5 Less Touristy Greek Islands You Should Go To Before They Become Popular

We are in love with Greece because it has the three most important things in life: incredible nature, superb architecture, and brilliant people. When it comes to beaches, Greece has a 13700 km (8500 miles) long coast and almost 6000 islands and islets to discover.

Truth be told, only 227 of these are inhabited. Probably Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Crete are the most popular islands. Rightly so, each is a paradise in its own right. However, several exceptional islands remain under the tourist radar.

You see, the Greeks are very clever. Some islands were developed to cater to foreigners, while we locals go to other ones. The following are our top 5 less touristy Greek islands. Since all of them are stunning, all you have to do is pick the one that’s right for you.

Syros

We visited Syros for the first time a couple of years ago. It was love at first sight. The island combines stunning nature with historic architecture like no other. Besides, since it has a permanent local population, it’s a great place to experience Greek culture.

Syros is the capital of the Cyclades. It’s pretty close to Mykonos but so different. You still get the typical Cycladic white houses and blue domes. Its capital, Ermoupoli, is an architect’s dream. We love walking about looking for historic architecture, mingling with the locals, and enjoying delicious food and cocktails.

The islands’ beaches are gorgeous too and far less crowded than Mykonos’. Our favorites are on the west coast: Galissas, Kini, and Delfini. The three have calm waters perfect to swim and the most relaxed atmosphere ever!

Tinos

Tinos is in the center of the Cyclades and has it all! We are talking about mountains, beaches, windmills, pigeon houses, and one of Greece’s most important monasteries. To our amazement and delight, not many foreigners visit.

The island has some of the biggest boulders you’ll ever see. The locals have created all types of beautiful stone objects, including the paths that link the little towns. Our favorite hikes are from Tripotamos town, famous for its hundreds of pigeon houses. Pyrgos to the north is famous for its marble sculptures.

Tinos’ beaches are lovely, but windy. We strongly recommend Agios Sostis and Agios Ioannis Porto, two cute bays with no wind. In Tinos’ main town you can’t skip the Church of Our Lady of Tinos (Panagia Evangelistria). People from all over the country visit to pray. It’s a magical experience!

Sifnos

We are still in the Cyclades archipelago, but now in the one and only Sifnos. This small and barely populated island is known around Greece for its pottery. This is where to buy authentic Greek objects. We love it because of its rugged terrain, dramatic landscapes, and sandy beaches.

Its two main towns, Apollonia and Artemonas, are next to each other. We love walking about the car free center. From there we usually walk all the way to Kastro, an outstanding town with unforgettable views and an impressive Venetian fortress. You’ll see ancient pillars and objects scattered all around.

Our favorite beach in Sifnos is Kamares. It’s a big sandy beach with incredible scenery. Boats arrive in Kamares port, next-door. Vathy on the west coast, is equally impressive but there are no boats.

Poros

We always go to Poros with friends. It’s very popular with Athenians and barely known abroad. It’s next to the Peloponnese. The pine forest in the center of the island is perfect for walks breathing clean air.

Poros town occupies the southernmost tip of the island. There are multicolored houses, churches, old architecture, windmills, and incredible restaurants. This is where to experience contemporary Greek culture. Besides, you can eat top notch sea food directly on the beach!

The rest of the island is mostly empty and full of trees. Poros’ best beaches are on the southwestern coast. The beaches are on a big bay, so the water is calm and there’s no wind. Our favorite is sandy Anasa.

Skopelos

Skopelos is in the Sporades Archipelago, in front of Volos. You’ve probably heard of its upbeat sister Skiathos. Well, Skopelos is equally cool, but raw and less crowded. It’s got two tall mountains and endless forests.

Its main town, Skopelos or Chora, is picture perfect. You won’t be able to stop taking pictures. There’s a Venetian fortress, a couple of orthodox churches, and stunning houses galore. We eat at Alexander’s taverna. It’s on a cute square, under a huge tree.

We always go to Velanio, the island’s only nudist beach. It’s behind Stafilos in the south. Thousands of pines surround this beauty. Agios Ioannis church lies on a massive rock of the coast in the north, next to a gorgeous beach. The movie Mamma Mia was shot here.

How to Visit the Greek Islands

Visiting all of the above mentioned islands is easy. To go to Syros, Tinos and Sifnos in the Cycladic Archipelago take a boat from Piraeus, the port next to Athens. There are boats all year round that take anywhere between 2 to 5 hours.

We go to Poros driving. You can also take a bus from Athens. However, the easiest way to get there is with a boat from Piraeus. To go to Piraeus from anywhere in Athens, take the green or blue metro line.

To go to Skopelos take the train to Volos and then a boat there. Trust us, every trip to every island is an attraction in itself. Be sure to grab a window seat. You will travel comfortably, and enjoy unforgettable views.

Cyclades Island Hopping

Who hasn’t dreamt of going to the Cyclades Island hopping? Each and every single island is absolutely beautiful and for sure worth visiting. Whether you decide to visit Syros and Tinos, Sifnos and Syros, Tinos and Sifnos, or all three islands, you can’t go wrong.

We bet that you will come as many times as necessary to get to visit each of these jewels. If you like to plan, we advise you to check the best combinations between the islands. On the other hand, if you want an adventure, take the ferry from Athens to Syros, and then go to the island that tickles your fancy.

You can buy a multi-stop Cyclades island hopping ticket or buy each way as you move. A very popular route operated by Seajets is Syros, Mykonos, and Santorini. We use Ferryhopper to check prices and book our ferry tickets around Greece.