HOW TO explore THE CYCLADES ISLANDS IN GREECE

Last Updated: 7/19/21 | July 19th, 2021

Most travelers to Greece tend to focus on the Greek Islands — and for good reason. They’re filled with any kind of nightlife you’re looking for; have wonderful beaches with tranquil, blue water; have a wide variety of delicious seafood; feature incredible vistas; majestic orange and pink sunsets; and, overall, are just perfect.

With over 6,000 islands, Greece has a lot of options for travelers.

It’s always been a dream of mine to spend a summer slowly moving from island to island, getting to know the character of each of them while also working on a terrific tan (I am someone who loves the sun). like most travelers, on my first trip to Greece, I started the Cyclades, the main island chain closest to Athens.

Fast forward, a month later and I was still on Ios, a place I had found a home.

Fast forward, ten years later, and here I am again, bouncing from island to island, seeing how everything has changed (and still working on my tan).

The Cyclades island chain includes about 220 islands (most of them are uninhabited rocks). The name translates into “circular islands” because the chain forms a circle around the sacred island of Delos. Tourists stick to Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros (and Antiparos), Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Santoríni.

That’s a lot of islands, right? Well, I haven’t been to them all and, in this post, I’m going to focus on just the major (and a few minor ones) that I’ve been to – and people to tend to check out the most.

Quick Hits

The cheapest Island: Ios

The most relaxing Island: Paros or Amorgos

The party Island: Mykonos or Ios

The most popular Island: Santorini

The best beach Island: Naxos or Milos

Ios

I’ve spent a lot of time on Ios. Back in 2010, I fell in love with the people here and simply couldn’t bring myself to leave. I came back the following summer to do it all over again. Ios just has a special place in my heart.

While the island isn’t the prettiest of the group, it’s the cheapest. The majority of visitors coming here are backpackers so you easily find low-cost food and budget accommodation.

If you’re looking to party on a budget, this is the island to visit. drink specials can be found for a couple of Euros (most hostels have their own bars as well).

However, even if hanging out with backpackers doesn’t appeal to you, Ios has some of the best beaches out of all the islands I visited. all of them are spacious, white-sand beaches. Mylopotas, the closest to the town, is the most popular. On the far south and east side of the island, you’ll find more resorts and deserted beaches.

Additionally, if you’re a fan of history, you can also check out the legendary burial place of Homer, author of the epic poems The Illiad and The Odyssey. So rent an ATV, see the grave, and hit some of the more secluded spots!

If you come. don’t miss staying at Francesco’s — it’s a hostel I’ve been visiting for years and the best one on the island. They have a pool, a bar, and are just a short walk from Ios’ nightlife so you don’t need to pay for taxis.

For food, be sure to stop by The Nest. They are my favorite restaurant in all of Greece! say hi to George for me! Moonlight Cafe, next to Francesco’s, has a terrific breakfast with stunning views of the harbor.

How to check out Ios
Ferries leave from Piraeus (the port near Athens) several times each week. The journey takes between 5-7 hours with tickets costing around 26-60 EUR per person.

Paros

Outside of Ios, Paros is my favorite island in the chain. While there are just a few ruins, a cave to see, and a boat trip you can take (be sure to check out antiparos), overall, this island is for those who just want to relax. There’s no nightlife, no crowds, no cruise ships docking at the port. It’s the most tranquil of the islands.

More importantly, I think it is one of the prettiest islands in the group. The mountains and valleys had more color to them, the towns looked nicer, and the views were spectacular.

My favorite part is the port of Naoussa. Besides having delicious and economical seafood, it was a simply stunning place to walk around. There’s a small beach, and you can go out to an old fort and explore. sitting on the breakers watching the fishing boats going in and out is a terrific way to spend some time and soak up the local way of life.

How to check out Paros
Ferries leave daily from both Piraeus and Rafina, the two ports near Athens. The journey takes around 4 hours and costs 30-100 EUR per person. Flights to Paros take around 40 minutes and cost 60-130 EUR.

Mykonos

One of the main tourist destinations in Greece, this island attracts cruises, honeymooning couples, and rich people who want to party. It was the most expensive island I visited I visited on the chain. people come here to enjoy those crazy, beach clubs and techno DJs you see on Instagvædder.

