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Top Hotels on Lesser-Known Greek Islands

  1. ⭐⭐⭐ Hotels in Milos, Greece – Check prices and availability
  2. ⭐⭐ Hotels in Naxos, Greece – Check prices and availability
  3. ⭐ Hotels in Sifnos, Greece – Check prices and availability

If you're searching for alternatives to santorini, you're not alone — and the Greek islands have plenty to offer.

Santorini is the most photographed island in Greece, but it's also the most expensive, the most crowded, and increasingly the most frustrating for travellers. We think there's a better way to experience the Greek islands — and it doesn't involve queuing for a sunset spot in Oia or paying €300 per night for a basic room.

This guide covers the islands that give you the same ingredients that make Santorini famous — dramatic coastlines, charming villages, excellent food, and stunning sunsets — without the inflated prices and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Naxos town view, one of the best alternatives to Santorini in Greece
Naxos pairs dramatic scenery with a much calmer atmosphere than Santorini.
Naxos harbour lit up at night with hillside buildings above
At night, Naxos town glows along the waterfront with far fewer crowds than Oia.

At a Glance: Santorini vs the Alternatives

This table breaks down the best alternatives to santorini before the details below.

What You Want Santorini Reality Go Instead What You Get
Caldera views Overpriced, crowded Milos (Kleftiko) Dramatic white cliffs, boat trips
White-washed villages Packed with tourists Paros (Lefkes, Naoussa) Traditional Cycladic charm, fewer people
Best beaches Black pebbles, steep access Naxos (Agios Prokopios) Long sandy beaches, shallow water
Sunset views Reserved terrace seats Folegandros (Chora) Unspoiled, quieter, authentic
Luxury without the price €400+/night Sifnos (Kamares, Apollonia) Boutique hotels at half the cost
Romantic vibe Honeymoon crowds Amorgos Cliff-top monastery, no crowds
Foodie scene Tourist menus Sifnos Michelin-level traditional cuisine

Why Skip Santorini? The Real Numbers

Santorini isn't a bad destination — it's just a bad deal in peak season. Here's what you're actually paying for:

Cost Category Santorini (July-Aug) Naxos / Milos (July-Aug) Savings
Mid-range hotel (per night) €200-400 €80-150 60%
Dinner for two (with wine) €80-120 €35-60 55%
Cocktail at sunset bar €18-25 €8-12 55%
Car rental (per day) €60-90 €35-50 40%
Ferry from Athens €40-70 €30-50 30%

A couple spending a week in Santorini will easily spend €3,000-4,000 on accommodation and meals alone. The same couple in Naxos or Milos will spend €1,200-1,800 for a comparable experience.

The Best Alternatives to Santorini

1. Milos: The Dramatic Coastline Without the Crowds

Why it replaces Santorini: Sarakiniko Beach looks like a moonscape — white volcanic rock, turquoise water, and no entry fee. The Kleftiko sea caves are only accessible by boat, and the coastline is arguably more dramatic than Santorini's caldera.

Whitewashed village perched on a rocky hillside in the Cyclades
Small hilltop villages like this one keep their local character intact.
Narrow cobblestone street lined with white buildings in a Greek village
Narrow lanes like these are typical of Cycladic old towns, away from the main tourist strip.

What Milos does better:

  • Beaches: The best in the Cyclades. Sarakiniko, Firiplaka, Tsigrado, and Papafragas are all exceptional.
  • Boat trips: Kleftiko is a full-day boat excursion through sea caves and arches — far more active than watching the sunset from a terrace.
  • Price: Hotels are 50-60% cheaper than Santorini. You can stay in a boutique property with a sea view for €100/night.
  • What it lacks: No caldera. But the volcanic landscape is equally dramatic.

We recommend: Stay in Adamantas or Pollonia. Rent a car or ATV to reach the beaches. Book a boat trip to Kleftiko.

2. Naxos: The All-Rounder That Does Everything Well

Why it replaces Santorini: Naxos has a Venetian old town (Kastro), ancient ruins (the Portara), mountain villages, and the longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades. It's what Santorini would be if it weren't so crowded.

