The most photographed Greek islands

Words by Georgina Groom-Rietschy

Home to one of Europe’s longest coastlines, Greece has thousands of islands scattered across the Aegean, yet just 200 are inhabited. The Cyclades remain the headline act, prized for crystal-clear coves and whitewashed villages, while generations-old tavernas, stylish stays and independent makers are shifting attention to the archipelago's quieter corners. Planning a Greek getaway is no easy task, so we asked our data science team to uncover the destinations Popsa travellers photographed most in 2025.

We analysed millions of customer photos using a rigorous, data-led methodology. Comparing the findings with our 2024 rankings, Crete retained the top spot, while Santorini and Rhodes held on to their podium positions. Some islands are big-hitters, others are better suited to couples than families, but all offer slow-paced living and a storied history. 

To learn more about how the data was analysed and how the photo index scores were calculated, see the methodology at the end of this article.

10 most photographed Greek islands

1. Crete

Photo index score: 100

Greece’s largest and southernmost island is celebrated for its sun-kissed coastline, stretching from the palm-fringed shores of Vai to the pink sands of Elafonsi and the turquoise lagoons of Balos. Base yourself in the harbour town of Chania, where colourful Ottoman architecture spills across a myriad of cobbled passageways and a dynamic food scene draws savvy travellers. Eat with locals at the buzzy taverna Evgonia, which serves fresh fish with wild mountain greens, or head to Periplous for seafood pasta and organic wines. Bed down at Metohi Kindelis – part organic fruit farm, part boutique hotel, and in the Kindelis family for more than a century. Rethymno is a strong alternative base, its old town drawing an achingly cool creative crowd thanks to its hip bars and eateries. Be sure to carve out an afternoon to hike the Samaria Gorge, cutting through the White Mountains to the Libyan Sea.

2. Santorini 

Photo index score: 54

While most travellers flock to Santorini’s capital, Fira, for its bustling restaurants, artisan boutiques and access to public transport, we recommend skipping to the north of the island instead, where the slow-paced village of Oia awaits. Its whitewashed cave houses and blue-domed churches, peppered with vivid bougainvillea, perch on cliffs that seem to tumble straight into the shimmering Aegean. The village is notorious for its sunsets, with the Castle of Agios Nikolas offering the finest vistas, while the Oia Windmills provide a quieter alternative away from the crowds. From the castle, take the 300 steps down to Ammoudi Bay, a small port bounded by dramatic red caldera cliffs and home to a stellar run of tavernas – Dimitris Ammoudi is a standout. If you’re looking to cool off, walk along the coast and dive straight into the water from the ledge opposite the St Nicholas islet.

3. Rhodes

Photo index score: 54

There’s a good reason Rhodes is among the most popular holiday destinations for couples. The island promises 300 days of sunshine a year, with its east coast renowned for golden sand beaches and clear waters, while the west coast is a hotspot for windsurfers and kitesurfers with its prevailing north-westerly winds. If you’re basing yourself near Rhodes Old Town – Avalon Boutique Hotel makes for a tranquil stay in the heart of the action – head to Anthony Quinn Bay, a pine-flanked cove offering excellent snorkelling, a beach bar serving great cocktails and club sandwiches, and a rock platform in the water you can swim out to and soak up the rays on. Lindos, meanwhile, is home to a 4th-century acropolis, whitewashed villas and the heart-shaped St Paul’s Bay.

4. Corfu

Photo index score: 32

Known to locals as Kerkyra, Corfu’s charm can be traced in its cypress-studded rolling hills, rocky coastline and rugged olive groves. Its UNESCO-protected Old Town reveals beauty at every turn – a striking blend of Venetian and French architecture, pastel-painted buildings, tumbling bougainvillea and cobbled squares lined with independent boutiques and family-run tavernas. Don’t miss the Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio) for sweeping views stretching across the town’s terracotta rooftops and out to the Ionian Sea. For an authentic taste of Greece, base yourself on the southwest coast in the charming village of Agios Matthaios, a stone’s throw from the postcard-perfect Halikounas beach – a 3km stretch of golden sand sandwiched between the Aegean and Lake Korission.

5. Mykonos

Photo index score: 25

The glitzy, glamorous island of Mykonos is the Cyclades’ hedonistic playground, its vibrant nightlife drawing the world’s party people, Hollywood heavyweights and Grecians alike. For a luxury stay, we love Cali – home to the longest pool on the island, a private beach and airy, stylish suites. Spilia is a highlight, its sea-to-plate menu served right on the water beneath an airy canopy offering welcome respite from the sun. Flit between Paradise Beach Club, Scorpios and Cavo Paradiso, explore the boutiques of the Old Town and photograph the centuries-old windmills before soaking up the laidback vibe of the waterfront neighbourhood of Little Venice.

