12 Greek Islands You Should Visit Instead of Santorini

When it comes to traveling the Greek islands, the one that everyone thinks they need to see is Santorini. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s overrun with tourists and influencers, so much so that the locals who once lived here have been pushed out to make room for the visitors.

Luckily for you, there are over 6,000 authentic Greek islands that you can visit. You’ll be able to experience the Greek people’s food and way of life without all the swarms of tourists and Instagrammers.

Here are 12 Greek islands to visit instead of Santorini.

1. Corfu

This island was under the rule of France and Great Britain and then returned to Greece in 1864. This makes its architecture and history unique, unlike the rest of the Greek islands.

Corfu Town is the city you will either fly or ferry into. It has narrow medieval streets, ancient Greek and Roman ruins, and colorful buildings. The island’s entire coastline is dotted with the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see, with crystal-clear water and mountain backdrops.

2. Crete

Crete is the largest Greek island with the highest population. If you want to experience true Greek culture, this is the island you’ll want to visit. You can spend your days exploring the island’s many ancient ruins and stunning beaches.

Then, after sunset, you can enjoy fantastic Greek cuisine cooked by locals at one of the island’s thousands of restaurants.

Elafonissi Beach is the most famous beach on the island, and for good reason. It has pink sand and some of the most beautiful sparkling blue water in the world!

3. Rhodes

This is one of my favorite Greek islands. My wife and I would spend hours wandering around its medieval streets and walled old town (one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns). There are so many little shops and cafes in the old town where you can relax and enjoy the fantastic weather.

When you are done with the city, you can head to the beach! My favorite beach was Elli Beach, located just outside the old town. It has a diving board you can swim to and jump off, which was one highlight of my trip to Greece.

4. Zakynthos

If you are looking for a great Instagram spot with significantly fewer tourists than Santorini, this is the island for you. Zakynthos’s most famous spot is a little beach called Navagio.

You need to take a boat to it or see it from the 1,000-foot cliffs surrounding it. It’s known as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and must be part of your Greece itinerary!

This island is so much more than this one beach. The City of Zakynthos has a promenade lined with little shops, the perfect place to watch the boats come in and out while enjoying a cocktail.

5. Paxos

This small, laid-back island off the coast of Corfu is where you’ll want to go to get away from everything. Gaios is the island’s main port town, with colorful buildings that look almost like Portofino, Italy.

There’s no airport on this island, so the only way to get here is by ferry, making it much less touristy than the other islands. However, if Paxos is still too busy for you, then head to Antipaxos. It’s an even smaller island off Paxos’s coast with neon-blue water and miles of untouched beaches. 

6. Naxos

Another mountainous Greek island is Naxos. This ancient island is best known for its Temple of Apollo ruins, which overlook the port town of Naxos. Most of the island is used for agriculture, such as olives and wine, which makes it a great place to visit if you are a fan of wine and food with fresh ingredients.

You’ll also need to visit Maragkas Beach, a 4-mile-long stretch of powdery white sand and perfect water where you can enjoy a whole strip of beach for yourself.

7. Mykonos

This is by far the most touristy island on this list. It gets about the same number of tourists as Santorini, but the island is more spread out, so you can escape the crowds. It’s known as the party island of Greece and has lots of beach clubs, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. 

When I stayed here, we stayed on the party side of the island for the first couple of nights, which was not fun. Then, for the next few days, we stayed in the main town of Mykonos and LOVED it! The white buildings with blue roofs in the pictures of the Greek islands are all over the small town of Mykonos, along with pink Bougainvillea flowers hanging from the buildings.

8. Kos

Are you looking for sandy beaches and great nightlife? Kos has both in abundance. Hundreds of beach clubs are set up just outside the main city, where you can get great food and a beach chair to relax in for a great price. 

On the other side of the island, there is a famous 5-star all-inclusive hotel right on the beach with pools and ocean-view rooms. If you are looking for luxury and an excellent beach vacation you’ll never forget, check out the Blue Lagoon Village Hotel.

9. Skopelos

You know that I had to add Mama Mia Island to the list! This little island is actually quite close to Athens and is right off the coast of mainland Greece. The beach they filmed is Kastani Beach, which is on the opposite side of the island from the port city you ferry into.

Unfortunately, the hotel where they filmed the movie is not real, but the church where they held the wedding is!

Some tours will take you around the island to all the different filming locations so you can experience your perfect Greek summer like Sophie and Donna.

10. Karpathos

With a population of just 7,000, this island is truly off the beaten path. The island between Crete and Rhodes sees nowhere near the number of tourists that these two islands see. The main city of Karpathos has ancient ruins, a little archaeological museum, and a quaint little old town.

Kira Panagia Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It is great for snorkeling and sunbathing. It is pretty difficult to get to, but it is 100% worth it!

11. Ios

Ios was another one of my favorite islands in Greece. We came here during the off-season and got to experience a small Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) which created 5-foot waves at the beach we were staying at.

This island has great hiking and is perfect for people who love the outdoors and want an island that only a few people have traveled to or even heard of.

The best beach on this island is Paralia Milopotas. It’s a sandy beach surrounded by mountains and is about a 45-minute walk or 10-minute drive from the main town of Ios.

12. Symi

Taking a ferry into the port of Ano Symi will be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. Colorful hotels and churches cover the hillside of the port and make it look almost like you’re coming into a city on the Amalfi coast.

This island is right off the coast of Turkey, so after you’ve visited it, you can head to Antalya, Turkey, to continue your beach vacation!