Learn how to explore Greece’s lesser-known islands like a neighborhood

A perennial favorite amongst holidaymakers, Greece consistently ranks among the many top 10 vacation destinations in Europe.

But now it wants tourists to get to know lesser-known locations across its hundreds of sprawling islands.

“We’re moving beyond sea and sun. We would like to extend the tourism season in each time and space,” Olympia Anastasopoulou, secretary-general for tourism policy and development at Greece’s Ministry of Tourism, told CNBC Travel.

For that, the country is investing in its more distant locations, including Syros, Amorgos and Milos, as a part of its “All you would like is Greece” campaign.

To ease overtourism, popular hot spots similar to Mykonos and Santorini are being repositioned as shoulder season destinations.

“It’s our goal for those islands to expand more in seasonality, too. We would love it for the tourism flows to be expanded in other months,” said Eleni Mitraki, director of tourism promotion on the Greek National Tourism Organization, noting the season could run March through November.

The plans coincide with the expansion of direct flights from the USA to Greece in March 2023.

Currently, Germany and the U.K. represent Greece’s largest inbound tourism markets by revenue, followed by the USA, France and Italy. Nonetheless, Anastasopoulou said further growth from other markets, most notably Canada and India, is anticipated.

Listed below are CNBC Travel’s top picks to get you off the beaten track in Greece.

More recently, the island has change into a world-renowned location for rock climbers, with greater than 3,000 climbing routes spanning the various crags, caves and overhangs of its rugged landscape.

Kalymnos’ tourism season peaks in the autumn with the Kalymnos Climbing Festival. But adventure junkies can get their kicks year-round, with a number of other activities including scuba diving, mountaineering and boating.

Learn how to get there: Kalymnos may be easily reached by boat from nearby Kos, with crossings taking 45 minutes by ferry and 25 minutes by speedboat. In high season, it is also accessible by plane from Athens. 

Ios, also often known as Io or Nio, is situated between Santorini and Naxos, and was once seen exclusively as a celebration destination. However the Cyclades island has revamped its image over recent years to embrace its historical and natural attributes.

Home to one among Greece’s most ancient archaeological settlements, the Skarkos monument, Ios also boasts a powerful connection to the Greek epic poet, Homer, who is claimed to have favored the island and, potentially, ended his days there.

Alongside history, visitors to Ios can even explore its plentiful beaches, and mountaineering and diving spots, before tucking into a number of the local cheeses for which the island is famed.

Learn how to get there: There isn’t a airport in Ios. The island may be accessed by ferry or speedboat from each Athens and the opposite Cyclades islands. It could even be reached by helicopter from Santorini.

A part of the Skopelos archipelago within the northwest Aegean Sea, the island combines stunning beaches and picturesque villages with a number of diving, yachting and cycling routes.

Legend has it the island was founded by the son of the Greek god of wine. And though lots of its vineyards were destroyed by pests within the Nineteen Forties, small-scale, domestic production continues to at the present time. Meanwhile, natively grown plums, almonds, chestnuts, figs, citrus fruits, olives adorn the local cuisine.

Learn how to get there: Skopelos is reachable by ferry or speedboat from the port city of Volos on Greece’s mainland. Services run year-round, with additional routes from other islands added in high season.

One among biggest islands of the Cyclades and just two hours from the Greek mainland, mountainous Andros has a varied landscape of forests, waterfalls, beaches and native vegetation, making it ideal for an out of doors escape.

Visitors can explore the island via its large network of mountaineering trails, or try their hand at windsurfing or scuba diving, before sampling the local cuisine.

Arts and culture fans can take a look at Andros’ collection of monasteries, galleries and museums, including the Archaeological Museum of Andros and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Learn how to get there: There isn’t a airport in Andros. The island may be reached by ferry from Rafina port on the outskirts of Athens.

One among the Dodecanese islands, Astypalea has a wealthy ancient history. But it surely is positioning itself firmly within the twenty first century with the goal of becoming the primary sustainable and smart island of the Mediterranean sea.

As a part of a take care of the Greek government and Volkswagen, Astypalea plans to implement islandwide, zero-emission mobility by 2030, with traditional vehicle rentals to get replaced with electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes. Elsewhere, charging points and renewable energy sources will even be added.

Tourists arriving on the so-called Butterfly Island can even enjoy its natural landscape, home to beautiful beaches, rocky hillsides and diverse wildlife, in addition to its picturesque villages of bougainvillea-clad white houses.

Learn how to get there: Astypalea is accessible from Athens by each ferry and plane.

With a wealthy expanse of wildlife protected by the European Union, the island is home to diverse wildlife, including Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles. Dolphins are also common in the world, and a recent Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary for dolphins is about to open soon on the island.

Holidaymakers can enjoy days spent boating, diving, beach-dwelling and mountaineering, before tucking into seafood dishes and experiencing local festivals, similar to August’s wine celebration.

Learn how to get there: Lipsi is just accessible by ferry or speed boat, with regular services running from Athens and Leros.

Alonissos, a part of the Sporades group of islands, is a diver’s paradise and the positioning of Greece’s first underwater museum. Featuring “Parthenon of the Wrecks,” one among the most important Classical-era shipwrecks dating back to 425 B.C., the positioning offers recreational divers a singular insight into the region’s history.

The island can also be home to the National Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, currently Europe’s largest marine protected area, giving visitors the chance to see an enormous array of plants and animals.

Kayaking, mountaineering and cycling are among the many other activities available on the island, while museums and a neighborhood theater group showcase the island’s arts and culture scene.

Learn how to get there: Alonissos may be accessed either by plane or by ferry from the ports of Volos, Agios Konstantinos and Kimi.