Greece has many islands ,[Note 1] with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200[1] to 6,000,[2] depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166[3] and 227.[2]
Regions of the Greek islands
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 60m-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 Argo-Saronic Islands in the Saronic Gulf near Athens ; the Cyclades , a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea; the North Aegean islands , a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey; the Dodecanese , another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey; the Sporades , a small tight group off the coast of Euboea; and the Ionian Islands , 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.
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.
A NASA image of Crete
A NASA image of Rhodes
Ithaca is to the upper right of the larger Kefalonia island in this picture. The small island in the top-right corner is the uninhabited Atokos island.
The following are the 50 largest Greek islands listed by surface area.
More information Island, Greek name ...
Island Greek name Area (km2 ) Area (miles2 ) Cluster
1 Crete Κρήτη 8,336 3,219 Cretan
2 Evia Εύβοια 3,670 1,417 Euboean
3 Lesbos Λέσβος 1,633 631 North Aegean Islands
4 Rhodes Ρόδος 1,401 541 Dodecanese
5 Chíos Χίος 842.3 325 North Aegean Islands
6 Kefalonia Κεφαλονιά 781 302 Ionian Islands
7 Corfu Κέρκυρα 592.9 229 Ionian Islands
8 Lemnos Λήμνος 477.6 184 North Aegean Islands
9 Samos Σάμος 477.4 184 North Aegean Islands
10 Naxos Νάξος 429.8 166 Cyclades
11 Zakynthos Ζάκυνθος 406 157 Ionian Islands
12 Thassos Θάσος 380.1 147 North Aegean Islands
13 Andros Άνδρος 380.0 147 Cyclades
14 Lefkada Λευκάδα 303 117 Ionian Islands
15 Karpathos Κάρπαθος 300 116 Dodecanese
16 Kos Κως 290.3 112 Dodecanese
17 Kythira Κύθηρα 279.6 108 Ionian Islands
18 Icaria Ικαρία 255 98 North Aegean Islands
19 Skyros Σκύρος 209 81 Sporades
20 Paros Πάρος 195 75 Cyclades
21 Tinos Τήνος 194 75 Cyclades
22 Samothrace Σαμοθράκη 178 69 North Aegean Islands
23 Milos Μήλος 151 58 Cyclades
24 Kea Κέα 132 51 Cyclades
25 Amorgos Αμοργός 121 47 Cyclades
26 Kalymnos Κάλυμνος 110 42 Dodecanese
27 Ios Ίος 108 42 Cyclades
28 Kythnos Κύθνος 99.4 38 Cyclades
29 Astypalaia Αστυπάλαια 96.4 37 Dodecanese
30 Ithaca Ιθάκη 96.2 37 Ionian Islands
31 Salamis Σαλαμίνα 96.2 37 Argo-Saronic
32 Skopelos Σκόπελος 96.2 37 Sporades
33 Mykonos Μύκονος 85.5 33 Cyclades
34 Syros Σύρος 83.6 32 Cyclades
35 Aegina Αίγινα 82.6 32 Argo-Saronic
36 Santorini Σαντορίνη 76.2 29 Cyclades
37 Serifos Σέριφος 75.2 29 Cyclades
38 Sifnos Σίφνος 73.9 29 Cyclades
39 Kasos Κάσος 69.5 27 Dodecanese
40 Alonnisos Αλόννησος 64.1 25 Sporades
41 Tilos Τήλος 61.5 24 Dodecanese
42 Symi Σύμη 57.8 22 Dodecanese
43 Leros Λέρος 54 21 Dodecanese
44 Hydra Ύδρα 49.6 19 Argo-Saronic
45 Skiathos Σκιάθος 47.3 18 Sporades
46 Agios Efstratios Άγιος Ευστράτιος 43.3 17 North Aegean Islands
47 Sikinos Σίκινος 41.6 16 Cyclades
48 Nisyros Νίσυρος 41.2 16 Dodecanese
49 Psara Ψαρά 40.4 16 North Aegean Islands
50 Anafi Ανάφη 38.6 15 Cyclades
Close
More information Island, Population ...
