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

• I skipped Greece's tourist hot spots like Mykonos and Santorini for the quiet island of Syros.
• It had stunning beaches, incredible food, and charming streets — all without overwhelming crowds.
• Overall, I never felt like I was competing for space, and it was more affordable than other islands.

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.

After arriving at Ermoupoli, the city center and capital of the island, I came across a unique mix of Greek and Venetian neoclassical architecture.

I was in awe of the island, surrounded by crystal-clear water that sparkles in the sun, and the gently buzzing port with people dining on patios and sailboats coming and going.

As I explored the area, I was greeted by marble-and-stone-paved streets, charming alleys, and flowers draping the buildings. When I left the port, I saw olive groves on windswept hills, calm beaches, and limestone cliffs.

Best of all, I felt like I could enjoy the area right away, without feeling like I was competing for space.

I very quickly fell in love with this place. I rented a scooter to tour the island on the spot, and paid a few Euros for a daybed on a beach just by walking up.

I swam in calm water that didn't feel like human soup, ate fresh fish in tiny seaside tavernas without reservations, and soaked in Ermoupoli's energetic nighttime ambiance.

One week before I arrived in Syros, I booked a beautiful one-bedroom Airbnb set into the cliffs above the sea with a sun terrace and direct access to the Aegean.

At about $227 per night, it was a 10-minute walk from the ferry port, and around the corner from historic churches, pastel coffee shops, and boutiques.

When I checked prices for other islands I was considering, such as Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, and Zakynthos, I found they were slightly more expensive than the options in Syros.

Plus, because Syros has a large year-round population of Greek residents and mostly domestic tourists, restaurants are priced for locals rather than luxury international visitors, so I never had to deal with surcharges or markups.

For me, nothing pops the bubble of authenticity in a place more than being surrounded by tour buses and mega resorts — neither of which I found on Syros.

Overall, I found that Syros isn't trying to be a caricature of itself. Locals I met in Athens were surprised I was heading to Syros, and they shared stories about going there as kids, or taking their families there now.

Plus, on the island, I heard more Greek than any other language, so I really felt immersed in the culture.

If someone wants a postcard-perfect view of Santorini's famous caldera and is yearning for Mykonos' nightlife, then Syros might not be the place for them.

There may be fewer options for boat tours, and sometimes, I had to look a little harder for that perfect beach, since some of the more secluded ones required a bit of a hike. But for me, Syros was one of the best places I've ever visited.

I can't wait to come back to the island, and it's inspired me to choose another place I've never heard of for my next getaway.