Hi all,
I’m so overwhelmed by the choices when it comes to Greek Island tours. I’ve heard good things about Mykonos and Santorini, however, I’d really like to visit islands that aren’t as popular with tourists and that offer more authentic experiences.
Should I bypass these two and focus more on other islands like Rhodes, Corfu and Paros, for example?
I’m in my 30’s, if that helps!
Looking forward to your replies, thank you!!
Hi traveller!
In my own travels I have tried to avoid the busy Greek islands too. More towards the North, there are three islands called the Northern Sporades. They are: Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonnisos.
In my experience these islands are not as busy but still offer a fantastic Greek experience.
I would suggest flying to Skiathos, it has its own small airport. I took a flight from Vienna to Skiathos directly, there are only a couple of flights per week. Then the other two islands are reachable via ferry from Skiathos. But with tours that all depends where the operator starts.
Skopelos and Skiathos is also were they filmed the first Mamma Mia movie, so it is fun recognizing the locations as you explore the islands.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions!
Oh wow! Thanks @roann 
I didn’t consider these other islands (goes to show I’ve been influenced by social media a little too much). I’ll definitely keep this in mind when planning my trip.
Not very easy to get to it, but if you can try to get to Milos. It is ridiculously beautiful
Woww @roann bookmarked all those cities. Can I ask how your experience was in terms of communicating with locals and even just ordering food?
@wander_tara the communication was no problem. The islands rely very much on tourism, so the locals speak very good English and are very friendly and helpful with any questions. 
Definitely try the lesser known islands! I did the Mykonos and Santorini thing in my 20s, and it was fun but very touristy.
Now I’m in my 30s, and other islands are just as beautiful (if not more) and have way less tourists and great locals!
@roann how were the ferries? I want to do the islands but get such mixed reviews about them
highly recommend doing a sailing trip. I can’t remember the names of the islands I went to because they were so small and it was a long time ago but we got to go to some cool spots because we were on a sailing tour. Some very unexpected surprises
The ferries were good. 
They are rather big and a smooth ride. You could drive a car onto the deck and above the car deck there was a lounge with a bar and shop to buy something to eat. We had plenty of space to sit and relax. You could also sit outside in the sun and catch some rays between ports.
I also get the urge to skip the touristy islands, but I really loved Santorini and think it is a must-see! But it also depends on when you’re planning on going. Santorini in the shoulder season it’s really not THAT busy. If anything, just stay there a couple of nights!
I have to second @BrokeSinceBangkok about Santorini being worth a visit (although it is the only Greek Island I have visited!). I went mid October - and yes, there were some cruise ship passengers going to Fira (the main tourist hub) and Oia for a day - but then they leave. Outside of those areas in the day it was actually very quiet, and the caldera views are stunning, it has some amazing history (Akrotiri - prehistoric village) and lovely beaches on the south side (that were good for swimming even in Oct!
I actually did not think I would like it that much, I went just because my flights were much cheaper leaving Santorini (even factoring in the ferry to Athens), but it really surprised me, I’ve never been anywhere like it! So don’t discount it if you go at the right time, there is a reason it is so popular!
Look at the map.
Seriously, Rhodes and Corfu can almost be considered separate entities.
Mykonos and Santorini are not problems, but the time of year you visit them might be.
September is still warm and most tourists are long gone.
Hi Kate,
If you’d like to see several Greek islands in a short time, a cruise can actually be a good option because it lets you get a quick taste of different places.
If you prefer staying longer on one island, Crete and Rhodes are great choices. They are larger islands with a lot to explore — beautiful beaches, charming towns, history, and great food.
Both offer a more authentic experience while still having plenty to see and do.
Great question! Honestly, I’d push back a little on the usual Santorini/Mykonos suggestions and say give the Saronic Islands a serious look. They’re so underrated and genuinely feel like the Greece of 20 years ago - charming, relaxed, not overrun with cruise ship crowds.
Full disclosure: I work at TourRadar, so I’m obviously biased toward recommending our products - but I actually did this one myself and it was genuinely one of the best trips I’ve ever taken: 1-Week Sailing Yoga & SUP in the Saronic or/and Cycladic Islands ACCORDING WEATHER CONDITIONS. BREAKFAST & LIGHT LUNCHES INCLUDED. by Med Sun Yachts with 14 Tour Reviews - TourRadar by Med Sun Yachts. Small group (max 8 people), daily yoga on deck, swimming in crystal-clear bays, visiting the ancient theater of Epidavros and Moni Islan. Rated 4.9/5 and honestly deserves it. The captain is incredible as well!
The Saronic islands Aegina, Poros, Hydra are super accessible from Athens and have this incredible mix of history, nature, and just… peacefulness. It’s completely different vibe from further South.
Since Greek islands hopping season is just around the corner, if anyone’s thinking of booking, we have a promo running right now: use code rrNKWh at checkout for 3% off any Greece tour, but you’ll need to book by end of April to grab it.
If you want to browse what’s out there, here’s a good starting point:
Happy to answer any questions about the Saronic sailing trip if you’re curious! Here are some pics from the trip:
If you’re looking for something more authentic and less crowded, I’d definitely suggest looking beyond Mykonos and Santorini.
Ikaria is a really interesting option — it’s known as one of the “Blue Zones” where people live well into their 90s and even 100s. The lifestyle there is very slow, local and genuine.
We actually loved the idea so much that my husband and I even joked about moving there one day… who knows, maybe we’ll make it to 100 too 
Paros is also a great balance — still beautiful but a bit more relaxed compared to the more famous islands.
