An hour by ferry from Athens, Andros is the Cycladic island that international tourists mostly skip — it's green, mountainous, full of sheep, and popular with Greek holidaymakers rather than the Mykonos crowd. A writer for Condé Nast Traveler recently spent a summer week there, and the rental she found makes a strong case for putting the island on your list.
The property sits in the Kalamaki settlement, perched on a hilltop with Aegean views from both bedrooms. It's a two-bedroom setup where each whitewashed room is self-contained with its own bathroom, decorated simply with the odd antique rather than the usual rental clichés. Most of the living happens outdoors: multiple lounge spots, an outdoor kitchen with a brick oven, a patio shaded by a carob tree, and a garden the host, Dimitris, lets guests raid for tomatoes. Daily cleaning comes courtesy of a housekeeper named Chara.
The standout feature is a semi-private beach, reached via a short downhill trail marked with rocks — a calm cove ringed by pale rock that stays sheltered even when the island's winds pick up. The writer swears she spotted a dolphin from her bedroom window; even discounting the dolphin, the view across the sea is the kind that makes ordinary mornings feel eventful.
Beyond the rental, Andros rewards a bit of effort. Roads to the remoter beaches are winding, rocky and cliffside, so a rental car (local firm Escape Andros gets a mention) and a confident driver help. Achla beach, often ranked among Greece's most beautiful, sits at the end of a steep, rough drive — the writer found swans riding the waves when she arrived. Closer to base, the homestyle restaurant Aegean Balcony serves souvlaki with a sweeping view of the west coast, and evenings are best spent in Chora, the marble-paved capital where the Tourlitis Lighthouse stands on its own rock just offshore. Stocking up on sesame bread, Greek yogurt and apricots in the port town of Gavrio made for simple, excellent breakfasts.
Why it matters: if you want the Cyclades without the crowds or the Mykonos prices, Andros is an easy add-on to an Athens trip — the ferry is short, the island feels genuinely local, and accommodation like this one is designed for slow days rather than sightseeing marathons. You could happily spend a few days barely leaving the property. Just note that the best spots here aren't always effortless to reach; the trade-off for the emptier beaches is a white-knuckle drive.
Story first reported by Condé Nast Traveler.
