Travel Guide
Move Over Santorini! National Geographic Reveals The Top 3 Greek Islands To Visit In 2025
Mar
As you may have heard, things have been a bit shaky in Santorini between earthquake warnings, and if the bucket-list island is anything like last summer, then overtourism concerns will surely repeat themselves.
On the bright side, Greece is home to 6,000 islands and many offer unparalleled views, whitewashed buildings draped with the kako mati, and incredibly pristine beaches to make the long journey worthwhile.
National Geographic just revealed an in-depth guide to 31 Greek islands to check out this year and Santorini didn’t crack the top 15.
2025 is the year to tap into your sense of wanderlust and explore the unknown, including these 3 Greek islands Nat Geo hyped up as the best.
3) Kos
Boasting a mix of history and tranquil beaches, Kos is on the opposite end of the spectrum of party-fueled Mykonos and more aligned with islands Naxos and Paros with virtually no crowds.
Nat Geo has dubbed Kos the ‘bicycle island’, and rightfully so.
There are over 6,000 bikes for hire to wander designated trails, including a new 8-mile path along the coast.
No rap battles, though. And there’s waaaay better food than Mom’s spaghetti with Greek classics like gyros that never disappoint, along with mousaka, souvlaki, and a focus on fresh seafood like octopus and calamari, living up to the common phrase that ‘everything is betta with feta’.
Especially, when you can dine on a patio overlooking the vibrant blue sea at such places as Olivity, just tucked away enough to feel authentic.
One of the top sites to reach on two wheels is the ancient site of Asclepieion, only $4.50 to enter.
While it’s certainly not the Acropolis, it offers a glimpse into the past of famed native Hippocrates, the ‘Founder of Medicine’ and healing/medicinal practices lifetimes ago.
The waterfront of Kos (the main town with the same name) is vibrant, walkable, and a delight to make your base in old-timey inns, or you can level up at the island’s most unique stay — 5-star all-inclusive Mitsis Selection Blue Domes, with accommodations ranging from bungalows to villas.
And the pool is to die for. It seems like it never ends as if it flows straight into the sea.
2) Kalymnos
Formerly a sponge-diving hotspot, all that changed when Spongebob captured our hearts.
Okay, thats second part is a lie…
What’s really transformed the island of Kalymnos from a former diver haven in the 90s’ to now what’s attracted a new type of adventure: rock climbing.
You can’t miss Kalymnos staggering limestone cliffs, but even if you’re not into chalking up your hands and praying to all the Greek gods the ropes weren’t bought on Temu, the island is still an idyllic paradise offering beautiful beaches, vibrant villages, and overall, a refreshingly authentic Greek island experience.
Travelers rave about Platis Yialos Beach on TripAdvisor, but Vlychadia Beach is off-the-beaten path with crystal-clear waters on what feels like a secluded cove.
For the best views, travelers also rave about the unmissable Saint Savvas monastery perched on the hillside and are free to enter.
Hotels are super cheap if you’re willing to downsize to a cozy boutique hotel. Kantouni Blue Sea holds an impressive 4.9 Google rating, and rates are around $50 through spring.
1) Nisyros
Ever heard of Nisyros? It’s probably a good thing that most of us haven’t as the island’s claim to fame is an active volcano, but is open to the public to visit.
It erupted in the 1800s, but its wild history goes way deeper. The volcano’s origins certainly put the “myth” in “mythology.”
As Nat Geo put it, it was ‘Poseidon who seized a chunk of Kos and hurled it on top of a fiery Titan called Polyvotis’, resulting in the creation of Nisyros.
Fact check, anyone?
You’ll want to scroll back up to #3, as Kos is the best gateway here. Even if you’re not into volcanic hikes, the pint-sized capital Mandraki is a delight to visit.
In fact, one could argue it’s one of the most picturesque towns in all of Greece’s islands. Lined with multi-colored homes, Byzantine churches, and sun-drenched waterfront tavernas, this is the type of laid-back Mediterranean paradise we’ve all dreamt of visiting.
Nat Geo also hypes up the tiny village of village of Emporios, but it packs a punch with ruins of castles, a natural cave sauna, and arguably the best views of the volcano.
If you stay in Mandraki, guests have loved boutique hotel Romantzo, only $51 per night this spring and offers spacious sea-view balconies.
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