The Smallest Inhabited Islands that Greece Keeps Almost Secret from the World

Author

George | The Shiny Greece Team

Greece is famous for islands that have become global travel icons, from Santorini and Mykonos to Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and Zakynthos. Yet some of the most fascinating islands Greece has to offer are almost invisible on the conventional tourist map. They are tiny pieces of land where a harbour can feel like the centre of the world, cars may be unnecessary or completely absent, and permanent residents can number only a few dozen.

Beyond the celebrated Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Ionian Islands, these miniature destinations reveal another side of the Aegean Sea and mainland Greece's coastal geography. Some have only one settlement. Others preserve fishing traditions, monasteries, walking paths, secluded beaches, and landscapes barely altered by mass tourism.

Here are seven remarkably small inhabited Greek islands where size has very little to do with character.

Marathi – One of the Tiniest Islands Greece Calls Home

A Dodecanese Island Measuring Less Than Half a Square Kilometre

Tiny Marathi, also known as Marathos, lies in the Dodecanese, east of Patmos, near Arkoi and Lipsi. Covering only about 0.36 square kilometres, it is an extraordinary example of just how small an inhabited Greek island can be. The 2021 census recorded only 10 residents.

PLAKLE, View from the highest point of the island with the small port, while opposite are the Arkoi and on the right a part of Spalathro, CC BY-SA 4.0

There is no bustling Chora, elaborate road network, or long catalogue of attractions. Instead, Marathi revolves around its sheltered bay, a handful of buildings, the sea, and the rhythms of an exceptionally small island community.

Life at the Edge of the Aegean

Marathi offers something increasingly rare among the Greek islands: almost complete simplicity. Boats arrive in its protected harbour, visitors swim in clear Aegean waters, and evenings unfold without the noise associated with Greece's major resorts.

Its location also makes Marathi part of a fascinating network of small Dodecanese destinations stretching between Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, and the coast of Asia Minor. For travellers interested in island hopping, sailing, traditional fishing communities, and remote beaches, its appeal lies precisely in everything it does not have.

Marathi demonstrates that an island does not need archaeological complexes, nightlife, luxury resorts, or famous landmarks to become memorable.

Trizonia – A Tiny Island in the Gulf of Corinth

An Island Far from the Famous Aegean Routes

Not all small Greek islands belong to the Aegean. Trizonia, situated in the Gulf of Corinth off the coast of Phocis, covers approximately 2.5 square kilometres and had 55 permanent residents in the 2021 census. It is the only inhabited island in the Corinthian Gulf.

Trizonia | Photo by: Davide Mauro, Trizonia island, CC BY-SA 4.0

That geographical position immediately makes Trizonia different from the whitewashed image normally associated with a Greece vacation. The scenery here combines blue water with the mountainous landscapes of Central Greece, creating a destination that feels both maritime and continental.

A Car-Free Escape

One of Trizonia's greatest charms is the absence of cars. Its small scale encourages walking, slow exploration, swimming, and long meals beside the water.

The harbour and marina bring sailing boats into the island's peaceful setting, but Trizonia remains far removed from the atmosphere of Greece's busiest destinations. Traditional houses, waterfront tavernas, small beaches, olive trees, and views across the Corinthian Gulf define the experience.

It can also become part of a wider journey through Central Greece, Delphi, the Corinthian landscape, and lesser-known coastal villages. For travellers accustomed to searching for the best-known Greek islands, Trizonia is a reminder that island life exists in unexpected corners of the country.

Mathraki – A Tiny Ionian Island Beyond Corfu

One of the Smallest Inhabited Ionian Islands

Far northwest of Corfu, surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Ionian Sea, lies Mathraki, one of the three inhabited Diapontia Islands. Covering only about 3 square kilometres, Mathraki is small enough to feel wonderfully removed from the better-known tourist routes of western Greece.

Mathraki | Photo by: Dreizung, Mathraki and Othoni, CC BY-SA 3.0

Despite its modest dimensions, the island has a permanent community and a distinctive identity shaped by fishing, agriculture, seafaring traditions, and generations of close connections with Corfu. Its scattered houses, olive trees, narrow paths, and quiet coastline create an atmosphere very different from the busy resorts found elsewhere in the Ionian Islands.

