Greece has many islands, with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 to 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227.
The largest Greek island by both area and population is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island in area is Euboea or Evvia, which is separated from the mainland by the 60 m wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region. After the third and fourth largest Greek islands, Lesbos and Rhodes, the rest of the islands are two-thirds of the area of Rhodes, or smaller.
The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: the Saronic Islands (pink) in the Saronic Gulf near Athens; the Cyclades (purple), a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea; the North Aegean islands (yellow, and emerald), a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey; the Dodecanese (red), another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey; the Sporades (olive), a small tight group off the coast of Euboea; and the Ionian Islands (light red), chiefly located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea. Crete with its surrounding islets and Euboea are traditionally excluded from this grouping.
Some Greek islands are often located off the coasts of modern countries whose shores were already inhabited by Greeks before antiquity, such as the coasts of Asia Minor and northern Epirus. It was only in the 20th century that the displacement of Greek populations led to a change in the ethnic landscape: today, Greek-populated islands are situated near regions now inhabited by other ethnic groups, such as in Turkey (Asia Minor) and southern Albania (Northern Epirus).
This article excludes the Peloponnese, which has technically been an island since the construction of the Corinth Canal in 1893, but is rarely considered to be an island due to its artificial origins.
Islands of Greece by size
The following are the 50 largest Greek islands listed by surface area.
Islands of Greece by population
Islands of the Aegean Sea
Argo-Saronic Islands
This list includes Argo-Saronic islands
, which are located in the Saronic Gulf. The largest Argo-Saronic island is Salamis. The main islands are in bold. Uninhabited islands are indicated, including those that may have been inhabited in the past:
- Aegina (),
- Agios Georgios (uninhabited),
- Agios Georgios Salaminos (St. George's Island, uninhabited),
- Agios Ioannis Diaporion (uninhabited)
- Agios Thomas Diaporion (uninhabited),
- Agistri (),
- Alexandros Hydras,
- Atalanti Island,
- Dia (uninhabited)
- Dokos (),
- Falkonera (uninhabited),
- Fleves (uninhabited),
- Hydra (),
- Katramoniso (NisÃÂs Idhroúsa, uninhabited),
- Kyra Aiginis (NisÃÂda Kyrá) (uninhabited),
- Laousses Islets (NÃÂsoi Laoúses, uninhabited),
- Leros Salaminos (uninhabited),
- Modi Porou (uninhabited),
- Moni Aiginas (uninhabited),
- Patroklos (uninhabited),
- Pera Island (Arta),
- Platia (uninhabited),
- Platia Aeginis (uninhabited),
- Poros (),
- Psili (uninhabited)
- Psyttaleia (uninhabited),
- Revythousa (uninhabited),
- Romvi (Nisida Romvi) (uninhabited),
- Salamis (),
- Spetses (),
- Spetsopoula (uninhabited),
- Stavronisi Hydras (uninhabited),
- Trikeri Hydras (uninhabited),
- Velopoula (NisÃÂda Velopoúla) (uninhabited),
- Ypsili Diaporion (uninhabited)
- Ypsili Argolidos (uninhabited)
Cretan islands
The two lists below show the islands, islets, and rocks that surround the island of Crete that are in the Aegean Sea or Libyan Sea.
Cretan islands of the Aegean Sea
- Afendis Christos,
- Agia Varvara,
- Agioi Apostoloi,
- Agioi Pandes,
- Agioi Theodoroi,
- Agios Nikolaos,
- Agriomandra,
- Anavatis,
- Arnaouti,
- Avgo (uninhabited islet),
- Crete,
- Daskaleia (uninhabited islet),
- Dia (Zeus, uninhabited),
- Diapori,
- Dionysades (group of islands),
- Gianysada,
- Dragonada,
- Paximada,
- Paximadaki,
- Elasa,
- Ftena Trachylia,
- Glaronisi,
- Gramvoussa,
- Agria Gramvousa,
- Imeri Gramvousa,
- Grandes (group of islands),
- Kalydon (Spinalonga),
- Karavi (uninhabited),
- Karga (uninhabited),
- Katergo (uninhabited),
- Kavaloi (three uninhabited islands),
- Anavatis,
- Kavallos,
- Kefali,
- Kolokytha,
- Koursaroi,
- Kyriamadi (Peninsula),
- Lazaretta,
- Leon (Islet),
- Mavros (Uninhabited islet),
- Megatzedes (Uninhabited islet),
- Mochlos,
- Nikolos,
- Palaiosouda (Islet),
- Peristeri (Islet),
- Peristerovrachoi (Uninhabited rocks),
- Petalida (Islet),
- Petalouda (Uninhabited islet),
- Pontikaki (Uninhabited islet),
- Pondikonisi (Uninhabited islet),
- Praso Kissamou (Islet),
- Prosfora (Uninhabited islet),
- Pseira,
- Sideros (Uninhabited rock),
- Souda (Islet),
- Valenti (Rock),
- Vryonisi (Uninhabited islet),
Cretan islands of the Libyan Sea
Islands on the south coast of Crete are considered in the Libyan Sea.
