Greek island vacations use a mix of vacation diversions from lovely beaches and warm water to major cultural websites. Among the Greek islands magic very best choices for Greek island holidays are the Cyclades islands: awash with blue domed Byzantine churches rounding off white villages that look they have actually been painted by cubist architects then decorated with bougainvillea and cats. These towns topple down rugged, multicoloured hills to golden, sandy beaches and crescent bays lining up versus azure seas, and all covered in warm sunlight. Vacations in Greece, especially here, provide a great travelling lifestyle.

There are around 200 Cyclades Islands so do not expect to be able to tick them all off in one Greek island vacation. Most people prepare their Greek island holiday to include Santorini, for the volcanic harbour and the famous whitewashed cubist architecture and blue domed roofing systems, Naxos for the wide, sandy beaches and the Historical Museum, and Mykonos for more beaches and the dancing in the cafes. A great Greek island vacation itinerary will mix them up with some of the smaller sized, less touristy islands, though all the guide books state there's not actually a bad Cyclades Island Hopping travel plan, and some people just recommend packing your bags and playing it by ear depending upon which ferry comes first.

Here's a Greek island vacation travel plan example: Holiday day 1 & 2: Popular Mykonos is among the most convenient islands to start your holiday on, after which it's time to hit Mykonos Town's labyrinth of streets, cafes and bars, or hit the beach. From Mykonos, it's a brief day trip to Delos for the historic Hellenistic ruins and excavations.

Greek island vacation day 3 & 4: Set off to Naxos in the early morning and show up in time for a swim and a stroll around town, visiting the Portara and the castle. Get up early and take a drive into the interior to see the 7th Century frescos in the church of Panayia Drosiani, and the beautiful town of Apeiranthos then invest the afternoon in the Historical Museum.

Greek island holiday days 5-7: After a morning swim at one of the many beaches, ferry yourself over to Paros for a stroll along the coast and dinner in one of the lovely port towns, Naousa is particularly great. Paros has a mountainous interior with little beautiful stations of civilisation, so this is an excellent island on which to rent a scooter and choose a drive. Head to the Hundred Doors Church and drive into the mountains then back along the coast before packing up to literally sleep on the beach at one of the campsites on small and quiet Antiparos.

Greek island holiday day 8 & 9: From Paros cruise to Milos: a lower key variation of Santorini, where the Venus de Milo was discovered, and a great location to try sea kayaking, then spend a night on another of the quieter islands, Kythnos; for the standard villages and sandy crescent shaped bays which draw in primarily Greek holidaymakers.

Greek island vacation day 10 - 12: Santorini is the location of a million Greek Travel brochure photos: the volcano caldera with the stunning towns clinging to its slopes, anchored in the deep blue, deep blue harbour. When you have actually settled in take some time to appreciate the view on a whitewashed cubist terrace. On the days that follow check out the Ancient Museum of Thera and swim off the black sandy beaches at Kamari and Perissa.

Greek island vacation day 13 & 14: Crete, with all its archaeology and mythology is consisted of in this island group, but Crete still has the type of coastlines you'll be coming to expect by the end of your Cycladic fortnight. The Palace of Knossos is a highlight for the frescos and stories of the Minotaur, the archaeological dig at Phaistos is a must-see for the layers of history it discovers, then spend a long time on the beach.

The best time for a Greek island vacation in the Cyclades islands is May through June or September, at the start and end of the season when it's not too hot, not too busy and the accommodation is cheaper. Vacations in Greece don't get any better than this!