Island Population
Crete 624,408
Evia 191,206
Rhodes 125,113
Corfu 99,134
Lesbos 83,755
Chios 50,361
Zakynthos 41,180
Salamis 37,220
Kos 37,089
Kefalonia 36,064
Samos 32,642
Lefkada 21,900
Syros 21,507
Naxos 20,578
Lemnos 16,411
Kalymnos 17,752
Santorini 15,480
Thasos 13,104
Paros 14,520
Aegina 12,911
Mykonos 10,704
Tinos 8,934
Andros 8,826
Icaria 8,843
Leros 7,992
Skiathos 5,802
Aitoliko 4,935
Karpathos 6,567
Milos 5,302
Skopelos 4,518
Kythira 3,644
Ithaca 2,862
Patmos 3,283
Skyros 3,052
Samothrace 2,596
Sifnos 2,777
Alonnisos 3,138
Symi 2,603
Kea 2,335
Paxos 2,466
Poros 3,261
Spetses 3,748
Ios 2,299
Hydra 2,070
Amorgos 1,961
Close
Argo-Saronic Islands
The port city of Hydra on Hydra Island
This list includes Argo-Saronic islands
[4]
, 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 (87.41 km2 (33.75 sq mi)), 37°43′48″N 23°29′24″E
Agios Georgios (uninhabited), 37°28′26″N 23°55′34″E
Agios Georgios Salaminos (St. George's Island, uninhabited), 37°57′47″N 23°32′22″E [5]
Agios Ioannis Diaporion (uninhabited)
Agios Thomas Diaporion (uninhabited), 37°48′37.30″N 23°14′46.40″E
Agistri (13.37 km2 (5.16 sq mi)), 37°42′N 23°20′E
Alexandros Hydras, 37°17′03″N 23°22′08″E
Atalanti Island , 37°56′06″N 23°34′21″E
Dia (uninhabited)
Dokos (13.537 km2 (5.227 sq mi)), 37°19′59.21″N 23°19′16.82″E
Falkonera (uninhabited), 36°50′31″N 23°53′06″E
Fleves (uninhabited), 37°46′10″N 23°45′44″E
Hydra (64.443 km2 (24.882 sq mi)), 37°20′06″N 23°28′21″E
Katramoniso (Nisís Idhroúsa, uninhabited), 37°50′08″N 23°44′44″E [6]
Kyra Aiginis (Nisída Kyrá) (uninhabited), 37°42′12″N 23°15′44″E
Laousses Islets (Nísoi Laoúses, uninhabited), 37°49′06″N 23°27′27″E
Leros Salaminos (uninhabited), 37°59′33″N 23°32′17″E
Modi Porou (uninhabited), 37°30′37″N 23°31′52″E
Moni Aiginas (uninhabited), 37°41′31″N 23°26′06″E
Patroklos (uninhabited), 37°39′02.50″N 23°57′01.50″E
Pera Island (Arta ), 37°53′46″N 23°29′54″E
Platia (uninhabited), 37°48′41″N 23°22′59″E
Platia Aeginis (uninhabited), 37°34′34″N 23°30′26″E
Poros (49.582 km2 (19.144 sq mi)), 37°31′N 23°29′E
Psili (uninhabited)
Psyttaleia (uninhabited), 37°56′24″N 23°35′17″E
Revythousa (uninhabited), 37°57′41″N 23°24′05″E
Romvi (Nisida Romvi) (uninhabited), 37°30′34″N 22°51′54″E
Salamis (96.16 km2 (37.13 sq mi)), 37°56′N 23°30′E
Spetses (27.121 km2 (10.471 sq mi)), 37°15′N 23°08′E
Spetsopoula (uninhabited), 37°13′N 23°10′E
Stavronisi Hydras (uninhabited), 37°15′13″N 23°26′46″E
Trikeri Hydras (uninhabited), 37°16′01″N 23°16′55″E
Velopoula (Nisída Velopoúla) (uninhabited), 36°54′58″N 23°27′41″E
Ypsili Diaporion (uninhabited)
Ypsili Argolidos (uninhabited)
Cretan island
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
The islet of Leon, on the left, next to the larger islet of Souda, within Souda bay
Spinalonga (Kalydon)
The islet of Pondikonisi , mouse island, which is shaped like a mouse.
