London’s The Times listed their top 25 choices for lesser-known Greek islands, including plenty of “newcomers” and surprises. The writer Dana Facaros advises Brits to travel to these new alternative destinations offering crowd-free authentic experiences, but which have also become much easier to get to.

At the top of the list, we find Alonissos, the island that’s home to Greece’s first underwater museum and the largest natural marine park in Europe. The romantic island of Samos comes next, and then old-fashioned Kythira; Aegina for its slow pace; unique Ikaria; dramatic Meganisi; picturesque Spetses; Odysseus’ Ithaki; green Thasos; Ios for its positive vibes; the “Mamma Mia” island of Skopelos; mysterious Kea; pine-covered Lefkada; one of a kind Lesvos; Milos, and with its varied landscape.

They also list Tinos, for its gastronomic scene; the “butterfly of the Aegean,” Astypalea; Karpathos for watersports; harmonious Sifnos; magical Skyros; amazing Hydra; out of this world Paxos; Lord Byron’s dreamy island, Naxos; Halki, for its simplicity; and finally Kalymnos, for mountain climbing.

“Alonissos, with its authenticity and untouched beautiful nature, fascinates travelers with special interests, from all over the world. The launch of the first underwater museum and our new initiative for underwater weddings are placing Greece on the “map” for diving tourism,” said Mayor of Alonissos, Petros Vafinis.

It’s noteworthy that Alonissos was also chosen as the top destination in Greece for British travelers in a list published by the Guardian.

See the article in The Times here.

This article was previously published in Greek at kathimerini.gr.