Enjoy A Crowd-Free Beach Vacation At This Stunning Greek Island
By Jenna Busch
VACATIONS
To see some of the wonders of Greece without the crowds, visit the island of Astypalaia. It looks like two islands attached by a land bridge and is stunningly beautiful.
The ferry to the island takes around nine hours, but it's worth it. It's the perfect trip year-round, with highs in the low 60s in the winter and the low 80s in the summer.
There are 13 gorgeous beaches on Astypalaia with clear turquoise water. Pera Gialos beach is a great spot to try out your snorkeling skills and eat at a cafe or taverna.
You can do some great walks on Agios Konstantinos, but note that you may find nude bathers on the nearby Tzanaki Beach. Steno Beach has shallow water perfect for kids to splash in.
In Chora, you can see the Portaitissa Orthodox Church from the 18th century and the Panagia Evangelistria from 1853. Learn their history at the ecclesiastical museum next door.
Don't forget to visit the lovely white windmills, Drakos Cave (full of colorful stalactites and stalagmites), and the Talara Baths, built between the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE.