Little Greek island you won’t have heard of with hidden beaches has new UK flights this summer
A TINY island in Greece is often overlooked in favour of the more popular Santorini and Mykonos - but not for much longer.
Jet2 has launched new flights to Symi this summer, an island in the Dodecanese Sea.
The airline, which calls the island 'relatively undiscovered', has launched flights and package holidays from London Stansted, East Midlands and Birmingham.
The island has no airport, but the new Jet2 packages include flights to Rhodes, with an overnight stay before departing for Symi the following morning.
The Greek tourist board calls it a "fairytale-like island," adding: "While approaching the port of Symi, one has the overwhelming feeling of entering a perfectly painted image of a scenic traditional village."
On arrival is the main town of Symi, with the same name as the island, and has two parts - harbourside Gialos and hillside Chorio, which is a five minute bus-ride away.
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Most tourists flock to the harbour front with bars and cafes, thanks to the multicoloured houses painted in a myriad of colours.
You'll be able to spot the Italian influences, due to their ruling of the island nearly a century ago.
Here is where the best food and drink is found, with a number of restaurants and bars to hop between.
The most popular food is the fried prawns, or a pate stuffed with small fish.
Otherwise there are lachanondolmades - stuffed vine leaves with whit cabbage - or Akoumia Symiaka , similar to doughnuts.
Another popular attraction for a post-lunch walk is found on the southside of the island - the white-washed Monastery of Panormitis which is thought to date back to the 15th century.
Otherwise beachgoers can head to Ped, a tiny seaside village or to the Kastro (meaning castle) ruins for the best views.
Originally designed to pretext the islands from pirates, it fell into ruins in 1522, with tourists now visiting its remains from the top of the hill.
While visiting off season means you can avoid the crowds, the island comes alive in the summer months.
Visit between July and September for the Symi Festival which has music, dancing and live shows, as well as the Symi International Film Festival.
There are no big resorts on the island, with small B&Bs and hotels instead.
Jet2 breaks can be found for as little as £604pp for a week, with return flights, found across Symi Town, Pedi and Emporios.
Flights to Rhodes take around four hours, with the boat ride to Symi another 50 minutes.
If you fancy staying in Rhodes, you can still avoid the crowds that are common in Crete and Santorini.
Visit in spring for great temperatures but before the summer crowds, while exploring the ruins such as the Acropolis and the Roman temple of Athena.
And Greece has some of the most beautiful islands in the world, many of which are yet to become big with tourists.
Tinos is often overlooked, despite being twice the size of Mykonos, and is predicted to become a popular holiday choice due to its amazing local food and sandy beaches.
There's no airport, however - you will have to get a 35-minute ferry from Mykonos.
Or you can head to Anafi, which is near (and similar) Santorini but more popular with locals than tourists.
Local website the Greek Reporter wrote: "The view from Chora is much like the view from the Caldera in Santorini.
And the underrated Paros has a wave of new hotels opening, in anticipation of more tourists.
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Want to stay somewhere more mainstream? Here's how to do Mykonos on a budget, according to one woman who has been visiting for 30 years.
And here's what to expect from a holiday in Santorini.
