When one thinks of visiting Greece, islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Kos immediately spring to mind. They’re hotbeds of tourism, visited by millions worldwide, with infrastructure and amenities to please almost anyone. However, they’re just three of 227 according to Visit Greece, meaning there are many places that could be best described as hidden secrets.
It’s thought there are more than 3000 islands around Greece altogether, but only a small portion are inhabited. Of course, for tourism, you need to focus on those you can stay on. Those islands with hotels, guest houses, and restaurants where you can watch the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea enjoying the finest Greek food. You’ll likely want to find an island that can give you a slice of Greek culture, something to see and do. Whether you are looking for one of the luxury villas in antiparos known for its chic boutiques, fantastic beach clubs, and the occasional Hollywood star, or a superior stay in Santorini, then Greece is certainly the place to visit.
Greece gave the civilized world much of its philosophy, governmental structure, modern medicine and the like, and it has also continued to have an impact in pop culture. Tourists often don’t just want sand, sea and serenity but also sights to photograph and take home to show friends. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of some amazing Greek islands that may have escaped your attention until now. Rest assured, if you pick one for your next vacation, you won’t be disappointed.
Milos
Image by Monique Stokman from Pixabay
Milos is easy to get to; a simple flight to Athens and a short hopper flight will see you land on its shores, and when you do, you’ll be greeted by a secret Greek wonder. You may have seen Milos in pop culture before: Love Holidays; explains how it doubled as Themyscira Island in the big-budget Justice League movie. While you’ve seen it on the screen, you won’t be able to grasp its beauty without going there yourself; the coastline has 65 beaches and is where Venus de Milo was first discovered. The deep blue water is almost always inviting, and there’s a nice pace of life that won’t overwhelm you.
Symi
Symi is beautiful upon arrival, but it isn’t easy to get to, which makes the trip more worthwhile. You’ll need to fly to Rhodes, then make your way to the harbor, where ferries make the regular trip. You’ll need your cameras at the ready. The multicolored houses rising from the harbor up the cliff face make for a beautiful shot and a perfect welcome to this serene island. There are numerous isolated beaches and coves only accessible by boat for a holiday away from the crowds of Kos and other tourist traps.
Amorgos
Amorgos is another island you can reach by flying to Athens. Then you take a ferry over the deep blue water, also the setting for the cult film The Big Blue. This island plays host to many of the shots in the Luc Besson movie, highly rated by IMDb. That might not be what attracts you to the area, but the diving off Amorgos is excellent. Of course, there’s much more than the water driving people here, despite only being accessible by boat. Hiking paths are well maintained, and whilst there are beaches, the inaccessibility makes them much quieter than other islands.
Folegandros
You’ll need to fly into Santorini to visit Folegandros, with a hydrofoil taking you across to the island. It is in the southern corner of the Cyclades and is perhaps one of its most enchanting hidden secrets. It is an untouched, unspoiled location blessed with secret coves, rugged coastline and charming hamlets to explore. There are cute beaches, one too busy even during the height of summer.
