5 Accessible Yet Off-The-Beaten-Path Greek Islands To Retire To For Calm Beachy Bliss

For years, Greece has been one of the most popular places for foreigners to retire. After all, who doesn't want calm beachy bliss, epic nature, archaeological sites, and nearly year-round Mediterranean sun? With its overall affordability for foreigners, availability of fresh produce and healthy cuisine, and a highly social, community-based culture, Greece is an oasis for seniors looking to live well and long. It's no wonder that it's one of the top 10 global populations with people over the age of 65.

One is spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the best Greek island to retire to, as each island has its own character. Some, like Crete and Syros, remain relatively lively year-round, while others become much quieter in the wintertime, when all you'll find are locals, goats, and a handful of services in operation. Because of this, when looking to relocate to a Greek island, it's a good idea to spend several months or even a year there first to see what it's really like in the off-season.

The islands on this list are off the beaten path, perfect for those looking for an authentic Greek experience in less touristic locations. However, these places remain accessible, with both airports and hospitals to ensure convenient year-round access to the island and to medical care, since many Greek islands have only basic health centers with limited staff. Plus, islands without airports are in vulnerable positions in medical emergencies, particularly in the winter when Greek ferry service is reduced. Generally speaking, healthcare on most Greek islands is much more limited than on the mainland, which is worth considering when deciding where to retire.

Known as one of five "Blue Zones," where people live longer than anywhere else in the world, Ikaria is an underrated pristine escape with a mythological past. Today, it is known as the "island where people forget to die," according to the New York Times. On Ikaria, one in three people lives to their nineties. This longevity comes from a combination of the Mediterranean diet, an active physical life in this rugged mountainous landscape, and most importantly, lively social connections that give people meaning, care, and that elixir of Greek life, gossip.

Named for Icarus, a young man with wings who flew too close to the sun and crashed to his death on the island, Ikarian life is one of slow, simple, and embodied pleasure. Clocks are an afterthought, shops open when the owners are ready, and a friend might show up at your door hours after they said they would. Days are often spent enjoying the island's beaches or hot springs, while evenings are for sharing wine and Ikaria's antioxidant-rich mountain tea with friends. The island combines self-sufficiency with a communal approach that comes partly from the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, when roughly 13,000 communists were exiled here, infusing Ikaria with a collectivist spirit. 

The General Hospital of Ikaria is in the main village of Agios Kirikos. It has departments for cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, as well as general surgery and English-language services. However, like many islands, Ikaria has a shortage of equipment and staff. There's only one ambulance that's not always available, reports To Vima, so locals have had to use makeshift transportation in the past. The island has a domestic airport, which primarily serves Athens year-round, but it also has connections to Thessaloniki, Crete, and Limnos in the summer.

Those looking to spend their days enjoying live music and fantastic archaeological sites like impressive aqueducts and Roman baths may want to book a trip to Samos. Located just off the coast of Turkey, Samos is one of the Aegean Sea islands with rugged mountains that was once a hippie enclave, but has since turned more touristic with hotels and multi-million dollar homes. Even so, one can still find an idyllic blissful life on this culturally rich island that's famous for being the birthplace of Hera, the Olympian queen of the gods and patron goddess of childbirth and marriage.

You can pay homage to Hera at the Heraion Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 8th century BC. Hera isn't the only famous child of Samos; Epicurus, the good vibes philosopher of pleasure, friendship, and retirement was born here, too. Epicurus' philosophy of a life of simple enjoyment is one that you can live by on Samos. You can stroll the shores of turquoise-colored beaches that are some of the best in Greece, eat fresh seafood, and relax to the sounds of rebetiko, Greek blues music that the island is known for. People are catching on too, as Samos is becoming a favored retirement destination for foreigners.

Samos International Airport services year-round flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and nearby islands. During the summer, the airport has direct connections to other countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. The Agios Panteleimonas General Hospital is in the main town, and it has departments for ophthalmology, cardiology, and neurology, as well as English-speaking staff.

If you're interested in immersing yourself in old-world traditions, check out Karpathos, the second largest of the Dodecanese islands. Isolated for centuries, Karpathos' mountaintop village of Olympos is known as one of the most traditional communities in Greece. It's a time capsule of long-lost customs, where women still wear traditional clothing and many speak an ancient dialect. This preservation of heritage, so hard to find in today's world, makes Olympos an idyllic retirement destination for those seeking a simpler way of life. 

