Villages are often overlooked by sun seekers heading to the best Greek island beaches. But beyond the inky sea and black-sand coves, there are lovely spots to be found all over the isles – whitewashed hamlets that lead to hilltop churches with their classic blue domes, pastel harbours inspired by the Italians and crumbling neighbourhoods where life centres around lazy cafés and shaded squares. This is our pick of some of the most beautiful towns in Greece to seek out on your next visit.
ANO SYROS
Syros is one of the smaller, sleepier islands in the Cyclades, and Ano Syros lives up to this reputation: it’s much quieter than the towns thrumming with day trippers on nearby Santorini and Mykonos. It was built by the Venetians in the 13th century on a rocky hill, and the narrow cobblestone streets mean it can only be explored on foot.
APOLLONIA, SIFNOS
Life in the buzzing hilltop capital of foodie island Sifnos revolves around Steno, a lane that winds through the area. On rooftops and terraces across the cluster of villages, clever bars and interesting restaurants have sprung up, yet at the heart of the action is O Drakakis, an old-school café that’s been drawing locals since the 19th century.
KASTRO, SIFNOS
Car-free Kastro sits on a clifftop overlooking Sifnos. Most visitors come for the Church of the Seven Martyrs, which sits on a hill that protrudes over the Aegean, reached by a long, steep path. From here, you can see the nearby islands of Folegandros and Paros rising out of the sea. Back in the main village, there are the ruins of an old citadel and a walking route that stretches along the coast towards the village of Chrysopigi.
Peeling little Ermoupolis is the capital of the Cyclades. Just like Ano Syros, this town was partly constructed by Venetians, which means it has an Italianate feel: piazzas of marble, grand villas and more dusky-pink buildings jutting into the Aegean than those in classic white and blue.
Candy-coloured harbour town Yialos on the little island of Symi is made up of seafront hillside villas in fruit hues. The entire place is a national monument, with 500 steps that spread across the scrubby cliffs to nearby village Chorio.
This tiny fishing village is filled with syrmata, houses for fishermen that are carved into the rock face, their brightly coloured doors buffeted by the sea. The ground floors are used to store boats when the Aegean gets rocky, while the upper floors are lived in – some of them can even be rented out on Airbnb.
PLAKA, MILOS
The capital is made up of a maze-like cluster of polished cobbled alleys. Bougainvillaea climbs up the whitewashed stone walls of tavernas and cafés.
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Credit: Oliver Pilcher
AGNI BAY, CORFU
Once a sleepy cove on green Corfu’s north-east coast, Agni Bay is now a smart enclave dominated by a handful of authentic seafront joints such as Nikolas Taverna, which serves Greek coffee in the mornings and roasted mussels and rabbit stew in the evenings. The next village over is Kalami, where Gerald Durrell lived and wrote his books.
Credit: Jenny Zarins CHORA, AMORGOS
One of Greece’s harder-to-reach islands – there are no direct flights, and the high-speed ferry takes about six hours from Athens – Amorgos is a much slower alternative to the bigger-hitting Cyclades spots. Its main town, Chora, is just lively enough, with a clutch of friendly cafés for courgette croquettes and cocktails.
Credit: OLiver Pilcher KASTELLORIZO
Dinky Kastellorizo island is known by many as the last stop in Europe, just a few miles off the coast of Turkey. Above the harbour, winding steps cling to the cliffs. The only village – the eponymous Kastellorizo – is made up of a pastel swell of houses that rise from the sea.
Credit: Ana Lui OIA, SANTORINI
It’s the most classic of all the classic Greek towns. Santorini’s cliff-hugging Oia is the sweetest spot on the island. The white-washed buildings are scattered with blue dome churches, and secret lanes lead off the busy main thoroughfares to uninterrupted views of the sea. Evenings get busy with those seeking Santorini’s famous sunsets – visit early to get the town to yourself.
Credit: Ana Lui LITTLE VENICE, MYKONOS
Venetian buildings cling to the waterfront of party island Mkyonos’s main cobblestone town, Chora. Right on the shore, white-on-white shops and restaurants lean over the water, backed by classic Cycladic windmills.
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