This includes four inhabited islands, the other three being Iraklia, Schinoussa and Koufonisia. Located in southern Greece, between Athens and Crete, the Cyclades consists of 39 islands, of which 24 are inhabited. Like Santorini, Milos is a volcanic island, created after an eruption. All in all, Serifos is an ideal Cycladic island if you want to relax and spend some time in nature, without giving up on the nightlife. Then, when the night comes, party until sunrise in the islands many trendy bars! The Cyclades islands are ideal for people who like hiking. Tinos is one of the best islands in the Cyclades if you like exploring traditional villages. This list goes on and we could easily highlight a dozen more stops, but the best thing to do is to come and see for yourself. You can read some more information about Ios and its nice beaches in this guide on what to do in Ios. This whitewashed wood island with a marble top is the kitchen MVP. Each day we uncover some of the most desirable-and cheapest-retirement havens on earth. Among the must-see sights in Astypalaia are the seaside village of Livadia, the Talaras Baths and the Chemeni Limni lagoon. You can also visit the Cave of Antiparos, and admire Europes most ancient stalagmite. Its extremely photogenic and offers unparalleled views of a partially submerged caldera from Oia (pronounced Ee-ah), a coastal village on the northwestern tip of the island. The Small Cyclades are considered by many the best alternative if you don't just want to visit the Cyclades islands. Around the narrow alleys you will find dozens of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. Next door to Mykonos but worlds apart in terms of culture lies Tinos, a modest but beautiful island with under 10,000 full-time residents. I would be glad to help you plan your stay. For more inspiration, go to visitgreece.gr, Weve picked five of the best, simply choose your tribe. Then, take a stroll in Vaporia district, located on the Eastern side of Ermoupoli. Perhaps I don't want to encourage too many people we don't want it turning into a tourist trap! The rapid development of tourism on the island means its quite a lively one, and the beaches are full in peak season. Dont miss the Municipal Theatre Apollo: it looks like a small replica of La Scala, in Milan! "acceptedAnswer": { The first thing you will notice in Chora is the amazing 13th century AD Venetian Castle. Another popular hike in Ios is from the main town, Chora, to Skarkos, the archaeological site. (Actually, it might be Donoussa, but more about that later). It wont be pleasant, as the Cyclades Islands are often very windy. Everyone knows about Santorini. Here are a few more tiny Greek islands: (function() { The port of Agios Georgios is the ideal landing spot. The views from the top of the crater are remarkable and well worth the climb but, in the sun, it can get very hot and. From the summit of Mount Zas, hikers can experience a 360-degree view of the Cyclades. Then, it became dedicated to the worship of the gods. Dont leave the island without tasting revithada (chickpea soup), or mastelo, a rustic dish of marinated lamb or goat and potatoes flavoured with wild fennel. Designer Ellen Kavanaugh optimized it with extra outlets on the side to help when someone's working from the barstool and needs a . Like Milos, Serifos has a longstanding mining tradition. Pure simplicity is the order of the day here idle through the stark white streets of Chorio, take a dip in the crystalline water, enjoy some of this tiny islands excellent tavernas. Cycladias Small Cyclades travel guide presents all the useful separate guides for swim, stay and eat and drink, indispensable travel information and tips about sightseeing and the best places to visit during your holidays on Donousa, Koufonisia, Iraklia, Schinousa and Keros, Greece. And if you want to take a dip, there are many beautiful beaches on the island. A full-day tour, including the cruise from Mykonos, a guide and the archaeological site entrance costs around 50 per person. To begin with, this is where the famous Venus de Milo statue was discovered. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm Dave, and I've been creating helpful travel guides and itineraries for independent travelers on Dave's Travel Pages since 2005. "name": "Is Paros or Milos better? You will find this hidden treasure, which is often overlooked by tourists, between the island of Kythnos and Sifnos. As for PsiliAmmos, to the northeast, its an unspoilt paradise shaded by giant tamarisks. All my articles about Greece (click here), (Click here to read all my articles about Greece), Buy the Lonely Planet Greece guide on Amazon.com, Buy the DK Eyewitness Greece guide on Amazon.com, Visiting Rome in June 2023: Guide + My Best Tips, Visit Tinos: Top 10 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Cap Corse: Top 15 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Glasgow: Top 20 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Corsica: Top 35 Things to Do and Must See Attractions, Visit Malta: Top 27 things to do and best places to visit, Visit Palermo: Top 21 Things to Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Sicily: Top 20 Things to Do and Must See Attractions, A week in Sicily: Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary + My Best Tips, Visit Taormina: The 13 best Things to Do and See, Visit Geneva: Top 23 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Nice: The 15 Best things to do and see. The Greek island of Serifos is a small, picturesque island of about 75 square kilometers (28.95 square miles) and is located in the Cyclades. Delos is famous for its ancient archaeological site. An important note: You will have to rent a different car in every Cyclades Island you want to visit, as you cant take the ferry with a rental car. Leave the little hub to discover the islands wild beauty by walking its kalderimi (old paved paths) or visiting the peaceful monastery of Taxiarches. Nea Kameni. Towards the north side of the island, you will find a few wilder beaches, like Agia Thalassa, Rochari and Kolimvithra. Hora is a typical Cycladic village, with white and blue houses and lively squares. And because of the islands small size, it is easy to beach hop, seeing beautiful seaside after beautiful seaside all in the same day. The monastery looks like a castle from the outside. The best time to visit the Cyclades is from Easter to mid-September, but avoid peak season (July and August), when it can be . Other boats are making stops on one or several Greek Islands before you reach your destination. It has all the classic appeal of the Cyclades - secluded golden beaches, sugar cube houses , bright blue seas - in a pint-sized edition. Santorini. Lying south-east of