Sarakiniko's white volcanic rock, one of the best alternatives to Santorini
Sarakiniko's lunar-like rock formations replace Santorini's caldera views without the entrance fee.
Colourful fishing houses built into the cliffs of Klima village
Klima's boat garages built into the rock face are a signature Milos sight.

What Naxos does better:

  • Beaches: Agios Prokopios, Plaka, and Agia Anna are long, sandy, and family-friendly. No steep descents or black pebbles.
  • Food: Naxos is famous for its potatoes, graviera cheese, and kitron liqueur. The food scene is more authentic and less tourist-driven than Santorini.
  • Hiking: Mount Zas (1,004m) is the highest peak in the Cyclades. The trail from Filoti is a half-day hike with panoramic views.
  • Villages: Apiranthos is a marble-paved mountain village that feels untouched by tourism.
  • What it lacks: The caldera view. But the Portara (the giant marble gate of an unfinished temple) at sunset is nearly as iconic.

We recommend: Stay in Naxos Town (Chora) or Agios Prokopios. Rent a car for at least two days to explore the interior.

3. Paros: The Lively Island With Style

Why it replaces Santorini: Paros has beautiful white-washed villages, excellent restaurants, and a more youthful energy. Naoussa harbour is as photogenic as Oia but with actual Greeks eating at the tavernas.

Kleftiko sea caves and rock formations off the coast of Milos
Kleftiko's rock arches are only reachable by boat, so the trip feels like an excursion rather than a beach day.
Small boats anchored in a quiet bay on Milos island
Quiet bays like this one are common around Milos, even in peak season.

What Paros does better:

  • Nightlife: Naoussa has a sophisticated bar scene without the Mykonos price tag. Live music, cocktail bars, and beach clubs.
  • Villages: Lefkes is the most beautiful inland village in the Cyclades. Marpissa and Prodromos are equally charming.
  • Windsurfing: The Golden Beach (Chrisi Akti) is one of the best windsurfing spots in Europe.
  • Connections: Paros is the hub of the Cyclades ferry network. You can day-trip to Antiparos, Naxos, or Mykonos.
  • What it lacks: The dramatic caldera. But the overall experience is more varied.

We recommend: Base yourself in Naoussa for nightlife and restaurants, or Piso Livadi for a quieter beach holiday.

Naoussa fills up fast for dinner reservations once summer arrives, so booking a room early pays off. The Senia Hotel is a well-reviewed option a short walk from the harbour, with the kind of sea views that keep it in demand.

4. Folegandros: The Anti-Santorini

Why it replaces Santorini: Folegandros has a cliff-top old town (Chora) that rivals Oia for beauty but with a fraction of the visitors. The island is small, quiet, and deeply traditional.

Naoussa harbour in Paros lined with fishing boats and tavernas
Naoussa's harbour draws a livelier crowd than Oia, but locals still outnumber tourists at the tavernas.
Colourful buildings along the waterfront of Naoussa in Paros
The waterfront buildings in Naoussa show more colour than the all-white villages further south.

What Folegandros does better:

  • Authenticity: Folegandros has resisted mass tourism. You'll find elderly locals playing backgammon in the square, not cruise ship passengers.
  • Hiking: A network of old paths connects Chora to remote beaches and churches. The walk to the Church of Panagia is spectacular.
  • Price: Hotels are a third of Santorini's prices. A room with a sea view costs €70-100.
  • What it lacks: Beaches require effort to reach (steep paths or boat access). No archaeological sites.

We recommend: Stay in Chora. Bring good walking shoes. This is not the island for beach club loungers.

Chora is compact, and rooms near the cliffside paths get booked up quickly in high season. The Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites is a highly rated option within easy walking distance of the old town.

5. Sifnos: The Foodie Island

Why it replaces Santorini: Sifnos is the culinary capital of the Cyclades. It has more traditional pottery workshops, more local recipes, and a slower pace that Santorini lost decades ago.

Outdoor dining table set beside the sea in the Cyclades
Waterfront tables like this are common across the Cyclades, usually at a fraction of Santorini prices.
Traditional Cycladic architecture in a coastal village square
Village squares like this one are where Sifnos's food culture really comes alive.

