The best accommodations NorThern Islands Of The Aegean Sea

Budget & Tips

Prices can vary from simple to triple between low and high season. Note that in low season, prices are open to haggling, which becomes impossible in high season. During this period, it is strongly recommended to make reservations. Luxury hotels have prices comparable to those in the rest of Europe, while small charming hotels offer more affordable prices. The most economical solutions remain domatia, studios to rent from individuals, or camping, well developed in the North Aegean islands. Last option, free of charge: wild camping. It is forbidden everywhere in Greece, but some islands tolerate it. This is the case of Samothrace and Ikaria, famous among Greek and international free campers.

The price ranges used in this guide are based on high season rates (from June on), for a standard double room.

Good and cheap: less than 90 € per night.

Comfort or charm: from 90 to 140 € per night.

Luxury: over 150 € per night.

To be booked

It is imperative to book in summer, especially between July 15 and the end of August, whether it is the most touristic islands and therefore very popular, or the most isolated islands which lack infrastructure. It is also necessary to book during the Orthodox Easter.

What's very local

Domatia, or rooms in private homes, have become more professional: nowadays they are mostly small studio apartments furnished by locals (double room with kitchenette and private bathroom), which do not offer breakfast service. During the low season, or in the less visited islands, you will see some owners offering their studios for rent with signs at the arrival of the ferries. Otherwise, book online or by phone, just like in a hotel.

There are different types of hotels in the North Aegean: large resorts, sometimes all inclusive, are concentrated on the most visited islands, elsewhere you will find small or medium-sized family hotels. More and more, the trend is towards small charming hotels, often called boutique hotels, where an effort is made to decorate and improve comfort, often with higher prices than in classic family hotels. The latter have launched welcome renovations in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue.

There are no youth hostels in the North Aegean islands, so for those who like this type of accommodation, you'll have to do it the other way around, as the cheapest options in the region are not part of the Hostelling International network. For those on a smaller budget, camping is much more widely practiced on these islands, both officially and unofficially. The slightly more expensive alternative is domatia and studio apartments, whose prices are negotiable in the off-season, especially for longer stays.

Camping is a well developed practice. In principle, wild camping is forbidden, but this general rule does not apply everywhere. In fact, each island decides whether or not to tolerate campers on its beaches in summer. When it is accepted, wild camping is restricted to certain areas: in the islands of the North Aegean, the beaches of Samothrace in particular are open to free camping. Elsewhere, as in Alonissos or Thassos, paying and official campsites offer their pitches, often shaded and close to a beach.

For food lovers

Breakfast is rarely the highlight of Greek hotels. Try yogurt drizzled with honey (local if possible) or homemade jam. Savory options (eggs, cheese, cold cuts) are often offered at breakfast. As for fresh fruit, you will not find it easily: it is not common in hotels on the islands. However, small charming hotels sometimes offer delicious home-made breakfasts made with local products. Among the mistakes not to be made, be careful with the word "toast" which means "croque-monsieur" and not "toast" in Greece.

Smokers

In the hotels, be sure to scrupulously respect the smoking ban inside the rooms. For the inveterate smokers, many rooms offer balconies where it is possible to smoke, very often with a view!

Tourist traps

At the beginning or end of the season, local hoteliers and innkeepers often wait at the port with a promotional sign to offer rooms to vacationers disembarking from the ferry. This is not necessarily a bad idea, on the contrary, but be sure to ask for photos, price and distance of the accommodation before getting into a vehicle.