Afendis Christos , 35°17′43″N 25°27′39″E
Agia Varvara , 35°17′51″N 25°28′04″E
Agioi Apostoloi , 35°31′09″N 23°59′59″E
Agioi Pandes , 35°11′53″N 25°43′51″E [7]
Agioi Theodoroi , 35°32′13″N 23°55′52″E
Agios Nikolaos , 35°21′57″N 24°15′49″E
Agriomandra , 35°07′53″N 25°49′53″E
Anavatis , 35°01′46″N 26°13′37″E
Arnaouti , 35°36′12″N 23°34′42″E
Avgo (uninhabited islet), 35°36′11″N 25°34′37″E
Crete , 35°12.6′N 24°54.6′E
Daskaleia (uninhabited islet), 35°18′01″N 26°18′37″E
Dia (Zeus, uninhabited), 35°26′53″N 25°13′12″E
Diapori , 35°25′18″N 24°52′32″E
Dionysades (group of islands), 35°21′N 26°11′E
Elasa , 35°16′23″N 26°20′24″E
Ftena Trachylia , 35°18′56″N 26°17′14″E
Glaronisi , 35°27′48″N 25°11′27″E
Gramvoussa , 35°36′40″N 23°34′45″E
Grandes (group of islands), 35°12′22″N 26°17′53″E
Kalydon (Spinalonga) , 35°17′51″N 25°44′17″E
Karavi (uninhabited), 35°18′27″N 26°19′10″E
Karga (uninhabited), 35°27′18″N 24°11′38″E
Katergo (uninhabited), 35°09′25″N 25°50′51″E
Kavaloi (three uninhabited islands), 35°01′44″N 26°13′52″E
Kolokytha , 35°15′50″N 25°45′36″E
Koursaroi , 35°28′54″N 23°33′52″E
Kyriamadi (Peninsula), 35°17′42″N 26°17′35″E
Lazaretta , 35°31′09″N 23°59′58″E
Leon (Islet), 35°29′27″N 24°09′02″E
Mavros (Uninhabited islet), 35°16′02″N 26°13′19″E
Megatzedes (Uninhabited islet), 35°16′24″N 26°13′25″E
Mochlos , 35°11′15″N 25°54′27″E
Nikolos , 35°12′16″N 25°43′20″E
Palaiosouda (Islet), 35°29′56″N 24°10′44″E
Peristeri (Islet), 35°24′53″N 24°49′35″E
Peristerovrachoi (Uninhabited rocks), 35°15′21″N 26°16′01″E
Petalida (Islet), 35°36′02″N 23°35′22″E
Petalouda (Uninhabited islet), 35°36′12″N 23°34′42″E
Pontikaki (Uninhabited islet), 35°34′54″N 23°28′21″E
Pondikonisi (Uninhabited islet), 35°35′10″N 23°28′37″E
Praso Kissamou (Islet), 35°28′27″N 23°33′22″E
Prosfora (Uninhabited islet), 35°13′40″N 26°06′18″E
Pseira , 35°11′25″N 25°51′35″E
Sideros (Uninhabited rock), 35°18′32″N 26°18′04″E
Souda (Islet), 35°29′20″N 24°09′07″E
Valenti (Rock), 35°35′41″N 23°34′30″E
Vryonisi (Uninhabited islet), 35°07′47″N 25°45′46″E
Cretan islands of the Libyan Sea
The islet of Trafos in the Libyan Sea
Islands on the south coast of Crete are considered in the Libyan Sea .