Beaches, Footpaths and Ionian Tranquillity

Mathraki's greatest attraction is its simplicity. Portello Beach, stretching along the northeastern coast, offers shallow, clear water and a long sandy shoreline that seems surprisingly generous for such a tiny island. Small coves and rocky sections of coast provide further opportunities for swimming and exploring.

Walking is one of the best ways to experience Mathraki. Paths pass through Mediterranean vegetation, traditional settlements, old stone houses, churches, and olive groves, while views extend across the Ionian Sea toward Corfu and the neighbouring Diapontia Islands of Othonoi and Ereikoussa.

There are no major archaeological monuments or famous nightlife districts here. Instead, Mathraki represents the quieter face of islands Greece visitors rarely encounter: local life, uncrowded beaches, traditional food, fishing boats, spectacular sunsets, and an enduring relationship between a small community and the sea.

For travellers exploring Corfu who want to venture beyond its famous beaches, villages, monasteries, and historic Corfu Town, Mathraki provides an intriguing extension to an Ionian journey. It proves once again that some of Greece's smallest inhabited islands can deliver experiences far greater than their size suggests.

Ammouliani – Small Island, Remarkable Beaches

The Inhabited Island of Halkidiki

Ammouliani sits between the Sithonia and Mount Athos peninsulas in northern Greece. Measuring only about 4.5 square kilometres, it is the only permanently inhabited island of Halkidiki and has a much larger community than several of the tiny islands on this list.

Ammouliani | Photo by: Horia Varlan, Ammouliani Golden Beach, CC BY 2.0

Its proximity to the mainland makes it relatively accessible, yet crossing the narrow stretch of sea is enough to create the feeling of entering a separate world.

From Monastic Land to Island Community

Ammouliani's modern identity is connected to an important chapter of Greek history. Until the early twentieth century it was associated with Vatopedi Monastery of Mount Athos. In 1925, refugee families arriving after the Asia Minor catastrophe settled on the island and developed a new community strongly connected with fishing and the sea.

Today, Ammouliani combines this cultural heritage with some beautiful Halkidiki beaches. Alikes, Megali Ammos and other stretches of sand are surrounded by transparent waters that rival those of much more famous summer destinations.

Ammouliani therefore occupies an unusual position among small islands Greece travellers can explore: tiny enough to retain an intimate scale, but developed enough to offer restaurants, accommodation and easy ferry access.

Telendos – The Car Free Shadow of Kalymnos

A Mountain Rising from the Sea

Directly opposite Kalymnos stands the dramatic silhouette of Telendos, a small Dodecanese island separated from its larger neighbour by a narrow channel.

Telendos | Photo by: Coronium, Telendos Myrties 20150922, CC BY-SA 4.0

Telendos has only one settlement and no cars. Its permanent population was recorded at 66 in the 2021 census. The landscape is dominated by a steep mountain mass that rises dramatically above the Aegean, giving the island a visual presence far greater than its modest dimensions.

An Island Shaped by an Earthquake

Telendos is particularly fascinating because tradition and historical accounts connect its separation from Kalymnos with powerful earthquakes during the sixth century AD. Archaeological remains, early Christian monuments, ruined settlements, and traces of fortifications add historical depth to the rugged scenery.

The island today attracts visitors interested in hiking, climbing, swimming, diving, quiet beaches, and traditional Greek food. With no traffic, daily life centres on the waterfront settlement and walking paths.

The views back toward Kalymnos become especially atmospheric at sunset, when the mountainous coast and narrow sea passage take on changing shades of gold and blue.

For anyone exploring the Dodecanese islands, combining Kalymnos and Telendos reveals two remarkably different versions of Greek island life separated by only a short boat ride.

Arkoi – A Remote Dodecanese World

A Tiny Community North of Lipsi

Further north in the Dodecanese lies Arkoi, or Arki, surrounded by an archipelago of even smaller islets and rocky outcrops. The main island covers approximately 6.7 square kilometres and belongs administratively to the Municipality of Patmos.

Arkoi | Photo by: Vasileiadis33, Αρκιοί, Ελλάδα 02, CC BY-SA 4.0

Its rocky terrain, limited vegetation, scattered houses, sheltered harbour, and remarkably small community create the impression of a world detached from the pace of modern tourism.

