Why the Cyclades are the Most Popular Islands in Greece

Known throughout the whole Mediterranean as an idyllic and stunning holiday destination, the Cyclades archipelago in Greece is also among the most favored places of yacht charter sailors for the varied sailing possibilities they offer with the approximately 220 islands that are centered around the ancient island of Delos.
Although the majority of the islands are uninhabited, there are a few that are well known among the Greece tourists and whose names appear often of the offers of travel agents. These are Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Santorini, all rich in history but also with breathtaking views which become gathering places for travelers all over the world.
The islands are part of the larger Aegean archipelago of islands which is also made up of the Sporades and the Dodecanese. A weird fact is that the Cyclades constitute peaks of underwater mountains (except for a few other islands that are of volcanic origin) and they are spread along the central Aegean Sea. They have a reputation for not being the most accessible islands in the region, yet yacht charter crews think of this as a blessing because that means there are a lot less people to be found here and thus less crowding on beaches, in hotels and around venues in general.
The mild climate here can be only classified as Mediterranean and this is due to the vast stretches of water dividing the islands that become a moderator for the high extremes in summer and the low ones in winter. The main traits of this type of climate are generally dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters with very few major winds or rainstorms.
This means that the best time for yacht charter crews to come to the islands stretches from early (April) spring to late summer (September), as this also brings about two more important patterns that sailors have to keep an eye out for: the general wind direction with plenty of sunshine and low conditions of rainfall. And we better admit it, the last thing you want on your summer holiday is a rainy day.
However, skippers should take into consideration the meltemi winds which blow in the region from July to August and can sometimes hamper boats which travel only on sails and which are heading in that general direction.
From the historical of view, the islands can offer a lot of attractions thanks to the fact that they have been inhabited for centuries and have been the home of famous civilizations which have since spread their influence all over the world. This in turn entails there are plenty of things to see and learn while in the Cyclades for those with a love of history.
Out of the whole archipelago, the most popular from a touristic point of view is obviously Delos, considered a holy island in antiquity, with Syros next, famous because it’s the port of entry to the Cyclades, and Mykonos, which brings the total number of tourists close to that of the Dodecanese which are significantly larger and thus can hold more people.
If you are considering how difficult or easy the Cyclades are to sail, you should know that while they are neither the most accessible nor the most difficult. If you’ve sailed in the Aegean before, sailing the Cyclades is going to be a breeze, and your only worry will be looking out for the meltemi winds which blow from the northeast in the summer, depending where you are in the archipelago.
In conclusion, because of their distinct look and feel within the Greek islands, the Cyclades receive a lot of attention from yacht charter sailors, who come here to explore the surrounding waters as well as get away from the crowds from other islands like the larger Dodecanese.