The best Greek islands for party people

Party on the leafy isle of Zante

A well-known summer resort in the Ionian Sea, Zante is a stunning island of white sand, greenery, and a mix of quiet and busier resorts.

At the forefront of nightlife on Zante is the once-peaceful fishing village of Laganas. Laganas has become the island’s biggest clubbing resort, with a two-kilometre-long strip packed with bars and nightclubs. Brace yourself for stilt-walkers, shots, foam and paint parties – and a horrific hangover to sleep off on the beach the next day.

Get glamorous with Mykonos

Often compared to Ibiza, Mykonos is the king of cool and famed as one of the most cosmopolitan and best party islands in the Aegean Sea – a magnet for wealthy Europeans.

Having enjoyed A-list visitors since the 1960s when Grace Kelly and Jackie Onassis first put the island on the map, Mykonos still entices a steady stream of Hollywood stars, singers and sports personalities who share the space with a party-thirsty crowd.

Party in historic Rhodes

Rhodes is the largest of all the Dodecanese Islands, and there’s a wide selection of places to party here. You’ll find sophisticated bars in Rhodes Town and a louder nightlife scene in the resorts of Faliraki, and Lindos. Just outside Rhodes Town is the Paradiso Beach Club, an enormous – 4,500-capacity – open-air club with sea views.

Faliraki is the most popular beach resort on the island. There’s five kilometres of spacious beach to chill out on during the day, and an equivalent amount of space full of bars and clubs to rave it up come nightfall. Nights out start on Bar Street, where you’ll find a selection of karaoke bars and cocktail lounges with great drinks offers. If you want to party until sunrise, head to Club Street where you’ll be greeted with a selection of foam, paint and UV parties at all sorts of venues. Just follow the music.

Overlooked by its ancient Acropolis, the whitewashed village of Lindos, located on Rhodes’ south-east coast, offers both relaxed, laid-back evenings and intense, extreme nights out. You’ll find a selection of rooftop bars with stunning vistas where you can sip elegant cocktails all evening – and more raucous venues like the open-air Amphitheatre Boutique Club, where you can party from 10pm until 6am.

The nightlife in Rhodes Town is a perfect balance of chilled out piano bars and wild nightclubs. If you enjoy classical and modern music concerts you’ll find a host of events across the summer and if you’re feeling lucky head to the Casino of Rhodes for an alternative night out.

For traditional Greek music, head to Rhodes Town’s Blue Lagoon. Styled in a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ theme, you’ll find everyone from youngsters to grandparents dancing. Or cool down with a refreshing cocktail at Sand, a cocktail and sushi bar that plays jazz and blues music and serves delicious frozen cocktails.

Clubbing on Kos

After Rhodes, Kos is the second-most popular of the Dodecanese islands nestled on the south-eastern side of the Aegean Sea. It offers everything from an intriguing history and a beautiful port to divine beaches and a multitude of clubs and bars. Nightlife centres around the lively resort of Kardamena and the island’s capital, Kos Town.

As you make your way down Kos Town‘s cobbled streets – Diakon and Nafklirou – where you’ll find most of the towns bars and nightclubs, you can’t help but notice the Corinthian columns and other ancient architecture. Once an old Turkish steam bath, Hamam Bar is a popular chill-out spot serving ice-cold Alpha beer. By day, relax on a comfy sofa to the sounds of jazz and Greek opera – at night, local DJs will keep you dancing until 3am.

The nightlife in Kardamena pulsates from dusk until dawn and if you want wild nights to be the focus of your holiday, head to this resort. The main area of the town is packed with drinking holes from family-run bars like Bliss Bar to big clubs such as Status and Starlight, renowned for their seven-days-a-week partying.