Most people visiting our authentic Greek islands are seeking peace and tranquillity, an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But sometimes you might want to experience a different aspect of Greek life.

Traditional celebrations are a huge part of Greek culture, with singing, dancing and feasting going on long into the night. After all, Greeks have been partying since the dawn of western civilisation, so they’ve got it down to a fine art!

We’ve covered the main festivals and cultural events of Tilos and Halki in previous articles. Now it’s time for Nisyros. If you want to time your visit with some of the island’s major celebrations, here’s an overview of Nisyros festivals held during the holiday season.

Tiny Tilos is a pioneer. This remote Dodecanese island is leading the way when it comes to sustainability, becoming the first island in the Mediterranean to be entirely self-sufficient in energy.

Back in 2017, we reported on the inception of the TILOS Project. Now let’s take a look back to see what’s happened since then. How has our authentic little Greek island become a champion of sustainability and gained the moniker, ‘the Green Island of Greece’?

With an area of just 11 square miles, Halki is the smallest inhabited island in the Dodecanese and one of the smallest in Greece. This wee rocky scrap of land doesn’t have the sandy beaches and variety of sights and attractions that many Greek islands have. So what can you expect from a holiday in Halki?  

The lack of mass tourism is exactly what makes this island so delightful. People visit to experience its sleepy charm and traditional way of life. This is an authentic Greek island with a pace of life that varies between ‘dead slow’ and ‘stopped’. An island where people come to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life – and just be…

Whether you’re visiting for the day or coming to stay for longer, here’s an idea of what you can expect from a typical day in Halki.

Updated July 2023

One of the smallest Dodecanese Islands, Nisyros sits between Rhodes and Kos. This tranquil island is largely off the beaten track and has a quaint, retro atmosphere and a wild, natural beauty.

At the heart of Nisyros is its imposing volcano. The centre of the island is dominated by the desolate lunar-esque landscape, streaked with neon yellow and dotted with spitting fumaroles. The volcano influences every aspect of Nisyros, from the dramatic black sand beaches to thermal hot springs and the captivating volcanic energy that reverberates around the island.

While the island is popular with day-trippers enticed by the volcano, there’s more to discover by staying a little longer. To find out more about this enchanting place, here’s our ultimate guide to Nisyros.

The Dodecanese island of Nisyros is best known for its volcano, offering visitors the opportunity to walk in a potentially active volcanic crater. But this charming little island has a fascinating past too. There’s evidence of human habitation from the Neolithic age to the present day, and a mythology tied to its explosive beginnings. Here’s an overview of the mythology and history of Nisyros.

Updated May 2023

The Dodecanese island of Halki is one of Greece’s smallest inhabited islands, located west of Rhodes. What the island lacks in size, it makes up for in heart.

Recognised by UNESCO as the Island of Peace and Friendship, Halki is a traditional island with beautiful Italianate houses, clear aquamarine waters, and picturesque monasteries and churches. There’s a spectacular high-mountain spine, with stunning views over the sparkling blue Aegean and neighbouring islands.  

This is an island of enduring beauty, kind-hearted people, and sleepy charm; a visit here feels like stepping back in time. However, thanks to the Greek Government’s GR-Eco Islands initiative, tiny Halki has taken big strides towards energy self-sufficiency. Along with its neighbour Tilos, it’s leading the charge to sustainability in the Dodecanese, as we’ll explain later in this guide to Halki. 

Free from the trappings of mass tourism, Halki is a very special island. To find out more, read on for our ultimate guide to Halki.

Updated May 2023

Part of the Dodecanese archipelago, Tilos is midway between the popular tourist hotspots of Rhodes and Kos, but life on this tiny island is a far cry from the bustling resort ambience of its busy neighbours.

Tilos is a haven of tranquillity. Home to craggy mountains, secluded beaches, carpets of wildflowers, rare birds, medieval castles, sublime sea views, a remote monastery, and a cave of dwarf elephants.

There are no big hotel developments here, and little in the way of noisy nightlife. This is an island people visit to step back in time to a more authentic way of life. Unsurprisingly it’s popular with nature lovers and walkers, but this tiny island is also a pioneer in environmental issues with a reputation for being very open-minded, as we’ll explain later in this guide to Tilos.

While the island has been spared the trappings of mass tourism, those who visit tend to return year after year. To find out more about this beguiling island, read on for our ultimate guide to Tilos.

In a recent blog post, we gave you some advice on how to decide which Greek island to visit, for those of you having trouble deciding between our small, authentic Greek islands of Halki, Tilos and Nisyros.

But what if you’re still having trouble deciding? Perhaps you’re drawn to two of our islands and can’t make up your mind, or you’re stuck in discussions with your family or significant other, as you all fancy something different. Maybe you’ve been coming to Halki or Tilos for years and want to try something else… but also don’t want to miss out on your favourite island.

Luckily, when it comes to holidays, one size doesn’t have to fit all. If you can’t decide, don’t! We can arrange multi-centre holidays in the Greek islands, so you get to explore twice the amount of beaches, restaurants, landscapes and attractions – and keep everybody in your travelling party happy!

Famous for their parties since the dawn of Western Civilisation, Greeks love celebrations! After all, this is a country where everybody celebrates two birthdays per year – one on the day of their birth and the other on their name day, the official day of the saint they’re named after.

In addition, the Greek calendar is chock-full of festivals and celebrations, from key dates on the Greek Orthodox calendar, to days of national importance, and island and region-specific events, as noted on our post about Tilos festivals.

Whether you want to plan your trip to Halki to coincide with a celebration or are curious about an event you’ve witnessed, here’s an overview of some of the best Halki festivals and cultural events.

The volcanic island of Nisyros is well known, thanks to the smouldering volcano at its heart. Because of this, many visitors jump on a day trip to the island, swoop into the volcanic crater, wander round and take some pictures, then head back to their larger island base (usually Kos).

One question we’ve seen frequently mooted in travel forums, etc. is whether it’s worth staying or if a day trip to Nisyros is sufficient to experience the island.

As you can imagine, we have a pretty strong opinion on this!

Yes, if you’re staying on a nearby island and don’t have much time, then pop over to Nisyros for the day, because the volcano is such a unique experience. But this authentic Greek island has so much more to offer – and when the daytrippers have left, you can really feel the island’s magic.

Here are our reasons why a day trip to Nisyros is never enough.