What Sifnos does better:

  • Food: Sifnos is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, the chef who codified Greek cuisine. Revithada (chickpea stew baked in a clay pot) is the signature dish. The island has multiple restaurants that would be Michelin-starred if they were in Athens.
  • Architecture: The typical Sifnos dovecote towers and terraced hillsides are unique.
  • Monasteries: The Monastery of Chrissopigi sits on a rocky promontory surrounded by water.
  • What it lacks: Dramatic cliffs. The landscape is gentler — rolling hills rather than volcanic calderas.

We recommend: Stay in Apollonia for the restaurants or Kamares for the beach. Visit Artemonas for the architecture.

6. Amorgos: The Remote Romance

Why it replaces Santorini: Amorgos is the easternmost Cycladic island, reached by a long ferry ride that filters out most tourists. The Hozoviotissa Monastery is built into a cliff face 300 metres above the sea — arguably more dramatic than any Santorini view.

Long stone wall extending into the sea on a Greek island
Structures like this stone jetty hint at how remote and undeveloped Amorgos still feels.
Rugged coastal scenery typical of the Cyclades islands
This kind of rugged coastline is what draws hikers and divers to islands like Amorgos.

What Amorgos does better:

  • Remoteness: You won't find package tourists here. The island attracts serious hikers, divers, and people who want to disappear.
  • Hozoviotissa: The monastery is one of the most spectacular religious sites in Greece. The climb up is steep but the views are unmatched.
  • Diving: The shipwreck of the Olympia is a famous dive site.
  • What it lacks: Beaches are mostly pebbles. The ferry connections are infrequent.

We recommend: Stay in Katapola or Aegiali. You need at least 4-5 days to justify the ferry time.

Katapola only has a handful of places to stay, and they fill up around the ferry schedule in summer. Hotel Minoa is a reliable, well-reviewed choice right near the port.

7. Serifos: The Budget-Friendly Secret

Why it replaces Santorini: Serifos is the most affordable Cycladic island with a genuine white-washed old town (Chora) perched on a hilltop. It has excellent beaches and almost no international tourism.

Traditional white building with a stone fireplace and potted plants
Details like this stone fireplace and potted plants are typical of Serifos's traditional homes.
Small white church with a cross overlooking the Cyclades
Small chapels like this one dot the hillsides above Serifos's old town.

What Serifos does better:

  • Price: Possibly the cheapest island in the Cyclades. You can eat well for €12-15 per person and find rooms for €50-70/night.
  • Chora: The old town is a maze of white alleys and blue doors that feels like the Greece of 30 years ago.
  • Beaches: Livadakia, Psili Ammos, and Vagia are all excellent and unspoiled.
  • What it lacks: Upscale dining and nightlife. This is a simple, traditional island.

We recommend: Stay in Livadi (the port) or Chora. Rent a scooter to reach the beaches.

Livadi is the easiest base for reaching the island's beaches, and rooms here tend to be simple and good value. Studios Amfitriti is a popular pick with strong reviews for its views over the bay.

Cycladic town built into a hillside with mountains behind
Towns built straight into the hillside are a common sight across these lesser-known islands.
Building perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Greek coastline
Elevated viewpoints like this one are easy to find without the crowds Santorini attracts.

Direct Comparison: What Each Island Offers

Feature Santorini Milos Naxos Paros Folegandros Sifnos
Caldera / dramatic cliffs ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✗ ✗ ✓✓ ✗
White-washed villages ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓
Sandy beaches ✗ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✗ ✓✓
Sunset views ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓
Food scene ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓
Nightlife ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✗ ✓
Hiking ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓
Price (budget-friendly) ✗ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓
Authenticity ✗ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓
Easy ferry access ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓

How to Choose the Right Alternative

If you want the most dramatic scenery: Milos or Amorgos.

If you want the best beaches: Naxos or Milos.

If you want food: Sifnos or Naxos.

If you want nightlife + culture: Paros.

If you want quiet and authentic: Folegandros or Serifos.

