3 of the less known Greek islands you haven’t heard of, but should!

Living in Romania the closest blue destination (where the water is clean, food is great and beaches are sandy) is Greece. But when I have recently visited the Romanian Tourism Fair I’ve come to meet the harsh reality: travel agencies only offer a limited number of destinations, usually the same, busy islands. So I’ve decided to research and come up with a list of the best 3 less known Greek islands to see.

I went to the tourism fair filled with hope and be positive that I will find the best destinations.

I was, of course, disappointed to find that travel agency is a little flexible, offers the same destinations, and are not open to creating custom made packages.

So what is a girl to do when she does not want to go to the usual Thasos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos, Lefkada, Zakynthos, or has been to Santorini?

If you still haven’t been to Santorini, do not miss it and read all you need to know about it.

Of course, there is always the Peninsula. If you don’t want to go on an island, you can land in Athens, rent a car and drive south on one of the 3 parts of the Peloponnese Peninsula.

My best suggestion when choosing to do so is Monemvasia. Beautiful beaches where locals go, delicious food, the castle in Monemvasia, and pretty bars with amazing views.

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If though you want to visit a Greek island, and are looking to escape the crowds and find a place where locals go, I will share with you 3 of the less known Greek islands I’ve been recommended to go to by locals.

Read more on Which Greek island to visit, when and why – written by a local!

3 of the less known Greek islands

Ok, getting to these places might not be so easy as it is getting to other places, but it largely depends on what you want from your vacation. Sometimes getting the ferry can be a great adventure and would give you experiences you did not have before.

Or if you want to have it all arranged beforehand and get the chance to see more islands in one vacation, here are a few great islands hopping tours you might want to look into: 

• Best of Greece – 10 days around Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and Ios
• Greek Island Hopping  
• Sailing Greece – Santorini, Mykonos, Folegandros, Sifnos, Ios, Antiparos, Paros, Naxos

So here they are, the 3 less known Greek islands you should visit:

Serifos Island

Located in the Cyclades, Serifos Island is way smaller but just one look at it will make you think about some of the more famous islands in the area, such as Santorini or Mykonos.

The white small houses with blue doors and rooftops, the iconic windmills, the dry vegetation (basically nothing much except for a few vineyards grow on this island, the soil being so infertile), the blue water you see coming down from the hills (highest peak reaching 580 m), might be enough to catch your attention and interest in visiting Serifos.

Getting to Serifos – unfortunately, you won’t find an airport on the island of Serifos, but there’s always the boat and ferry, with Piraeus as the closest port.

Amorgos Island

Picture this: a smaller Mykonos dipped in a deep blue, with many windmills overlooking the sea from the peak of the hills. Amorgos is another one of the 220 islands in the Cyclades still untouched by mass tourism.

Drive the twisty roads and end off at Agia Anna beach where Luc Besson shut one of his films inspired by the deep blue sea you’ll discover here.

Getting to Amorgos – the only way of getting here as well is by boat or ferry.

Milos – the island of Aphrodite

One of my friends went some two years ago on a boat trip to Greece and when she came back she was mostly smitten with this small island in the Cyclades.

Small, charming, coquette. Pretty much like a boutique hotel where you are sure you will find all the luxury and comfort, while still staying in a small and private place. That’s what Milos is.

They also say this is the most exotic island in the Aegean, and this is where Venus de Milo was discovered.

With red, pink, and orange beaches, beautiful calcareous rocks in the middle of the turquoise sea, Milos is a perfect island.

Getting to Milos – you are in the luck because Milos is one of the islands with an airport, with Aegean Airlines flights from Athens.

Greek islands with an airport

If either way, you choose the comfort of traveling by plane, here are all the Greek islands where you will be able to book a flight to:

Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Astypalaia, Chios, Karpathos, Kasos, Kefallonia, Kithira, Kos, Lemnos, Leros, Mytilene, Samos,  Skiathos, Skyros, Syros, Zante, Ikaria, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo.

Other Greece travel information

• Looking to spend your vacation in Santorini? Here is a comprehensive list of places where to stay in Santorini, what to do and see in Santorini, and the ultimate packing list for Santorini
• Want to see something hidden from the crowds? Spend your Greece vacation in Monemvasia.
• Heading to Athens? Here is my perfect Athens 2 day itinerary and all the things you must know before going.

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