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The likes of Corfu, Zante, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Mykonos are popular for a reason. But if you’ve already ‘been there and got the t-shirt’ or simply fancy something a little bit different or away from the crowds, there’s a whole host of lesser-known Greek islands to explore. These spots are quietly gaining in popularity, which makes now the perfect time to visit, before they become too busy and are ideal to combine as part of a Greek Islands Hopping holiday.
We’ve handpicked our top ten islands, which go beyond the usual. Whether you want to enjoy cuisine and beaches in Sifnos and Karpathos, soak up romance and sunsets in Folegandros and Hydra, explore culture and history in Patmos, Tinos, and Syros, or wander scenic walking trails in Andros, Serifos, and Ithaca, here’s our roundup:
Syros: Culture & Coastline in One Island
Syros is a great option if you’re looking for culture and coastline. For a small island, Ermoupoli, the island’s main town, has a surprisingly grand feel, with marble-lined squares, elegant neoclassical buildings, and an impressive town hall. The Apollon Theatre is the town’s main landmark. Built in 1864, its design was inspired by Milan’s La Scala and hosts concerts, festivals, and performances. Nearby, Miaouli Square offers the best way to soak up the culture, where you can sit with a coffee and simply watch the world go by. From here, you can set off on an uphill walk of about 30–45 minutes via narrow streets and steps to the medieval quarter of Ano Syros with its bright bougainvillaea, a cathedral, and brilliant views back down over the port. If you’d prefer not to walk, it’s a short drive in a local taxi.
Syros offers a great mix of sandy beaches and quieter, more secluded coves. Some highlights include Agathopes and Galissas with their sandy beaches (unusual for the Cyclades, which are often pebbly), Kini with its taverns on the front, or quieter Delfini and Lotos.
Recommended Itineraries – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini and Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos holidays are ideal to either slot in Syros or switch as the middle island.
Sifnos: Relaxed, Pretty & Great for Food
If you’re after a classic Cycladic island that still feels largely undiscovered, with excellent food, pretty villages, good beaches, scenic walking trails and a relaxed pace of life, Sifnos is a great option. Often called the culinary capital of the Cyclades, it’s particularly famous for its traditional chickpea stew, revithada, and boasts a wealth of high-quality restaurants. Sifnos also has some excellent, highly scenic trails. The walk to the Chryssopigi Monastery is a particular highlight. This trail winds through terraced hillsides and countryside before ending at a beautiful white monastery, perched on a small rocky islet at the water’s edge.
There are also plenty of pretty villages to explore, including Apollonia, the main village, and Kastro, perched dramatically on a cliff, which offers some of the island’s best views and a quiet, almost medieval atmosphere. For beaches, Faros has a sandy, sheltered bay, while Poulati is a peaceful, more secluded option.
Recommended Itineraries – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini and Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos holidays are ideal to either slot in Sifnos or switch as the middle island.
Tinos: Authentically Greek villages, Marble & No Crowds
Tinos is best known as a major pilgrimage destination. The Church of Panagia Evangelistria draws pilgrims from Greece and beyond in mid-August each year. But outside this period, it remains a beautifully quiet island, largely under the radar of mass tourism, with a genuinely authentic feel.
One of the prettiest villages is Pyrgos, tucked into the hills, where marble carving is still very much a living craft. You can wander into workshops and get a real sense of village life. Other interesting villages to explore include Volax, which sits among massive, rounded granite boulders that seem to be randomly scattered across the hills. Triantaros, meanwhile, offers narrow lanes and fabulous sea views.
The coastline offers quiet sandy beaches and sheltered coves that rarely feel crowded. Agios Sostis, Kolymbithra, and Kionia are ideal for swimming and just enjoying some beachside R&R. For walkers, the island has plenty of trails that lead to villages and hidden chapels, and you’ll find great views over the Aegean along the way.
Tinos is also a great destination for foodies and is home to traditional tavernas serving excellent local cheese, seafood, and local dishes.
Recommended Itineraries – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini and Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos holidays are ideal to either slot in Tinos or switch as the middle island.
