What Are the Greek Islands to Explore on Foot?

For those who love to live slowly, observing closely what surrounds them, some Greek islands are perfect for a vacation in flip-flops, sandals, or trekking shoes. Forgetting for a short period any means of transport other than your own legs and a backpack on your shoulders, accessing beaches, villages, or whitewashed monasteries simply on foot. You don't need to be very young or super fit for this type of holiday because, if the island is small, the beaches can be reached with a simple and pleasant flat walk within the reach of “almost everyone.” For trekking enthusiasts, of course, there are also more challenging trails, often very scenic and solitary.
For everyone, the advice is to walk in the morning or towards sunset because in Greece the heat, especially in summer, can be felt!
Below we provide a brief description of the Greek islands to explore on foot, those that are best suited for this type of slow tourism, listed in alphabetical order.

Anafi (Cyclades)

It is considered the island for those who love walking because the roads are few and the beaches are reachable either by sea or by trails. It is quite mountainous but with a bit of goodwill, it can be explored on foot using the good network of trails or directly walking along the asphalt road. A path that can be walked even at night, because it is illuminated, connects the capital to the port.

Antiparos (Cyclades)

It is an island with few inhabitants and very limited traffic. On foot, you can reach, in a few minutes, the beaches near the port but there are routes that lead to other places of interest such as the famous cave (about two hours).

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Donoussa (Cyclades)

Donoussa is not an island to explore by car; the roads are almost non-existent. Therefore, walking around is certainly the best way (even if not the least tiring as it is mountainous). The main paths are well-marked and lead, for example, to the beautiful Livadi beach or Plakes beach. Needless to say, the trails are very scenic.

Elafonisos (Ionian Islands)

The island is tiny but the most beautiful and renowned beach is about an hour's walk from the port, reachable by a not always flat asphalt road. So, strolling around Elafonisos on foot is fine but with the awareness that you mostly walk on asphalt with several ups and downs.

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Folegandros (Cyclades)

An island with many stony paths, sometimes steep but very scenic, leading to beautiful beaches otherwise reachable only by sea. Folegandros can be explored on foot but only by those who love trekking because it is quite mountainous.

Gavdos (Crete)

A small, unspoiled island, rich in peace and tranquility, where reaching the beaches on foot is the best way to experience it.

Hydra (Saronic Islands)

On the island, motor vehicles are banned, making it perfect for those who love to move on foot in an environment where calm, silence, and solitude reign. There are many paths available, both flat and challenging, leading to monasteries, small villages, or beaches.

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Kimolos (Cyclades)

Traffic is very limited in Kimolos. Trekking enthusiasts can easily explore it on foot, while other tourists should consider the various elevations: as always, the trails connecting the different beaches along the coast are the easiest, while those venturing into the mountainous island are more challenging but always very scenic. The inhabited part of the island is entirely walkable.

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Koufonissi (Cyclades)

Being very small, with quiet and almost flat roads, it is perfect for being discovered and enjoyed on foot. Distances are really minimal; from the port beach to Pori, the farthest and most famous beach, it is less than 4 km. You can reach this beach either by the coastal path or by the panoramic road that passes through the interior of the island.

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Lipsi (Dodecanese)

The island is small, so all the beaches or points of interest can be easily reached on foot, generally in about an hour and without significant elevations. Traffic is very limited, so walking along paved roads is not a bother.

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Paxos (Ionian Islands)

This small island is also particularly suitable for being visited on foot. Beautiful beaches can be reached (often accessible only on foot) through paths that wind among olive trees, sometimes centuries old, and beautiful villages. There is also a paved road that runs through the island, but traffic is very light, so it is also walkable.

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Schinoussa (Cyclades)

This island is characterized by being very quiet, simple, not crowded, and suitable for tourists mainly seeking relaxation, perfect for being walked around. There are numerous trails available, but also the paved road that crosses it is mostly used by walkers. To reach the farthest points, less than 3 km are enough, but there are many elevations on the way: it is worth considering.

Sikinos (Cyclades)

In Sikinos, traffic is very limited, and paved roads are rare. You can get around well on foot, for example, to reach Chora from the port in three-quarters of an hour uphill. The beaches are also reachable with a walk, as well as the famous Episcopi monastery (an hour on foot from Chora). Beware of the elevations: the island is quite mountainous, and walks are not always short.

Tilos (Dodecanese)

A somewhat wild, rugged island, rich in flora and fauna, and with deserted beaches even in high season. Visiting it on foot, even with some effort, could be the icing on the cake. The two most famous beaches are reached, however, in three-quarters of an hour: nothing impossible, then.