Ios
Mylopotas beach, Ios Chora by day and night, Homer's tomb and the quieter beaches of the north.
Ios has the strongest reputation-gap in the Cyclades. Its 1970s hippie-trail legacy and 1990s Australian party scene gave it a 'just for drunk 19-year-olds' image that's wildly out of date. The truth: Ios has one of the most beautiful Chora in Greece — a white Cycladic village ringed by 12 surviving windmills, 3500 years of archaeology (Skarkos is a UNESCO-candidate Early Cycladic site), and Homer's reputed tomb on the northern cliffs. It also has two of the finest beaches in the Cyclades: Mylopotas (1.5km of golden sand, Blue Flag, family-friendly despite the reputation) and Manganari (a string of sheltered sandy coves on the south coast). Yes, Chora turns loud after midnight in August — but the village is genuinely beautiful before then, and everything outside Chora is quiet and lovely. Come for the beaches; stay for the archaeology; maybe go out late on the last night.
Getting there
No airport — ferry-only access. Ferries dock at Gialos (Ormos), the port directly below Chora.
Read full route
Fast ferries from Piraeus ~4.5h, Blue Star ~7–8h, daily in summer.
Tip: Fastest path: fly to Santorini, then 45-min fast ferry to Ios.
When to Visit
Ios has two seasons: Party Ios (June-August, you sleep at 5am) and Quiet Ios (May, September-October, the prettier version). The pretty version is genuinely beautiful — chora is one of the best in the Cyclades. If you don't drink, come in late September.
3-day itinerary for Ios
Day 1: Chora by Day & Night
- 09:00 · Ios Port (Gialos)
Ferries land at this small working port. Much quieter than Chora above — a dozen tavernas along the harbor, hotels, the long Gialos beach at the port's edge (5-min walk). Octopus Tree is a tiny harbor-front taverna beloved by returning visitors — no indoor seating, closes by late September, great fried small fish. Rent a scooter or car here; Ios is small but the good beaches need wheels. - 11:00 · Ios Chora (village)
One of the most beautiful Chora in the Cyclades, though most partiers never notice. Whitewashed, car-free, terraced up a small hill, topped by the windmills. During the day (up to ~10pm) it's genuinely charming: stone-paved alleys, marble steps, cats, bougainvillea. After midnight in August the bar scene is extreme. Walk the entire village from port-side entrance to the windmill square at sunset; grab a table at any café. The Elytis Theatre is a stone amphitheater carved into the hill, free to visit. - 13:30 · Panagia Gremiotissa (cliff church)
A whitewashed chapel perched on Chora's highest cliff since 1797. The icon here is said to have floated in from Smyrna, which gave rise to the tradition of pilgrims bringing icons back from Asia Minor. Palm trees in the courtyard are unusual for a Cycladic church; the panoramic sunset view over Mylopotas bay is the real reason most people climb up. Go 30 min before sunset for the best light on Chora below. - 15:00 · Mylopotas Beach
The headline beach of Ios — a long crescent of fine golden sand, shallow turquoise water, and the easiest beach to reach from Chora (15 minutes by car or local bus). The afternoon Mylopotas crowd is genuinely mixed: backpackers, families, and the occasional Athenian. A swim and lazy hour here sets up the slow walk back to Chora's sunset point. - 19:00 · Windmill Square (sunset point)
At the top of Chora, 12 surviving windmills ring a small plaza — restored ones alongside romantically decaying ones. They ground wheat and barley for the island until the 1960s. The view extends across valleys to the sea; this and Gremiotissa are the two classic sunset spots. Steps Bar spills down the marble stairs beside the square with pillows and handmade carpets — a perfect pre-dinner drink. - 20:30 · Dinner — Katogi (Chora)
The standout modern restaurant on Ios, in a cozy stone-walled room in Chora. Creative Greek meze — modern takes on classics, short rotating menu, exceptional wine list. Book ahead (2-3 days in August). For something more traditional at lower prices, The Nest in the main street does reliable Greek classics; for a true taverna experience, Lord Byron around the corner has been a Chora fixture since 1995.
