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Santorini at dusk overlooking the Aegean Sea

Best Things to Do in Aegean Sea

Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences

Aegean Sea

Encompassing most of the Greek Islands, the Aegean Sea stretches from mainland Greece east to mainland Turkey and is one of the most captivating regions of the Mediterranean. Some of its most popular islands are Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Rhodes, which can be explored by small ship cruises or tours. The Aegean Islands offer much more than sand and sea: ancient history, archaeology, a variety of cultural influences, exceptional cuisine, and scenic hiking and cycling.

Top Aegean Sea Experiences

Sailing through the Aegean on a yacht, ferry boat, or gullet (traditional Turkish vessel) and island hopping

Sitting on the terrace of a café in Santorini gazing at the harbor far below, formed from an ancient volcanic caldera

Wandering the narrow streets and harborside of Mykonos to find windmills, tavernas and tucked-away shops

Visiting the beautiful medieval center of Rhodes town

Discovering lesser-known but fascinating islands such as Naxos, Patmos, and Ios

Exploring the ruins of Ephesus, the best preserved classical-era city in the world

Touring the ancient ruins of Knossos on Crete

Dining on Greek and Turkish cuisine and enjoying Greek wines

Learning about ancient mythology and famous classical artists and philosophers

Admiring stunning island and coastal landscapes and cliffs

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Things to do in Aegean Sea - Expert’s guide

1. Santorini Caldera

Santorini greek island overlooking the ocean

Santorini is one of the most well known and sought out destinations in the Aegean Sea. Although a dormant volcano, the caldera is still considered to be active, with its last eruption taking place in 1950. Previous Santorini eruptions have been the cause of the formation of surrounding Nea and Palea Kameni volcanic islands.

These magnificent natural formations are generally not what attracts visitors to Santorini, however. Tourists travel from all over the world to get a glimpse of the village of Oia and snap a photo with the iconic blue dome roofs overlooking the magnificent caldera.

2. Rhodes Old Town

Island of Rhondes in Greece

The largest Greek island in the Dodecanese region of the southeastern Aegean Sea, Rhodes, is a top tourist destination appealing to all types of travelers. Known for its beaches and resorts as well as for its ancient ruins, medieval castles, and rich history, Rhodes provides a wide range of activities and experiences for all visitors.

3. Cosmopolitan Island of Mykonos

Mykonos island greece aegean sea

Known for its summer beaches and party atmosphere, Mykonos is the place to visit if you’re looking for a good time surrounded by the beauty of the Aegean Sea. Beaches such as Paradise Beach will be a constant source of music, parties, and fun.

If you are not interested in the nightlife atmosphere, don’t worry! Mykonos has beautiful Greek-style architecture in the main town, which is a great spot for shopping, photography, and experiencing Greek island food and culture.

4. Delos

Delos greece aegean sea

Delos is located near Mykonos in the Cyclades of the Aegean Sea. The island is known for being the mythological birthplace of Apollo and now serves as an uninhabited island home to Greece’s most significant ancient archaeological ruins.

In Delos, you can find ancient ruins such as temples and amphitheaters, and don’t forget to check out the Archaeological Museum of Delos, an ancient history buff’s dream!  

5. Patmos

View of Patmos windmill aegean sea

Located in the north of Greece’s Dodecanese island group, Patmos is most famously known for being one of Christianity’s most ancient pilgrimage sites. The location where Saint John wrote the infamous Book of Revelation, often referred to as the “Apocalypse of John,” is now frequented by travelers touring sites such as the Monastery of Saint John in Chora.

Make sure to add the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cave of Apocalypse, to your itinerary for a glimpse of the most astounding spiritual cave in the world. If historic or religious touring is not on your agenda, don’t fret; Patmos is also home to exquisite clear blue-green beaches, perfect for a swim or relaxing day in the sun.

6. Crete

Island of Crete in aegean sea

Located in the southern region of the Aegean Sea, Crete is Greece’s largest island. Filled with a varying geographic atmosphere, this island is home to sandy beaches, mountainous regions, and cosmopolitan cities. Given its terrain, Crete is a top spot for active nature adventures.

Canoeing, hiking, and trekking through the most famous gorge in Crete, Samaria, is an experience outdoor enthusiasts will not want to miss! For those not as apt to outdoor activities, the list of things to do and see in Crete is endless. Experience the nightlife at Agios Nikolaos, relax on Elafonisi Beach, and explore Hania’s Old Town.

7. Naxos

ancient ruins on Naxos Island in Greece

Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades, located in the southern Aegean region. It is known for its picturesque green landscapes and traditional villages and ruins. One of the most beautiful destinations in Naxos is the capital city of Chora.

This city is known for its whitewashed cube-shaped buildings and stunning harbors. Naxos is a top destination for sailing and photography surrounded by crystal clear blue waters, white sandy beaches, and picture-perfect rocky coasts.

8. Paros

Small beach cafe on Paros island in aegean sea

Paros is an Aegean Sea island known for its small, traditional villages and remarkable beaches. An island not as commonly mentioned by tourists, this is a perfect destination for travelers to experience the full beauty, culture, cuisine, and history of Greece, with fewer crowds and cheaper prices. A close ferry ride away from islands such as Antiparos and Naxos, this hidden gem is must-see on your Aegean Sea tour!

9. Ephesus

Ephesus ruins in Turkey on the aegean sea

One mustn't forget the wonders of the Aegean Sea that exist in the region of Turkey. About 20 Kilometers (12 miles) from the Turkish coastal city of Kusadasi, Ephesus is an ancient Greek settlement built in 10th century BC. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this exquisite city is well preserved and one of the top destinations in all of Turkey.

