Greece’s island of Lipsi has been declared as the second most exotic and authentic destination in the world according to the influential Far Away Travel Blog.
The list compiled by the outlet’s editorial team includes all the new travel trends worldwide for 2025.
Fulhadhoo Island, on the Maldives tops the list, followed by Lipsi, a small, picturesque island in the southern Aegean Sea, which is part of the Dodecanese Islands.
“It is a relatively unknown destination and offers you a quiet, authentic Greek atmosphere away from mass tourism,” says Far Away Travel Blog.
The main town, also called Lipsi, is a charming, traditional village with whitewashed houses and narrow, cobbled streets. The port is small and typically lovely Greek, with a number of tavernas, cafes and small shops lining the waterfront area. Lipsi town is incredibly picturesque.
Lipsi is known for its idyllic beaches with crystal-clear waters, which are mostly quiet and uncrowded. For me, the most beautiful beach is Platis Gialos . This is a fine sandy beach with clear turquoise waters, ideal for swimming.
One of the most important religious sites on the island is the Panagia tou Harou Church . It dates back to the 7th century and houses an unusual icon of the Virgin Mary, depicting her with a cross instead of the usual baby Jesus.
The cliffs of Monodendri are also an absolute highlight of the island: this is a rocky cliff landscape with a breathtaking view of the sea. In the middle of the cliffs stands a lonely, very old juniper tree that has so far defied all the adversities of the town. There is something surreal about looking at it.
“Lipsi offers you a picturesque, quiet atmosphere. It is a perfect destination for a relaxed, authentic Greek island experience, far from the hustle and bustle of more popular islands such as Mykonos or Santorini – without losing any of its beauty.
“The island radiates with Greek, charming charm and enchants with its naturalness. Lipsi is ideal for you to slow down. It is a little pearl, an undiscovered picture-book island,” says Far Away Travel Blog.
Lipsi: Greece’s “secret island”
The French newspaper Le Figaro has recently spotlighted Lipsi, a constellation of 30 islets, in its new list of Greece’s “secret” islands that stand out in 2024, dubbing them “beautiful strangers.”
Le Figaro describes Lipsi’s exotic islets, resembling confetti, as possessing an otherworldly beauty that deeply enchants visitors, highlighting the unexplored, picturesque “corners” of the Aegean ready to take center stage.
In 2023 Lipsi made headlines when the local authority banned the construction of swimming pools to save water and began a campaign for sustainable vacations.
“Our concept of holidays does not belong to the past but to the future, where the Mediterranean islands will be forced to follow our example to protect the environment and deal with the uncontrollable heat waves and water shortages,” said the mayor of Lipsi Fotis Mangos.
The call for an authentic and sustainable way of vacationing by saying “no” to the waste of natural resources is accompanied by a video that follows a young couple, Konstantinos and Dimitra, enjoying their holidays in Lipsi without pools and organized beaches full of sunbeds.