- Agia Eirini,
- Ammoudi tous Volakous,
- Artemis (Uninhabited islet),
- Aspros Volakas (rock),
- Chrysi (uninhabited),
- Elafonisi,
- Fotia (Uninhabited islet),
- Gaidouronisi (Uninhabited),
- Gavdopoula,
- Gavdos (Southernmost point of Greece),
- Koufonisi (Lefki) (Uninhabited islet),
- Loutro (Rocky islet),
- Makroulo (Uninhabited islet),
- Marmaro (Uninhabited islet),
- Mavros Volakas (Large rock),
- Megalonisi (Uninhabited islet),
- Mikronisi (Islet),
- Papadoplaka (Reef islet),
- Paximadia (Two small uninhabited islands),
- Prasonisi, Gavdou (Islet),
- Prasonisi, Rethymno (Islet),
- Psarocharako (Rock),
- Psyllos (Uninhabited islet),
- Schistonisi (Islet),
- Strongyli (Uninhabited islet),
- Thetis (Islet),
- Trachilos (Uninhabited islet),
- Trafos (Islet),
- Treis Volakous (Rocks),
Cyclades islands
The Cyclades islands comprise around 220 islands and islets. The main islands are indicated in bold below.
- ÃÂgios Nikólaos (Máchaires),
- PrasÃÂni (AgÃÂa ParaskevÃÂ),
- Strongyló (StrongylÃÂ),
- Amorgos (),
- Ananes,
- Anafi (),
- Andros (),
- Aniros (Anydros)
- Ano Antikeros
- Antimilos,
- Antiparos,
- Anydros Amorgou
- Askania,
- Christiana (uninhabited),
- Delos,
- Despotiko (uninhabited),
- Donousa (),
- Eschati,
- Folegandros (),
- Glaronisi,
- Gyaros,
- Hristiana
- Htapodia Mykonou
- Ios (),
- Iraklia,
- Kalogiros
- Kardiotissa,
- Kato Antikeros,
- Kato Koufonisi,
- Kea (),
- Keros,
- Kimolos,
- Kitriani,
- Koufonisia,
- Kramvonisi
- Kythnos (),
- Liadi Island,
- Makares,
- Makronissos,
- Megalo,
- Milos (),
- Mykonos,
- Naxos (),
- Nea Kameni,
- Nikouria,
- Nisida Prasini,
- Ofidousa,
- Pahia Anaphis
- Palea Kameni,
- Paros (),
- Polyaigos,
- Rhineia,
- Saliagos,
- Santorini (Thera),
- Schoinoussa,
- Serifopoula,
- Serifos,
- Sifnos,
- Sikinos,
- Skilonisi,
- Stroggyli Parou,
- Syros,
- Therasia,
- Tinos (),
- Vous,
- Vrachoi Bouvais,
Dodecanese islands
There are 164 total Dodecanese Islands of which 26 are inhabited. There are 12 main islands, listed in bold below:
- Agathonissi,
- Agioi Theodoroi Halkis
- Agreloussa
- Alimia,
- Antitilos
- Anydros Patmou
- Arefoussa
- Arhangelos
- Arkoi,
- Armathia,
- Astakida
- Astypalaia,
- Faradonesia
- Farmakonisi,
- Fokionissia
- Fragos
- Gaidourosnissi Tilou
- Glaros Kinarou
- Gyali,
- Halavra
- Halki,
- Hiliomodi Patmou
- Hondro
- Htenies
- Imia (uninhabited),
- Kalavros Kalymnou
- Kalolimnos,
- Kalovolos
- Kalymnos,
- Kamilonisi
- Kandeloussa
- Karavolas Rodhou
- Karpathos (),
- Kasos,
- Kastellorizo (Megisti),
- Kinaros,
- Kos (),
- Koubelonisi
- Kouloundros
- Kouloura Leipson
- Kounoupoi
- Koutsomytis
- Leipsoi,
- Leros,
- Levitha,
- Makronisi Leipson
- Makronissi Kasou
- Makry Aspronisi Leipson
- Makry Halkis
- Marathos,
- Marmaras
- Mavra Levithas
- Megalo Aspronisi Leipson
- Megalo Glaronisi
