I was handed a lantern as I stepped out of the taxi to meet up with some new friends who had invited me to a local harvest celebration high in the hills of the island of Samos. My unfortunate shoe choice (a pair of wedged heels) acted as an obvious reminder I was new on the island. Everyone in the group trudged up the uneven, rocky terrain with ease as I struggled to get my footing and grasp how I could have so wrongly interpreted “drinks on the terrace” to mean a sea-level abode.

We passed pomegranate trees and snuck through olive groves, but finally my persistence was rewarded with a candlelit table filled with carafes of new wine and baskets of handmade flatbread to be topped with fresh goat cheese and drizzled with local honey. There was no dancing on tables like in Mykonos and no line of tourists waiting for sunset pictures over the ocean like in Santoríni … just a quiet mountain-top terrace overlooking the sea as a single record player serenaded the joyous evening among friends and family.

Local harvest celebration, Samos © Kristy Alpert

Geographically closer to Türkiye than to mainland Greece, the island of Samos was fought over for centuries due to its fertile —mountainous — land, prized for producing some of the world’s finest muscat grapes which grow best on the high-altitude slopes of the island. Outside of insider wine circles — and history buffs who come to experience the birthplace of both Pythagoras and Epicurus — the island remains relatively unknown to mainstream tourists, who instead stick with the traditional Greek island circuit. But visitors who make the extra effort to venture deeper into the Aegean Sea encounter a rare gem of an island where beaches are uncrowded, food is grown locally, and locals are eager to interact and, yes, possibly even invite you to their neighborhood harvest party.

The trending shift in travel priorities toward experiential and sustainable opportunities gives these lesser-known islands a chance to shine. The recent “Emerging Destinations in Greece 2024” report from Mabrian Travel Intelligence and MINDHAUS (a travel marketing strategy organization) found interest in the Greek Islands progressively extends outside of the traditional cruise circuits.

“Travelers are increasingly looking for places with less [sic] crowds, cool weather and good value,” said Theofilos Kyratsoulis, general manager, MINDHAUS. According to the report, the lesser-known islands gained the most popularity in the last year, namely Lésvos and Chios in the North Aegean region but also Samos, Skíathos and Skópelos. It’s easy to reach many of these islands via ferry or regional route from Athens, and some — such as Samos, Mílos, Páros and Skíathos — even offer a few international routes from some major European and U.K. hubs. Travelers come for the raw beauty and authentic experiences these islands offer, and many experts believe the shift to these less dense destinations confers a huge benefit in terms of sustainability for Greece as it distributes tourism throughout the country.

Samos Wine Museum © Kristy Alpert

Already, luxury and 5-star accommodations have popped up on many of these islands, like adults-only Mythical Coast Wellness Retreat on Lésvos and chic Casa Cook Hotel on Samos. The newly opened Pearl Island Chios Hotel & Spa, the first luxury hotel on Chios, promises to deliver authentic Greek experiences that go “beyond the obvious.” Private boat tours invite guests to fish the waters alongside traditional fishermen, while locals and island chefs offer cooking classes to provide hands-on expertise with hyper-regional recipes.

Of the 48 suites at the resort, 16 include private pools, and many others offer direct access from their verandas to the Pearl Island Pool and its central swim-up bar. In pure Greek fashion, guests can choose between relaxation and conversation at any turn of the property, with multiple private or group dining options and lounges.

Many of these island hotels fully understand guests wish to offset the overtourism of the main Greek islands and cities, and they offer ample opportunity to see a side of Greek culture not easily found on the more touristed spots in Greece — everything from rejuvenating wellness retreats to providing ways to support local businesses through hands-on pottery classes or even simply local restaurant recommendations.

Traditional Pyrgi village, Chios © Freesurf69 | Dreamstime.com

The lesser-known islands exude so much beauty, but nothing more beautiful than the way each island stays true to its identity while allowing visitors to experience what makes each destination so special.

LODGING
Casa Cook Hotel

This 128-room, adults-only retreat lies just five minutes from the Samos airport but feels worlds away with Grecian village-inspired swim-up suites and mellow DJ sets by the pool.
Potokaki, Pythagoreio,
Samos
$$$$

Mythical Coast Wellness Retreat
Guests can arrive via taxi, plane or boat to this 91-room wellness retreat to either take part in a guided retreat or relax on their own private, ultra-luxe vacation.

Agrilia Kratigou, Mytilíne,
Lésvos
$$$

Pearl Island Chios Hotel & Spa
All 48 suites at this boutique hotel feature enhanced privacy to further personalize the experience amid the hotel’s sophisticated yet authentically Greek atmosphere.
Leof. Enoseos 8-14, Chios
$$$$

DINING
Aphrodite Garden Restaurant

This chef-driven restaurant creates the perfect blend of setting and flavor, where regional specialties like stuffed goat grace tables set in a flower garden of lemon trees and bougainvillea.
Pythagoreio, Samos
$$$

O! Hamos! Tavern
The atmosphere at this seaside restaurant is as close to being a guest in someone’s home as it gets, with handwritten menus and recipes featuring ingredients from the owner’s farm.
Adamas, Plaka, Mílos
$$

Ammos Beach Restaurant
Located beachside at Skiathos Princess Resort, this taverna-style restaurant serves a traditional Greek menu that highlights the island’s abundant seafood and skillfully presented fresh salads.
Agia Paraskevi, Skíathos
$$$

Lésvos island © Freesurf69 | Dreamstime.com

INFO TO GO
Most of these lesser-known islands require a stopover at Athens International Airport from major international hubs, but once in Athens, regional carriers fly daily routes to most of the islands. Popular island airports include Samos International Airport, Mílos Island National Airport and Mytilíne International Airport on Lésvos. Ferries offer another option, leaving from the port of Piraeus in Athens as well as from Thessaloníki and Kavála in Northern Greece. Keep in mind many ferry routes take much longer than air travel, and most ferries to the North Aegean Islands run overnight.