Golden Visa: Which Greek Islands Have Fewer than 3100 People?

Dodecanese

Astypalaia - 1300 Residents

Astypalaia is the most western island in the Dodecanese Islands. Astypalaia has a history that is centuries old, villages with some of the most beautiful white houses in Greece, sunny beaches, and dramatic views from its castle. The shape of the island of Astypalaia is unique because it is connected by a narrow landmass that makes the island look like a butterfly from a bird’s eye view. The western part of Astypalaia is called Mesa Nisi, and the eastern side is called Exo Nisi.

The main town on the island of Astypalaia is called “Chora.” The most imposing monument of the city is the Venetian Guerini Castle, which was built in the 13th century. The three-story houses, which were built on the outer grounds of the castle, are unique because the walls of these houses double as the castle wall. Their narrow windows doubled as battlements.

Nisyros - 1040 Residents

Nisyros is a scenic island that is part of the Dodecanese group of islands, in the Aegean Sea.

Its secluded location makes it one of the best alternative destinations in Greece. The most famous sight in Nisyros is its volcano, found in the center of the island. It is one of four active volcanoes in Greece, including the famous Santorini volcano.

Symi - 2600 Residents

Symi (sometimes spelled Simi) is located next to Rhodes Island. It is a hidden gem of the Dodecanese, and you will be enchanted by its colorful houses. The port looks like a postcard when you approach by boat, because of the bright colors of the mansions.

The most popular place to go is the capital town, which is split into 2 sections: Gialos and Chorio. Other places to visit on the island include the Panormitis Monastery and Symi Island’s picturesque beaches. 

Tilos - 750 Residents

No, that’s not a typo — we’re not talking about Tinos, the popular Cycladic island known for its Virgin Mary Church, impressive pigeon houses, and picturesque landscape. Tilos island is not usually found on your Instagram, but some say it is just as beautiful as the most famous Greek islands.

Tilos is in the Dodecanese group and is part of an ecological park and nature reserve. The island is known for its 400 species of flora and fauna, and 150 species of birds.

Chalki - 500 Residents

Have you heard of Chalki before? Chalki is found in the Dodecanese archipelago, very close to Rhodes. It has not been touched by mass tourism yet and is a great destination for quiet vacations that are away from Greece’s main tourist sights.

Its solar electricity grid is the first of its kind in Greece, and it aims to power the whole island. The population is 330, and it has a “big brother” relationship with the island of Rhodes for some of its basic needs in the past, including energy. It is the smallest island in the Dodecanese island chain, and this Greek island has a total size of 28 square kilometers.

Fournoi - 1300 Residents

Fournoi is an island chain close to Ikaria and Samos in the Dodecanese. The islands are made up mostly of beekeepers and fishermen. Campos, the main village of the main island, is known for its tavernas and, of course, its bakeries (fournoi means “ovens” in Greek). The favorite refreshment of the island is the local orange soda.

Aegean Islands

Oinousses - 900 Residents

Oinousses is a group of nine small islands with the names Oinoussa, Panagia, Vatos, Gaidouronissi, Pontikonisso, Archontonisso, Pontikoudiko, Laimoudiko, and Prassonisia. As you can imagine, these are very quiet islands with very little nightlife and a lot of time for relaxation. They are part of Greece’s protected Natura 2000 Network, and one main road curves around the islands, connecting the beaches.

Sikinos - 250 Residents

Sikinos in Greece is a small island in the Cyclades, found next to Folegandros and Ios. The island is mostly free of tourism and features an unspoiled holiday away from the crowds that pour onto other Greek islands. The main town of Chora is known for its traditional blue and while houses and its narrow alleys.

Folegandros - 700 Residents

Folegandros is one of the most underrated Cycladic islands, because it has both a picturesque nature and charming village towns with blue and white houses. The streets are known for their colorful windows, blue churches, and general postcard views. It is a popular island for family vacations and also for couples.

