Photos that will make you want to go to a Greek Island (again)

The summer is almost here, the busiest travel season of the year. If you haven’t booked a trip yet, this post might act as a little source of inspiration as it photographs the beauty of Greek Islands. For many of us Cypriots, island hopping is a recurring experience, yet Greek Islands are a hot spot for internationals too. Here’s a little reminder why.

**These photos were taken on recent trips to a couple of Greek Islands between 2017 and 2018. During my trip last year, between working two jobs, I took a week off and basked in the Aegean Sea, until I got tonsilitis, forgot my camera charger and ate soup in mid-June. My photographing days were put on hold but I managed to capture a few scenes (with the help of my sister) that symbolise the islands for me. Enjoy.

Food, glorious food. I don’t know if there’s anything better than eating fresh ingredients with a view of blue waters. Devouring crispy calamari, pure olive oil and feta is always on my list when I’m on a Greek Island. But let’s not forget about mizithra cheese (shown above), soft, creamy and delicious. And I think a sea view only amplifies its taste.

Ano Koufonisi | Photo by Daphne Philippou

See-through, crystal clear waters and Greek Islands go hand in hand. Of course it depends where you’re at but this scene of white-and-blue-painted boats is one that characterises the islands for me.

Besides the food and the stunning, Instagram-worthy scenery, it’s meeting the locals that live there all-year-round that I love. Discovering their day-to-day when the tourists have left and there’s only one taverna left open. An islander myself, living in a tourism-dependant country, I can sort of relate. Anyone who’s gone to Protaras or Ayia Napa in the winter can understand. It’s scarily quiet but at the same time serene. It’s the calm before the storm.

And having these conversations under a vibrant bougenvelia is the cherry on top the cake.

The white and blue. It’s a distinctive feature of the islands. A simple colour palette that surrounds every corner and keeps the landscape in uniform. I love that their architecture is honest, like in this church we came across, and its character is maintained, a minimlist design often decorated with colourful plant pots and wall mosaics.

The white and blue and the bougenvelias stretch into the narrow alleys where shopkeepers sit to chat with the passers-by. It’s easy to get lost in here and a wonderful thing if you do. People will help you out and you’ll come across picteresque corners and cosy shops. Mind you, prices don’t tend to be cheap but the souvenirs often steer away from fridge magnets and ‘I love Mykonos’-type t-shirts. Jelwery shops, art galleries and clothes shops have trendy options and it’s hard to resist updating your summer wardrobe.

The pretty corners you’ll find around are endless and so perfect that they could be framed. A little flower shop in Chania (right) had this bouquet of sunflowers perfectly positioned. Now, this photo hangs on my mum’s wall. A gift to her and a sweet reminder for me of my first solo travelling experience

And the scenery isn’t just pretty to look it, it can be a whole new world of experiences like this windmill here, another iconic feature of Greek Islands. This one, found in Ano Koufonisi, is actually a house. Yup, you can rent it and stay right by the edge of the sea. From a quick glance, it had an outdoor shower, a small private outdoor area and the best view of the sunset. Which brings me onto my final point.