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The country of over 6,000 islands, surrounded by the blue-green waters of the Aegean Sea and with a rich ancient heritage, is one of the most popular destinations to visit this year, both literally and figuratively, with one (huge) warning:

Santorini, Mykonos and similar destinations are all popular with mass tourism. With soaring accommodation prices and unmanageable crowds, Greece’s most iconic island duo may not be the idyllic summer getaway you were hoping for.

Luckily for the tourists who fear the crowds, Folegandros is a paradise island that is not on everyone’s radar, but offers peace and quiet and postcard-worthy towns without the crowds on Santorini:

Like Santorini… But much more authentic

Folegandros is one of the smallest, lesser known islands of Greece, covering an area of only 12 square milesand although it belongs to the Cyclades, the same group of islands as Santorini, it has none of the overwhelming crowds:

With a population of just over 700, the island has done a pretty good job of shielding itself from the effects of internationalisation. This is quite an achievement, given its proximity to Santorini (50 minutes by ferry) and other tourist attractions.

It is in fact one of the few islands that the Greek people themselves visit to escape Greece’s foreign clientele. Local travel agency Greeka notes that it is still ‘relatively unaffected‘ by international tourists.

Like Santorini, Folegandros is of volcanic nature, with cities built on high cliffsa rugged coastline interspersed with fishing villages and pebble and golden sand beaches, and a typically Greek, dry hinterland dotted with olive and cypress trees.

Unlike its famous sister, Folegandros is however not somewhere to party until the early hours: there are a limited number of beach bars and certainly no full-fledged nightclubs of Santorini’s allure, such as Koo or Enigma.

Instead, IIt appeals to tourists who like to delayenjoy traditional Greek food without the exorbitant prices and enjoy nature without the constant distraction of annoying beach vendors and bachelor parties.

Picturesque whitewashed towns and beaches

Chorathe island’s main town and its tiny capital is the dictionary definition of Cycladic architecture. The winding streets are lined with low, whitewashed houses, bright blue doors and shutters, and graceful arrangements of bougainvillea crowning narrow passageways.

Situated on a cliff 200 meters high, Folegandros is without a doubt one of the most picturesque towns in Greece.

You probably hear Greeks walking around, but foreign tourists Doing come every now and then.

Folegandros’ language french remains that of the natives.

There are not that many settlements outside of Chora, but if you are looking for a authentic village The interior of Ano Meria is completely untouched by tourism and is only a 7-minute drive away, as is the coastal town of Agali, which is best known for its fine white sandy beach.

Besides its typical rural character, the charm of Folegandros lies in its largely undeveloped coast: Beaches such as Katergo, Livadi, Latinaki and Livadaki have only a small number of sun loungers available, if any at all, as most of them have no tourist facilities.

This means that you are actually in the middle of the wild Greek nature, without the usual social restrictions and certainly away from the crowds: there is even a lesser known nudist spot on the island of Galifos, where lovers of naturism will certainly find what they are looking for.

Hotels here are cheaper than in Santorini

Folegandros may be cheaper to visit than Santorini, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheaper cheap: If you are looking for a budget holiday on the Mediterranean, then you should definitely go to unconventional Albania or perhaps Montenegro.

If you live your life now, mom Mia fantasy and trying original gyros is non-negotiable, Folegandros might be your best: it’s not crowded, prices are within reasonable limitsThe locals are friendly and welcoming to guests and the island is easy to explore on foot:

Walking from the northernmost point to the southernmost point takes just over 3 hours. If you travel by car or motorbike it is even shorter: renting an ATV from Donkey Scooters costs just 45 euros or about $49 per day.

As for hotels, the privately run Meltemi guest house costs an affordable $116 per night, although availability may be limited, while an entire studio at Folegandros Apartments, within walking distance of both Chora and Chora, will set you back $203.

If you are looking for a little more comfort, you can go to the more luxurious Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites in Agali. This hotel will cost you $295 per night and the best part is that it is only a 2-minute walk from the famous Agali Beach.

How to get to Folegandros this summer?

To travel to Folegandros this summer, the most convenient option is fly to Santorinithe nearest island with an international airport, and take the ferry from there: it leaves every day and the price ranges from $7.62 to $103.60 depending on the company and the length of the trip.

Although the fastest ferries only 50 minutes to complete the crossing, they are usually much more expensive. Seajets sells seats from $75.86, or the equivalent in euros; if you don’t mind travelling longer to save money, the crossing with Zante Ferries takes 2h55, with tickets costing a negligible $7.62.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has traveled to over 60 countries (and is currently writing stories about Paris!) and has a knack for turning unforgettable experiences into informative, bag-packing stories.

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The opinions expressed here are those of the author 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 in the post.