Europe's least popular islands are real insider tips for your holiday

There are numerous rankings of popular and most-booked destinations worldwide. But what about those that rank lower in such rankings or aren't featured on Instagram and other social media platforms?

Car rental company Avis conducted a Europe-wide study based on Instagram hashtags and monthly search queries. The results revealed ten islands that, while not as popular, are all the more beautiful. We present them in more detail.

Although Lesbos is one of Greece's largest islands, it rarely appears in rankings of popular travel destinations. One reason is certainly that it was a hotspot of the refugee crisis for many years. But anyone who ventures to Lesbos today will experience an island in transition: hospitable, close to nature, and surprisingly diverse. Mass tourism? None. There are magnificent olive groves, ancient monasteries, and quaint villages like Molyvos with winding streets and a rich history.

Lesbos also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine: The famous ouzo originates here, and the taverns still cook the way grandmothers have done it for generations. If you enjoy nature, you shouldn't miss the Petrified Forest in the west of the island – a UNESCO Geopark with ancient tree fossils that seems otherworldly.

Picturesquely beautiful, but not very popular: the Greek island of Lesbos.

Source: imago images/Depositphotos

You've probably heard of Madeira , but what about Porto Santo? The island lies just 50 kilometers northeast of Madeira, but has little in common with its famous neighbor. Nature is much less lush here, the cliffs are less steep, and instead, you'll find little more than sand and rolling hills. Instead of beach clubs and hustle and bustle, you'll find nature here, time for a book by the water—or a walk to the basalt formations at Pico Ana Ferreira.

Madeira’s unknown neighbor: Porto Santo.

Source: imago images/imagebroker

The big star: the nine-kilometer-long, golden beach that stretches almost the entire length of the south coast. While Madeira primarily attracts hiking enthusiasts and plant lovers, Porto Santo is all about pure relaxation – sun, sand, and salt water. Even the sand itself is said to have healing properties, a fact that some wellness hotels specifically market.

Greece has many islands, so you'll likely encounter this popular holiday destination quite often in this ranking. However, not all of them are popular, and this could be your chance to find a quiet spot in Greece even in the summer. For example, on Symi.

Like a painting, pastel-colored houses nestle close together here, right in front of the glittering harbor basin on the coast. The island lies north of Rhodes, so it officially belongs to the Dodecanese, but feels completely different. No huge hotel buildings, no club complexes – instead, neoclassical architecture, narrow streets, and a tranquility rarely found on the more touristy neighboring islands.

Looking at this, it's hard to believe that Symi is one of the less popular islands.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

Many visit the island only as part of a day trip, missing the magical tranquility when the last excursion boat departs. Hikes into the island's interior lead to old chapels, abandoned monasteries, and unforgettable views. Nanou Beach, with its turquoise waters, is accessible by boat or path. Despite these qualities, Symi eke out an existence in the shadow of its big names.

We'll stay in Greece: You might be familiar with Skopelos, along with the catchy tune "Mamma Mia!", as the film about the Swedish band Abba was partially filmed on this island. The island is green, hilly, and densely forested – considerably quieter than its neighbor Skiathos. It boasts pine forests, deep bays, and traditional mountain villages where goats make more noise than scooters. Ideal for anyone who wants to experience Greece in its more authentic form.

Skopelos is the less popular neighbor of the island of Skiathos.

Source: imago images/Cavan Images

Despite its cinematic fame, Skopelos has never become a hotspot. Perhaps this is due to the somewhat complicated journey – there's no airport, and the island is accessible only by ferry. The beaches are often pebbly, the streets narrow, and the nightlife low-key. Instead, there are hiking trails with ocean views, homemade plum brandy (tsipouro), and tavernas that cook up what was bought at the market that morning.

It's strange that Croatia's largest island appears in this ranking, isn't it? After all, hardly anyone seems to know it. While Hvar, Brač, and Korčula regularly appear on Instagram and in travel magazines, Cres remains surprisingly unnoticed. Perhaps this is due to its barren, wild beauty: rocky plateaus, dense forests, deserted villages, and almost no nightlife.

You can find paradise-like conditions on the Croatian island of Cres.

