I went to a quieter Greek island instead of Mykonos and Santorini. I got beautiful beaches without fighting the crowds.

I’ve always dreamed of a Greek island holiday: swimming in the Aegean Sea, strolling down cobblestone streets by whitewashed buildings, and enjoying fresh olives, feta, and white wine on a sunny terrace.

However, when I actually started planning a trip there, all I saw online was crowds — tons of people stampeding off the ferry from Athens, overwhelming otherwise picturesque villages, and creating lines just to take Instagram pictures.

This looked like my nightmare, so instead, I decided to book a five-day trip to an island I’d never heard of: Syros.

Syros is the capital of the Cyclades, a cluster of Greek islands that includes Santorini and Mykonos, but it sees less tourism pressure compared to its more popular alternatives.

With a population of roughly 20,000, Syros is about 100 miles from Athens and can be reached by ferry or a short flight.

After visiting myself — and seeing that it’s a more authentic, less expensive, and quieter Greek-island experience — here’s why I’ll always recommend Syros.