What Else To Do On The Stunning Greek Island Of Folegandros

All this week, we have been talking about Folegandros, a gorgeous lesser-known Greek island in the Aegean Sea that is wonderfully rugged, boasts incredible views, pretty towns, and plenty to keep those with a sense of adventure and a desire to explore in the most serene of settings entertained. If you have found a vacation rental in the South Aegean or a holiday rental in Crete, Folegandros is well worth exploring and after focusing on the capital in the last post, here is what else the island has to offer...

Then there is Karavostasis port, the first place you'll arrive when you come to town where you will find some of the best restaurants on the island; excellent little tavernas and eateries with tables spilling out onto the streets, serving up handmade pasta, snails, orange pies, almond treats, white goats cheese, capers, fried watermelon, and delicious local red and white wines. You'll also see fishing boats lined up next to yachts and few international tourists but plenty of Athenians, who have been holidaying in the area for a long time, writers, artists, and the odd celebrity turning up aboard their own yachts.

The very pretty Ano Meria, meanwhile, is the island’s second-largest settlement, and is set amongst rolling green fields, sprawling orchards, and traditional farm houses. Under an hour's walk from Hóra, it is an excellent place to hike and take in the true beauty of the island. It is also where the Ecological and Folklore Museum is located, giving insight into the island, past and present.

Of course, as an island, Folegandros is home to a few excellent beaches with rich emerald waters and pebbly beaches fringed by tamarisk trees. Most can be trekked to easily enough if you're fit but there are also bus and boat options as well. Karavostássis has its own beautiful beach and is a great access point to the glorious beaches of Hohlídia, Vitzétzo, Latináki, Pountáki, and Livádi (with a sandy beach and water sport facilities) by foot but you can also take a caique from Karavostássis to Kátergo, which is the most beautiful of all the beaches on the island. Agali beach, on the west of the island, boasts stunning sheer cliff faces and azure waters, and is a short walk to the nearby clothing-optional beach of Ayios Nikólaos, where you'll also find a great little taverna and wonderful views. If you're really into seeing the wonderful beaches that Folegandros has to offer, then you can do an island tour by boat that brings you to five beaches in one day.

While there is a lack of traditional tourist attractions and it is not the easiest places to get to in the world, Folegandros is full of charm and is something very special. For the discerning traveller in Greece that is unafraid of exploration, this authentic gem is one to consider...