The island of Lipsi in Greece has recently been declared the second most exotic and authentic destination in the world by the influential blog Far Away Travel.
The list compiled by the outlet’s editorial team includes all the new travel trends worldwide. Fulhadhoo Island in the Maldives tops the list, followed by Lipsi, a small, picturesque island in the southern Aegean Sea, which is one of the Dodecanese Islands.
“It is a relatively unknown destination and offers you a quiet, authentic Greek atmosphere away from mass tourism,” says Far Away Travel.
The main town, also called Lipsi, is a charming, traditional village with whitewashed houses and narrow, cobbled streets. The small port is lovely and typically Greek, with a number of tavernas, cafes, and small shops lining the waterfront area. The town of Lipsi is incredibly picturesque.
Lipsi is known for its idyllic beaches with crystal-clear waters, which are mostly quiet and uncrowded. For me, the most beautiful beach is Platis Gialos. This is a fine sandy beach with clear turquoise waters, ideal for swimming.
Most important religious sites
One of the most important religious sites on the island is the Panagia tou Harou Church. It dates back to the 7th century and houses an unusual icon of the Virgin Mary, depicting her with a cross rather than Baby Jesus.
The cliffs of Monodendri are also an absolute highlight of the island: this is a rocky cliff landscape with a breathtaking view of the sea. Amidst the cliffs stands a very old and solitary juniper tree which has thus far defied all the adversities of the weather. There is simply something surreal about it.
According to Far Away Travel, “Lipsi offers you a picturesque, quiet atmosphere. It is a perfect destination for a relaxed, authentic Greek island experience, far from the hustle and bustle of more popular islands such as Mykonos or Santorini—without losing any of its beauty.”
“The island radiates with Greek, charming charm and enchants with its naturalness,” it adds. “Lipsi is ideal for you to slow down. It is a little pearl, an undiscovered picture-book island.”
Lipsi: Greece’s “secret island”
The French newspaper Le Figaro has recently spotlighted Lipsi, a constellation of thirty islets, in its new list of Greece’s “secret” islands that stand out in 2024, dubbing them “beautiful strangers.”
Le Figaro describes Lipsi’s exotic islets, resembling confetti, as possessing an otherworldly beauty that deeply enchants visitors, highlighting the unexplored, picturesque “corners” of the Aegean ready to take center stage. In 2023, Lipsi made headlines when local authorities banned the construction of swimming pools to save water and began a campaign for sustainable vacations.
“Our concept of [vacations] does not belong to the past but to the future, where the Mediterranean islands will be forced to follow our example to protect the environment and deal with the uncontrollable heat waves and water shortages,” said the mayor of Lipsi, Fotis Mangos. The call for an authentic and sustainable way of vacationing by saying “no” to the waste of natural resources is accompanied by a video that follows a young couple, Konstantinos and Dimitra, enjoying their vacation on Lipsi without pools or organized beaches full of sunbeds.