Agia Eirini , 35°02′05″N 25°58′27″E
Ammoudi tous Volakous , 35°11′32″N 24°08′36″E
Artemis (Uninhabited islet), 35°16′00″N 23°32′21″E
Aspros Volakas (rock), 35°05′48″N 24°37′01″E
Chrysi (uninhabited), 34°52′N 25°43′E
Elafonisi , 35°16′12″N 23°31′55″E
Fotia (Uninhabited islet), 35°00′50″N 25°52′26″E
Gaidouronisi (Uninhabited), 34°52′N 25°43′E
Gavdopoula , 34°53′N 24°01′E
Gavdos (Southernmost point of Greece), 34°50′N 24°05′E
Koufonisi (Lefki) (Uninhabited islet), 34°56′13″N 26°08′20″E
Loutro (Rocky islet), 35°11′48″N 24°04′58″E
Makroulo (Uninhabited islet), 34°57′11″N 26°07′41″E
Marmaro (Uninhabited islet), 34°56′55″N 26°07′39″E
Mavros Volakas (Large rock), 35°05′48″N 24°37′01″E
Megalonisi (Uninhabited islet), 34°55′23″N 24°48′00″E
Mikronisi (Islet), 34°55′39″N 24°48′22″E
Papadoplaka (Reef islet), 34°55′10″N 24°47′09″E
Paximadia (Two small uninhabited islands), 35°00′29″N 24°35′28″E
Prasonisi, Gavdou (Islet), 35°00′29″N 24°35′28″E
Prasonisi, Rethymno (Islet), 35°05′50″N 24°35′43″E
Psarocharako (Rock), 34°58′52″N 25°30′08″E
Psyllos (Uninhabited islet), 35°06′55″N 25°48′07″E
Schistonisi (Islet), 35°13′18″N 23°40′18″E
Strongyli (Uninhabited islet), 34°57′29″N 26°07′59″E
Thetis (Islet), 34°57′13″N 25°09′26″E
Trachilos (Uninhabited islet), 34°55′08″N 26°07′52″E
Trafos (Islet), 34°56′12″N 24°49′29″E
Treis Volakous (Rocks), 35°12′00″N 24°07′58″E
Cyclades islands
The Cyclades islands
Iconic windmills of Mykonos
The Cyclades islands comprise around 220 islands and islets. The main islands are indicated in bold below.[8] [9]
Agios Nikolaos (Macheres), 37°59′15″N 24°01′59″E
Amorgos (141 km2 (54 sq mi)), 36°51′N 25°54′E [9]
Ananes , 36°33′06″N 24°08′46″E
Anafi (40.4 km2 (15.6 sq mi)), 36°22′01″N 25°46′59″E [9]
Andros (380 km2 (150 sq mi)), 37°50′11″N 24°53′53″E [9]
Aniros (Anydros)
Ano Antikeros
Antimilos , 36°47′13″N 24°14′19″E
Antiparos , 37°0′34″N 25°3′39″E [9]
Anydros Amorgou
Askania, 36°14′05″N 25°12′48″E [9]
Christiana (uninhabited), 36°15′N 25°12′E
Delos , 37°23′36″N 25°16′16″E [9]
Despotiko (uninhabited), 36°58′N 25°00′E
Donousa (13.8 km2 (5.3 sq mi)), 37°06′0″N 25°48′59″E [9]
Eschati , 36°13′16″N 25°13′43″E
Folegandros (32.2 km2 (12.4 sq mi)), 36°37′N 24°54′E [9]
Glaronisi, 37°35′09″N 24°45′06″E [10]
Gyaros , 37°37′38″N 24°43′12″E [9]
Hristiana
Htapodia Mykonou
Ios (108 km2 (42 sq mi)), 36°43′0″N 25°20′11″E [9]
Iraklia , 36°50′N 25°27′E [9]
Kalogiros
Kardiotissa , 36°38′N 25°01′E [9]
Kato Antikeros, 36°50′47″N 25°41′00″E [9]
