the loudest bell in tourists’ minds. Samos is a natural perfumery of an island, as jasmine plants grow wild in its green interior, and scent it during summer. Samos bats above its 185-square-mile size when it comes to historical sites, too. The ancient Temple of Hera is said to be the birthplace of the wife of Zeus. Thassos, meanwhile, is sometimes called the Emerald Isle, thanks to its oak-coated mountains. But its beaches are the ace in Thassos’ hand. Powdery white sand defines the island’s coast.

The North Aegean Islands’ nearest neighbours are the western Sporades, where Skiathos and Skopelos are the most familiar faces. With one town and scores of beach resorts, Skiathos is a sun, sea and sand purist. Skopelos follows a similar philosophy, although the island offers an added incentive to foodies – vineyards, olive groves and orchards of plum and almond trees make local menus one of Skopelos’ top attractions.