My Island Hopping Experiment
Okay, so last month I decided to actually test all those “most beautiful Greek islands” lists myself. You know, the ones plastered everywhere online? Yeah, felt like a mission. Grabbed my backpack, booked a ferry pass, and just went for it. No fancy tours, just me figuring it out.
Started in Santorini because duh, everyone does. Crowded like crazy near Oia at sunset – felt like being packed in a sardine tin with really expensive cameras. Walked AWAY from the famous view spot towards Imerovigli early one morning. Found a tiny path behind a church. Sat there with cheap bread and feta cheese as the sun came up. Honestly? Way better. Quiet, raw. Tour buses vanish before dawn.
Ferry hopped to Milos next. That Sarakiniko beach? Wild! Not sandy, not rocky – like clambering over giant elephant bones made of smooth, white volcanic rock. Spent hours just exploring weird coves shaped by wind. Pro tip: Rent a stupid little ATV. Got lost twice finding Klima village. Those colorful boat garages? Actually cooler in person than photos show. Ate grilled octopus right by the water while stray cats judged me.
Okay, Folegandros was the surprise punch. Tiny. Mountains straight up from the sea. Hiked from Chora town down to Agali beach. Sweat buckets. Steep as hell. Plunged into that clear water like a man rescued. Felt like I discovered it myself because honestly? Hardly saw anyone else on that trail. Chora at night felt unreal – like walking through glowing sugar cubes. Tiny squares hidden everywhere.
Thought Paros would be basic. Wrong. Went inland. Villages like Lefkes felt frozen. Old ladies watched me from doorways while stringing beans. Found a Byzantine path marked by crumbling stones. Followed it blindly through olive groves. Ended up at a deserted monastery overlooking the sea. Silence so loud it hummed.
Last stop, Crete. Biggest island, right? Ignored the resorts. Drove a rental car (scratched it, oops) into the White Mountains. Stayed in some guy’s stone house in Loutro – cars can’t even get there! Just boats and donkeys. Woke to goats ringing bells outside my window. Hiked the Samaria Gorge – 16km of rocks and river crossings. Felt every muscle scream. Worth it? Absolutely. That feeling walking out into Agia Roumeli? Pure victory.
What Actually Made Them Stunning?
- Forget sunset crowds. Be there stupid early or find a weird side path.
- Rent transport. Got lost constantly. That’s the point.
- Walk away from the main square. Seriously. Two streets back? Magic.
- Eat cheap. Bougatsa pastry for breakfast > overpriced hotel buffet.
- Those “hidden gems”? Usually just requires a decent hike or ignoring a “tourist trail” sign.
Truth bomb? The “most beautiful” part hit different moments:
Quiet morning light hitting Santorini cliffs alone.
Stumbling onto an empty cove in Milos.
Sweating buckets on a Folegandros trail then plunging into the sea.
Finding ancient stones in Paros leading nowhere… and everywhere.
That ache after conquering Samaria Gorge.
The real stunning gems weren’t just places. It was the grind to find quiet moments inside the famous spots. Go figure.