Patmos: History, Tranquillity & Lovely beaches
Patmos is an excellent choice if you’re looking for beach time as well as a good dose of religious history. The island is home to the hilltop Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, one of the most important religious sites in the Orthodox world. It’s a genuinely impressive landmark, with striking architecture, historic frescoes, and breathtaking views over the Aegean. Below the monastery lies the Cave of the Apocalypse, where Saint John is said to have written the Book of Revelation. The cave is small and dimly lit, with low ceilings and rough, uneven walls, giving it a very intimate atmosphere.
The old town of Chora, winding up around the monastery walls, is also dizzyingly atmospheric, with narrow whitewashed lanes, archways, and a natural, understated elegance. It’s a great place to simply wander, stumble upon pretty squares and take a break at one of the sun-dappled cafés along the way.
For beaches, Psili Ammos is a stunning soft-sand bay accessible by boat, tucked away from the rest of the island, with calm, crystal-clear waters ideal for swimming. For something more easily reached, Agriolivadi offers a wide stretch of soft sand with some small pebbles and shallow water.
Recommended Itinerary: Kos, Patmos & Rhodes
Folegandros: Small, Clifftop & Genuinely Unspoilt
Folegandros is sometimes referred to as ‘Santorini without the crowds’ thanks to its dramatic cliffside Chora, whitewashed architecture, and incredible sunsets over the Aegean. The key difference is that Folegandros is tiny, low-key, and almost entirely free of mass tourism. The streets are quiet and unspoilt, with just a few local cafés and tavernas; the food is simple, and the whole island has a wonderfully authentic atmosphere.
Its clifftop Chora is often considered one of the most beautiful main towns in the Cyclades, with a preserved medieval Kastro and the iconic Church of Panagia dramatically perched above the sea. The village has a wonderfully intimate, lived-in feel with narrow alleyways, whitewashed buildings, and locals going about their daily lives. In the evening, head to Pounta Square, the main square, surrounded by cafés and small tavernas, where you can sit and watch the sun slowly dip behind the cliffs, taking on a quietly magical atmosphere.
The beaches are small and aren’t the easiest to get to (you either need to take a coastal path or hop on a little boat from the port), but they’re lovely, quiet and never packed. That slight effort to reach them is part of what keeps them that way.
Recommended Itineraries – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini and Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos holidays are ideal to either slot in Folegandros or switch as the middle island.
Ithaca: Calm, Green & Beautiful
Most famous as the legendary home of Odysseus, Ithaca is very much off the typical tourist trail. Whilst most people head to neighbouring Kefalonia, Ithaca offers a quieter, more intimate experience, with perfect waters, great walking trails, and seafood tavernas in charming harbours.
Ithaca is greener and lusher than many other Greek islands. The main town of Vathy, built around a naturally sheltered bay, is a lovely base. Waterfront restaurants and cafés provide the perfect spot to watch yachts and fishing boats bobbing in the harbour.
The beach at Gidaki is another highlight. Accessible by a short boat trip from Vathy or a hike down through the hills, this quiet pebble cove boasts crystal-clear blue-green waters. With rocky hills and olive groves as a backdrop, it feels serene and unspoilt. The northern village of Kioni, perched above a picturesque bay with a handful of waterfront tavernas, is also worth visiting.
Beyond that, the island is great for walkers. Trails wind through olive groves and pine forests, connecting the small villages dotted across the hills.
Recommended Itinerary: Exploring the Ionian Islands
Hydra: Stylish, Romantic & Car-free
Hydra is arguably one of the most stylish islands in our top ten hidden gems. Just around an hour and thirty minutes from Athens by fast ferry, it has long attracted artists, writers, and celebrities, giving the island a sophisticated, cultured vibe without ever feeling flashy. Hydra is completely car-free, so from the moment you step off the hydrofoil, everything moves by foot, donkey, or boat, creating an immediate sense of calm.
The harbour is lined with grand stone mansions, while narrow backstreets are home to small galleries, boutiques, and excellent restaurants. Hydra town is a delight to explore, with cobblestone lanes winding past traditional houses and terraces that look out over the Aegean.
Swimming is mostly off rocks rather than sandy beaches, but the water is brilliantly clear, with cliffside coves and sea caves along the coast. For walkers, Hydra offers rugged terrain and scenic trails, including a climb to Mount Eros, the island’s highest spot, which offers panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf and neighbouring islands. Diving enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore, with reefs and underwater caves just offshore.
