Andros is the northernmost island of the Cyclades complex and the second largest in size after Naxos 9 Jul. There are different and varied ways to go island hopping in Greece; however, the idea behind this guide is not to see the highest number of islands in a short time but to see the best of them, taking a more relaxed experience. But Theseus, once his mission was accomplished, dumped Ariadne and left her stranded on Naxos. }, { "name": "How do you travel around the Cyclades? But how to choose which one to visit? Delos 4. Amorgos island became famous after the French movie the Big Blue. Island Hopping: Syros-Naxos . A clash of the titans, Free things to do in Mykonos: don't make a mezze of your budget, Walking on sunshine: Santorini's best hikes, Island-hopping in Greece: everything you need to know, The lesser-known Greek islands gaining popularity this summer, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ferry connections to the Small Cyclades are best from Naxos (the largest island in the Cyclades, with an airport and regular flights to/from Athens). Rent a car, and explore its many beaches, some of which are only accessible in a 4WD. It also soothes island-hoppers who fear getting bored on tiny islands. It offers a good mix of sightseeing, nightlife and pretty villages. The tranquil waters of the Aegean are perfect sea kayaking territory, offering an intriguing twist on the usual island-hopping trips by ferry. Both are easy to reach from Ios island, so they are the ones that should come next. According to Greek mythology, the island was where the god of light, Apollo, and his twin sister Artemis were born. The jumping off point for the Small Cyclades is Naxos, reached by taking a flight to Mykonos then a ferry or hydrofoil. Here is a Santorini itinerary for 4 days, and what to avoid doing while in Santorini. You can fly direct to Santorini, or fly to Athens and take a ferry from Piraeus port to the Cyclades. The laid-back Kimolos is often overshadowed by Milos, its bigger sister. In fact, Tinos is one of my favorite islands in the Cyclades. The Cyclades are not an obvious destination for walkers, but in spring and autumn the smaller islands offer a peaceful alternative to the more popular hiking trails of Crete and the Peloponnese. Remember, since Santorini is the island farthest from Athens, it is always better to make it the first destination if youre traveling by ferry; this way, you can cross your way up from Santorini to get back to Athens at the end of your island hopping experience. These may just be the best Greek islands youve never heard of. The reason for that is its close distance to Athens airport (15 min by taxi and 30 min by bus). The six tiny islands that lie between Naxos and Amorgos have gone through millennia of civilisation and upheaval, from being densely populated trading centres in the days of antiquity and then fortified Venetian outposts to pirate havens and impoverished fishing backwaters during WWII before recently remerging in the spotlight as increasingly fa. Another fantastic Greek Island is Paros, just a quick ferry ride from Naxos. 01/16/18 10:57 AM. No, Greece is not expensive! No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. As I got started on a delicious whitefish and dill salad, he tucked into fried calamari with genuine enthusiasm. Serifos is another hidden gem in the Cyclades. Go back in the evening, and you will see an entirely different face. Check out the website. Includes descriptions of the islands, ferry routes and travel tips. ", Heady with glamour, the sun-soaked island of Mykonos is famous worldwide as a high-class party destination with long stretches of beautiful beach to recover from the night before. There are also many famous beaches, like Santa Maria beach, Golden beach and Lageri beach. Golden stretches of sand, crystal clear waters, and charming taverns & bars are only a few reasons why island-hopping in the Small Cyclades should be up next in your vacation wish list. It boasts some picturesque villages, lovely, unspoiled nature and a long history. Option 3: Santorini Naxos Amorgos Athens. Here is some more information: Direct flights between the Greek islands. Cyclades Island Hopping Itinerary 14 Days, understand the local lifestyle and tune in to the times. Visitors can reach these impressive getaways via boat or flight; there's no bridge by land. Amorgos is another option, though it doesnt have an airport. The trip is available between 15 April and 16 June, or 1 September and 16 October. Cyclades Island Hopping. Ive been to almost all of them now, some of them several times! You might want to bring a jacket or something to cover yourself with. In August, the population of Koufonissi is swelled by 5,000 tourists mostly Italian and Greek and room prices rise to 70. The fourth island in the medley, Donousa, sits apart from the rest, to Naxos northeast. Accommodation owners will meet you at the port to transfer you and your luggage. In the evenings, check out the numerous cultural events that take place on the island. If you are travelling in peak season, book your accommodation a few months in advance as some of these islands have very few rooms. "@type": "Answer", Folegandros is further south; low season times (think of May and October) still offer up impressive enough beach weather. 