6. Kos

Photo index score: 22

While Rhodes is often touted as the star attraction of the Dodecanese, Kos has a quieter, soothing energy to its neighbours – its ancient history, golden beaches and cycling-friendly flat roads come without the crowds. Base yourself in Kos Town for easy access to the Castle of the Knights and the Ancient Agora, then make tracks to the Asclepion to enjoy sweeping views across the Aegean – and the Turkish port city of Bodrum on a clear day. Tigaki beach is ideal for families with its shallow waters, while Paradise Beach is celebrated for its soft white sand and volcanic gas bubbles that rise from the seabed. Keen hikers will love Mount Dikeos, just above the village of Zia, and rewarding climbers with a showstopping sunset view.

7. Zakynthos

Photo index score: 17

For a country famed for its beaches, Zakynthos undoubtedly holds the crown. Navagio Beach is the crowd-pleaser, with its rusted cargo ship marooned on the white sand and framed by limestone cliffs and crystal-clear water, accessible only by boat. The boat trip to the Blue Caves, where sunlight filters through natural sea grottoes and past the striking white rock stacks of Mizithres, is a must-visit – offering glimpses of dolphins and monk seals. Inland, sprawling olive groves, vineyards and wildflower meadows offer a tranquil escape. We recommend a stay at Peligoni, a rustic-chic members' club in the island's unspoilt north, where sun decks and platforms cling to the rocks above the shimmering sea. Days here revolve around sailing and watersports and long lunches at the bamboo-shaded restaurant, before retreating to one of the whitewashed villas.

8. Kefalonia

Photo index score: 12

The largest of the Ionian Islands, Kefalonia is an island defined by towering mountains, pine forests and cliff-backed beaches. Its showstopper is Myrtos Beach, a curve of dazzling white pebbles cradled by sheer limestone cliffs and water shifting from deep blue to turquoise where it meets the shore. Descend into Melissani Cave, best explored by boat, where shafts of sunlight see the water glowing electric blue. Make Assos your hideout for a quiet stay, a pastel-painted village strung around a peninsula and crowned by a Venetian fortress. Or base yourself in Argostoli, the buzzy, palm-lined capital, for fresh fish, waterfront tavernas and easy access to the rest of the island – we recommend boutique hillside hotel F Zeen for its sweeping sea views.

9. Paros

Photo index score: 11

If you’re wondering where the Greeks head on their holidays, it’s Paros. Stay in the fishing village of Naoussa, where boats crowd the harbour, bougainvillea spills over cobbled lanes and straw chairs and gingham tablecloth-topped tables offer romantic dinners along the water’s edge. Lefkes is worth exploring with its medieval history and marble streets, while the Byzantine Trail skirting through fragrant olive groves is worth the wander to reach the neighbouring Prodromos. Take the 10-minute ferry to the dinky islet of Antiparos for a day spent skipping between hidden coves, sea caves and paddling in gin-clear water. Prefer a livelier vibe? Parikia is where you’ll find a slew of bars, restaurants and boutiques.

10. Naxos

Photo index score: 9

Legend has it Dionysus blessed Naxos with rich soil and endless vineyards, and you’ll be thanking him when you flit between the island’s family-run tavernas – specifically Axiotissa and its hyperlocal dishes. It’s the largest and greenest of the Cyclades, with the capital of Chora climbing to a medieval Venetian Castle. Have your camera ready the Portara – a 6th-century marble doorway and the island's best sunset spot – and the inland village of Halki where the historic Vallindras Distillery delights visitors with its Kitron, a local spirit distilled from the leaves of a citron tree. As for the finest beach, swap the bustle of Agios Prokopios for Amitis, a quiet stretch of sand near Eggares.

Methodology 

To determine the most photographed Greek islands, Popsa’s data science team analysed millions of photos uploaded by customers in 2025. Using location metadata, we identified images taken within the boundaries of Greece’s most visited islands and ranked them according to total photo volume. 

Each spot was assigned a photo index score reflecting the relative volume of photos taken there compared with all other locations in the dataset. Scores were then normalised on a scale of 0 to 100, with the most photographed island used as the benchmark. The result is a ranking that reflects real traveller behaviour, highlighting not only where people visit, but also the places that most inspire them to capture their memories.