The 7 Greek destinations you didn't know about

Yesss, it's almost SUMMER. And that means: planning the summer vacation. One of my favorite pastimes, you know. Going on vacation is of course very nice, but I always enjoy the anticipation as well. Choosing dates, picking a destination, finding a hotel... I always get into the vacation mood. I love it. And this summer, Greece is on my agenda. Not to Athens, Crete, or Kos, but to less discovered destinations. And admit it: those are often the most fun. The food is often tastier, there are fewer crowds, but that Greek sun is just the same everywhere: scorching hot. But delicious. Oh, I really can't wait any longer actually. Just three more weeks. In the meantime, I will share my favorite tips for undiscovered Greece with you, in case you still need vacation inspiration.

Cyclades

This group of islands consists of about 2,200 islets, of which only 33 are inhabited. The most famous are Andros, Tinos, Paros, Amorgos, and Santorini. I am a big fan of Santorini; that island remains incredibly beautiful, but unfortunately, it is no longer very undiscovered. For the same beautiful white houses, delicious food, the blue sea, and a bit less crowd, go to Paros. The capital, Parikia, is a good base to explore the island from there. It has an airport where domestic flights land. So the best option is to fly via Athens. You can eat at Siparos in Paros, with an incredibly beautiful view and delicious food. My favorite spot in Paros was also Sigi Ikthios, which was always full. Take me back, please.

Paxos

This is one of the Ionian Islands and wow, it is so beautiful here. Zakynthos is also part of this group of islands, where it is also nice to stay, but Paxos is where you want to go. You can get here by boat from the mainland or Corfu. It is about thirty square kilometers, really small. The largest town is Gaios, where you also arrive by boat. A super cute harbor town. You absolutely want to eat at the restaurant Pan & Theo. They serve Greek food, it is right in the harbor, and for fresh seafood, you should also go there. Do: a day trip to the small Antipaxos, a recommendation if you really want to chill on your vacation. Walking, swimming, renting a scooter; you can absolutely do that here, but if you are more into an active vacation, then this might not be a destination where you want to stay for a week.

Saronic Islands

Still really unknown to foreign tourists, although many Greeks do go there on vacation. These islands (Angistri, Dokos, Egina, Hydra, Poros, Salamis, Spetses, Spetsopoula, and Trikeri) are located in the Aegean Sea and are very accessible from the mainland, so you can easily combine that. You can also island hop via these islands. If you are looking for the ‘real’ Greece: this is where you want to go.

Methoni

This village on the Peloponnese has been gaining popularity in recent years. Understandably, because it is very beautiful here and there is plenty to do. You get here by flying to Kalamata (about an hour and a half drive). It is a coastal town, so beautiful beaches: check. It also has a lot of nature, so hiking or renting a scooter: check. The most famous attraction is the Venetian fort, but the town also has a castle that is free to visit. Definitely eat at Palia Istoria, so delicious. If you have a car (which is a must): also go eat at Trichordo in the nearby Mesochori.

Rhodes

Not entirely ‘undiscovered’, but it remains such a nice island that I don't want to leave it out of this list. You will definitely sleep here at Casa Cook. Beautiful pool, quiet surroundings, and those beds... Yes, you definitely don't want to leave here. Day trips to Symi are also a must. Symi is a small island that you can reach by boat from Rhodes, and it is fairy-tale beautiful. The small harbor town on this island has many fish restaurants, and there are mainly locals, with no resorts in sight. Wonderful. Oh yes, and you can eat on Rhodes itself at the Manos Fish Tavern. This is by far the most famous restaurant, loved by many celebs. Who knows, you might spot an A-lister.

North Aegean Islands

This group of islands consists of Chios, Ikaria, Lesbos, Limnos, and Samos. Lesbos is probably the most famous, but if you are looking for nature and beautiful hikes; Samos and Ikaria are great for that. Conveniently, you can fly directly to Lesbos from the Netherlands, in case you dislike layovers. The culinary gems on Lesbos are Vafios Taverna, for authentic Greek dishes, Soulatso for the food AND the view, and Paratairon, where I fell in love with the setting. Stone walls, cobblestones, lots of greenery, and I love Greek food. And they serve it here very deliciously.

Chalkidiki

This is a peninsula in northern Greece. It consists of three parts: Kassandra, Sithonia, and Athos. I would personally recommend Kassandra the most, because it is very lively and has beautiful villages. It is also easy to reach from Thessaloniki airport (about two and a half hours drive). The selection of restaurants is also more than decent, which is important (vacation is mainly about food for me, I keep realizing). The Elephant Beachbar is the beach bar where you probably want to lounge every day. It is so nice there and it is quite secluded, so it is not overly crowded. Oh yes, it is also a recommendation if you ever get tired of all the Greek food (can that?): they also have burgers and fries.