Best Greek islands with no tourists
Best Greek islands with no tourists are islands where you step off a small ferry into almost total quiet, where there are no cruise ships on the horizon, no beach clubs or souvenir strips, just a sleepy port with a couple of kafenia, a few locals mending nets and the sound of the wind.
They are islands where the days unfold without crowds or itineraries, with empty coves reached by goat paths, villages where everyone knows each other, simple rooms above tavernas and nights so dark and silent you can hear the sea from every window, creating that rare, untouched feeling of having the Aegean all to yourself.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Anafi | Remote hiking solitude shadowed by famous neighbor Santorini tiny Anafi remains utterly untouched, beaches like Klisidi and Roukounas remain peaceful even in summer perfect for quiet days by sea, only 1 hour 30 away from Santorini by ferry pleasant surprise hasn’t seen mass tourism — elite no tourists. |
| Ikaria | Island of Longevity remains far from overrun, invites to unplug live slowly savor goat cheese wild greens, mountain villages wild landscapes quiet beaches — elite unplugged. |
| Kythira | Greece’s Forgotten Island tucked between Peloponnese and Crete remains one of least commercialised islands, population less than 3,500 few international tourists definitely one of quietest — elite forgotten. |
| Serifos | Picturesque home of Cyclops underrated gem, rockiest island in Cyclades feels rugged and wild also one of least-visited among Greece’s islands — elite least-visited. |
| Folegandros | For less touristy consider Folegandros Amorgos Sifnos Tinos Serifos Ikaria Karpathos Anafi or Kythira which offer authentic charm quieter beaches than Mykonos Santorini — elite authentic charm. |
| Sikinos | Remote Cyclades alternative to Santorini and Mykonos remote hiking solitude — elite tiny. |
| Donousa | Little Cyclades scattered southeast of Athens remain quietly spectacular and almost empty by comparison rooms 50 to 100 euros night fraction of famous islands — elite almost empty. |
| Iraklia | Least visited authentic trails least visited — elite least visited. |
| Schinoussa | Same Little Cyclades quietly spectacular almost empty — elite empty. |
| Koufonisi | Part of ten islands over two weeks Syros Paros Antiparos Naxos Koufonisia Amorgos Folegandros Milos Sifnos Serifos ferries daily rooms fraction famous — elite empty. |
| Kimolos | Small Cycladian gem hidden slightly North of more popular Milos — elite hidden north of Milos. |
| Chalki | UNESCO-listed Halki 6 quiet non-touristy Greek islands you must visit — elite quiet non-touristy. |
| Agios Efstratios | Population less than 300 few international tourists definitely quietest — strong for tiny north Aegean. |
| Kasos | Between Karpathos and Crete few flights Dodecanese eastern border full rich history silky sand beaches quiet villages ideal getaway hidden gems where Greeks go vacation Americans rarely visit — strong Dodecanese quiet. |
| Kastellorizo | Easternmost Dodecanese hidden gem eastern border rich history quiet villages — strong far eastern no tourists. |
| Lipsi | Dodecanese quiet villages ideal getaway — strong eastern border quiet. |
| Fournoi | Same Dodecanese quiet — strong small. |
| Patmos | Quiet villages beyond monastery — strong. |
| Agathonisi | Small Dodecanese north of Leros frequent small population — strong first entry no mass. |
| Farmakonisi | Military islet no tourism — strong no tourists by military. |
| Gavdos | South of Crete southernmost population less than 100 least visited southernmost — strong southernmost quiet. |
| Antikythera | Between Kythira and Crete population 20-30 — strong forgotten. |
| Kalamos | Ionian small island few international tourists — strong Ionian quiet. |
| Kastos | Ionian small island few international tourists — strong Ionian quiet. |
| Meganisi | Ionian small island few international tourists — strong Ionian quiet. |
| Thymaina | Tiny Dodecanese islet no mass infrastructure — strong islet with single taverna. |
| Pserimos | Tiny Dodecanese islet no mass infrastructure — strong islet. |
Who it suits and why
Best for travellers who want Greece to themselves. These islands suit those who love slow travel, empty beaches and village life – headed by Anafi, Donoussa, Irakleia, Schinoussa, Kimolos, Kassos, Kastellorizo, Sikinos and Fourni where you can have a whole cove to yourself even in August. Ideal if you want tavernas where you know everyone by name after day two and nights with only cicadas and stars.