Kato Koufonisi, 36°54′48″N 25°34′50″E [9]
Kea (132 km2 (51 sq mi)), 37°37′23″N 24°20′12″E [9]
Keros , 36°53′N 25°39′E [9]
Kimolos , 36°48′31″N 24°33′47″E [9]
Kitriani, 36°54′13″N 24°43′34″E [9]
Koufonisia , 36°56′N 25°36′E [9]
Kramvonisi
Kythnos (99.4 km2 (38.4 sq mi)), 37°23′9″N 24°25′41″E [9]
Liadi Island, 36°54′13″N 26°10′04″E [9]
Makares, 37°04′37″N 25°42′02″E [9]
Makronissos , 37°42′04″N 24°07′29″E
Megalo, 37°50′55″N 24°45′02″E [9]
Milos (151 km2 (58 sq mi)), 36°41′N 24°25′E [9]
Mykonos , 37°27′32″N 25°21′51″E [9]
Naxos (429.8 km2 (165.9 sq mi)), 37°05′15″N 25°24′14″E [9]
Nea Kameni , 36°24′N 25°24′E [9]
Nikouria, 36°53′08″N 25°54′32″E [9]
Nisida Prasini, 37°04′46″N 25°42′21″E [9]
Ofidousa, 36°32′44″N 26°08′42″E [9]
Pahia Anaphis
Palea Kameni , 36°23′51″N 25°22′46″E
Paros (195 km2 (75 sq mi)), 37°4′N 25°12′E [9]
Polyaigos , 36°45′5″N 24°38′11″E
Rhineia , 37°24′32″N 25°13′44″E
Saliagos , 37°02′53″N 25°05′38″E
Santorini (Thera), 36°25′N 25°26′E [9]
Schoinoussa , 36°52′N 25°31′E [9]
Serifopoula , 37°15′22″N 24°36′00″E
Serifos , 37°09′N 24°30′E [9]
Sifnos , 36°59′21″N 24°40′7″E [9]
Sikinos , 36°40′32″N 25°6′58″E [9]
Skilonisi, 37°07′32″N 25°50′00″E [9]
Stroggyli Parou, 36°57′00″N 24°57′40″E [9]
Syros , 37°26′18″N 24°54′44″E [9]
Therasia , 36°26′N 25°20′E [9]
Tinos (194 km2 (75 sq mi)), 37°36′48″N 25°08′21″E [9]
Vous , 37°08′31″N 24°33′43″E
Vrachoi Bouvais, 37°13′47″N 25°55′24″E [9]
Dodecanese islands
The Dodecanese Islands
A harbor on the island of Astypalaia
There are 164 total Dodecanese Islands of which 26 are inhabited. There are 12 main islands, listed in bold below:
Agathonissi , 37°27.5′N 26°58′E
Agioi Theodoroi Halkis
Agios Antonios Nisyrou [ Wikidata ]
Agreloussa
Alimia , 36°16′N 27°42′E
Antitilos
Anydros Patmou
Arefoussa
Arhangelos
Arkoi , 37°23′N 26°44′E
Armathia , 35°26′12″N 26°51′49″E
Astakida
Astypalaia , 36°33′N 26°21′E
Faradonesia
Farmakonisi , 37°17′N 27°05′E
Fokionissia
Fragos
Gaidourosnissi Tilou
Glaros Kinarou
Gyali , 36°39′43″N 27°06′54″E
Halavra
Halki , 36°14′N 27°34′E
Hiliomodi Patmou
Hondro
Htenies
Imia (uninhabited), 37°03′03″N 27°09′04″E
Kalavros Kalymnou
Kalolimnos , 37°03′40″N 27°05′15″E
Kalovolos
Kalymnos , 36°59′24″N 26°59′06″E
Kamilonisi
Kandeloussa
Karavolas Rodhou
Karpathos (300 km2 (120 sq mi)), 35°35′N 27°08′E
Kasos , 35°23′51″N 26°55′30″E
Kastellorizo (Megisti), 36°08′42″N 29°35′06″E
Kinaros , 36°58′49″N 26°17′23″E
Kos (290.3 km2 (112.1 sq mi)), 36°51′N 27°14′E
Koubelonisi
Kouloundros
Kouloura Leipson
Kounoupoi