Top ancient destinations within the city of Ephesus are the Library of Celsus, the Ephesus amphitheater, and the main harbor street. Walking through the streets of Ephesus, you will feel as if you are taken back in time!

10. Izmir City: Pearl of the Aegean

Izmar ancient ruins on turkish aegean coast

Located on Turkey’s Aegean coast, Izmir is rich in history dating back to its ancient Greek and Roman roots. Offering a taste of both traditional and modern culture, Izmir encompasses the ancient antiquity city of Smyrna along with extensive open-air museums and archaeological sites.

For a modern taste of Izmir, tourists can hit the beautiful sandy beaches and harbors, experience the culture in the main city, and enjoy the delicious Turkish cuisine.

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Aegean Sea Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Nancy
·
2020-03-13
Written on
my first trip with Smartours and I couldn't have been happier
I recently returned from a trip of a lifetime - Smartours Spectacular Greece and Greek Island Cruise! This was my first trip with Smartours and I couldn't have been happier. With everything included, the planning and trip were hassle free! I got to see all the history, culture and beauty of Greece. The tour guides were incredible! Granville Lee-Warner, our ultimate Tour Director, welcomed us upon arrival in Athens. His incredible spirit, warm heartedness and knowledge guided us through our cruise portion of the trip. He pulled us together as one big family! At various ports of call, he was assisted by guides who displayed prodigious local knowledge. I would love to travel under his guidance again!!! Upon our return to Piraeus and mainland Greece, for the land portion of our trip, we were guided by the very knowledgeable Nina Pentogaluo. These two are remarkable assets to your company!!!! I look forward to planning another adventure with Smartours in the future!
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Dean
·
2020-03-13
Written on
exceeded our expectations
With dear friends and veteran travelers, Sue and Pete, and following a long flight over the Atlantic and most of the Mediterranean, our adventure in Greece began in Athens. We spent our first afternoon and night there before boarding a Celestyal Cruise ship the next morning at Piraeus (near Athens) for a four-night Greek island cruise. Our cruise included visits to Mykonos, Kusadasi, Ephesus (Turkey), Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and beautiful Santorini. We were guided by the ultimate Tour Director, Granville Lee-Warner, who was assisted at various ports of call by local guides who displayed a prodigious local knowledge. Upon our return to Piraeus and mainland Greece, our tour group of 28 boarded a bus for the land portion of our adventure. For the remainder of our adventure, we were led by a very knowledgeable tour guide, Nina Pentogaluo, as we journeyed to Delphi, Olympia, and Mycenae. We completed our adventure with several more days in Athens before flying home via Emerates Airline (an interesting experience all by itself, the story of which is more suitable for another time). The food was awesomely delicious everywhere we dined (I could not get enough of those remarkable Greek salads). The various hotels where we stayed exceeded our expectations, especially in Delphi and Athens. The hotel in Athens included a roof-top open air restaurant with a view of the Acropolis and Parthenon. We made friends with fellow adventurers who came from all parts of the U.S. (including our home state of Florida) and exchanged email addresses so we can keep in touch. Along we way, we were coddled, educated, fed well, and entertained by our intrepid SmarTour guides, Granville and Nina. While some of us had concerns about the unusual behavior of a few tourists we ran into from time to time (not a part of our group), the people in Greece were always friendly and helpful. We learned that English is mandatory in all Greek schools so communicating was never a problem. The Euro was easy to manage and most places also took US dollars. Unlike our previous experiences in Egypt, there were very few places where we had to pay to use the bathrooms (W.C. in Greece, which, as was pointed out to us is strange because there is no 'W" in the Greek language). See my photos here: www.deano.zenfolio.com/greece2019
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Robin
·
2020-03-13
Written on
Great time
Great time, learned a lot- Our 2 Tour Directors Granville and Nina made Greek History come alive. We ha enough down time and enjoyed every minute. The optional tours were worth it and should not be missed. This is my second SmarTour trip and will do it again
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Howard
·
2020-03-13
Written on
Overall the trip was great
Overall the trip was great. More emphasis should be put on avoiding unnecessary steps. I have bad knees and steps were a problem for me. Tour guides were excellent. Ship was a little on the seedy side but staff was extremely helpful. Hotels were excellent.
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Anonymous
·
2020-03-13
Written on
trip was wonderful
in overall the trip was wonderful, especially, land portion (Delphi and Olympia). Cruise part was ok, but very little time for Island tours. our lead Guides (Granville and Nina) and local guides were very nice and very knowledgeable. Especially both lead Guides were very helpful and made our trip enjoyable. And special thanks to Elias (our driver on the land tour), he was wonderful always so helpful and keeping eye on all our needs. He made out tour so enjoyable. We thought Smart Tour could improve this tour by allocation (or extending the tour time) longer for few days especially time spent on Islands. We thought planning for Island visit could be longer as some of them were quite short like Santorini. Turkey portion of the tour (Ephesus) was breath taking and nice little touch with a side visit to carpet factory. Our Hotel at Athens on first day was at best not what we expected (very small rooms), we thought food on the ship, especially breakfast and lunch, could be better. In overall, it was a good tour and got to see and learn more about Ancient Greece.
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Lynn
·
2020-03-13
Written on
I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular Greece tour
I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular Greece tour. The guide Granville Lee-Warner was fabulous. He made the tour extra special being personable, knowledgeable and giving us an extra excursion on the Island of Rhodes. I enjoyed Victoria as well for the land tours. She was very knowledgeable as well.
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