South Aegean

This region includes some of the most popular global travel destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes.

The administrative region of the South Aegean consists of the Cycladic and Dodecanese island complexes, located in the central and southeastern Aegean Sea. This region includes some of the most popular global travel destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes but also some of the most idyllic, remote and eclectic travel destinations such as Anafi, Donoussa, Leipsoi, Symi and Kastelorizo.

The region’s capital is Ermoupoli, which is also the capital of the island of Syros. The name Cyclades refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos. This part of the South Aegean flourished in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with the uninhabited island of Keros being especially noted for its flat-faced marble statues and idols, which inspired the work of Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore among others. The Cycladic climate makes the region agriculturally rich, producing mainly herbs, fruits, olive oil and wine. The Dodecanese group (meaning "twelve islands") consists of 15 larger, plus some smaller uninhabited, islands with Rhodes, Kos and Patmos being the most historically important and renowned since antiquity. The Dodecanese islands were formally united with Greece after the 1947 Peace Treaty with Italy, ending 740 years of foreign rule. Rhodes is the largest island in the complex and is renowned for its beach resorts and archaeological sites.