Greek Island Hopping with Janet
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A typical trip may begin in Mid-May (exact dates to come) , to run 17 or 22 days, depending on choices. Starting at Crete, the farthest isle, we'll island-hop back on large
ocean-going ferries … stops may include Santorini, Naxos, and on the mainland, magical Nafplio. We end with Athens, enjoyed best after you've seen the glory of
ancient Greece in the Isles!
So many wonderful sights and islands to choose from!
Map source: worldatlas.com
Three magical isles
  Rhodes fortress Samos (port) Chios (Mesta village)
 

Rhodes. Crusaders loved this isle of roses! Walk on medieval city ramparts, roam castles and fortresses. With 1-day car rental we can visit cliiff-top classic temples, sandy beaches, isolated mountain villages, then dine at harborside at sunset.
  Samos. Lush green Samos has finest museum in N.E.Aegean, with the world's largest kouros (archaic statue). Not to mention major ruins, teal-blue waters, sandy bays, and a charming hillside 'old town.' A wonderfully relaxing stop on our journey.
  Chios. Hidden away inland are unique walled "mastic villages," almost unchanged since 1500! Nestled in forests, a deserted 11th Century monastery with stunning secrets inside. Breathtaking beaches, too, black-pebbled or rosy sands, for sunning.
And three more marvels
Crete. Matala beach. Crete. Knossos. Santorini Naxos
Crete. The largest island, the one with Everything! Thrilling lush scenery, Grade-A Minoan ruins, blissful beaches, unforgettable gorges, the best crafts and jewelry buys, luscious fresh foods, more more more. You DO need to rent a car but for 2-4 people the cost is quite reasonable. Crete deserves a 6-day visit at least.
Santorini. Whitewashed villages with spectacular cliffside vistas/sunsets that say "greek Isles!" Those plus the fascinating Akrotiri archeological dig, are the main things; the downside is over-touristic & costly, but I know affordable places to stay. One can experience the beauty of Santorini in 2-3 days and move on!
Naxos. Again, an island with many plusses! Ruins, giant statues in orchards, super beaches,  night life, amazing topography, wonderful hiking trails, even castles -- an island big enough not to be over-touristed, small enough to experience in 3-4 days.
And moving on ..        
Paros Sifnos Nauplia Athens. Parthenon Aegina temple
   
Paros. Known as the ferry-connection center, Paros has treasures beyond its port! An maze-like agora (market lane), remote villages with marble streets, brilliant beaches, a startling museum and one of the top Byzantine churches in all Greece. Paros is so close to Naxos it can even be enjoyed as a day trip.  
Sifnos. Superb white-washed Cycladic architecture, in towns spread across hillsides like diamond necklaces, make this quiet island one of the jewels of the Aegean. (On the map, it's actually the island erroneously marked "Seriphos" with a ph.). Ancient stone walkways link the villages and the Castro, a medieval hamlet overhanging the sea. Famed for cookery, pottery, poets, and fabulous beaches. Only drawback: very infrequent ferry links to other isles.
Nauplia (Nafplio). Called the most elegant Neo-classical town in Greece. Its stair-step streets, overhung with jasmine, go up the side of a peninsula (on the map it's at the center of the V in the Gulf of Argolis). History galore, Venetian mansions, a mountain-top fortress, a sandy beach nearby. Wow! Plus it's an ideal base for visiting the ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus and Tiryn. You'll find more Greeks than foreigners enjoying the sunsets at the absolutely splendid waterfront café row. A mainland gem that provides us a wonderful transition to Athens.  
Athens. It's noisy, sometimes smoggy-- but staying in the Plaka (old town) on a tiny lane, we avoid all that. In a short stay, we can see the Parthenon at dawn or dusk, hit the highlights at key museums, dine in a tree-filled (no cars) square, and even discover souvenir bargains.  
  Aegina. A terrific getaway if you have a spare day at trip's end, this isle's just a 40-minute ferry from Athens port-- it's mobbed on weekends but quiet on weekdays.  Beaches are so-so…but it has perhaps the best-preserved Doric temple in all Greece!
Where My Greece Trips Have Taken Me Before (and Where I May Go Again)
1999 Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Delos, Athens, Nauplia, Mycenae-Epidaurus, Delphi
2001 Crete, Naxos, Paros, Naxos (again!), Amorgos, Nauplia, Tiryns, Athens
2002 Samos, Ephesus (on the Turkey shore), Chios, Patmos, Naxos, Athens, Sifnos.
2003 Crete, Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio, Athens, Sifnos.
2005 Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Nafplio (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns), Athens, Aegina, Sifnos
2006 Rhodes, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Athens, Serifos, Milos
2007 Crete, Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio, Epidaurus, Athens, Kea
2009 Olympia, Pylos, Nafplio, Sifnos, Athens, Naxos, Syros