Koutsomytis
Leipsoi , 37°18′N 26°45′E
Leros , 37°09′N 26°51′E
Levitha , 37°00′40″N 26°27′35″E
Makronisi Leipson
Makronissi Kasou
Makry Aspronisi Leipson
Makry Halkis
Marathos , 37°22′03″N 26°43′30″E
Marmaras
Mavra Levithas
Megalo Aspronisi Leipson
Megalo Glaronisi
Megalo Sofrano
Mesonisi Seirinas
Mikro Glaronisi, 37°05′23″N 26°53′09″E [11]
Mikro Sofrano, 36°02′50″N 26°24′34″E [12]
Nerónisi, 37°28′37″N 26°59′48″E [13]
Nimos , 37°22′03″N 26°43′30″E
Nisídes Adelfoí, 36°25′12″N 26°36′32″E
Nisyros , 36°35′N 27°10′E
Paheia Nisyrou
Patmos , 37°19.5′N 26°32.5′E
Pergoussa
Piganoussa
Pitta
Plati Kasou
Plati Pserimou
Plati Symis
Pontikoussa
Prasonissi Rodhou
Prasouda
Pserimos , 36°56′0″N 27°8′0″E
Ro , 36°09′19″N 29°29′50″E
Rhodes (1,401 km2 (541 sq mi)), 36°10′N 27°56′E
Safonidi
Saria , 35°52′N 27°13′E
Seirina
Sesklio
Stroggyli [ Wikidata ]
Strongyli Megistis (Easternmost point of Greece), 36°7′N 29°38′E
Strongyli Kritinias
Strongyli Kasou
Symi , 36°35′N 27°50′E
Syrna , 36°20.33′N 26°40.38′E
Telendos , 37°00′N 26°55′E
Tilos , 36°26′N 27°22′E
Tragonisi
Zaforas , 36°04′24″N 26°24′02″E
Euboea and surrounding islands
North Aegean islands
There are also two North Aegean islands in the Thracian Sea :
Sporades islands
The Northern Sporades
The 30 islands in the Sporades are listed below, with the four major islands in bold. The largest Sporades island is Skyros .
Adelfoi Islets , 39°07′N 23°59′E
Agios Georgios Skopelou
Alonissos (64 km2 (25 sq mi)), 39°9′N 23°50′E
Arkos (Skiathos Municipality), 39°09′02″N 23°31′04″E
Aspronisi (Skiathos Municipality)
Dasia
Erinia (Rineia Skyrou), 38°49′48″N 24°25′59″E
Gioura , 39°23′N 24°10′E
Grammeza, 39°20′30″N 24°08′17″E
Korakas Alonissou
Kyra Panagia , 39°20′N 24°04′E
Lekhoussa, 39°13′45″N 23°59′56″E
Manolas Alonissou
Maragos (Skiathos Municipality)
Peristera , 39°11′N 23°58′E
Piperi , 39°20′53″N 24°19′26″E
Polemika Alonissou
Praso Skantzouras
Psathoura , 39°29′53″N 24°10′52″E
Repi , 39°08′49″N 23°31′44″E
Sarakino , 38°45′18″N 24°36′36″E
Skandili, 39°02′55″N 24°04′54″E [6]
Skantzoura , 39°05′N 24°07′E
Skiathos (49.9 km2 (19.3 sq mi) in Municipality), 39°10′N 23°29′E
Skopelos (96 km2 (37 sq mi)), 39°7′N 23°43′E
Skyropoula (Skyros Municipality), 38°50′N 24°22′E
Skyros (209 km2 (81 sq mi)), 38°53′N 24°31′E
Tsougria (Skiathos Municipality), 39°07′N 23°30′E
Troulonisi (Skiathos Municipality)
Tsougriaki (Skiathos Municipality)
Valaxa , 38°49′N 24°29′E
The following islands are close to the mainland and not part of a sea: