The right way to discover Greece’s lesser-known islands like an area

A perennial favourite amongst holidaymakers, Greece constantly ranks among the many prime 10 trip locations in Europe.

However now it desires vacationers to get to know lesser-known places throughout its 1000’s of sprawling islands.

“We’re shifting past sea and solar. We wish to lengthen the tourism season in each time and house,” Olympia Anastasopoulou, secretary-general for tourism coverage and growth at Greece’s Ministry of Tourism, informed CNBC Journey.

For that, the nation is investing in its extra distant places, together with Syros, Amorgos and Milos, as a part of its “All you need is Greece” marketing campaign.

To ease overtourism, in style scorching spots equivalent to Mykonos and Santorini are being repositioned as shoulder season locations.

“It is our aim for these islands to develop extra in seasonality, too. We wish it for the tourism flows to be expanded in different months,” mentioned Eleni Mitraki, director of tourism promotion on the Greek Nationwide Tourism Group, noting the season may run March by November.

The plans coincide with the enlargement of direct flights from america to Greece in March 2023.

At the moment, Germany and the U.Okay. symbolize Greece’s largest inbound tourism markets by income, adopted by america, France and Italy. Nevertheless, Anastasopoulou mentioned additional development from different markets, most notably Canada and India, is predicted.

Listed here are CNBC Journey’s prime picks to get you off the overwhelmed observe in Greece.

Rock climbers’ paradise

Positioned inside Greece’s Dodecanese island chain within the southeastern Aegean Sea, Kalymnos is known for its sponge-diving — underwater diving to gather pure sponges from the seabed — which introduced appreciable wealth and recognition to the island within the earlier century.

Extra not too long ago, the island has develop into a world-renowned location for rock climbers, with greater than 3,000 climbing routes spanning the quite a few crags, caves and overhangs of its rugged panorama.

Kalymnos’ tourism season peaks within the fall with the Kalymnos Climbing Competition. However journey junkies can get their kicks year-round, with a number of different actions together with scuba diving, mountain climbing and boating.

The right way to get there: Kalymnos could be simply reached by boat from close by Kos, with crossings taking 45 minutes by ferry and 25 minutes by speedboat. In excessive season, it is also accessible by airplane from Athens. 

Haven for historical past buffs

Ios, also called Io or Nio, is situated between Santorini and Naxos, and was as soon as seen solely as a celebration vacation spot. However the Cyclades island has revamped its picture over latest years to embrace its historic and pure attributes.

Residence to one in all Greece’s most historic archaeological settlements, the Skarkos monument, Ios additionally boasts a robust connection to the Greek epic poet, Homer, who is alleged to have favored the island and, doubtlessly, ended his days there.

Alongside historical past, guests to Ios can even discover its plentiful seashores, and mountain climbing and diving spots, earlier than tucking into a number of the native cheeses for which the island is famed.

The right way to get there: There is no such thing as a airport in Ios. The island could be accessed by ferry or speedboat from each Athens and the opposite Cyclades islands. It can be reached by helicopter from Santorini.

Film lovers’ delight

Skopelos turned well-known because the filming location for the hit musical rom-com “Mamma Mia,” and has since emerged as a preferred vacation spot for weddings, honeymoons and film excursions.

A part of the Skopelos archipelago within the northwest Aegean Sea, the island combines beautiful seashores and picturesque villages with a number of diving, yachting and biking routes.

Legend has it the island was based by the son of the Greek god of wine. And although lots of its vineyards have been destroyed by pests within the Nineteen Forties, small-scale, home manufacturing continues to this present day. In the meantime, natively grown plums, almonds, chestnuts, figs, citrus fruits, olives adorn the native delicacies.

The right way to get there: Skopelos is reachable by ferry or speedboat from the port metropolis of Volos on Greece’s mainland. Providers run year-round, with further routes from different islands added in excessive season.

Mountaineering retreat

One in all greatest islands of the Cyclades and simply two hours from the Greek mainland, mountainous Andros has a diversified panorama of forests, waterfalls, seashores and native vegetation, making it perfect for an outside escape.

Guests can discover the island by way of its giant community of mountain climbing trails, or strive their hand at windsurfing or scuba diving, earlier than sampling the native delicacies.

Arts and tradition followers can take a look at Andros’ assortment of monasteries, galleries and museums, together with the Archaeological Museum of Andros and the Museum of Up to date Artwork.

The right way to get there: There is no such thing as a airport in Andros. The island could be reached by ferry from Rafina port on the outskirts of Athens.

Isle of innovation

One of many Dodecanese islands, Astypalea has a wealthy historic historical past. However it’s positioning itself firmly within the twenty first century with the aim of changing into the primary sustainable and sensible island of the Mediterranean sea.

As a part of a cope with the Greek authorities and Volkswagen, Astypalea plans to implement islandwide, zero-emission mobility by 2030, with conventional automobile leases to get replaced with electrical automobiles, e-scooters and e-bikes. Elsewhere, charging factors and renewable power sources can even be added.

Vacationers arriving on the so-called Butterfly Island can even get pleasure from its pure panorama, house to lovely seashores, rocky hillsides and numerous wildlife, in addition to its picturesque villages of bougainvillea-clad white homes.

The right way to get there: Astypalea is accessible from Athens by each ferry and airplane.

Island-hopping

Surrounded by a necklace of 24 islets with dozens of blue-green seashores, Lipsi within the Dodecanese is taken into account the Polynesia of the Aegean Sea and an eco-paradise.

With a wealthy expanse of wildlife protected by the European Union, the island is house to numerous wildlife, together with Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles. Dolphins are additionally widespread within the space, and a brand new Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary for dolphins is about to open quickly on the island.

Holidaymakers can get pleasure from days spent boating, diving, beach-dwelling and mountain climbing, earlier than tucking into seafood dishes and experiencing native festivals, equivalent to August’s wine celebration.

The right way to get there: Lipsi is barely accessible by ferry or pace boat, with common providers operating from Athens and Leros.

Divers’ delight

Alonissos, a part of the Sporades group of islands, is a diver’s paradise and the positioning of Greece’s first underwater museum. That includes “Parthenon of the Wrecks,” one of many greatest Classical-era shipwrecks relationship again to 425 B.C., the positioning affords leisure divers a novel perception into the area’s historical past.

The island can also be house to the Nationwide Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, at present Europe’s largest marine protected space, giving guests the chance to see an unlimited array of vegetation and animals.

Kayaking, mountain climbing and biking are among the many different actions obtainable on the island, whereas museums and an area theater group showcase the island’s arts and tradition scene.

The right way to get there: Alonissos could be accessed both by airplane or by ferry from the ports of Volos, Agios Konstantinos and Kimi.