5 Peaceful Greek Islands to Escape the Crowds in 2025

In a world overwhelmed by constant notifications and curated feeds, a new kind of travel is emerging—one where silence is golden, Wi-Fi is optional, and time flows with the tide. This is the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), and there’s no better place to embrace it than on Greece’s quieter islands. Travel no longer means escaping reality; it means returning—to presence, to simplicity, to peace. In the hidden coves and timeworn villages of these lesser-known isles, you’ll find that missing out isn’t a loss—it’s an invitation to finally pay attention to what truly matters.

Why JOMO Is the Travel Trend We Need in 2025

Whereas the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) once defined travel—bucket lists, crowded landmarks, and packed itineraries—2025 is the year we turn inward. JOMO invites us to slow down, disconnect, and rediscover the beauty of being, not just doing.

Greece, famed for its sun-soaked ruins and photogenic sunsets, has another side. Beyond the buzz of Santorini and Mykonos lie whisper-quiet islands where goats outnumber tourists, tavernas serve up yesterday’s catch, and time seems to pause with each wave. Discover below our top five Greek islands perfect for JOMO!

Folegandros – The Cliffside Sanctuary

Perched above the Aegean like a sentinel of serenity, Folegandros is where time slows to the rhythm of the sea. With its whitewashed alleyways, windmills that haven’t moved in decades and dramatic cliffside Chora, one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades, it feels like a dream suspended above the Aegean. There are no mega-resorts or cruise crowds here—just barefoot strolls, leisurely dinners, and views that stretch the soul.

Days here are best spent walking barefoot to hidden beaches like Katergo, savouring sun-drenched tomatoes with mizithra cheese, or chatting with the locals over a glass of rakomelo. There’s nothing loud, nothing rushed—just sky, sea, and space to breathe.

JOMO moment: A slow sunset hike up to the Church of Panagia, where the view—and the silence—make everything else fade away.

Sifnos – For the Soulful Foodie

If there’s a Greek island that feeds the soul as richly as it feeds the body, it’s Sifnos. Birthplace of the legendary chef Nikolaos Tselementes, it’s a haven of culinary heritage and quiet charm. Here, every village has a traditional oven, every recipe a story. Yet the atmosphere is gentle—no nightlife chaos, no mega-resorts.

Wander the cobbled lanes of Artemonas, join a pottery workshop in Vathi, or walk one of the island’s old footpaths (known as kalderimia) that link villages and chapels through thyme-scented hills.

JOMO moment: Morning coffee in Apollonia’s silent square, watching the world wake up slowly.

Syros – The Quiet Capital with Neoclassical Grace

Often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours, Syros is the elegant heart of the Cyclades. Its capital, Ermoupoli, was once Greece’s most important port—and the legacy lives on in its pastel mansions, marble squares, and opera house modelled after La Scala.

But what makes Syros a JOMO jewel is its authenticity. Think marble piazzas, neoclassical mansions, and live jazz drifting from tucked-away cafés. Locals live here year-round. Taverns serve family recipes. Tourists don’t dominate—they blend in. Take a dip at Kini beach, visit Orthodox and Catholic churches side by side, or sip coffee in a harbour café watching ferries come and go without feeling the need to chase them.

JOMO moment: Strolling through Ano Syros in the blue hour, with mandolin music echoing off the stone, and the scent of loukoumia in the air.

Pserimos – Population: Tiny, Peace: Infinite

Nestled between Kos and Kalymnos, Pserimos is so small and untouched it feels like a forgotten postcard from the past. There are no cars, no roads, and barely enough Wi-Fi to refresh your inbox—and that’s the point. You’ll arrive by boat, step onto the sand, and feel something shift inside you almost instantly.

The main beach is calm and clear, flanked by a few tavernas and simple guesthouses where fishermen hang their nets outside like laundry. Life here is reduced to essentials: sun, sea, good food, and genuine hospitality.

JOMO moment: Rocking gently in a hammock under a tamarisk tree, with the scent of grilled octopus drifting through the breeze and not a single notification in sight.

Crete – Wild Corners and Deep Soul

Though Crete is Greece’s largest island, its most meaningful experiences lie beyond the package holidays. The Chania region, in particular, is a haven for those seeking both beauty and stillness. With its Venetian harbour, stone-built mountain villages, and secret beaches, be sure to wander through Chania Old Town in the early morning when shutters creak open and bougainvillaea spills from balconies.

Head south or inland, and you’ll find traditional stone villages like Theriso, Milia, or Azogyres, where café conversations stretch for hours and goats wander the roads like locals. Even the beaches tell a different story here—secluded coves like Loutro, Stavros, or Krios invite long, unhurried swims, far from the beach bar buzz.

JOMO moment: Sharing raki and chargrilled squid beneath a starlit sky in a rustic taverna, beneath a fig tree, with the quiet understanding that nothing needs to happen today—and that’s just fine.