I went to a quieter Greek island instead of Mykonos and Santorini. I got beautiful beaches without fighting the crowds.

I think Syros is a must-see Greek island with hardly any crowds. Sarah O'Keefe I skipped Greece's tourist hot spots like Mykonos and Santorini for the quiet island of Syros. It had stunning beaches, incredible food, and charming streets — all without overwhelming crowds. Overall, I never felt like I was competing for space, and it was more affordable than other islands. I've always dreamed of a Greek island holiday: swimming in the Aegean Sea, strolling down cobblestone streets by whitewashed buildings, and enjoying fresh olives, feta, and white wine on a sunny terrace. However, when I actually started planning a trip there, all I saw online was crowds — tons of people stampeding off the ferry from Athens, overwhelming otherwise picturesque villages, and creating lines just to take Instagram pictures .