Global Courant 2023-05-12 06:18:17
A perennial favorite among holidaymakers, Greece consistently ranks in the top 10 holiday destinations in Europe.
But now it wants tourists to get to know lesser-known locations around the world thousands of vast islands.
“We go beyond sea and sun. We want to extend the tourism season in both time and space,” Olympia Anastasopoulou, secretary general for tourism policy and development at the Greek Ministry of Tourism, told CNBC Travel.
To that end, the country is investing in its more remote locations, including Syros, Amorgos and Milos, as part of its “All you want is Greece” campaign.
To combat overtourism, popular hotspots such as Mykonos and Santorini are being repositioned as mid-season destinations.
“It is our goal that those islands become more seasonal as well. We would like to see tourist flows increased in other months,” says Eleni Mitraki, director of tourism promotion at the Greek National Tourism Organization. runs from March to November.
The plans coincide with the expansion of direct flights from the United States to Greece in March 2023.
Currently, Germany and the UK represent Greece’s largest inbound tourism markets by revenue, followed by the United States, France and Italy. However, Anastasopoulou said further growth from other markets, especially Canada and India, is expected.
Here are CNBC Travel’s top picks to take you off the beaten path in Greece.
Kalymnos, Dodecanese
Paradise for mountaineers
Kalymnos, located in the Greek Dodecanese island chain in the southeastern Aegean Sea, is known for its sponge diving – underwater diving to collect natural sponges from the sea floor – which brought the island considerable wealth and recognition in the last century.
Kalymnos, part of the Greek Dodecanese archipelago, has become a well-known destination for rock climbers.
Photo Bin | Ivory | Getty Images
More recently, the island has become a world-famous location for Mountain climberswith more than 3,000 climbing routes scattered among the numerous rocks, caves and outcroppings of the rugged landscape.
Kalymnos’ tourist season peaks in autumn with the Kalymnos Climbing Festival. But adventure junkies can indulge themselves year-round, with a myriad of them Other activities including diving, hiking and boating.
Getting There: Kalymnos is easily reached by boat from nearby Kos, with a 45 minute ferry ride and a 25 minute speedboat ride. In high season it is also accessible by plane from Athens.
Ios, Cyclades
Haven for history buffs
Ios, also known as Io or Nio, is located between Santorini and Naxos and was once seen exclusively as a party destination. But the island of Cyclades has revamped its image in recent years to embrace it historical and natural features.
Home to one of Greece’s oldest archaeological settlements, the Skarkos Monument, Ios also has a strong connection to the Greek epic poet Homer, who is said to have preferred the island and possibly ended his days there.
Once known as a pure party island, Ios in the Cyclades embraces its other trappings, including beautiful beaches and ancient Greek archaeological settlements.
Municipality of Ios
In addition to history, visitors to Ios can also explore the abundant beaches and hiking and diving spots, before indulging in some of the local cheeses for which the island is famous.
Getting there: There is no airport in Ios. The island is accessible by ferry or speedboat from both Athens and the other Cyclades islands. It can also be reached by helicopter from Santorini.
Skopelos, Sporades
Movie buffs’ delight
Skopelos rose to fame as the filming location for the popular musical rom-com “Mamma Mia”, and has since become a popular destination for weddings, honeymoons and movie tours.
The island is part of the Skopelos archipelago in the northwestern Aegean Sea and combines beautiful beaches and picturesque villages with numerous diving, sailing and cycling routes.
The Greek island of Skopelos is known as the filming location of the popular musical rom-com “Mamma Mia”, with the clifftop church of Agios Ioannis Kastri playing a starring role.
Constantinos-iliopoulos | Ivory | Getty Images
According to legend, the island was founded by the son of the Greek god of wine. And while many of its vineyards were destroyed by pests in the 1940s, small-scale, domestic production continues to this day. Meanwhile, indigenously grown plums, almonds, chestnuts, figs, citrus fruits and olives adorn the local cuisine.
Getting there: Skopelos can be reached by ferry or speedboat from the port city of Volos in mainland Greece. Services run year-round, with additional routes from other islands in high season.
Andros, Cyclades
Hiking retreat
One of the largest islands in the Cyclades and just two hours from the Greek mainland, mountainous Andros has a varied landscape of forests, waterfalls, beaches and local vegetation, making it ideal for an outdoor escape.
Andros, one of the largest islands in the Cyclades, has a varied landscape of waterfalls, forests and beaches, making it a walker’s paradise.
Summer Photos | Ivory | Getty Images
Visitors can explore the island through its large network of hiking trailsor try windsurfing or scuba diving before sampling the local cuisine.
Art and culture enthusiasts can explore Andros’ collection of monasteries, galleries and museums, including the Archaeological Museum of Andros and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
How to get there: There is no airport in Andros. The island can be reached by ferry from the port of Rafina on the outskirts of Athens.
Astypalea, Dodecanese
Island of innovation
Astypalea, one of the islands of the Dodecanese, has a rich ancient history. But it positions itself firmly in the 21st century with the goal of becoming the first sustainable and smart island of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Dodecanese island of Astypalea has the ambition to become the first sustainable and smart island in the Mediterranean.
Municipality of Astypalea
As part of a deal with the Greek government and Volkswagen, Astypalea plans to implement zero-emission mobility island-wide by 2030, replacing traditional vehicle rentals with electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes. Charging points and renewable energy sources will also be added elsewhere.
Tourists arriving at the so-called Butterfly Island can also enjoy the natural landscape, home to beautiful beaches, rocky hills and diverse flora and fauna, as well as the picturesque villages with white bougainvillea clad houses.
Getting There: Astypalea is accessible from Athens by both ferry and plane.
Lipsi, Dodecanese
Island hopping
Surrounded by a chain of 24 islets with dozens of blue-green beaches, Lipsi in the Dodecanese is considered the Polynesia of the Aegean and an eco-paradise.
Lipsi, an eco-paradise surrounded by 24 islets, is part of the Dodecanese Islands collection in the southeastern Aegean Sea.
Aegean marine reserve
With a rich expanse of Flora and fauna The island is protected by the European Union and is home to diverse wildlife, including Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles. Dolphins are also common in the area, and a new one Aegean marine reserve for dolphins will open soon on the island.
Vacationers can enjoy days of boating, scuba diving, beach stays and hiking before feasting on seafood and local festivals such as the August Wine Festival.
Getting there: Lipsi is only accessible by ferry or speedboat, with regular services from Athens and Leros.
Alonissos, Sporades
The pleasure of divers
Alonissos, part of the Sporades group of islands, is a diver’s paradise and the location of the Greek first underwater museum. Featuring “Parthenon of the Wrecks,” one of the largest Classic-era shipwrecks dating back to 425 BC, the site offers recreational divers a unique insight into the region’s history.
Part of the Sporades archipelago in the northwestern Aegean Sea, Alonissos is renowned for its diving sites, including Greece’s first underwater museum, the ‘Parthenon of the Wrecks’.
Municipality of Alonissos
The island is also home to the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporadescurrently Europe’s largest marine protected area, where visitors have the chance to see a wide variety of plants and animals.
Kayaking, hiking and biking are among the others activities available on the island, while museums and a local theater group showcase the island’s arts and culture scene.
Getting there: Alonissos can be reached by plane or by ferry from the ports of Volos, Agios Konstantinos and Kimi.
