Best Greek island for: Culture and off-season cachet.
On Syros, capital of the Cyclades, you won’t find sugar-cube villages and whitewashed lanes. The colourful 19th-century city of Ermoupoli is built on twin peaks – one Orthodox, the other Catholic, the heritage of a long Venetian occupation. There’s still a strong Italian flavour in Ermoupoli’s marble piazzas, princely mansions, and miniature replica of La Scala, the showpiece of a year-round cultural scene.
Whether you want to enjoy a city break without the crowds or go on a hiking trip through unspoiled forests, here are some amazing, non-touristy places in Europe that you should put on your bucket list.