Alternatives to Santorini: quieter Greek islands with the same magic

Why look beyond Santorini

Santorini is one of the most visited islands in Greece, and in summer it shows. Greece now limits cruise visitors to 8,000 a day and, since July 2025, charges cruise passengers €20 a head in peak season (June to September), the highest rate in the country. Even so, Oia at sunset, the Fira to Oia path and the caldera hotels are packed, and prices are among the highest in the Greek islands.

The good news is that Santorini sits among the Cyclades, a group of more than 20 inhabited islands with the same whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches and clear sea. Several of them do one part of the Santorini experience better.

The quick list

If you can't give up the caldera completely, stay on one of these and visit Santorini for a day by ferry. You get the view without paying caldera hotel prices for a week.

Milos: the closest match for scenery

Milos is also volcanic, and it shows. Sarakiniko's white, moon-like rocks, the sea caves at Kleftiko (reached by boat) and the brightly painted fishing houses at Klima are some of the most photographed spots in Greece, and the island has dozens of beaches, many of them quiet.

The hilltop village of Plaka and its old Kastro give you a sunset over the sea that rivals Oia, with a fraction of the crowd. Milos is getting busier every year, so go in June or September rather than August if you can.

Naxos: beaches, food and space

Naxos is the biggest of the Cyclades, so even in summer it never feels full. It has the long sandy beaches Santorini lacks, including Agios Georgios, Plaka and Mikri Vigla, with shallow, warm water that's good for paddling and kitesurfing.

Inland there are mountain villages, Mount Zas (the highest peak in the Cyclades) and giant ancient marble statues lying where they were carved. The Portara, a huge marble doorway by the main harbour, is the place for sunset. Naxos also grows much of its own food, and it's noticeably cheaper to eat out than on Santorini.

Folegandros, Paros and Ios

Folegandros is the nearest thing to Oia without the queues. Its main village, Chora, sits right at the edge of a high cliff, with squares shaded by trees and very few cars. It's small and quiet, with few big hotels, so it suits couples and anyone who wants to slow down.

Paros is the easy all-rounder. It has its own airport, good ferry links, pretty harbour towns at Naoussa and Parikia, and Antiparos just across the water. It's busier than Naxos but much calmer than Santorini.

Ios is best known for its nightlife in July and August, but in May, June and September it's a lovely, low-key island with some of the best beaches in the Cyclades, and it's under an hour by fast ferry from Santorini.

Getting there from the UK

Santorini has plenty of direct summer flights from the UK. Most of the quieter islands don't, which is part of why they're quieter. The usual routes are:

Ferry timetables change by season, and the meltemi wind can make crossings rough or cancel smaller boats in July and August. Build a spare night in Athens or at your arrival island before your flight home.

When to go

The Cyclades are at their best in late May, June and September, when the sea is warm enough for swimming, the ferries are running, and the islands are calmer than in July and August. Early October can still be lovely, though some smaller islands start to close down.

Avoid assuming winter works the same way. From November to March many hotels and tavernas on the small islands close, ferries are less frequent, and the weather can be cool and windy. For a winter trip, pick somewhere warmer from our where to go in November page instead.

Which one should you choose?

Our holidays in Greece page covers the rest of the country, from Crete to Kefalonia. If the group can't agree, put two or three of these on a somewhere.party list and let the draw decide. We also have tips on how to choose between two holidays.