Kasos - 1200 Residents

Kasos Island is the island in the Dodecanese chain that is farthest south, and it has a unique natural charm. It is quieter than the other islands in the Dodecanese and has quiet beaches, beautiful villages, local feasts, and of course, a delicious Greek traditional cuisine. Local customs and celebrations for Easter are very much alive on Kasos.

Kea - 2335 Residents

Kea is an island in the Aegean, located very near Athens. It is even more popular as a weekend getaway from the capital of Athens. Unlike other islands in the Cyclades, Kea has more green areas. Instead of the usual blue and white houses that you know from Santorini, Kea’s houses have earthy tones.

Sifnos - 2770 Residents

The island of Sifnos in the Cyclades is known for its connection with Nikos Tselementes, a chef who is considered the founder of modern Greek cooking. He wrote the first Greek cookbook to be translated into English. Over 100,000 copies were sold in his lifetime, and it is said that every Greek housewife owned a copy at one point in time.

The charm of Sifnos comes from the slow lifestyle and feeling of privacy. Because there is no airport and the island can only be reached by boat, Sifnos is an ideal spot for nature lovers and for travelers who don’t like to have an agenda.

Serifos - 1200 Residents

Serifos is a Greek island in the western Cyclades, and it is one place in Greece where cave houses are becoming more popular. Cave houses, called υπόσκαφα (iposkafa) in Greek, have long been built, with the most well-known ones being on the island of Santorini.

In a concept that involves building a home into the earth, the idea has been around for as long as humans have been seeking shelter. But it offers a bunch of very modern benefits. The houses provide large cost savings, room for innovative world-class designs, and spacious facilities that let in plenty of golden Greek sunlight.

Amorgos - 1900 Residents

Amorgos is a gem in the Cyclades island group with about 2000 residents. It is definitely worth the visit because even with its small size, every meter is exceptionally beautiful. Amorgos avoids the big crowds that you may find in the rest of Greece. Many tourists on Amorgos are French because of the famous French director’s film Le Grand Bleu, which was shot here.

Antiparos - 1200 Residents

Antiparos, located opposite the island of Paros, has been drawing celebrities despite its small size. Others reportedly spotted in its tiny chora (main village) include Matthew McConaughey, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who is married to Greek-American actress Rita Wilson, owns a 450 square meter villa on the beautiful island of Antiparos in a property acquired in 2004. The six-acre property is located between the villages of Glypha and Chora and offers the actor, who starred in Forest Gump and Cast Away, valuable privacy and protection from prying eyes.

The Peloponnese

Elafonisos - 900 Residents

Elafonissos (sometimes spelled Elafonisos) is a tiny island in the southern Peloponnese that is not far from Monemvasia. It is known for its complete relaxation. The name means “island of the deer.” It has Carribean-like beaches with gold sand and clear waters.

Simos and Lefki beaches are well-known as the top beaches of the island. The evening time is a great time to head to town for a taverna dinner and a drink as you watch the sunset. The island should not be confused with Elafonisi, which is an even smaller island off the west coast of Crete.

Crete

Gavdos - 150 Residents

The island of Gavdos is a hidden gem. It is the southernmost place to visit both in Greece and in Europe. The island of Gavdos belongs to Crete and is technically in the Chania prefecture. Gavdos is closer to Africa than to Athens and is about 26 miles from the city of Chora Sfakion (Sfakia) in Crete.

The island is small – about 32 square kilometers – so it is easily explored in a few days. An even smaller island, Gavdopoula, is found nearby. The landscape features pristine beaches and greenery of pine and juniper trees, just like in southern Crete. The most popular area for the hippy community to gather is on Agios Ioannis Beach, where some informal “streets” and “addresses” mark the tent homes of its nature-loving residents.

How Many Islands are There in Greece?

In fact, there are more islands in Greece that are so small that the census didn’t even visit. You will get many different answers to this question online. To get to the bottom of this controversy, we had to check a sure source: the Hellenic Military Geographical Service.

Based on their most recent report, the precise number of islands of any size, inhabited or uninhabited, is 29,372.

But how many of these have residents? Not many. Only 446 are more than .1 square kilometers. Santorini, for a sense of perspective, is 76 square kilometers.