Skip Santorini – These Hidden Greek Islands Are Better (And No One’s There)

While tourists fight for sunset selfies in Santorini and party till dawn in Mykonos, I found these five Greek islands where time stands still, locals still leave their doors unlocked, and you can have entire beaches to yourself. Trust me – after 12 years of island hopping in Greece, these hidden gems are the real deal.

1. Folegandros

Picture Santorini without the crowds, but with even better food. That’s Folegandros. The first time I visited, I accidentally walked into someone’s house thinking it was a restaurant – they invited me to stay for dinner anyway. That’s just how things work here. The island’s main town, Chora, sits on the edge of a 650-foot cliff, with views that make Santorini’s caldera look ordinary.

The real magic happens at Kathergo Beach. You can only reach it by boat or a rocky hiking trail, which keeps the crowds away. I’ve spent entire days here without seeing another soul. The local taverna owner, Dimitris, makes a secret recipe for tomato fritters that people sail here for – he learned it from his grandmother and won’t tell anyone how it’s made. Go in September when the tourist boats stop running but the water’s still warm enough for swimming.

Pro tip: Stay in the old part of Chora in one of the traditional cave houses. My favorite is owned by Maria (ask at the bakery – everyone knows her). She’ll probably bring you fresh eggs from her chickens every morning.

2. Leros 

Nobody talks about Leros, and that’s exactly why you should go. This island in the Dodecanese has more working windmills than souvenir shops. The locals here aren’t trying to create an “authentic Greek experience” for tourists – they’re just living their lives. I watched a 90-year-old yiayia (grandmother) make dolmades in her courtyard and ended up getting a three-hour cooking lesson I’ll never forget.

The island’s Italian art deco buildings tell stories of its unique history, but the real treasure is Vromolimnos Beach. The water is so clear, I could count the scales on fish swimming 20 feet below. Head to Mylos restaurant in the evening – it’s inside a converted windmill, and the owner, Yannis, catches the fish himself every morning. If you’re lucky, he’ll tell you about the time he found ancient artifacts while fishing (they’re now in the island’s museum).

Don’t miss the castle at sunset. Unlike the crowded sunset spots on other islands, here you’ll share the view with maybe two or three other people, plus the local cats who’ve made the castle their kingdom.

3. Ikaria

Ever wondered why this island has more 100-year-olds than anywhere else in Europe? After spending a month here, I think I figured it out. Time moves differently on Ikaria. Nobody wears watches, shops open when the owner feels like it, and dinner might start at midnight. The locals call it “Ikarian time,” and once you adjust to it, you’ll never want to leave.

The thermal springs are the island’s worst-kept secret. Skip the tourist-friendly ones and head to Therma. Look for the old stone path leading down to the sea – there’s a natural hot spring that mixes with the ocean waves. I met a local couple who’ve been swimming here every morning for 60 years. They swear it’s why they’ve never been sick.

You haven’t experienced Ikaria until you’ve been to a panigiri (traditional festival). These can last for days, with entire villages cooking, dancing, and celebrating together. The best one happens in August in Christos Rachon village, but don’t try driving there – the roads are goat paths. Take the local bus and enjoy the ride.

4. Tilos

Tilos is so off the radar that even Greeks often haven’t heard of it. This tiny island between Rhodes and Kos is home to more bird species than people. It’s also the first island in the Mediterranean to run entirely on renewable energy. But that’s not why you should visit. Come for the secret red sand beach that looks like it belongs on Mars.

Head to Mikro Chorio, an abandoned village that comes alive at night when its single bar opens in the ruins. The owner, Giorgos, has been collecting stories from visitors for 30 years and keeps them in a leather-bound book. If you’re lucky, he’ll let you read some – or add your own. During the day, follow the hiking trails to the monastery of Agios Panteleimonas. The monk who lives there makes wine using grapes grown by his grandfather.

The best seafood isn’t in the restaurants – it’s at Antonis’s house in Livadia. He doesn’t technically run a restaurant, but if you ask around, someone will show you how to find his garden where he grills the day’s catch for visitors.

5. Kythira

Everyone heads west from Athens to the Cyclades, but if you go south instead, you’ll find Kythira. Legend says this is where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, emerged from the sea. After seeing the waterfalls at Mylopotamos, I believe it. They flow through an old stone mill into natural pools perfect for swimming.

The beaches here come in every color – white sand, red sand, and my favorite, a black pebble beach called Kalami where the stones are so smooth they’ve been polished by centuries of waves. Pack water shoes and follow the path past the main beach. Around the corner, there’s a cave where locals say pirates used to hide their gold.

Don’t miss the mountain village of Avlemonas. It looks more like a Cycladic town that got lost and ended up on the wrong island. The best taverna has no name – just look for the blue door and the old lady making pasta by hand. Her moussaka recipe has won awards, but she’ll tell you her secret ingredient is just love.

The Greece They Don’t Show on Instagram

Last summer, a friend asked why I keep going back to these islands instead of the famous ones. That night, I was sitting at a tiny taverna on Tilos, eating grilled octopus with the fisherman who caught it that morning, watching shooting stars over the Aegean, and the owner’s kids were teaching me traditional dances. Some questions answer themselves.