Less suited to those who want ease, luxury and nightlife. If you want direct flights, big resorts with pools, hundreds of bars and restaurants, organised tours and a party scene, these no-tourist islands will feel too quiet, too basic and too hard to reach.
What to keep in mind
No tourists means no tourist infrastructure. None have international airports so you fly to Athens or a hub with 3 to 4.5 hour UK flights May to October then take ferries of 4 to 12 hours, often only 2 to 4 times a week, and stays are small family rooms and guesthouses open May to late September.
On the ground be self sufficient. Buses are rare or non-existent, ATMs, pharmacies and mini markets may be single and shut for siesta, and most beaches are unorganised with no sunbeds, bar or shade. Bring cash, sun protection and patience, and note that ferries and shops often close in high winds and outside summer almost everything shuts.
Sources
- https://www.studycountry.com/wiki/what-is-the-least-visited-greek-island — For less touristy consider Folegandros Amorgos Sifnos Tinos Serifos Ikaria Karpathos Anafi or Kythira which offer authentic charm beautiful landscapes quieter beaches than Mykonos or Santorini — proves least touristy list.
- https://www.viator.com/sv-SE/blog/Skip-the-Hot-Spots-Visit-These-Lesser-Known-Greek-Islands-Instead/l98770 — Ditch crowds lesser-known picturesque home Cyclops Serifos underrated Greek gem picture-perfect beaches beautiful bays — proves Serifos underrated gem.
- https://www.getgreece.com/post/5-greek-islands-least-tourists — Beaches Klisidi Roukounas remain peaceful even in summer making Anafi perfect quiet days by sea. Ikaria Island Longevity remains far from overrun mountain villages wild landscapes quiet beaches — proves Anafi peaceful Ikaria far from overrun.
- https://www.thezoereport.com/living/greek-islands-to-visit-less-crowds — Hideaway island Anafi only 1 hour 30 away from Santorini by ferry pleasant surprise hasn’t seen mass tourism — proves Anafi hasn’t seen mass tourism.
- https://foodaroundathens.com/2025/05/16/3-islands-for-those-seeking-remote-underrated-escapes/ — Kythira Greece’s Forgotten Island tucked between Peloponnese and Crete remains one of least commercialised islands — proves Kythira forgotten least commercialised.
- https://www.islands.com/1741506/underrated-islands-greece-mediterranean-vacation-fewer-crowds/ — Little-known Serifos rockiest island in Cyclades feels rugged wild also one of least-visited among Greece’s islands — proves Serifos least-visited rocky.
- https://travelnoire.com/underrated-greek-islands — Kimolos small Cycladian gem hidden just slightly North of more popular Milos — proves Kimolos hidden gem.
- https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848575-which-greek-islands-to-visit-to-avoid-crowds-8-great-escapes — Tinos is also one most beautiful and least touristy islands in Cyclades where Pyrgos Volax villages nestled — proves Tinos least touristy.
- https://www.travelzoo.com/blog/15-reasons-to-go-the-extra-mile-in-the-greek-islands/ — Dodecanese islands on eastern border full rich history silky sand beaches quiet villages ideal getaway hidden gems where Greeks go vacation Americans rarely visit — proves Dodecanese hidden gems where Greeks go Americans rarely.
- https://unusualnomad.com/quiet-cyclades-islands-greece/ — Quiet Cyclades Islands 18 best alternatives Anafi remote hiking solitude Iraklia least visited authentic trails Serifos hilltop Chora mining history beaches — proves Anafi remote Iraklia least visited.
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Last Updated on August 11, 2026 by admin