Dreaming of blue domes, picturesque villages clinging to vertiginous cliff drops, and Aegean Sea views for days?
When that Mamma Mia summer season craving hits, Santorini remains to be the primary vacation spot of alternative of a majority of vacationers, even though it is the most costly, overcrowded, and inauthentic of all Greek islands.
Trust me, I’ve been to over 20 of them myself, and although I’ve barely scratched the floor—I nonetheless have some 180 islands to go—Santorini was the one I used to be left much less impressed by so far.
I’m speaking luxurious boutique outlets propped up by wealthy housewives, Instagram hordes, and “how-is-this-even-real” cave suites going for $1,000+ an evening. If you’re not precisely on a trust-fund finances, sorry to interrupt it to you, you’ll not be experiencing the glitzy, shiny, influencer-glam aspect of Santorini.
Be content material with lengthy bus queues for buses that present up half an hour late, and the overall vibe of “everyone’s sweating but pretending it’s aesthetic.”
Even then, $500–$700 for a 3 to 4-day stint is on the decrease finish.
What informal vacationers who’re simply visiting Greece for the primary time don’t know is that these whimsical Santorini aesthetics aren’t precisely, ahem, unique to the island alone.
Good previous “Thira” is a component of a bigger Greek island group known as the Cyclades, the place islands share the identical aesthetics, albeit completely different vibes, besides they’ve possibly… half the crowds Santorini will get? If that?
Here are 5 hidden gems of the Cyclades that really feel simply like Santorini, however are waaay cheaper to go to:
PLUS: We’ve constructed an interactive quiz for you on the finish of this text to search out your good match!
Paros
The trendiest Santorini dupe today, Paros is a breezy 2-hour ferry hop away from Santorini and an up-and-coming Cycladic hub that sits someplace between still-frequented-by-locals realness and quickly rising worldwide reputation.
The essential port city, Parikia, has that Old Town maze you simply can not help however get misplaced in, a scenic waterfront lined with family-owned tavernas, and it is dwelling to Panagia Ekatontapiliani, one among Greece’s oldest church buildings.
Naoussa, the picture-perfect spot, is the closest to a Mykonos vibe you get exterior a jam-packed Little Venice, with the identical stylish bars, fishermen’ homes hugging the shoreline, and white alleys framed by bougainvillea.
Up the hills, Lefkess brings that old-fashioned appeal and calm: marble-paved streets, zero chaos, and privileged views over the coast.
You ought to know by now that Santorini is not precisely nice for seashores, with many of the island’s shoreline being product of lava rock and volcanic cliffs. Paros, then again, has a protracted, sandy stretch in Golden Beach, and a easy, sheltered Kolymbithres, recognized for its sculpted rock formations and calm, shallow water.
Average Prices In Paros, Greece
- Cheap takeout meal: €4–€7 | $4–$8
- 3-course mid-range dinner: €55–€85 | $60–$92 (2 individuals)
- Budget B&B / low-cost lodge: €90–€120 | $95–$130 per night time
- 4-star lodge: €150–€220 | $160–$240 per night time
- Vehicle rental: €50–€80 | $55–$85 per day
- Taxi fare: €0.70 per km | $1.10 per mile
Greece is planning a serious border overhaul this 12 months that will immediately have an effect on American vacationers.
From obligatory fingerprinting to a pending Electronic Travel Authorization, which can bar any vacationer who hasn’t utilized for clearance to journey prematurely from hopping on Greece-bound flights, there’s quite a bit you should keep on high of to keep away from disagreeable surprises on the boarding gate.
Use our Entry Requirement Checker to ensure all of your documentation is so as on the time of flying.
Folegandros
I’ll by no means stop to be amazed by how Folegandros is a mere 28 nautical miles from godforsaken Santorini, but it looks like a totally completely different world.
For starters, except you understand precisely what you are on the lookout for on the map, you possibly can simply mistake it for a tiny, uninhabited dot probably not price your time. It’s about 12 sq. miles, and strolling north to south and west to east takes roughly 2h30 and 40 minutes, respectively.
That being mentioned, you would be shocked by how truly stuffed with life this unassuming rocky outcrop in the midst of the Aegean is. The “capital,” Chora, Folegandros, is the cutest clifftop village I’ve seen within the Cyclades, with its conventional cubic, whitewashed homes gathering on the foot of a Byzantine church.
I’ve had the most effective lamb and fava dinner of my life in Piatsa, the landmark restaurant actually spewing onto the village’s essential sq., with tables set below the shade of a large airplane tree, and up the hill, the Panagia Church frames these correct fiery blood-orange Aegean sunsets.
For a chill seashore day, Agali is the prime spot on the island.
Think tiny pebbles blended with effective golden sand, and a sheltered cove backed by cozy tavernas meting out recent seafood on the every day. A brief boat experience from the primary port, Katergo Beach has that wild, untamed character, and the “remote island” escape vibe you’re on the lookout for.
Average Prices In Folegandros, Greece
- Cheap takeout meal: €5–€8 | $5–$9
- 3-course mid-range dinner: €60–€95 (2 individuals) | $65–$105 (2 individuals)
- Budget B&B / low-cost lodge: €110–€160 | $120–$175 per night time
- 4-star lodge: €170–€280 | $185–$305 per night time
- Vehicle rental: €45–€75 | $50–$82 per day
- Taxi fare: €0.80 per km | $1.25 per mile
Sifnos
Now, if you happen to affiliate a Greek island getaway with chill afternoon swims within the deep blue Aegean, relaxed village wandering with out a fastened itinerary, and most significantly, wonderful meals you simply cannot discover in Oia’s or Little Venice’s faux Instagram tavernas catering to massive spenders, Sifnos is the place for you.
