Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   small Greek towns and islands (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/small-greek-towns-and-islands-1730786/)

shelemm May 4th, 2025 08:45 AM

I haven't been to any of the Greek Islands, but zebec has waxed eloquent about Folegandros. That's the name of the island. If you care to read more, here is a trip report:

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...inale-1704081/

jonrossjan May 4th, 2025 02:46 PM


Originally Posted by Laureenje (Post 17652048)
I cannot be any more specific than what I have said. So do your best or don't worry about it. I have never been to Greece and my travel needs are simple. I just like to learn about how other people live their lives. I want to sit in a cafe, drink coffee and walk up and down the streets and maybe visit a church or government building...or not. That's it! So if anyone has a favorite quaint small island tell me about it if you want. If this is too big of a question then don't reply.

so, you post a basic question, without any other details and then, you post rude responses when commenters don’t suggest places you like? I’ll play. Head to Faros on Sifnos. An island with a plethora of sand beaches, quaint friendly villages and great places to hang out. Or try Folegandros, which is even smaller but has very quaint villages, virtually untouched by mass tourism. Hurry though or you’ll miss the quaintness. We also experienced quaintness on the mainland in Athens itself.

milosmitrovic3921 May 4th, 2025 07:54 PM

I live in Greece and frequently travel around the country. This is a list of my favorite small towns in Greece. Most of them are on islands.

Moderator1 May 4th, 2025 10:20 PM

Your two threads have been merged and the title slightly modified

neckervd May 5th, 2025 05:29 AM

Lindos, Syros, Tinos, Sifnos, Poros, Folegandros and Skopelos are of course all popular with European tourists, but by far not overcrowded like Santorini, Myconos, Parikia, Naxos town and not open air discoes like Ios town.
Ermoupoli can get very noisy, however.
May be you would like Apollonia (Sifnos), Sikinos Chora, Anafi Chora, Kythira Chora, Amorgos Chora, Skala (Patmos), Inousses, Psara, Mesta (Chios), Pyio (Chios), Astypalea, Samothraki Chora, Skyros Chora, Panormos (Tinos), Symi, Olympos (Karpathos)........

Laureenje May 5th, 2025 06:50 AM

Thank you so much for your recommendation. I'll check it out.


Laureenje May 5th, 2025 07:01 AM

I apologize if my post seems rude. I'm 87 years old and travel alone and just want to see the world and the cultures within it. I know what I want and need and thought what I was asking was okay. Sorry again if I'm rude. I'm terrible embarrassed. I did get some help from someone who was very good at giving me some personal experiences. There are 6 places I'm going to check out.

travelerjan May 5th, 2025 07:29 AM

We always respond best when people do a bit of research themselves -- guide books are available free at any lilbrary. I wasnt able to visit Greece until after retirement, but spent a good bit of time compariing various guidebooks, photocopying pages of interest, looking at maps etc. Of course the internet wasn't well-developed at that time to enable me to short-cut this process. However, it gave me more in-depth understanding, and I made informed choices.

Laureenje May 5th, 2025 07:38 AM

thank you!

Laureenje May 5th, 2025 07:44 AM

I have traveled all over the world for one whole year and wrote a book about the experience. I do check travel books, as well. Good Advice!!!!
This is why I asked for recommendations: I was once asked what to see in California. So I gave them some places I really liked in Southern California, Central California, and Northern California. I gave personal recommendations for that is what they wanted. This is what I tried to do, but guess I came across as rude.


kja May 5th, 2025 07:51 AM

FWIW, I did not find your question rude.
Good luck!

Laureenje May 5th, 2025 08:11 AM

Thank you everyone! I have some ideas now.

MmePerdu May 5th, 2025 08:35 AM


Originally Posted by Laureenje (Post 17652296)
I have traveled all over the world for one whole year and wrote a book about the experience.

I realize you may not want to reveal your name but I, for one, would be interested in your book.


Localwhispers May 6th, 2025 02:20 PM

Lots of options just depends if you still want the balance of summer and/or holiday vibes - can you speak Greek?

For your request I’d say somewhere in the Peleponesse will suit you most.

consider Agios Nikolaos, Gytheio, Kalamata - you’ll still find holiday folk here but it’s just local Greeks.

If you want an island vibe highly recommend Syros - it’s very Greek.

Alternatively something like Aegina is an island close to Athens and very Greek.




Laureenje May 8th, 2025 05:30 AM

Thank you

Laureenje May 8th, 2025 05:33 AM

Thank you!

TravellerSince1970 May 13th, 2025 04:57 AM

Fly into Athens, stay at the Royal Olympic, rent a vehicle from Kosmos (right around the corner), and travel to the city of Poros on Cephalonia. You could also travel to Argostoli (the capital), or Lixouri (a ferry-ride across the bay from Argostoli), where you will find Terra Mare (a 125-bed resort, with Olympic-size pool, set in idyllic surroundings) close by to everything you'd like to visit (i.e. - sea turtles, riding horses, grottos, uncrowded beaches, great food, etc.).

michael_cain_77398 May 14th, 2025 12:03 AM

I have a soft spot for Galaxidi on the Peloponnesus. It’s gorgeous, so you can do nothing and watch the world go by, or just watch the colors change over the water and mountains. There are a handful of historical sites. You could hire a driver for a day trip to Delphi, or overnight to Olympus (the Olympic site, not the mountain). People were nice. By my third night the guys at the taverna were bringing out tsipouro that their grandfathers had made for me to try. It has enough tourist traffic to keep the economy moving, but it’s not tourist dominated. I mostly only saw them at the beach clubs along one shore, and they were easy to avoid. There are some swimming beaches, but when I was there it was too cold for that.

Laureenje May 15th, 2025 09:57 PM

Thank you

Laureenje May 22nd, 2025 09:16 AM

Thank you. I'll check it out.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:23 PM.