Best Greek Islands to Visit in June

By Anthia Vlassopoulou
Co-founder and CEO of Greece Insiders, writing about Greek travel since 2012

The best Greek islands to visit in June are Sifnos, Syros, Lefkada, Andros, Rhodes, and Crete. The sea will be warm at 22 – 24ºC and the peak summer crowds won’t have arrived yet. It’s the perfect time of the season. Long sunny days, fully running ferries, and beaches that still have a lot of space.

In this guide we will talk about the weather in June on the islands and the best ones to visit! We will also talk about what to do on each island and the festivals worth planning around. Let’s get into it!

Weather & Sea Temperature in Greece in June

June is the real beginning of summer in Greece. The sun shines almost all the time, and the sea is comfortably warm. Rainy days are so rare that they are practically non – existent.

It is not the same throughout the month, though. In the beginning of June, you will still find some shoulder-season prices and fewer people. Late June will be hotter and the number of tourists rises significantly.

Still, June is much cooler than July and August. It also has far fewer crowds and summer destinations feel calmer.

What’s Happening in Greece in June

June is the time when Greece’s cultural calendar really gets going.

The month starts with Holy Spirit Monday. It is a very important three-day weekend for Orthodox Christians. Many Greeks take short vacations so ferries and hotels near Athens fill up fast.

Towards the end of the month, the Athens Festival & Epidaurus kick off. Ancient drama and music performances take place in various historic venues throughout the country. The most famous venue is the 2,000-year-old Theater of Epidaurus.

The Miaoulia Festival on Hydra pays tribute to the island’s naval past. A spectacular fireworks display and reenactment of historical events will be amazing opportunities for history lovers.

Crete celebrates the Analipsi feast with beach parties and offerings. It is a local custom that very few tourists plan around.

The month ends with European Music Day on June 21st. Many free concerts pop up place in the streets and squares of Athens and the islands. If June’s calendar has you ready to book, explore our Greece vacation packages or request an itinerary built around the festivals and islands you want to see.

The 8 Best Greek Islands to Visit in June

The top Greek islands to visit in June are Sifnos, Syros, Lefkada, Andros, Rhodes, Naxos, Kefalonia and Crete. The weather is just perfect in all of them. Warm enough to swim, but not to make you feel uncomfortable. Services, restaurants, bars and hotels are fully operating. There are no crowds of tourists yet though. You can easily walk around and explore without feeling rushed.

Sifnos: For Appetizers and Dives

From the nearby Cycladic islands, it is the one that challenges us the most for the first dives in the still cool Aegean waters, with its wonderful beaches. However, the less adventurous will not be disappointed: beautiful villages, historic sights, unique natural landscapes, nightlife, and excellent local cuisine will keep you busy. Our full Sifnos island guide goes deeper into its pottery villages and ancient sites.

Your stay in Sifnos will be packed with:

• Walks on the cobbled streets of the Kastro, capital of Sifnos until 1836, with stunning views of the sunset, and the Acropolis of the classical era.
• Overnight stay in Apollonia, the charming, cosmopolitan capital of the island.
• Diving in Platys Gialos, Vathi, and Chrysopigi.
• Walking the wonderful Exabela, with their neoclassical mansions and Arades, rows of about ten windmills at the entrance of the village.

You will eat:

• Homemade cuisine and fresh fish snacks at Big Blue, in Vathi.
• Local specialties in Kapnisis, Vathi Gialos.
• Snacks at the Dead End,
• Mediterranean cuisine at Okyalos, both in Apollonia.
• Very fresh fish in Argyris, in Kamares.

Syros: In the Capital of the Cyclades

Another Cycladic Island in which we firmly trust for our first summer getaways. Syros makes up for what it lacks in spectacular beaches. Four hours away from Piraeus, or two hours if you choose the speedboat, is ideal for a few days in June. There your only dilemma will be if you should dive or just walk — an easy, unhurried rhythm that suits Greece vacations for seniors well. This means that you’ll forget about your worries on this magnificent island.

Your stay in Syros will be packed with:

• Walks and sightseeing on the picturesque cobbled streets and countless alleys of Ermoupolis.
• Cool dives in Mega Gialos and the beautiful cove of Vari.

You will eat:

• Fresh fish and other seafood delicacies in the taverns of the Kini area.
• Ouzo varieties in Lilis, where Markos Vamvakaris once played his amazing Greek songs.
• Traditional dishes in Chroussa in Ermoupolis, and Italian specialties in Ambyx, in the port.

Lefkada: Dive in the Endless Turquoise

Just six words: the best beaches of the Ionian. We would tell people, but we do not want to sound exaggerated. Add to that a lush hinterland, ideal for road enthusiasts, many picturesque villages and so many other cosmopolitan resorts, plus the privilege of not having to take a boat. You can easily drive from Athens and in four hours you are there ready for your first dive!

Your stay in Lefkada will be packed with:

• Diving in the endless turquoise, in Egremni, in Porto Katsiki, in Pefkoulia or in Mylos.
• Nature-loving routes in the hinterland, in the gorge of Dimosari, and the mountainous villages of Englouvi and Drymonas.
• Nights after music and cocktails in one of the liveliest capitals of the Ionian, or cosmopolitan resorts such as Nidri.

You will eat:

• Homemade specialties in Lefkada in Athani.
• Fresh fish and seafood in Xouras in Lygia.
• Snacks with gourmet touches in Phryne in Molos in the town of Lefkada.
• Local cuisine in Portoni in Agios Nikitas.