1 Island-hopping The Small Cyclades are one of the few spots in Greece where you can still experience a low-key, laid-back island-hopping adventure - something which has all but. Remember that you should also devote at least two days to Athens since this is the port of departure, so take it easy and enjoy the best of Greece. Although Milos has been blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches of the Aegean, some of these unique beaches are very hard to access without a boat. Three are clustered south of Naxos: Iraklia(the largest of the group at 19 sq km),Schinousa and Koufonisia. Oia, Santorini. There are dozens of different options, usually including stops at some uninhabited islands. Also, Milos has ferry connections to Santorini, so this is another option to move forward on your route if you intend to skip Ios. It offers the most secluded, end-of-the-line experience of the group. Theres not much chance of that. The Cycladic islands have a very rich and long history. My guide highlights all the most beautiful islands you should visit when exploring the Aegean Sea. Greece's lesser-known islands are growing in popularity. The stark white cubist homes of main town Hora huddle around a bay on the northeastern coast. These may just be the best Greek islands youve never heard of. After having travelled to most of the Cyclades Greece, here are my impressions: Best sandy beaches: Naxos, Ios, Mykonos, Andros, Serifos, Sifnos, Kythnos, Koufonisia, Schinoussa, Donoussa, Nicest wild beaches: Naxos, Donoussa, Amorgos, Sikinos, Folegandros, Milos, Iraklia, Prettiest quaint towns and villages: Tinos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Amorgos, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Most beautiful landscapes: Santorini, Milos, Kimolos, Amorgos, Naxos (but beauty is subjective! I hear that the local fishermen catch lobster and Dimitrios, the bar owner, happily drives over to the village to pick me up a real beauty for tea. As we mentioned above, the best thing you can do is to start your trip from the island further from Athens, which is Santorini. The island is so popular that its challenging to find a time of the year when youll find it quiet. Winds aside, Greek ferries can be very enjoyable to travel on. The most remote of the Cyclades, Anafi is a wild, secluded island, with a long free-camping tradition. Airports allow you either to begin or end your trip without even setting foot on a ferry from Piraeus. But its the walking trails that woo, and often their destinations are exquisite coves and stunning vistas of an island-dappled Aegean. Blue Star Ferries: 1 hr 10 (3x per week, year-round) Express Skopelitis: 3 hrs 55 min: (3x per week, year-round) Island hopping to Other Cyladic Islands from Naxos: Popular destinations of the Cyclades close by and accessible from Naxos i nclude Amorgos, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Santorini. Here is what to do in Tinos Greece. Ios (and not Los, as Googlemaps suggests) is known as a party island, and rightly so. Chora, its pretty main town, was once a fishing village. Your email address will not be published. Youve partied on Mykonos, watched Santorini sunsets, and now youre looking for something unique? "acceptedAnswer": { I personally loved visiting Santorini off-season. Tinos is a beautiful island with a rich religious tradition. You can't plan a 10 day Greece itinerary without considering the Cyclades Islands.Pristine sandy stretches, clear azure waters, white-washed Cycladic alleyways, there's nothing not to love about a summer vacation spent on a Cyclades island hopping in Greece itinerary.. But what if youve ticked off the heavy-hitters? Includes descriptions of the islands, ferry routes and travel tips. Some versions have a happier ending, where she becomes the bride of Dionysus, the anarchic god of wine. The Queen of the Cyclades, Syros boasts some stunning neoclassical architecture and a vibrant main town. To the smaller Cyclades Islands like Donousa, you can get around by Caiques , a sort of water taxi that can be hired from the small ports on the islands. In fact, you should remember that Santorini is, after all, an extinct volcano. The Small Cyclades are one of the few spots in Greece where you can still experience a low-key, laid-back island-hopping adventure something which has all but disappeared from the bigger Greek islands, with their budget flights and boutique hotels. Paros and Naxos are the two following islands you should visit. While they are really picturesque, they are far from the best beaches in the Cyclades. Youve partied on Mykonos, watched Santorini sunsets, and now youre looking for something unique? Even Ariadne wouldn't mind being stranded here. But the appeal is as much to me as to Felix. It is the most populated Cycladic island, and this is where you will find all administrative services. Half a mile across the sea is the legendary island of Keros, once thought to be the doorway to Hades, and now uninhabited except for teams of visiting archeologists from Cambridge University picking through the rich remains of Bronze Age Cycladic history. 