Naxos, only four of the archipelagos islands are inhabited, each with a land mass of barely 20 km2. With a landmass of 170 square miles, Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and promises something for everyone. Stavros, its main village, possesses a fascinating beauty, while Livadi, a beautiful beach with crystal-clear water, is just a 90-minute walk away, or can be reached by caique, a traditional fishing boat. There are also many beaches in Folegandros, but the most beautiful ones are only accessible by foot or by boat. The smaller sibling of Paros, Antiparos is one of the best islands to visit in the Cyclades that's a regular celebrity haunt due to its peaceful island vibe. ", The Small Cyclades are reached most easily from Naxos, aboard the Express Skopelitis. The island is carpeted with vineyards and studded with tavernas where you can enjoy excellent fresh fish. More accessible Tis Grias To Pidima beach offers a stunning setting with its rocky outcrop rising up dramatically in the sea. listeners: [], Just because they are the most famous though, doesn't make them the best (although it's not like they are terrible!). Mykonos Town (Chora) features elegant shopping, a wide spectrum of dining options, and plenty of bars and clubs to keep you entertained. The island is known for its tall, sheer cliffs and three main villages of Chora, Karavostasi, and Ano Meria. If you are trying to avoid the tourist crowds, and you like nature, Folegandros might be a good stop for you. Our family will be sailing in the Cyclades this summer and cant wait to explore! Heavily influenced by the Venetians, Siros has a distinctly northern European feel with neoclassical homes and mansions peppered along narrow, winding cobblestone alleys. Welcoming bars are scattered throughoutChora and all through the night cheery good-natured couples and groups of friends can be found laughing and enjoying a drink. With their white and blue houses and churches, their narrow and winding alleys, they really offer the typical Greek postcard scenery. Andros has more neoclassical-style architecture and features red-tile roofs instead of blue domes. And if you want to explore even further, see our full guide to the Greek islands and learn about the character and color of the many island groupings Greece has to offer. } The Little Cyclades chain is perfect for a miniature island-hopping trip, with 4 islands within such close proximity. The port of AgiosGeorgios is the ideal landing spot. Irakli, the most mountainous This island is the westernmost of the Small Cyclades, and it's also the hilliest, dominated by Mount Papa (420 m). The Small Cyclades are a group of islands located between Naxos and Amorgos. According to Greek mythology, it is connected with the legend of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa. Sure, you will probably spend some time waiting in line to take THE perfect picture of its iconic white church with a blue dome you can see on every postcard. It belongs to a group of islands known as the Small Cyclades. A lively city of 12,000 inhabitants, Ermoupolis is built on twin peaks: Catholic Ano Syra on the right, Orthodox Vrontado on the left. The ferry takes only 10 minutes to go from Pounta town to Antiparos, and you can even cross with your rental car. Greek Island Hopping | Greece Travel Itineraries | Bicycle Touring. With a car, you will also be able to travel a lot faster and discover more of the islands. As some of the beaches are difficult or impossible to reach by land, you can take one of the popular sailing tours of Milos. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Every year, thousands of Greek Orthodox people visit on a pilgrimage. On every one of these island gems, you can unwind into the slow tempo of the Mediterranean lifestyle and enjoy hidden beaches and delicious meals in family-run tavernas, or tick off an adventure on your holiday to-do list. Dont make the mistake of visiting on a day trip because you wont be inclined to leave. "text": "One of the prettiest and quietest Greek islands in the Cyclades is Donoussa. Milos offers more adventurous activities and remote beaches, while Paros has more organized beaches with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. Some people are using scooters, quads or buggies on the islands, but I wouldnt recommend it. On these days, ask the locals where it's best to go or just spend longer exploring the island and its hiking trails. If you want to admire the sunset in Oia, you should get there at least 1 or 2 hours before. . Milos owes its incredible landscapes and unique mining tradition to its mineral-rich soil. Greek island of Serifos. Among the above islands, the easiest ones to include in one trip are Tinos and Naxos, Naxos and Donoussa, or Milos and Serifos. Mykonos 3. While there are technically over 200 islands in the Cyclades cluster, many of the smaller islands are uninhabited, and most visitors go to one of the twenty marquee Cyclades islands. The island is also famous for being an hikers paradise. The island offers 18 marked trails totaling over 60 miles, and Andros is listed as a Leading Quality Trails Best of Europe destination, confirming that it is one of the best places to hike in Europe. We've picked five of the best, simply choose your tribe By Isabelle Zigliara Now more than ever, Greece offers a safe destination and the chance to disconnect, recharge and be inspired by its kaleidoscope of crystalline seas and unique islands. 2010-2023 Cycladia. I also enjoyed visiting Palaiokastro, where you will see the remains of a Venetian castle and a small church. Walk around, and explore the quaint Cycladic architecture. Out of those 24 islands, the best known ones for their beauty and dazzling light are Santorini and Mykonos. But the appeal of the Cyclades goes far beyond these two destinations. In Mykonos, going to the beach means enjoying hip techno bars and jet-setters on their yachts! You might recognise the name, but have you ever thought to visit little Ithaca (or Ithaki, as youll also see it spelt)? Both are located close to Athens. While this 2.5-mile barrier island is steeped in history (making it one of the best small towns in South Carolina), it also has plenty of modern amenities that make it a desirable place to live . If you want a brief summary, here are the Greek Islands you should visit if you like: In order to help you organize your stay in the Cyclades, I have written 3 detailed itineraries. When you are tired, sit at one of the numerous tavernas or bars, and enjoy a traditional meal or drink. On the island, you can party all day and night long with world famous DJs!
best small islands in cyclades
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best small islands in cyclades