Klubberne opkræver et højt omslag (20 EUR), og drikkevarer er ca. 15 EUR (eller mere).

Og maden her er super dyr. Selv en let middag med pasta og vin kostede mig over 30 EUR.

Dette er mere en “ferie/high end fest” -ø snarere end en “budget” flugt. I løbet af de sidste par år er der købt en masse hjem af rige udlændinge, der ønsker at købe græsk statsborgerskab (det tager kun 250.000 euro!), Så priserne på øen er skyrocketed. Kast berømtheder, bryllupsrejse og påvirkere, og du har opskriften på et meget dyrt sted at besøge. Du kommer her for at leve Lux Life. Hvis det ikke er dig, kom måske en nat eller to bare for at se det.

Højdepunktet for mig var byen med dens stille, snoede gader og små gyder foret med hvidkalkede huse og en fantastisk havn. (Da alle går på strandene, er selve byen overraskende stille.)

Hvordan man tjekker mykonos
Færger er tilgængelige fra både Rafina og Piraeus, med rejsen, der varer mellem 2,5-5,5 timer. Forvent at betale 38-60 EUR for en billet. Flyvninger er også tilgængelige, der varer omkring 40 minutter og koster mellem 50-90 EUR.

Santorini

Ligesom Mykonos er Santorini meget berømt, ser en masse ældre turister, bryllupsrejse (det blev berømt som en bryllupsrejse -stedet af 1982 -filmen, Summer Lovers) og er et hyppigt stop for krydstogtskibe. Cliffside -byerne Oia og Fira er de to hovedbyer på den indre side af øen. Begge byer overser den berømte caldera, og begge disse byer tilbyder fantastiske udsigt over solnedgang og vinkler for at få fotos af blåt toppede kirker og blå-rimmede huse.

Fra begge byer tager du dagsture til den gamle vulkan og slapper af i de varme mudderbade. I nærheden af ​​strandområdet i Perissa finder du billigere indkvartering og restauranter. Dette er også hjemsted for de berømte sorte sandstrande.

Hvis du leder efter vin, er Santorini -vin berømt, og der er en række vingårde på den ø, du kan besøge. Hvis du vil tage en turné, foreslår jeg stærkt, at Santorini Wine Tours. Jeg gik med dem og følte bestemt, at jeg fik mine penge værd.

Sådan tjekker du Santorini
Færger rejser dagligt fra Piraeus (og fra Rafina dagligt om sommeren). Færgen tager normalt 4-5 timer (selvom nogle tager op til 7 timer). Billetter gennemsnit 30-60 EUR. Flyvninger fra Athen til Santorini kostede omkring 40-120 EUR for en billetter med tur-retur.

Naxos

Naxos er lige så smuk og malerisk som de mere populære øer Santorini og Mykonos, men uden skarer. Naxos er hjemsted for charmerende landsbyer, masser af vandrestier og uberørte strande. Her kan du tage bådture, sidde på tomme strande og vandre rundt på øen på godt underskrevne stier (inklusive op ad bjerget Zeus var angiveligt skjult efter hans fødsel). Der er også et venetiansk fort her.

Det er en af ​​mine yndlingsøer i kæden.

Mine yndlingssteder at spise her er Maro’s, Elizabeth’s Garden, Scirocco, til Elliniko og Nissaki (for noget fancy). Til drinks skal du gå til hjem til cocktails og Cava -vin til vin.

Sådan tjekker du Naxos
Færger fra Athen tager mellem 3,5-6 timer og koster omkring 30-55 EUR pr. Person. Flyvninger fra Athen tager omkring 40 minutter. Forvent at betale mellem 50-150 EUR for en tur-retur flyvning.

Milos

Milos sidder på den sydligste del af cyclades. Takket være sin vulkanske oprindelse er Milos ‘landskab temmelig farverig (nuancer af rød og sort), og det har omkring 40 strande. Takket være tusinder af år med vind og erosion ser landskabet på kysten, især på Sarakiniko -stranden, som om du er på månen (hvis månen havde vand), da lyse hvide klipper stødte ud af krystalklart blåt vand.