Unlike busy hot spots like Santorini, Karpathos is an underrated Greek island with vast, empty beaches. A mountain range splits the island in two; one side is barren and rocky, while the other is green and fertile, creating a symbiosis where you can hike, swim, and explore sites like the Cave of Poseidon, where the sea god was worshiped in ancient times. Lonely Planet calls Apella Beach, with its dramatic cliffs and wildflower-covered hill, "the finest beach in the Dodecanese." Aperi, the former capital of the island, is incredibly picturesque, characterized by its dramatic mountain scenery, historic churches, renovated homes, and lush, fragrant gardens. 

Karpathos Hospital opened in 2018 with 30 beds, offering both general and specialized services just outside the main town. Despite its name, Karpathos National Island Airport is actually an international hub that services locations like Denmark, Austria, and Sweden, in addition to local cities like Athens and Rhodes. The availability of these international flights may depend on the season.

Secluded in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea, Limnos — also known as Lemnos — is the perfect place to enjoy both laid-back vibes and adventure. Its unique volcanic landscape puts Limnos on par with Nisyros, one of Greece's volcanic islands and best-kept secrets. It's the island of Hephaestus, the resilient blacksmith of the Greek gods, whose mother Hera threw him out of Olympus because she was angry about his deformities — clearly, she never heard of therapy. This fiery god of metalworking landed on Limnos, and its surreal volcanic rock formations in the Faraklo Geological Park  are evocative reminders of the island's mythological past.

Adventurous folks can explore the desert-like sand dunes, surrounded by olive and pear trees and filled with sea lilies in the summer, or head to Aliki Lake, the salt marsh that dries up in the summer and is the seasonal gathering spot for the largest number of flamingos in Greece. Limnos is as known for its good beaches as its good wine, so for a blissful day in the sun, head to one of the five blue flag beaches that include Platy, Thanos, and Agios Ioannis that make this island one of the best destinations in Greece.

Myrina is the capital and main port where services, restaurants, and shops line its streets filled with neoclassical and Ottoman buildings, with a stunning Venetian castle at its heart. The Limnos Hospital is in Myrina, and includes an artificial kidney unit and other specialized departments, as well as emergency care services. Limnos International Airport has seasonal service to select countries like Italy and Austria, and offers year-round service to Athens. It also has flights from Thessaloniki, Ikaria, and Lesvos, depending on the season.

If you want the best of both worlds — island living and mainland conveniences — drive to Lefkada, one of Greece's most affordable islands and home to some of the best beaches in the Ionian Sea, if not all of Greece. This mountainous island can only be reached by car or bus on the floating bridge, and it's the only one in Greece that's connected to the mainland. Patras, Greece's third largest city and one of its main ports, is just a two-hour drive, making Lefkada perfect for anyone looking for relatively easy access to high-quality medical services and mainland destinations. The local Lefkada Hospital has over 120 beds and an emergency department. 

Once you discover Lefkada's pristine white sand and pebble beaches, you will likely be in no rush to return to the mainland. There's Porto Katsiki, with thyme-covered limestone cliffs and clear waters that have ranked it consistently as one of the best beaches in the world. Or spend a day at Kathisma, a white sand beach with umbrellas and lounge chair rentals for ultimate relaxation. The name Lefkada comes from the Greek word "lefkos," which means white; an homage to the island's characteristic cliffs and white sand shores that frame a bright turquoise-colored sea that you might expect to find in the Caribbean.

Because of its accessibility and quality beaches, Lefkada's beach towns are filled with resorts and hotels that become busy in the summer. Those looking to get away can settle into one of the peaceful mountain villages, where locals preserve traditions like lace-making and lentil harvesting. Hiking trails wind their way around the island, allowing visitors and residents alike to tap into a slower, simpler way of life connected to Greece's near-mythical nature.

Greece is filled with stunning islands that can easily be considered ideal for retirement, so the main criteria for this list was to find lesser known destinations with accessibility, both in terms of transportation and medical services. While access to proper medical care remains a big concern for residents of Greece, each of these islands is home to a hospital, providing greater peace of mind for those planning to spend their golden years in this beautiful country.

Travel accessibility is also key, particularly in the off-season, as islands have fewer resources overall when it comes to transportation. In case of emergency, you don't want find yourself stuck on an island with only one (weather dependent) ferry trip to the mainland per week. That's why each of the islands in this guide has a local airport for year-round transportation to larger cities. This criteria narrowed down the list substantially, although you don't see any Cyclades islands here, since the ones that have these services are much busier, such as Mykonos, Naxos, and Syros. 

To create this guide, I drew deeply from my own expertise and roots. I'm a half-Greek, with roots in Lefkada, and have lived in Greece for three years now after spending my whole life visiting. I've traveled the country extensively — so much so, that my Greek friends have never been to or even heard of the places I've visited. In addition to my extensive knowledge of Greece, Matt Barrett's Greek Guides is my go-to for information about Greek travel destinations, and it was useful in my research for this list.