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Greek Islands: The Cyclades

The Aegean Islands and can divided into several island groups, including the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, the Sporades, the Saronic islands and the North Aegean Islands, as well as Crete and its surrounding islands.

The Cyclades is one of the most popular and diverse island groups . They are just a few hours by ferry from Athens. Regular ferry transfers between islands are short taking even less time .

There are more than a dozen islands in the group not including uninhabited ones. More outlying islands are Milos to the west and Amorgos to the east .

Here are some highlights:

Andros

Andros is an attractive, green island, less tourist-centric than Mykonos or Santorini but still with plenty of nightlife on offer. An elegant atmosphere prevails, and the Shipping Museum stands testament to the island’s strong nautical tradition.

 

Ios

Ios has all the picturesque bays, whitewashed houses and narrow alleyways you could wish for – but it also gets more than its fair share of young package tourists, seeing the sights through a lager-induced haze. If that’s what you’re looking for from a Greek island, Ios won’t disappoint. If it all gets too chaotic, the more cosmopolitan (but similarly crowded) Santorini is nearby.

 

Mykonos

Another well-developed island with a firm reputation as a spot for endless partying. Not the destination for a peaceful getaway, but if you want a well-developed and well-watered tourist scene, you’ll find every need catered for in Mykonos. A lively gay scene is one element of the regularly outrageous nightlife. As you’d expect, it’s hugely busy here in the height of summer.

 

Delos

If the Mykonos experience leaves you yearning for something a little more highbrow, hop over to nearby Delos, a tiny island that’s ideal for a day trip but which doesn’t allow any overnight stays. Still one of the most important religious centres in Greece, the island holds a lofty position in Greek mythology for being the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Rooted in more real history, from around the 7th Century BC Delos became an important commercial hub, whose local wealth allowed the construction of lush marketplaces, stadia, theatres and public monuments.

Delos is a living piece of ancient history, easily rivaling Olympus or the Acropolis for its ancient monuments and over worldly atmosphere of ancient spirits, and the indoor museum also holds some remarkably well preserved ancient treasures. You’ll get a strong sense of that history as you wander round the UNESCO- protected ruins, although dodging the midday crowds in peak season is strongly advised. For a sense of the layout of this ‘open air museum’, just head for the top of Mount Kythnos and peer down.

 

Naxos

Regularly heaving with French and German tourists, Naxos is the biggest island in the Cyclades. The cosmopolitan capital of Chora boasts a huge Venetian castle, but for more intimate tastes of Greek life there are plenty of small villages where the tourist infrastructure has not yet taken root.

 

Paros and Anti Paros

Paros has become one of the most visited islands in Greece. Getting there from Athens takes a modest five hours, making it a convenient and popular spot for both Greeks and foreigners who want to spend their days frolicking in the ocean and their nights hitting the bars. The bustling resorts of Paroika and Naoussa provide ample opportunities for hedonism. It can be hectic, but luckily Paros comes with its very own antidote, the aptly-named Antiparos. Just ten minutes away by boat, this peaceful island has just one village, Kastro, and also boasts the intriguing cave at Agios Ioannis Hill, full of stalactites and among the biggest in Europe.

 

Santorini

Santorini, or Thira (its Greek name), is a busy island with vast numbers of visitors and no shortage of attractions for them. This geological curiosity owes its present form – basically one giant crater – to a vast earthquake thousands of years ago, which may have had a hand in the origins of the Atlantis legend. Accordingly, it’s a strangely beautiful island with a landscape of ancient lava. Unusually coloured rocks and beaches lie waiting round every corner, with picturesque gleaming white houses complementing the dark volcanic panoramas. Island-hoppers should certainly plan to arrange some sort of accommodation before reaching the island in July and August, and not expect to cover it all on a miniscule budget.

 

Kithnos

Kithnos is a stone’s throw from Piraeus (you can be there in three hours), making it a favourite destination for Athenians. It’s recently become popular with overseas travelers who head for the port of Merihas and the charming capital Chora. Dyopida is another attractive town, whilst party animals will find their feet in Merihas. Kithnos’ immaculately clean beaches and hot mineral springs make it a worthy point for a stopover en route to other Cycladic islands

 

Destination – Greece and Greek Islands