Move Over Santorini! These 2 Stunning Greek Islands Have Smaller Crowds
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Even if you’ve never laid eyes on it before, you can probably easily describe Santorini with precision: we all know it for the whitewashed, cliffside houses, caldera hotels with outdoor plunge pools overlooking the Aegean… and the crowds.
Oh, the crowds.
We won’t lie to you: Greece’s most famous Cycladic gem is indeed gorgeous, but the level of mass tourism it faces would make you have second thoughts about coming this year, set to be the busiest yet, especially if you can’t stand long lines and overpriced services.
Thankfully, Santorini is not the only Greek island to have all these amazing features.
A short 2-3 hour ferry ride away, there are two alternatives yet to be spoiled by the masses, where you can find dreamy boutique hotels at much cheaper rates:
Milos
Lunar-Like Landscapes, Colorful Harbors & The Venus Of Milo
The southwesternmost island in the Cyclades, Milos, is an unusual horseshoe-shaped island characterized by its lunar-like, village-dotted landscape, natural springs filled with gin-colored waters, and complete with blue-dome churches and archeological zones.
Its main port town, which is the entry point for tourists arriving via ferry, boasts a high concentration of restaurants where you can eat affordably for around $15, with Oh Hamos being particularly popular for fresh Greek salads and pasta and the family-run Lydia for their freshly-caught fish.
Other popular towns for tourism include Plaka, the island’s capital, and a maze of pathways line with blanche houses, Klima, with its harbor-facing houses with brightly-painted doors, and the fishing village of Pollonia, famous for its excellent seafood and local-owned taverns.
Wanna be truly mind-blown? Make sure Sarakiniko Beach is on your to-do list: a collective of small, ashen-white coastal cliffs lining the Aegean Sea; it is the main reason why Milos could be referred to as Greece’s Moon Island.
If you’re here primarily for the coastal vibes, Papafragas is not to be missed, either: found at the end of a cavernous passage, this beach has soft, warm golden sands and crystal-clear seas.
Now, if it’s the culture you’re most passionate about, the hilltop village of Trypiti should be a top priority: it features a large archeological zone comprising a partially-preserved Roman theater and the site where the world-famous Venus of Milo (now exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris) was found.
Naxos
A Whitewashed Port, Lush Inland Nature & Ancient Temples
Some 100 nautical miles northeast of Milos, Naxos is yet another hidden gem of the Cyclades island group that Santorini-obsessed tourists often bypass––to their own detriment.
Contrary to Milos, its terrain is much more fertile, with lush mountains traversing its hinterland, and plenty of visitor-friendly hikes leading to tiny waterfalls that empty into natural springs (check out Routsouna), and some of the most breathtaking viewpoints in Greece.
It’s also famous for being the home of the door-like Temple of Apollo, or what is left of it, as well as the abandoned Hellenic settlement of Yria Naxos, dating back thousands of years.
Naxos takes its name after its capital, alternatively called Chora, a beautiful coastal settlement filled with your usual successive uphill rows of cube-shaped white houses, interrupted only briefly by the intrusion of Venetian-style mansions and topped with a 13th-century castle.
Naxos Town is the best spot on the island to be based in, not only because it is connected by bus to other points of interest, like the sleepy village of Montsouna out east and the unspoiled sandy beaches to the south, but because it offers a big choice of restaurants and accommodation.
Surprise, hotels here are nowhere near as expensive as Santorini, despite Naxos being just as gorgeous!
This Polis of Naxos boutique hotel, for instance, located in the heart of Chora, has overnight rates from only $93 a night early this summer, and over in Agios Prokopios, yet another trendy area to stay in, Hotel Francesca is charging as little as $41 per night.
How To Get To Milos And Naxos In 2025
The best time to visit Milos and Naxos is from April to mid-October, when temperatures are warm and pleasant enough, reaching their summer highs in July and August––when connectivity between the islands is at its peak.
During the off and high seasons, both Milos and Naxos are well-served by a multitude of ferry routes linking them to other Greek islands, Santorini and Mykonos included, and even the mainland.
Getting From Santorini To Milos
The fastest ferry from Santorini to Milos takes 2 hours, while the longest completes the scenic crossing in 5 hours, and tickets average $16 to $81, depending on the route you opt for and the speed.
Three of the main ferry lines operating on this route are Seajets, usually the fastest, with up to 7 weekly crossings, Aegean Sea Lines, which carries passengers from all over the Cyclades to the Greek mainland, twice a week, and the slowest of them, Zante Ferry, with 6 weekly visits to Milos.
Alternatively, you can fly directly to Milos from Athens with SKY Express, with tickets starting at $54.
Getting From Santorini To Naxos
Going from Santorini to Naxos, ferries are available daily, with the island serviced by Blue Star Ferries, Minoan Lines and Seajets.
Prices range from $32 to $106, as seen on Ferryhopper, and the average crossing time is an acceptable 1h58.
Similarly to Milos, Naxos has a small airport hosting exclusively domestic flights from larger Greek mainland cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, and from Heraklion, the bustling capital of Crete, Greece’s largest island.
With SKY Express, flying from Athens to Naxos will set you back by roughly $47 when booked in advance.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.