9 reviews 7 helpful votes Cyclades Island hopping 17 days Mar 10, 2023, 11:29 PM Save Just booked flights to Athens - arriving 27 August and departing 15 September from Athens. So, remember this if you plan to include it in your Cyclades itinerary. All the Greek islands in the Cyclades have truly beautiful beaches with crystal clear water. You can also take a sailing trip to explore its lovely coastline and the nearby Polyegos island. However, there is so much more to it. I disagree with his conclusion. All rights reserved. Check out this really cool Mythological tour. Moreover, Milos is a paradise for off-road driving. "acceptedAnswer": { This exclusive experience will definitely appeal to some visitors. You can also take a private sailing tour. If you like weird landscapes, also visit White Beach and Perissa, the black beach. This is typically during July and August, but you can get winds at any time of the year. Spend time in Hora, the main port, perched on a cliff, overlooking the Aegean. { Tinos 10. "@type": "Answer", In this guide, youll find everything you need to know about how to island hop around the Cyclades in Greece. Some of them, like Paros island and Naxos island, are greener than the others. "text": "You can easily travel around the Cyclades on the numerous ferries that connect the islands. Naxos island has tons of history. The Small Cyclades are one of the few spots in Greece where you can still experience a low-key, laid-back island-hopping adventure - something which has all but disappeared from the bigger Greek islands, with their budget flights and boutique hotels. People who want to enjoy the sunset views from their private terrace will look to stay in Fira, Imerovigli, Oia, or anywhere on the west coast. From our guesthouse, high on a hill, the numerous tiny islands spread out over the Aegean are almost unreal in their beauty. They go by various monikers that riff on their size and relative significance: you may see them referred to as the Small, Little, Minor or Lesser Cyclades. I also went kayaking in Mykonos and saw an entirely different side to the famous party island. Where they have that small, town white-wash feel, Ermoupoli is bigger, grander. While in Athens, I recommend a local guide. Syros - The Smartest Island. Ferries depart from Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio ports near Athens. }, { 1. Being bigger and with plenty of things to do, we suggest you start visiting Naxos, which is also very close to Santorini, something you should consider if Ios is not part of the islands you plan to visit. Experience Santorinis beauty, hot springs and beaches on, Make the most out of your time in Santorini aboard, Escape the crowds on land and admire Mykonos from the water on, Experience Mykonos wine-making culture on, Discover the best that Mykonos has to offer during. Santorini 2. Mykonos has more beautiful beaches than Santorini; some of the favorite ones are Super Paradise, Elia, and the exclusive area of Cavo Psarou, more time available, you can fit one or even two more islands into the itinerary, What To Expect & Do In September In Greece, Things To Do And Eat During Easter In Greece, Koufonisia: Kato Koufonisi & Ano Koufonisi (Cyclades). In this Cyclades island-hopping itinerary, we show you what islands you should naturally visit. Its soil is rich in minerals, which explains the islands long mining history. It is a common destination for Greek families, and an easy weekend trip. The name Cyclades relates to the shape of the islands they form a circle around the sacred island of Delos. From Naxos a network of local ferries connects the islands of Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissi, Donoussa and Amorgos. "@type": "FAQPage", Our total costs came to 40 euro per person per day. CycladesIslandHopping Routes, Itineraries & Beaches. In the Odyssey, Ariadne's journey to Naxos was rather different. Most people think of the Cyclades Islands as Santorini and Mykonos, but there is much more to discover on . You will see the famous white-washed houses and blue domed churches everywhere. You will find everything you need, like coffee bars and toilets. This is the guide you need when planning your Greek Cyclades island-hopping adventure. The Small Cyclades ( in Greek) are outposts in the Cyclades island group, which includes such headlining acts as Mykonos, Santorini and Ios. Like Santorini, Milos is another volcanic island, created after a strong eruption many years ago. You should know that most of the smaller islands are uninhabited. coffee. Traveling during COVID was quite the experience but I'm very happy I was able to do it especially since the amount of tourists was a fraction of normal times. In this section, were highlighting our favorite islands in the Cyclades, the reasons to visit them, and the reasons to avoid them if your time is limited.