- Megalo Sofrano
- Mesonisi Seirinas
- Mikro Glaronisi,
- Mikro Sofrano,
- Nerónisi,
- Nimos,
- NisÃÂdes AdelfoÃÂ,
- Nisyros,
- Paheia Nisyrou
- Patmos,
- Pergoussa
- Piganoussa
- Pitta
- Plati Kasou
- Plati Pserimou
- Plati Symis
- Pontikoussa
- Prasonissi Rodhou
- Prasouda
- Pserimos,
- Ro,
- Rhodes (),
- Safonidi
- Saria,
- Seirina
- Sesklio
- Strongyli Megistis (Easternmost point of Greece),
- Strongyli Kritinias
- Strongyli Kasou
- Symi,
- Syrna,
- Telendos,
- Tilos,
- Tragonisi
- Zaforas,
Euboea and surrounding islands
North Aegean islands
- Agios Efstratios,
- Chios,
- Icaria,
- Lesbos,
- Lemnos,
- Oinousses,
- Pasas,
- Psara,
- Antipsara,
- Samos,
- Samiopoula,
- Fournoi Korseon ()
- Agios Minas ()
- Thymaina ()
There are also two North Aegean islands in the Thracian Sea:
Sporades islands
The 30 islands in the Sporades are listed below, with the four major islands in bold. The largest Sporades island is Skyros.
- Adelfoi Islets,
- Agios Georgios Skopelou
- Alonissos (),
- Arkos (Skiathos Municipality),
- Aspronisi (Skiathos Municipality)
- Dasia
- Erinia (Rineia Skyrou),
- Gioura,
- Grammeza,
- Korakas Alonissou
- Kyra Panagia,
- Lekhoussa,
- Manolas Alonissou
- Maragos (Skiathos Municipality)
- Peristera,
- Piperi,
- Polemika Alonissou
- Praso Skantzouras
- Psathoura,
- Repi,
- Sarakino,
- Skandili,
- Skantzoura,
- Skiathos ( in Municipality),
- Skopelos (),
- Skyropoula (Skyros Municipality),
- Skyros (),
- Tsougria (Skiathos Municipality),
- Troulonisi (Skiathos Municipality)
- Tsougriaki (Skiathos Municipality)
- Valaxa,
Ionian Sea islands
Islands in the Ionian Sea are listed below. The seven largest and most popular islands are listed in bold.
- Antikythera,
- Antipaxos,
- Arkoudi,
- Atokos,
- Cephalonia,
- Corfu,
- Diaplo,
- Echinades
- Apasa,
- Drakonera,
- Filippos,
- Girovaris or Gkravaris,
- Kalogiros,
- Karlonisi,
- Kouneli or Makropoula,
- Lamprinos,
- Makri,
- Modio or Modi,
- Oxeia,
- Petalas,
- Pistros,
- Pontikos,
- Praso,
- Provati,
- SofÃÂa,
- Soros,
- Tsakalonisi,
- Vromonas,
- Elafonissos,
- Ereikoussa,
- Ithaca,
- Kalamos,
- Kastos,
- Kravia,
- Kythira,
- Kythros,
- Lazaretto,
- Lefkada,
- Madouri (Uninhabited),
- Makropoúla,
- Mathraki,
- Meganisi,
- Modia Islets,
- NisÃÂda ÃÂgios Nikólaos,
- Omfori (Uninhabited, private),
- Othonoi (westernmost point of Greece),
- Paxi,
- Provati,
- Proti,
- Sapientza,
- Schiza (Uninhabited),
- Skorpios,
- Skorpidi (Private),
- Sparti Lefkados,
- Sphacteria,
- Strofades,
- Thilia,
- Vido,
- Zakynthos,
Islets close to mainland
The following islands are close to the mainland and not part of a sea:
Islands not in the sea
Lake and river islands
Islands in an island
- Marathi Island (Marathi Lake (reservoir) in Mykonos),
Lagoon islands
See also
Notes
References
External links