Source: imago images/Zoonar

But it's home to one of the last colonies of griffon vultures in Europe, centuries-old olive groves, and the almost mystical freshwater springs of Lake Vrana – a natural phenomenon that supplies the entire island with drinking water. If you're looking for a quiet holiday in Croatia, Cres is the place for you. For example, the town of Lubenice, spectacularly perched on a cliff, or secluded bays like Sveti Ivan, accessible only on foot or by boat.

Andros could be described as the Cyclades' underdog. There are no dazzling white houses like on Santorini, nor long party nights like on Mykonos. Instead: lush green valleys, cool springs, marble lion statues, and a stunningly elegant capital town, whose neoclassical villas resemble an open-air museum more than a holiday destination.

The view from above of the Greek island of Andros.

Source: imago images/Pond5 Images

And yet, few travelers find their way here. Perhaps because, although the ferry from Athens only takes two hours, many are stuck on the "standard" Cyclades when Googling. Yet Andros is ideal for explorers: There are over 100 kilometers of well-marked hiking trails, hidden beaches with emerald-green waters, and villages where time moves a little slower.

Karpathos is a bit caught between two stools: geographically between Rhodes and Crete , atmospherically between tradition and freedom. The island is known for its strong Meltemi breeze, which draws surfing enthusiasts to the coast, while inland villages like Olympos seem as if they've stepped out of time. There, women still speak the old Doric dialect, bake bread in communal ovens, and wear traditional costumes not for photos, but out of habit.

The Greek island of Karpathos is also one of the less popular islands in Europe.

Source: imago images/imagebroker

In terms of tourism, the island is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors. Getting there is somewhat complicated, and the development of tourist infrastructure is cautious. Karpathos is not a place for an all-inclusive vacation. Instead, you'll experience rocky coastal hikes, discover picturesque bays like Apella, and dine in tavernas where, at some point, you no longer pay, but are invited in.

When you hear the name Brač, many immediately think of Zlatni Rat, the Golden Horn – that crescent-shaped peninsula that appears on every Croatia poster. And yes, it is spectacular. But Brač has much more to offer than just the country's most famous beach.

Croatia's third largest island is full of contrasts: windy mountain peaks above (Vidova Gora is the highest point of all the Adriatic islands), quiet bays below, and quaint villages in between.

Brač in Croatia is unpopular and could therefore be a real insider tip.

Source: imago images/Zoonar

Brač's famous white limestone not only adorns Diocletian's Palace in Split, but is even said to be used in the White House in Washington. Despite these qualities, Brač often remains in the background – perhaps because it is less glamorous than Hvar, less noisy than Pag, and less trendy than Vis. And that's precisely what makes it so appealing. Those who venture away from the hustle and bustle of Zlatni Rat will find quiet fishing villages like Postira, hidden chapels in the hinterland, and olive oil, which is almost sacred here.

Even Italy has unpopular islands, it's hard to believe. La Maddalena is just a short ferry ride from Sardinia , yet it feels like a little world of its own. The main island of the archipelago of the same name is rugged, rocky, and surrounded by the sea. Instead of beach clubs, there are secluded coves, granite cliffs, and a handful of villages where life simply moves at a slower pace.

There are also unpopular islands in Italy, one of them is La Maddalena.

Source: imago images/Frank Bienewald

Despite its proximity to the touristy Costa Smeralda, the island remains comparatively quiet. Most vacationers stay on the Sardinian mainland or, at most, make a day trip there. Those who stay, however, discover much: the abandoned military fortifications of Caprera, Garibaldi's Villa, crystal-clear bays like Cala Coticcio – also called "Tahiti" – and hiking trails through fragrant maquis.

Thassos is closer to Bulgaria than to Athens—and perhaps that's why it's still unknown to many travelers. Yet the island was already famous in ancient times, especially for its dazzling white marble. The island is lushly forested, full of pine trees, chestnut trees, and waterfalls, as well as beaches that range from Caribbean-like to rugged and remote. Tourism is definitely a factor here, but you'll often end up staying in family-run accommodations and guesthouses.

If you have a lot of islands, you also have a few unpopular ones: like Greece with the island of Thassos.

Source: imago images/robertharding

Despite its beauty, Thassos is often overlooked – partly because it's not directly accessible by plane. You have to fly to the mainland, then continue by bus and ferry. If that's not too much hassle for you, you'll be rewarded with a truly Greek holiday without the party crowds, but with hospitality and authenticity.

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