South Aegean Islands Holidays

from £ 397 pp

Holidays to the South Aegean Islands toss up a bunch of Greece’s poster boy destinations, with top beach, bar and sightseeing scenes.

Major players

Kos and Rhodes aren’t only big-hitters in the South Aegean Islands, they’re right up there in Greece’s overall rankings, too. Kos edges it when it comes to beaches, and throws in boat trips to Turkey for good measure. Rhodes, on the other hand, is like a sharing platter of blast-from-the-past sites, lively seaside resorts and eye-popping scenery.

Stellar sightseeing

Lindos Acropolis, the Ancient Agora of Kos, the Castle of the Knights – these islands are up to their eyeballs in must-sees. Rhodes notches up the highest tally, with attention grabbers that include a Medieval old town, a 14th-century palace and a crumbling stadium. Kos, meanwhile, holds up its end of the bargain with a Roman odeon, a Mycenaean temple and the worn-away remains of a hilltop Byzantine fortress.

Top-drawer nightlife

While culture vultures sign on the dotted line for Greek ruins and relics, younger crowds are drawn to this corner of the Aegean Sea for its party credentials. Kos Town has a harbour that’s tasselled with bars and nightclubs, and it’s a similar story in Rhodes’ well-known party capital – Kavos. Waterparks and beach-bound watersports rule by day, and the evening soundtrack keeps going until the wee hours.