Day 2: Skarkos, Homer's Tomb & Mylopotas
- 09:00 · Skarkos archaeological site
A 40-minute walk from Chora (or short drive) to this Early Cycladic Bronze Age settlement — 2700-2300 BC. Discovered in 1984, it's one of the most complete early Cycladic sites anywhere: a full town with streets, two-story houses, workshops, drainage. The Europa Nostra award-winning restoration lets you walk through the ancient street grid. Small site, 30 minutes is enough. Open 8:30-15:30, closed Tuesdays. - 11:00 · Homer's Tomb (Plakotos)
At the northern tip of the island, above the ruined village of Plakotos, stand the remains of a Hellenistic tower on the hill of Psathopyrgos — traditionally identified as Homer's burial place. Pausanias recorded the Delphic oracle's prophecy that Homer would be buried on Ios, where his mother Klymene was from. The identification is legend, not proof, but the spot is stunning: cliffs plunging to the Aegean, Sikinos visible across the channel, absolute silence. Rough 15-min road from the nearest parking. - 12:30 · Paleokastro (Venetian castle)
A dramatic cliff-top Venetian fortress in the island's remote northeast, built by Marco Crispo in 1397 on top of an earlier Byzantine stronghold. Originally guarded the sea routes to Crete. Outer walls and the chapel of Panagia Paleokastritsa survive. The trail to the top runs along cliff edges with sweeping views toward Naxos, Amorgos, and Paros. Good half-day outing combined with Agia Theodoti beach below. - 13:30 · Lunch — Polydoros (Koumbara Beach)
Open since 1986, this family-run taverna on the small beach north of the port has survived Ios's every trend. Outdoor tables face the sea; the menu rotates with what's available — stuffed pork rolls, oven-baked eggplant with cheese, fresh grilled fish. Honest, tested, reasonably priced by Cycladic standards. Combine with a swim at Koumbara, a rocky golden-sand cove with clearer water than Mylopotas. - 16:00 · Mylopotas Beach (afternoon)
1.5km of golden sand, 8 minutes south of Chora by car. This is both Ios's best beach and its most developed — beach bars, water sports, family-friendly shallow water. Blue Flag certified. The scene is livelier here than Chora during the day and calmer after dark. Drakos at the far (south) end has been a family-run seafood taverna since 1963 — octopus on the rope outside, seafood pasta, whole fresh fish. The single best place to eat on the entire bay.
Day 3: Manganari & Departure
- 10:00 · Manganari Beach (south coast)
The finest beach on Ios — a string of four sheltered sandy coves on the southern tip, reached by a 25-min scenic drive from Chora or a summer boat from Mylopotas. Crystal-clear turquoise water, gradual shallow entry, and far fewer people than Mylopotas. Venus Restaurant and Bar, family-run, sits in the middle of the beach with fresh homemade food and cool shade. Plan a full day. - 15:00 · Return to port — Departure
Back to Gialos for the ferry. Ios sits squarely on the main Cycladic line: frequent fast boats to Santorini (45 min), Mykonos (1h 30min), Paros (1h 15min), and Piraeus (6h direct, 8h via Paros). Last frappe at the harbor — Yialou Beach Bar on Gialos beach has the best cheeseburger on the island if you have time before the boat.
Top beaches of Ios
Mylopotas Beach
Ios's signature beach — 1.5km of golden sand, Blue Flag certified, backed by a strip of beach bars and hotels. Wide and long enough that it never feels cramped despite being the most popular beach. Family-friendly shallow water that stays knee-deep far out. 8 minutes south of Chora by car, or 20 min on foot via the cliffside path. Drakos at the south end is the legendary seafood taverna; Far Out Beach Club at the north is the liveliest bar.
- Type
- Fine golden sand
- Length
- Depth
- Very shallow for a long way
- Wind protection
- West-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm most summer days, sometimes choppy on rare westerly winds
- Facilities
- Extensive: beach bars, water sports, taverns, umbrellas, lifeguards in summer
Manganari Beach
A string of four sheltered sandy coves on the southern tip — the finest beach complex on Ios. Crystal-clear turquoise water, gradual shallow entry, and a fraction of Mylopotas's crowds. 25-min drive from Chora via a scenic road, or seasonal boat from Mylopotas. Venus Restaurant, family-run, sits mid-beach with shade and homemade food. This is where Ios locals go when they want a real beach day.
- Type
- Fine white-gold sand
- Length
- Depth
- Gradual shallow — safe for kids
- Wind protection
- South-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm in summer, exposed only to rare southern winds
- Facilities
- Moderate: 2-3 tavernas incl. Venus, umbrella rental, minimal development
Agia Theodoti Beach
A long quiet sandy beach on the northeast coast, below Paleokastro fortress. Far fewer people than south-coast beaches because of the rough access road. The oldest church on Ios sits at the south end — a small stone chapel dating from the early Byzantine period, lending its name to the beach. Clear water, some exposed wind days (less protected than south-coast bays). One seasonal taverna.
- Type
- Golden sand
- Length
- Depth
- Gradual — mostly shallow
- Wind protection
- East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Basic: one seasonal taverna, minimal crowds. Rough road.
Kalamos Beach
The remote-beach purists' pick on Ios — a soft golden-sand cove on the southwest coast backed by scrubland, with no road access. Reach it by summer boat from Mylopotas port, or a tough 40-min hike from the nearest road. The sand is finer than Mylopotas, water is exceptionally clear, and the solitude is real. No facilities whatsoever. Consistently rated among the most beautiful in the Cyclades by Ios regulars.
- Type
- Very fine golden sand
- Length
- Depth
- Shallow turquoise — exceptional clarity
- Wind protection
- Southwest-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm in summer, exposed only to rare S/SW winds
- Facilities
- None. Boat from Mylopotas or 40-min hike. Bring everything.