Turquoise Water and the Tiganakia

Arkoi's surrounding sea is arguably its greatest attraction. The island is known for exceptionally clear water, hidden coves, sailing routes, and the celebrated Tiganakia, where shallow turquoise water and small islets create an almost tropical appearance.

Unlike Santorini, Mykonos, or Paros, Arkoi has no need for elaborate sightseeing itineraries. The experience is about the harbour, beaches, fishing boats, local food, walking, and the endless horizon.

Its position close to Patmos also allows it to be connected with a wider Dodecanese journey combining religious heritage, traditional villages, beaches, sailing, and some of the most peaceful landscapes in the eastern Aegean.

Among the smaller islands Greece preserves as living communities, Arkoi feels particularly fragile and authentic.

Schinoussa – Small Cyclades at Their Most Peaceful

Between Naxos and Koufonisia

Schinoussa belongs to the Small Cyclades, south of Naxos, between Iraklia and Koufonisia. Its area is approximately 8.5 square kilometres, while the 2021 census recorded 229 residents.

Schinoussa | Photo by: Charles Haynes, Harbor Schinousa, Greece, CC BY-SA 2.0

The Small Cyclades contain only a handful of inhabited islands, and their modest populations help preserve a slower character than that found on many larger Cycladic destinations.

Schinoussa has two principal villages, Chora and Messaria, while the sheltered harbour of Mersini provides an attractive entrance to the island.

Beaches, Footpaths and Cycladic Simplicity

The island combines classic Cycladic architecture with low hills, farmland, chapels, footpaths, secluded coves, and numerous beaches. Rather than dramatic volcanic scenery or monumental archaeological sites, Schinoussa offers an understated landscape rewarding slow exploration.

Its position also makes it ideal for island hopping between Naxos, Iraklia, Koufonisia, and Amorgos. These Small Cyclades provide a striking contrast to busier destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos.

Schinoussa is particularly attractive for travellers searching for quiet beaches, local cuisine, traditional villages, sailing, hiking, and an authentic Cyclades atmosphere. The entire island can feel intimate without feeling empty.

It represents one of the most accessible ways to discover the miniature scale that makes Greece's lesser-known islands so compelling.

Why the Smallest Islands Greece Offers Feel So Different

Small Populations Create a Different Rhythm

Population matters as much as geographical size. On islands where dozens rather than thousands of people live permanently, the arrival of a ferry remains important. Harbours function as social spaces, local businesses are often family-run, and the distinction between village and countryside can disappear within a short walk.

This intimacy is difficult to reproduce on larger tourism destinations.

Travelling through these islands also highlights the enormous diversity of Greece. Marathi and Arkoi reflect the remote Dodecanese; Schinoussa embodies the quieter Cyclades; Ammouliani opens toward Mount Athos and northern Greece; Mathraki belongs to the maritime world of the Ionian Islands; and Trizonia sits unexpectedly in the Gulf of Corinth.

Exploring Islands Greece Has Kept Beyond Mass Tourism

Slow Travel Works Best

Tiny islands reward a different travel philosophy. There may be fewer organised attractions, but the landscape itself becomes the itinerary: a morning swim, a coastal path, a chapel, an old fishing harbour, a traditional meal, a boat trip, or a sunset over the Aegean.

Ferry schedules and accommodation should be checked carefully, particularly outside the peak summer season, because transport and tourism services can be limited on very small islands.

That relative isolation is also part of the value. These places preserve the feeling that travelling through Greece can still involve genuine discovery.

Small Islands, Immense Greece

Greece's geographical identity cannot be understood only through its famous destinations. Beyond Athens, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, Zakynthos, Mykonos and the other internationally recognised names lies a much more intricate maritime world.

Marathi, Trizonia, Mathraki, Ammouliani, Telendos, Arkoi and Schinousa demonstrate how much history, culture and natural beauty can exist within only a few square kilometres.

Here, Greek beaches are often quieter, villages smaller, footpaths more important than roads, and the sea remains inseparable from everyday life. Ancient history, Byzantine heritage, monasteries, fishing traditions, local cuisine and extraordinary landscapes survive within communities that can be crossed on foot.

For travellers searching beyond the familiar, the smallest inhabited islands are not merely miniature versions of larger destinations. They offer something fundamentally different: Greece stripped back to sea, land, community and light.

And among all the islands Greece scatters across its blue horizons, sometimes the smallest dots on the map leave the largest memories.