Secret Greece: 10 hidden surprises from Wanderlust writers

We asked our favourite travel writers for their top hidden secrets on Greece. This is what they told us...

5 mins

1. Secret Prespes National Park

The surface of the lakes at Prespes are like mirrors (Shutterstock/Arnaoutis Christos)

The surface of the lakes at Prespes are like mirrors (Shutterstock/Arnaoutis Christos)

Way up in the mountains of northwest Greece, don’t miss Prespes National Park. The two Prespes lakes are home to a massive colony of Dalmatian pelicans. The lakes are fascinating, remote and filled with an uncanny stillness.

Dana Facaros, freelance journalist 

2. Secret Naxos

On Naxos, one of the lesser-visited Greek islands, head to the sandy Alyko beach. There you’ll find an abandoned hotel which has been transformed into an open-air street art gallery.

Ellie Swain, freelance writer

3. Secret Paxos

Avlaki Beach on the island of Paxos is one of my favourite places in the world. An incredible lagoon-like crescent reached down steep steps, it’s perfect for snorkelling and never too busy because it’s a bit of a trek to reach it.

Sian Lewis, travel and outdoors writer, editor and blogger

4. Secret Paros

Discover fresh produce such as figs (Shutterstock/Papanikolakis Photography)

Discover fresh produce such as figs (Shutterstock/Papanikolakis Photography)

Our Greek Travel secret is Petra Farm, located on Paros Island. Set up by Alkis, a hip, late 20-something with a passion for modern agriculture and the environment, Petra Farm provides exceptional tasting experiences overlooking the picturesque Naoussa Bay. The organic farm tour is informative, and the produce, dare we say it, is the best we've had in Greece. It's a perfect off-the-beaten-track experience on Paros.

Mark and Mim, founders of thecommonwanderer.com

5. Secret Corfu

The lesser-known Agni Bay (Shutterstock)

The lesser-known Agni Bay (Shutterstock)

The northeast coastline of Corfu is an uncrowded paradise, with Agni Bay being a particular highlight. Here you’ll find a small handful of eateries serving authentic Greek cuisine. By the end of your meal you’ll be dancing around the pebble beach arm-in-arm with the locals, and even smashing some plates.

Jess Reid, digital editor at Wanderlust

6. Secret bear sanctuary

Combine a visit to the bear sanctuary with a trip to nearby Nymfaio (Shutterstock/Georgios Tsichlis)

Combine a visit to the bear sanctuary with a trip to nearby Nymfaio (Shutterstock/Georgios Tsichlis)

Most people think beaches, not bears, when it comes to Greece, but head to the country's wild, lesser-tramped northern mountains and you get a big surprise. And you're guaranteed to see the animals at Arcturos, a non-profit organisation working to protect local wildlife as well as provide a sanctuary for rescued ex-dancing bears. It also happens to be located just outside Nymfaio, one of Greece’s prettiest villages.

Sarah Baxter, freelance travel writer

7. Secret Folegandros

Folengandros is like Santorini but without the crowds (Shutterstock/Irene Troizi)

Folengandros is like Santorini but without the crowds (Shutterstock/Irene Troizi)

Most tourists make a beeline for the island of Santorini, adored for its whitewashed hillside towns and sunset views. But if you want to avoid the crowds, head to the little-known island of Folegandros instead. Just a stone’s throw from Santorini, it’s a completely unspoiled, traditional Greek island with the same volcanic views and sugar-cube architecture as its more famous neighbour, but without the hordes of people.

Bella Falk, award-winning photographer, documentary director, travel photographer, writer and founder of Passport and Pixels

8. Secret Palaikastro

The traditional fishing village of Mochlos (Shutterstock/ Georgios Tsichlis)

The traditional fishing village of Mochlos (Shutterstock/ Georgios Tsichlis)

Instead of heading west when you leave the airport of Crete's capital, Heraklion, head east to discover lost-in-the-past villages (Mochlos; Elounda) and hidden coves near Palaikastro, along with a plethora of wild hiking trails and tavernas serving delicious local delicacies in the newly created Sitia Geopark

Heidi Fuller-Love, travel writer, photographer and audio producer 

9.Secret Amorgos Island

Hozoviotissa monastery (Shutterstock/Constantinos Iliopoulos)

Hozoviotissa monastery (Shutterstock/Constantinos Iliopoulos)

Timeless and craggy, I loved hiking the ‘Blue Paths’ of Amorgos Island, so named because of the perpetually inky vistas of the Aegean Sea. One stony trail led me to the cliffside Hozoviotissa monastery where I drank homemade raki with monks and enjoyed cooling down within their whitewashed walls.

Mark Stratton, freelance travel writer 

10. Secret Odontotos

The Odontotos railway walk (Shutterstock/Andronos Haris)

The Odontotos railway walk (Shutterstock/Andronos Haris)

On the far north coast of the Peloponnese, between the coastal beach village of Diakofto and the mountain town of Kalavryta, runs a rack railway known as Odontotos. Completed in 1896, it's a feat of engineering to rival any in Europe, with tunnels burrowing a dramatic path through the red rock of the Vouraikos Gorge as water hurtles below. The vintage train ride is a draw in itself, but few realise that you can also hike along its tracks. The entire route is around 22km, taking roughly six hours to walk; the train also stops halfway at the pretty village of Zachlorou, so can always do a shortened version. Drivers know to look for hikers on the rails (though take care), and the bridge crossings require a head for heights, but the setting is worth the sweat and it's a great way to combine a visit to the Mega Spileo monastery – an hour's walk from Zachlorou – which is one of the oldest in Greece. Do be sure to wear hard-soled hiking boots, and my (rather obvious) advice is to take the train up and walk back down – it’s much easier on the thighs.

Gareth Clark, guidebook writer for Essential Greece (Fodor’s)

What secrets will you uncover in Greece? 

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