Andros: The Cycladic Island ‘Next Door’

The minimum distance that separates it from the port of Rafina (just two hours) deserves the title of the Cycladic Island ‘next door’. Its stunning beaches, exquisite local cuisine, the picturesque alleys of Chora, its green corners – so unexpected in the Cycladic landscape – and the complete lack of crowds, are just some of its strong points.

Your stay in Andros will be packed with:

• Walking in the cobbled alleys of Chora, between imposing captain’s houses and flowered courtyards.
• Dives in the extremely turquoise waters reminiscent of the Ionian sea of Zorkos, and in one of the most photographed beaches of the Cyclades, Gria to Pidima, with the eerie rock that springs from the water.
• Exploring the hinterland and visiting the cute villages of Menites, with their orchards and plane trees, Korthi with the beautiful mansions, and Stenies with the impressive captain’s houses.
• Hiking on the idyllic inland paths, which meander through gorges, next to watermills and over arched bridges.

You will eat:

• Local cuisine (froutalia, local omelet with handmade sausage and cheese) on the Balcony of the Aegean in Ano Aprovato.
• Very fresh fish and other savory appetizers in Barbarola and Gialia in Stenies and Nona, in Chora.
• Homemade pies and traditional dishes with a bit of creative twist.
• Braised veal with mushrooms and mashed potatoes at Skalakia in Chora.

Can’t pick just one island? Let our local experts craft a tailor-made itinerary to Greece that combines a few of these into one trip

Rhodes: The Queen of the Dodecanese

Just an hour plane ride from Athens, you will find yourself on the island of the Knights!

Your stay in Rhodes will be packed with:

• Walking in the medieval town, which no matter how many times you walk you never get enough of it. A great setting for groups of friends travelling in Greece.
• Nature-loving excursions to idyllic landscapes such as the Seven Springs and the Valley of the Butterflies
• Sightseeing in Kamiros and Ialyssos
• Dives in crystal clear Aegean waters in Glystra and Vlycha.

You will eat:

• Homemade cooked food on the Horizon, in Psinthos
• Juicy local grilled meats in Bakis in Embonas.
• Local specialties in Limeri tou Robis in Profilia
• Creative Greek cuisine at Marco Polo, in the old town.

Naxos: The Family Friendly Island

Naxos is the most welcoming island for Greece family vacations of all the Cyclades. The beaches alone could persuade you to visit. Gorgeous stretches of sand and calm water for the kids. Windsurfing and beach bars for the grown-ups and teens. However, the landscape of the island changes radically as you move inland. Mountain villages, ancient ruins, and excellent trails for hiking.

Your stay on Naxos will feature:

• Family excursions to the beaches of Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna.
• Walking along the Venetian old town of Chora and Portara, the marble gate of the harbor.
• A drive up to Halki and to the mountain villages of the Tragea, through ancient olive groves with Byzantine churches.

You will enjoy:

• Naxian potatoes and graviera cheese.
• Fresh, grilled meat and also slow-cooked dishes in the Tragea villages.
• Fish plates at the waterfront in Agia Anna, with the gorgeous sunset over the bay.

Kefalonia: The Ionian Delight

Kefalonia exchanges the Cycladic blue-and-white for green mountains, stunning caves, and some of the most gorgeous turquoise water in the Ionian Sea. It is a larger and more untamed island. Our complete Kefalonia guide covers getting there, where to stay, and the island’s best beaches in more depth. One day you can find a cliffside beach, a cave lake or a fishing village that seems to be the same as it was through centuries.

In Kefalonia you can:

• Swim at Myrtos, one of Greece’s most famous beaches, surrounded by steep white cliffs.
• Take a boat trip to Melissani Cave, where sunlight reflects a captivating blue color on the underground lake.
• Stroll in Fiskardo and Assos, two of the most vibrant, least crowded villages of the island.

In Argostoli you will eat:

• Kreatopita, the spiced meat pie of Kefalonia, at small family taverns.
• Fiskardo harbors fresh-caught fish.
• The local Robola wine, produced on the island’s limestone slopes.

Crete

Crete is the southernmost Greek island and it shows in June. Temperatures are higher and the sun feels brighter. You can find beaches, gorges, and ancient ruins on a scale no other island can match. Being so massive, it means that you don’t have to worry much about finding a secluded beach even during the summer.

• Your stay in Crete will be packed with:
• Swimming at the pink-tinted Elafonissi
• Exploring the Palace of Knossos
• Wandering Chania’s old town, with its Venetian harbor and lighthouse lit up at dusk. A quietly romantic close to any honeymoon itinerary in Greece.

You will eat:

• Dakos and Kalitsouniat in Chania’s backstreets.
• Fresh grilled lamb and goat meat in mountain villages.
• And you will finish your meals with a glass of raki.

Conclusion

The best Greek islands to visit in June are a perfect choice for their warm waters, long periods of sunlight and the authentic summer spirit. All that, without the crowds of tourists. Sifnos, Syros, Lefkada, Andros, Rhodes, Naxos, Kefalonia and Crete are some of the top options. They offer a mix of beautiful beaches, history and culture and amazing food that will certainly satisfy you!

If you still haven’t decided on your destination, Greece Insiders is here to help! Explore our travel packages to find the one that fits your travel style best. Or, share your preferences and your vision and a travel expert will design the perfect itinerary for you.