Here are some of the best Greek Islands to visit that lie off the beaten path. Some are open secrets amongst Greeks, while others are largely self-sufficient hideaways that welcome visitors. There are over 6,000 islands in Greece, and over 200 of them are inhabited – so why stick to the most famous ones? Often, it’s a case of hopping just an island or two over – to idyllic Ithaca, perhaps, which happily hides in Kefalonia’s shadow, or to Cyclades Islands even prettier than Santorini because they come with blue-shuttered villages and volcanic viewpoints but minus the thousands of sunset seekers.
Patmos, Dodecanese Islands
Thousands of pilgrims' head to Patmos to visit St John’s Monastery and the Cave of the Apocalypse – the cheerily named cave where John is said to have written the end-is-nigh Book of Revelation. Don’t worry, the rest of the island is decidedly less doom-laden. There are plenty of peaceful pebble and sand beaches, plus meadows bright with orchids in spring.
Syros, Cyclades Islands
Syros has the faded glamour of an island that used to be one of the wealthiest places in Greece. See the signs of its various heydays by wandering Venetian Ano Syros, the neoclassical streets of Ermoupolis and the ancient acropolis of Kastri. Hiking trails weave through the rocky northern cape; even here, there’s a beach at the end of almost every trail.
Andros, Cyclades Islands
Hikers can see a successful sustainable tourism project in action on Andros. Volunteers here restore and maintain the island’s network of walking trails in order to tempt a slow-paced type of tourism, to gently support the island’s economy. And it works: you can join a hiking holiday on Andros that takes in ancient footpaths that dip between remote mountains, secluded beaches and old water wheels – and all while supporting tiny guest houses and petite tavernas. Make sure to explore Hora (the main town) too; Greece’s first modern art museum overlooks the harbour.