Cyclades: island-hopping, not a single postcard

White villages and caldera views are real. So are peak-season queues, wind (the meltemi), and the fact that Mykonos is not Naxos.

What this group is for

• Classic Aegean island-hopping with frequent summer boats.
• Santorini (Thira) if the caldera is the point — fly JTR or ferry; do not treat the airport as a secret.
• Larger islands (Naxos, Paros) if you want beaches plus a town you can live in for a week.
• Quieter islands if you accept fewer boats in shoulder season.

How you actually arrive

Air: JTR (Santorini), JMK (Mykonos), plus others. Sea: Piraeus and Rafina. Visit Greece places Aegean lines on those two Attica ports.

Operators to check (not an exhaustive cartel): Blue Star, Seajets, Fast Ferries. Times: check operator.

National overview: visitgreece.gr.