Recommended Itinerary: Athens & Saronic Islands
Andros: Walking, Waterfalls & Proper Beaches
Andros is one of the greenest and most lush islands in the Cyclades and is ideal for walkers and those looking for an active holiday with a great network of hiking trails that link picturesque villages, chapels, and scenic viewpoints. Fed by natural springs and streams, its landscape includes forests, waterfalls, and terraced hillsides.
Andros Town is beautiful and elegant, with marble-paved streets, neoclassical architecture, charming squares, and a lively waterfront perfect for an evening stroll. It is also a centre for contemporary art, with several galleries and museums showcasing the island’s growing artistic scene.
Beaches range from long, open sandy bays such as Vitali and Agios Petros to smaller, tucked-away coves such as Achla, Grias Pidima, and Pithara.
Recommended Itineraries – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini and Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos holidays are ideal to either slot in Andros or switch as the middle island.
Serifos: Compact, Pretty & Unspoilt
Serifos is one of the prettiest off-the-beaten-track Cycladic islands. It has a wonderfully authentic, slightly wild character, with its hilltop Chora a particular highlight with whitewashed houses, narrow winding lanes, and sweeping views over the Aegean. The pace is relaxed, with village squares, local cafés, and a strong sense of community.
For walkers, Serifos offers a more rugged experience compared to other islands. Its hills and cliffs provide scenic coastal paths and village-to-village routes that are less developed but no less rewarding, with dramatic views and lots of spots to take in the scenery.
Serifos has a variety of beaches from long sandy stretches such as Ganema and Psili Ammos, which are ideal for swimming and sunbathing, to smaller pebbly coves and tiny seaside villages that offer a bit more seclusion. Even in August, the beaches rarely feel crowded, which is a rare treat in the Cyclades.
Recommended Itinerary – Our Athens, Paros & Santorini holiday is ideal to either slot in Serifos or switch instead of Paros.
Karpathos: Unspoilt beaches & Stunning Scenery
Karpathos boasts dramatic scenery, some of Greece’s best beaches and an authentic local culture. The main town, Pigadia, is small but lively, with a pretty waterfront, cafés, and the Archaeological Museum of Karpathos. One of its main draws is Apella Beach with its dramatic cliffs that drop down to brilliant, clear water. It’s widely considered to be one of the best beaches in Greece.
Elsewhere, Lefkos is perfect for a relaxed swim and sunbathe, while Kira Panagia is overlooked by a pretty whitewashed church perched above the beach and Amoopi has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and local tavernas. Inland, you’ll find rugged trails, giving you a chance to experience Karpathos’s dramatic landscapes. The mountain village of Olympos is another must-see, and like a living museum with old traditions, including distinctive local dress and a dialect found nowhere else in Greece.
Recommended Itinerary: Rhodes, Karpathos & Crete
Other islands: Paros, Paxos & Naxos
A quick mention should also be made of Paros, Paxos and Naxos, which are more widely known but still somewhat under the radar. Paros boasts traditional villages and lively waterfronts, Paxos is a tiny island known for its turquoise waters and olive groves, and Naxos offers a mix of long sandy beaches, mountain villages, and ancient ruins. All three are perfect for mixing into a wider island-hopping Greek adventure.
Recommended Itineraries: Athens, Paros & Santorini | Corfu, Paxos & Lefkas | Santorini, Naxos & Mykonos
How to plan a lesser-known Greek island itinerary:
These smaller islands do, of course, require a little logistical thinking. Most of them involve catching a ferry from a nearby hub, so flights would go into and out of a larger island with an airport. For the Cyclades islands (Syros, Sifnos, Tinos, Folegandros, Andros, Serifos, Naxos), you can fly via Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini – or take a longer ferry ride from Crete. For the Dodecanese islands (Patmos and Karpathos), flights go through Athens, Rhodes, or Kos. In the Ionian, Ithaca and Paxos pair easily with Corfu, Zante, Kefalonia, and Lefkada. Hydra, meanwhile, is just a short ferry ride from Athens, ideal for a quick escape.
If you’d like help crafting your ideal Greek island itinerary, or if you’re keen to go beyond the usual Greek islands, please get in touch with our team. We’d love to help.