Øen har set en stigning i turismen i de senere år og er nu hjemsted for boutique -hoteller og kurbade. Der er ingen vandrerhjem her, og de fleste kommer her for at slappe af i en stille ferie. Men ligesom Naxos er øen temmelig stor, så du ikke bemærker skarer. Det er let at flygte. Der er et antal bådture, der fører dig rundt på øen.

Kom her for en stille luksusferie. Tænk på det som Naxos møder Santorini, men uden skarer.

Sådan tjekker man Milos
Der er flere færger fra Piraeus (nær Athen), der afgår til Milos flere gange om ugen. Turen tager mellem 3-7 timer. De hurtigere færger koster omkring 56 EUR hver vej, mens de længere er normalt 36 EUR. Flyvninger til Milos fra Athen tager omkring en time og koster mindst 200 EUR rundtur.

Amorgos

Amorgos blev populær takket være Luc Bessons film, The Big Blue. Det er en af ​​de mindst besøgte øer i området. Hvis du vil have en virkelig øde ø, billige pensioner, uberørte strande og masser af huler og vandrestier, er denne ø for dig. Du kan godt lide at vende tilbage til, hvad de populære græske øer var for femogtyve år siden.

Hovedbyen har traditionelle hvidkalkede huse med farverige skodder, smalle gyder, fantastiske kirker. Der er endda et venetiansk slot, du kan besøge. Det mest populære sted på øen er Panagia Hozoviotissa, et klosterperched on a rocky cliff above the sea. This 10th-century cliffside monastery is a terrific place to watch the sunset.

The other islands mentioned at the beginning of this post (Anafi, Andros, Delos Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, and Tinos) are all similar to Amorgos regards to crowds and costs.

How to check out Amorgos
Ferries depart from Athens (Piraeus) and last between 5.5 and 9.5 hours. Tickets can be as low as 30 EUR though you should expect to pay closer to double that. You can also get here via Santorini. Ferries from Santorini to Amorgos take 1.5-5 hours and cost anywhere from 12 EUR (for the slow ferry) to 60 EUR (for the fast ferry).

How to get around the Islands on the Cheap

Getting around the islands is not cheap. Ferries really add up, especially if you want to take any of the high-speed ones. Moreover, prices are pretty static. Whether your booking one week, one more, or three months out, prices only seem to vary by a few Euros. So, how can you save money on ferries?

Well, there is one ferry hopper pass out there. It’s offered by Eurail/Interrail and has a 4 or 6 trip option. The only caveat is that you can only take Blue star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways ferries. Those tend to be the larger, slower ferries and, depending on the islands, might require you to connect somewhere. You’ll need to research routes in advance to see if the ferry is worth it. I would search the routes on FerryHopper to see if it works for you.

You can purchase your pass on Eurail (non-EU) or Interrail (EU).

***
As a history lover, Greece offers a never-ending treasure trove of incredible ruins and incredible mythology. The Cyclades may all look the same on the surface, with their white buildings and similar landscapes. but each island has its own quirks and personality.

Book Your trip to Greece: Logistical tips and Tricks
Book din flyvning
Brug Skyscanner eller Momondo til at finde en billig flyvning. De er mine to foretrukne søgemaskiner, fordi de søger på websteder og flyselskaber over hele kloden, så du ved altid, at der ikke er nogen sten, der ikke er vendt. Start dog med Skyscanner først, fordi de har den største rækkevidde!

Book din indkvartering
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. Hvis du vil bo et andet sted end et vandrerhjem, skal du bruge Booking.com, da de konsekvent returnerer de billigste priser for gæstehuse og billige hoteller. some of my favorite places to stay are:

Paraga beach Hostel (Mykonos)

Caveland (Santorini)

Francesco’s (Ios)

Glem ikke rejseforsikring
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Sikkerhedsfløj (for alle under 70)

Forsikre min rejse (for dem over 70)

Medjet (til yderligere hjemsendelse af hjemsendelse)

Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. Jeg viser alle dem, jeg bruger til at spare penge, når jeg er på vej. De sparer dig penge, når du også rejser.

Want more information on Greece?
Be sure to check out our robust destination guide on Greece for even more planning tips!