I went to a quieter Greek island instead of Mykonos and Santorini. I got beautiful beaches without fighting the crowds.

Sep 16, 2026 10:07 PM - 2 hours ago 3

A number of boats are docked successful crystal-clear h2o successful the Greek land of Syros.

I've ever dreamed of a Greek island holiday: swimming successful the Aegean Sea, strolling down cobblestone streets by whitewashed buildings, and enjoying caller olives, feta, and achromatic vino connected a sunny terrace.

However, erstwhile I really started readying a travel there, each I saw online was crowds — tons of group stampeding disconnected the ferry from Athens, overwhelming different picturesque villages, and creating lines conscionable to return Instagram pictures.

This looked for illustration my nightmare, truthful instead, I decided to book a five-day travel to an land I'd ne'er heard of: Syros.

Syros is the superior of the Cyclades, a cluster of Greek islands that includes Santorini and Mykonos, but it sees little tourism unit compared to its much celebrated alternatives. With a organization of astir 20,000, Syros is astir 100 miles from Athens and tin beryllium reached by ferry aliases a short flight.

After visiting myself — and seeing that it's a much authentic, little expensive, and quieter Greek-island acquisition — here's why I'll ever urge Syros.

Immediately, I was impressed by really quiet and serene the land was.

A quiet sunlit chromatic thoroughfare lined pinch balconies and shops leads toward the bluish harbor h2o successful Syros.

After arriving astatine Ermoupoli, the metropolis halfway and superior of the island, I came crossed a unsocial operation of Greek and Venetian neoclassical architecture.

I was successful awe of the island, surrounded by crystal-clear h2o that sparkles successful the sun, and the mildly buzzing larboard pinch group eating connected patios and sailboats coming and going.

As I explored the area, I was greeted by marble-and-stone-paved streets, charming alleys, and flowers draping the buildings. When I near the port, I saw oliva groves connected windswept hills, calm beaches, and limestone cliffs.

Best of all, I felt for illustration I could bask the area correct away, without emotion for illustration I was competing for space.

I very quickly fell successful emotion pinch this place. I rented a scooter to circuit the land connected the spot, and paid a fewer Euros for a daybed connected a formation conscionable by stepping up.

I swam successful calm h2o that didn't consciousness for illustration quality soup, ate caller food successful mini seaside tavernas without reservations, and soaked successful Ermoupoli's energetic nighttime ambiance.

I spent little money than I would person successful Mykonos aliases Santorini.

The writer is holding a pizza astatine the formation successful Syros.

One week earlier I arrived successful Syros, I booked a beautiful one-bedroom Airbnb group into the cliffs supra the oversea pinch a sun terrace and nonstop entree to the Aegean.

At astir $227 per night, it was a 10-minute locomotion from the ferry port, and astir the area from historical churches, pastel coffee shops, and boutiques.

When I checked prices for different islands I was considering, specified arsenic Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, and Zakynthos, I recovered they were somewhat much costly than the options successful Syros.

Plus, because Syros has a ample year-round organization of Greek residents and mostly home tourists, restaurants are priced for locals alternatively than luxury world visitors, truthful I ne'er had to woody pinch surcharges aliases markups.

Syros felt for illustration a section island, not a curated tourer bubble.

Outdoor edifice terrace pinch candlelit tables successful Syros overlooking the h2o and harbor astatine dusk.

For me, thing pops the bubble of authenticity successful a spot much than being surrounded by circuit buses and mega resorts — neither of which I recovered connected Syros.

Overall, I recovered that Syros isn't trying to beryllium a caricature of itself. Locals I met successful Athens were amazed I was heading to Syros, and they shared stories astir going location arsenic kids, aliases taking their families location now.

Plus, connected the island, I heard much Greek than immoderate different language, truthful I really felt immersed successful the culture.

There were trade-offs, but I'd decidedly sojourn Syros again.

The writer sits connected a achromatic scooter beside a formation successful Syros, pinch straw umbrellas and turquoise water.

If personification wants a postcard-perfect position of Santorini's celebrated caldera and is yearning for Mykonos' nightlife, past Syros mightiness not beryllium the spot for them.

There whitethorn beryllium less options for vessel tours, and sometimes, I had to look a small harder for that perfect beach, since immoderate of the much secluded ones required a spot of a hike. But for me, Syros was 1 of the champion places I've ever visited.

I can't hold to travel backmost to the island, and it's inspired maine to take different spot I've ne'er heard of for my adjacent getaway.