If you're on a tight budget: Serifos or Naxos.

If you want romance without the honeymoon crowds: Folegandros or Amorgos.

Island Hopping from Your Alternative

One advantage of skipping Santorini is that you're better positioned for island hopping:

  • Naxos → Paros → Mykonos: Easy ferry triangle, all well-connected.
  • Milos → Sifnos → Serifos: Western Cyclades loop, quieter route.
  • Folegandros → Sikinos → Ios: The “small Cyclades” — truly off the beaten path.
  • Amorgos → Naxos: Combine the remote east with the accessible centre.

We think a 10-14 day trip combining 2-3 islands is the ideal Greek island experience.

When to Visit

Island Best Month Avoid Why
Milos June, September August July-August beaches get busy
Naxos May-June, September August Windy in July (Meltemi)
Paros June, September August Mykonos overflow crowds
Folegandros June, September August Limited accommodation books out
Sifnos May-June, September August Ferry queues
Amorgos June, September August Ferry schedules reduced
Serifos June, September August Limited shade at beaches

Staying Connected

Narrow sea passage between rocky Greek island coastlines
Mobile signal can thin out in narrow passages and remote coves like this one.
Sailboat on the water with a Greek island town behind it
A local data plan is worth setting up before island-hopping by boat between these towns.

All the islands above have 4G coverage, but signal can be patchy in remote villages and on hiking trails. We recommend setting up an eSIM before you arrive so you have data for ferry bookings, restaurant reservations, and navigation without relying on hotel Wi-Fi.

Most ferries now offer online booking through Ferryhopper, and having mobile data means you can adjust your itinerary on the fly if schedules change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest island to Santorini that is less crowded?

Folegandros is the closest less-crowded alternative, about 1 hour by ferry from Santorini. It has a similar cliff-top village feel without the crowds.

Is Naxos better than Santorini?

Naxos is better for beaches, food value, hiking, and families. Santorini wins on caldera views and luxury honeymoon hotels. For most travellers, Naxos offers a better overall experience at a third of the cost.

Which Greek island is most like Santorini but cheaper?

Milos has the most similar dramatic volcanic landscape. Folegandros has the most similar cliff-top village atmosphere. Both are significantly cheaper.

Can you visit Santorini for a day trip from another island?

Yes. Ferries connect Naxos, Paros, and Ios to Santorini in 1-2 hours. A day trip lets you see the caldera without paying for accommodation.

What is the cheapest Greek island?

Serifos and Naxos are the most affordable well-connected islands. You can travel on u20ac60-80 per day including accommodation.

Which Greek island has the best sunsets besides Santorini?

Folegandros (from Chora), Milos (from Plaka castle), and Naxos (from the Portara) all have sunsets that rival Santorini's.

Is Santorini worth visiting at all?

We think Santorini is worth 1-2 days for the caldera view, especially if you visit in shoulder season (May or September). But don't make it the centre of your trip.

Final Thoughts

These alternatives to santorini offer the same Cycladic beauty with far fewer crowds.

Santorini became famous for a reason — the caldera is genuinely one of the most beautiful natural formations in Europe. But the experience of visiting Santorini in peak season has become so degraded by overtourism that most travellers leave frustrated.

The good news is that Greece has over 200 inhabited islands, and many of them offer everything Santorini does — minus the crowds and the price tag.

We recommend:

  • First-timers to the Cyclades: Start with Naxos or Paros. Add a day trip to Santorini if you must see the caldera.
  • Honeymooners: Folegandros or Milos. Romantic, beautiful, and you'll actually be able to enjoy dinner without a reservation made three months ago.
  • Beach lovers: Naxos or Milos. The beaches are objectively better.
  • Foodies: Sifnos. The traditional cuisine is the best in the Cyclades.
  • Budget travellers: Serifos or Naxos. Authentic Greece without the credit card damage.
  • Adventurers: Amorgos or Milos. Hiking, diving, and dramatic landscapes.

The Greek islands are not a single destination — they're dozens of distinct experiences. Santorini is just one of them. We think you'll have a better trip if you look beyond the postcard.

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