Everyone knows Greece for its power island duo, Santorini and Mykonos, but if it’s the whitewashed cubic houses perched on cliffsides and blue domes you’re after, you don’t necessarily need to splurge on an oceanfront villa to have those.
I mean, Santorini has the caldera drama, sure, but unless you’re parked on a pricey lounger down by the distinctly unappealing dark sand-and-gravel stretch of Perissa Beach, it’s not exactly what I’d call swim-friendly or relaxing.
I go to Greece literally every. single. summer. And I’ve hit my fair share of Greek islands. 20+ to be more precise. It could have been double that, were I not drawn back to my handful of favorites every year.
From the rugged Cyclades to the Ottoman flair of the Dodecanese, the Italian-style Ionian gems, and the hidden treasures of the Saronic Gulf and North Aegean Coast, there’s certainly no shortage of incredible spots untouched by tourism to explore.
If you’re in need of a serene escape, here are 5 island getaways to experience Greece at its most authentic, far from the Oia crowds:
Sifnos
Cyclades
A better alternative to your usual tourist cesspits would be Sifnos, a 2h45min ferry ride from Santorini. It’s one of my go-to spots for that real, unspoiled Greek island beauty, with chalk-white villages, bougainvillea-framed pathways, and beaches that are actually pleasant.
Sifnos has a long sandy strip at Platis Gialos, with just enough beach clubs and tavernas to get you through the day without making desperate snack runs to the nearest village, and if you’re after total peace and quiet, Vathi is the prettiest bay of the lot.
Calm waters, chill vibes, and gloriously low-key energy in a long, horseshoe-shaped cove.
Oh, and to all my fellow foodies out there: Nicholas Tselementes, one of Greece’s most famous chefs, hailed from Sifnos.
He’s not around anymore, obviously, but if you’re wondering where he learned his ways, Sifnos has a long, old-school tradition of oven cooking, with hearty, slow-cooked dishes served in clay pots.
Looking for that proper local address? Kafeneio Drakakis, in Apollonia, the island’s main settlement, is a no-frills little spot serving up some of the tastiest mastelo (Sifnian lamb) on the island—and the local wine goes down dangerously well.
Samothrace
North Aegean
The Cyclades are great, and there’s plenty of hidden gems scattered around the archipelago within easy reach of the famous islands, but they’re not everything Greece has to offer.
Lying off the northeastern coast of mainland Greece, Samothrace is nothing like the island you probably picture: olive groves clinging to arid, desert-dry hillsides and rugged landscapes.
Think more lush green, crystal-clear cascades, and a jungle-like feel—exactly why I love it.
At the heart of the island is the Mount Saos massif, surrounded by dense forests, hiking trails, and hidden vathres, granite rock pools fed by towering waterfalls. This is the real Samothrace experience: exploring verdant scenery, not just lounging on a beach, though there are plenty of those around.
Pachia Ammos, on the south coast, is a long, golden-sand stretch perfect for a lazy afternoon.
If you’re looking for culture and history, Chora, the inland capital, is an absolute delight: old stone houses line cobbled streets, café terraces spill into the lanes, and a hilltop castle crowns the town.
Meanwhile, Paleopolis, known locally as the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, is one of Greece’s most important ancient sites, home to the secret Samothrace Mysteries and, famously, where the Winged Victory of Samothrace was unearthed before ending up in the Louvre.
Chios
Out of all the Greek island groups, the Dodecanese has to be my favorite. With islands practically brushing Turkey, some a mere mile from their neighbors, they’re an incredible mix of Hellenic charm, Ottoman heritage, and, in the case of Chios, Genoese influences.
The fifth-largest island in Greece, Chios is not somewhere you can do justice in a single day or even a long weekend.
Stay a full week and explore the historic Mastic Villages inland: from Pyrgo’s black-and-white-striped townhouses, to Mesta’s fortified stone labyrinth of a medieval village, to Olympi’s quaint hilltop hamlet dotted with narrow lanes and old churches.
The island’s capital, Chios Town, is home to the iconic trio of historic windmills with giant sails set on a manmade peninsula, and a landmark Genoese castle complete with a moat, a charming stone bridge, and sturdy walls that peer over the busy port.
Now, to be real with you, Chios doesn’t exactly have world-class beaches: despite looping a whopping 213 miles along the Aegean, most of it is rocky or black-pebble coves, but there are exceptions.
Glaroi Beach, tiny and tucked into a cove with a mix of pebbles and sandy patches, is backed by a beach bar slinging cheap drinks and snacks: your best bet for a relaxed seaside afternoon within short driving distance of Chios Town.
Paxos
Everyone knows if it’s those insane turquoise-colored waters you’re looking for, the Ionian is the place to go.
While everyone flocks to Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Kefalonia, my top pick for soaking up the sun while unwinding at a tourist-free beach is Paxos.
No exclusive beach bars playing thumping music day round, expensive tavernas squeezing the odd, clueless Amerikanaki who’s found their way here somehow, and even no territorial Germans with their woolly socks and flip-flop combos marking their spot on the beach from 6 in the A.M.
Paxos has no airport, so the effort to get there already largely reduces crowds.
Most visitors arrive in Corfu, then get the ferry over—and it’s tiny and chill, mostly made up of fishing villages, picturesque coves, and a largely rural hinterland.
Forget the Mykonos party vibe, or even neighboring Corfu’s summer chaos.
This is the spot to go in the Ionian Sea for that exclusive, peaceful feel, and authentic Greek culture that’s yet to be spoiled by mass commercialization.
It has super pretty harbor towns, especially Gaios, in the vicinity of the landmark beach, Lakka, and Loggos, and if it’s those Caribbean-like waters you’re chasing, Voutomi Beach has fine sands and tiny white pebbles, and those surreal Gatorade seas.
Aegina
Did I just save the best for last? Just a quick ferry hop from the Port of Piraeus, the buzzing gateway to the Aegean, Aegina is the crown jewel of the Saronic Islands, practically brushing shoulders with Athens.
Now, it’s not like Aegina is exactly crowd-free: Athenians go there every chance they get during weekends, but there’s a big difference between beer buff, rowdy British crowds, and domestic visitors who aren’t exactly insensitive to the local island culture.
The main town, also called Aegina, is more than just a hub for ferries: it has markets, waterfront cafés, and a shocking number of pistachio shops. If you didn’t know, Aegina is famous all over Greece for its pistachio.
About an hour on foot from town, Agia Marina is a beautiful stretch of golden-sand beach straddling shallow, azure waters. It’s got some development, but think more laid-back bars and sunbeds to rent as opposed to a full-on hotel strip.
A much longer 2-hour walk, or a short scooter ride along the coast, Perdika is where I go for uncrowded swimming spots, and perfect sunset dinners after a swim.
The namesake town is Greece personified, with Greek pappoi feverishly flipping their komboloi as they chat about all things life and politics at the village café, and historic tavernas still owned by traditional families.
Aegina’s major flex, however, is the fact that it’s home to one of Greece’s Big 3 Classical Temples.
You’ve heard of the Athenian Parthenon, perched atop Acropolis Hill, and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, but chances are you were never introduced to the Temple of Aphaia.
Sitting on an inland hill, overlooking the Aegian countryside and the Saronic Gulf, it was built around 500 BCE, and it’s in a remarkable state of preservation, with perfectly symmetrical Doric columns still up, and an ornate main portal to top it off.
