North Aegean Islands, Greece

The North Aegean Islands, also known as the Northeastern Aegean islands, are an archipelago comprising of 10 Greek islands and many small islets: The 10 main islands are Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Ikaria, Limnos, Fourni, Inousses, Psara, Samothraki, Thassos and Agios Efstratios.

These diverse destinations offer an authentic and serene escape. Ever-changing landscapes, rich history, and deep-rooted traditions provide a tranquil alternative to bustling tourist destinations. Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Ikaria, Limnos, Fourni, Inousses, Psara, Samothraki, Thassos and Agios Efstratios, have much to offer due to their size and history, while Ikaria is famous for its laid-back lifestyle, hot springs and the longevity of its islanders.

Daily ferry connections link most of these islands to the mainland port of Piraeus in Athens, and there are also fairly regular ferry schedules for the port of Thessaloniki and Kavala in Northern Greece, ensuring year-round accessibility. The more popular destinations like Chios, Lesvos and Samos offer a well-connected ferry network to their smaller neighboring islands.

If you are island hopping in Greece, travelling by ferry between the North Aegean islands is a piece of cake. During the summer months, when ferry schedules are more frequent and ferry services are provided by even more ferry companies, it is also possible to make a ferry booking from the North Aegean islands some Cyclades islands such as Mykonos and Syros, as well as the Dodecanese islands of like Patmos, Lipsi, Kalymnos, Leros and Kos.

Due to their proximity to the Turkish coastline, summer ferries connect the North Aegean islands to Turkey, including routes like Lesvos-Ayvalik and Chios-Cesme, making these an excellent option for a day trip.