Let’s begin with the meals, which is really the primary spotlight right here.
The island is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, who wrote one of many first trendy Greek cookbooks all the way in which again within the early 1900s, and although he’s not round, in fact, the island’s millennia-old culinary practices reside on.
Slow-cooked stews, chickpea soups, mastelo lamb, and artisanal pastries you merely received’t discover wherever else within the Cyclades.
On high of that, it has lovely small cities like Apollonia, Sifnos. White-painted streets, espresso outlets, and that lived-in ambiance that may’t be rivaled. On the beachside, Vathi Beach, Sifnos, is a low-key sandy strip recognized for its calm waters and seafood tavernas, whereas Platis Gialos, Sifnos, is the relaxed and easy-going harbor-front stretch.
Inland, you’ll discover a wonderful mountaineering community with previous stone paths connecting distant villages, monasteries, and viewpoints. Sunsets in Sifnos are simply as dramatic as Santorini’s, but you get not one of the hectic 7 pm rush.
All in all, Sifnos is that blissful medium. More energetic, and with extra to see and do than Folegandros, however manner calmer than Santorini. Chill, however by no means precisely boring.
Average Prices In Sifnos, Greece
- Cheap takeout meal: €5–€8 | $5–$9
- 3-course mid-range dinner: €40–€60 | $44–$66 (2 individuals)
- Budget B&B / low-cost lodge: €70–€110 | $75–$120 per night time
- 4-star lodge: €100–€170 | $110–$185 per night time
- Vehicle rental: €55–€105 | $60–$115 per day
- Taxi fare: €0.80–€1.00 per km | $1.25–$1.60 per mile
Naxos
Not your common Greek island weekend escape, Naxos is a reasonably large island you would possibly need to dedicate 4 or 5 days, or perhaps a full week to. Seriously. There’s so much to see, and so little time, to not point out a plethora of wonderful seashores, that you simply’ll want you’d deliberate an extended keep from the beginning.
Start with Naxos Chora, the primary settlement, which dates again a number of thousand years, however owes its present face to a late-medieval Venetian makeover. It has lovable winding pathways flanked by outlets and cafés, boutique-lined alleys, and a historic citadel to high it off.
Perched on a distinguished hill on an islet sitting reverse Chora, linked to the mainland by a stone-paved causeway, Portara is the last-remaining gate of the traditional Temple of Apollo. One of the prettiest sundown spots in Naxos, particularly if you happen to can seize the Old Town framed by the traditional marble, although it will probably get a bit busy at sundown hours.
Contrary to Santorini, Naxos has lovely golden-sand seashores with clear water and quick access, like Agios Prokopios Beach and Plaka Beach, all inside quick driving distance of Chora.
Agia Anna Beach, a small coastal village the place time appears to decelerate, has tavernas proper on the sand.
The island’s lush, mountainous inland is a large a part of its character, so attractive because the coast could also be, don’t miss out on Apiranthos, a marble mountain village with stone streets and a robust Venetian really feel. Hike up Mount Zas, the best level within the Cyclades, and take a look at wine freshly bottled from a neighborhood winery.
Average Prices In Naxos, Greece
- Cheap takeout meal: €3.5–€5 | $4–$6
- 3-course mid-range dinner: €45–€75 (2 individuals) | $49–$82 (2 individuals)
- Budget B&B / low-cost lodge: €50–€90 | $55–$100 per night time
- 4-star lodge: €120–€200 | $130–$220 per night time
- Vehicle rental: €35–€70 | $38–$77 per day
- Taxi fare: €0.90–€1.20 per km | $1.00–$1.25 per mile
Wondering how protected it’s to go to the Cyclades on the minute? Usually the epicenter of tourism within the area, Santorini is a good-enough barometer for establishing security ranges throughout the opposite islands.
If Santorini’s safety is tight, then these different quieter Cycladic islands are even safer:
Amorgos
If you assume Folegandros is offbeat and quiet, wait till you have seen how every part principally involves a standstill, in the absolute best manner, in Amorgos, one of many farthest, easternmost factors you may get within the Cyclades.
It has that rural, undeveloped, genuine character that was misplaced in a lot of the Cyclades following the cruising increase of the 80s, and for probably the most half, communities are product of tight-knit households sharing core hospitality values, and a sluggish, seasonal rhythm of life.
There’s solely two essential settlements on the island, their very own Chora (a mountain village), and Aegiali, which is an efficient place to begin for beach-hopping, and the place you may land with the ferry.
The native structure is quintessential Cyclades, and by that we imply chalk-white abodes with baby-blue framings, slim labyrinthine alleys, and stone-paved paths.
When it involves seashores, paradisiacal spots like Agia Anna Beach—yep, identical identify as Naxos, however completely completely different vibe—are all exceptionally quiet.
Amorgos’ crown jewel, you ask?
That’s not any explicit seashore, nor one among its picturesque cities. That could be the dramatic Hozoviotissa Monastery, one of many coolest belongings you’ll see in Greece: this fortress-like, virtually otherworldly white monastery is principally etched onto the cliffside, going through a vertical drop under.
Monks nonetheless reside inside, so double verify prematurely whether or not they’re open for guests forward of setting out on the quick uphill hike from Chora.
Average Prices In Amorgos, Greece
- Cheap takeout meal: €4–€7 | $4–$8
- 3-course mid-range dinner: €50–€85 (2 individuals) | $55–$92 (2 individuals)
- Budget B&B / low-cost lodge: €60–€110 | $65–$120 per night time
- 4-star lodge: €110–€180 | $120–$200 per night time
- Vehicle rental: €45–€80 | $50–$85 per day
- Taxi fare: €0.80–€1.00 per km | $1.25–$1.60 per mile
Now take this quiz to search out your good match!
