4 Secret Mediterranean Islands For Smaller Crowds & Cheaper Prices In 2025
6 min readBlood-orange sunsets with vibrant colors so surreal they look like impressionist paintings, vespa rides along a scenic coast hugged by turquoise seas, picturesque fishing villages that look as if they haven't changed one bit in centuries… Sounds like heaven to you? Spring is finally here, and the Ancient Sea is calling: If you've been dreaming …
The post 4 Secret Mediterranean Islands For Smaller Crowds & Cheaper Prices In 2025 appeared first on Travel Off Path.
Blood-orange sunsets with vibrant colors so surreal they look like impressionist paintings, vespa rides along a scenic coast hugged by turquoise seas, picturesque fishing villages that look as if they haven’t changed one bit in centuries…
Sounds like heaven to you?
Spring is finally here, and the Ancient Sea is calling:
If you’ve been dreaming of an idyllic Mediterranean getaway, but you hate the crowds, and you don’t exactly have thousands of dollars set aside for splurging on a Santorini cave villa, hear us out.
There are 5 beautiful (and lesser-known) Med islands that are still flying under the radar for most, and where you won’t break the bank—ready to partake in some of that dolce vita?
Lipari, Italy
A small island off the coast of Sicily most tourists fail to acknowledge even exists, Lipari comprises a rugged landmass traversed with volcanic peaks, and fringed by the vast Mediterranean.
It has a long history dating back to the Roman period, and though not that many historical artifacts remain, with the exception of the permanent collection housed at the local Archaeological Museum, it simply exudes Old World charm.
The small, eponymous capital Lipari is a charming harbor town filled with colorful houses, while the second largest settlement Canneto has the long stretch of beach and the modern promenade lined with gelato shops and family-owned eateries.
Most importantly, Lipari’s population sits at under 13,000, and the only way you can get there is taking a ferry from Sicily—needless to say, it feels a lot more laid-back, and less busy than other Italian destinations.
As for prices, a one-night stay at the 3-star Hotel Trione will cost $132 for 2 adults, and meals in local trattorie average $25 for a bite-sized starter, some pasta and local red wine.
Gozo, Malta
We’re keeping with the theme of tiny, overlooked Mediterranean treasures, and the next island in our list is Gozo, Malta’s smaller sister.
At only 9 miles long and 4 miles wide, you wouldn’t think there’s much on offer to even contemplate spending a weekend here, but as you’ll soon find out, you could stay an entire week in Gozo and never run out of wonders to see.
Its 39,287-people-strong population is distributed around 14 historical municipalities, the most famous of which is Victoria (or Rabat, as it is known in Maltese), a medieval citadel completely surrounded by walls, and where houses are built from a distinctive ocher-colored stone.
Gozo is primarily a beach destination, however, and if you’re here for the crystalline seas, Ramla Bay should be on your itinerary.
For the freshly-caught fish, lamb stew, and other Maltese delicacies, check out the sleepy village of Xagħra, home to a monumental Baroque church and the storied Ta’ Frenc restaurant.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive stay in Victoria, Maria Rosa Suites has double rooms starting at $133 for 2 adults, and when it comes to food, a main dish in an Old Town restaurant averages $16.32.
Kefalonia, Greece
Forget the cliche sunny getaways of Mykonos and Santorini: if your heart is set on a Greek escapade, yet you’d rather it be authentic, and not priced based off of the purchasing power of wealthy cruise visitors, head to Kefalonia instead.
Off the west coast of Greece, it finds itself in the Ionian part of the Med, as opposed to the Aegean, and it’s best described by its dramatic coastline, interspersed with limestone cliffs and white-sand beaches, and unspoiled culture.
The bustling capital Argostoli encroaches on a narrow harbor, and it has a plethora of locally-run taverns and ouzo bars, including Tzivras, in business since 1933, and hugely-popular for their veal stifado.
Over in Fiskardo, you’ll see well-preserved Venetian-era architecture (in other words, this is where you go for the postcard pastel-hue waterfront houses), and as far as beaching goes, no visit to Kefalonia is complete without a day of idleness lounging by Myrtos Beach.
That’s only the most famous one: there are several lesser-explored swimming spots, often accessible only on foot, that provide some of that much-needed exclusivity you can’t seem to find anywhere in Greece these days.
This isn’t a big island, after all, with only 36,000-or-so residents, and just over 4 times smaller than Rhode Island.
It sure helps it’s not on the average American’s Greece bucket list, either, as overnights at the Belle View Hotel, nestled in the lush hills and overlooking the sea, should set you back by $104 as a couple.
If you’re traveling on a shoestring budget, there are gyros for as cheap as $5 in downtown Argostoli, and you don’t even need to go that cheap to indulge in the delectable island cuisine: a proper meal in an inexpensive tavern ranges from $14-16.
Bozcaada, Turkey
A Turkish-administered island in the North Aegean, Bozcaada was in fact ethnically-Greek until the 20th-century, when it carried the name Tenedos, and though a lot has changed ever since, it’s retained much of its original Hellenic charm.
Granted, it is indisputably Turkish, what with the resounding call to prayer expected like clockwork and the now-predominantly Turkish populace.
Still, walking the cobble-paved, bougainvillea-framed streets of Bozcaada Town, and the island’s prominent role in Greek mythology, most notably in the works of Homer, tell a far more complex story.
Politics aside, Bozcaada (or Tenedos) is great for wine tourism: for instance, it is home to a well-reputed Corvus Winery, in case you’re looking for regional grape varieties you won’t find easily elsewhere.
Beaches do not disappoint, either, in particular Ayazma, a wide strip of soft, pale-gray sand straddling an azure Mediterranean—oh, and should you feel peckish, the nearby Vahit’in Yeri restaurant serves a big selection of daily catches and meze at affordable prices.
Speaking of which, expect to pay anywhere from $7-20 on a meal-and-drink combo (it all depends on season, as well as the volatile Turkish economy).
As for accommodation, the privately-managed Ersin Konak guesthouse costs $108 to book as a couple per night, or roughly $54 each, and you even get one of those generous Turkish breakfast spreads included!
Out of the 4 islands listed there, Bozcaada is probably the more offbeat: I mean, it’s tiny, with just over 3,000 inhabitants, in most cases, you can only get there traveling from mainland Turkey, and it feels truly untouched by mass tourism.
Better get there fast, before the secret gets out.
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