Ios is a small island of the Cyclades group. It is a part of the Cyclades Islands in the south of Greece. Ios is a short ferry ride from Santorini, making an extended holiday or even a day trip a viable option.

Ios

Understand

Over the last few years, Ios has developed into an island that has something for all ages to enjoy. For many years Ios was known as a party island; however, there is so much more that Ios has to offer.

Ios has regularly been voted in various polls as having one of the "Top 10 beaches in Europe" and it in fact boasts 75 km of beautiful, white sandy beaches and turquoise coastlines.

The architecture of Ios is typically Cycladic and features whitewashed buildings perched beautifully on hill tops and dotted around valleys.

Ios still maintains a lively nightlife, the likes of which you will not see in the other islands. Unlike the "package resorts", the nightlife of Ios is concentrated in one place, Chora. The nightlife is very cosmopolitan yet still quite traditional. The main meeting point is in the main square. By day, Chora reverts to a beautiful, tranquil traditional Greek village where you can see the locals chatting in cafes and playing backgammon.

For those not wishing to experience the nightlife, Chora is wonderfully peaceful in the early evening and is awash with clothing and jewelry stores, souvlaki shops and excellent restaurants. Yialos (or the "Port"), is an excellent place to escape the crowds in the evening as is the beautiful Mylopotas beach.

Regular buses or boats are available to take you on various excursions to the other beaches on Ios, where you can find peaceful areas and avoid the crowds.

All in all, Ios has lots to offer for all age groups. It is a stunningly beautiful island and will be an unforgettable experience.

Get in

By boat

Ios can be reached best from Santorini, Naxos, Heraklion (on Crete island) or directly from Piraeus.

Ferry boats and high speed catamaran services run daily from Piraeus.

All domestic ferry schedules are here

If you plan on travelling to several different islands, it is wise to book all your ferries at once for a possible discount. However, keep in mind that pickup and arrival times are subject to change at anytime.

Get around

The island has three major villages.

• Ormos or Yialos, location of the ferry port of Ios. The direct way from the port up to Chora is a long stair. The bus and car traffic take a much longer and winding road uphill.
• Chora, the main city. Tourist information of the municipality of Ios can also be found at a kiosk at the central bus station at Chora.
• Milopotas, one of the most beautiful beaches on Ios, close to Chora.

By bus

In summer, buses operate between these three villages (KTEL IOS local bus route and timetable).

By taxi

Taxi stations are in Chora at the central bus station and in Yialos right infront of the ferry boat pier.

By car

Additionally you can rent cars and motorcycles in Chora.

WARNING When driving at night, use EXTREME caution. Due to the lenient laws on this island, many people drive while under the influence. Although not everyone will be intoxicated, it is wise to take the bus at night, or if you decide to drive, make sure to drive defensively and do not allow an intoxicated person to drive at any time.

By moped and ATV

This is the generally the best way to get around. ATV's will cost you between €15-40 for 24 hours and a moped should cost between €10-30, depending on the season. By far this is the best way to explore the different parts of the island.

Ios is known for its popular beaches. Although they are extremely beautiful, they can also be extremely crowded during the peak travelling times.

With an ATV you are able to explore, go up a mountain and find a secluded beach. There are many parts of the island that go untouched and are truly a miraculous sight.

By boat

Boats run between major coastal towns on the island.

See

Ios Harbor

• Chora or Hora - The main village of Ios is very scenic with its small alleys and white-washed houses. During day Chora is a peaceful, quiet place while during night it is the main party zone on Ios.
• Homer's tomb
• The open air theater
• Archaeological museum
• The Old castle, Paleocastro
• Marina, in the port
• The beach of Maganari, on the most southern part of the island, Maganari beach provides seclusion, but not isolation. Since this beach is far from the rest of the main attractions on the island not many people go or even hear about it. The beach provides many athletic activities as well as beautiful and delicious lunch spots on the beach.

Do

Mylopotas beach

• Party - If you have decided to go for Ios, simply party. Chora has plenty of bars and clubs to have fun all night long.
• Watersports - In Milopotas, Yialos and Maganari Beach you can go diving, do wind-surfing, water-skiing or on blow up "donuts" behind speed boats.
• Skarkos, Campos (Near the port in Campos area). Excavations on Skarkos hill unearthed a prehistoric settlement, proving that Ios has been inhabited since the early Cycladic period. The architecture at Skarkos is preserved in places up to a height of almost 3 m, with most of the buildings evidently having 2 storeys, stone-paved floors and a sewage system. Numerous well-preserved pottery, tools and utensils made of metal, stone and bone were also discovered. In 2008, Ios was among 6 European locations (out of 109 candidates) awarded the European Union Cultural Heritage prize for its exceptional conservation efforts at the archaeological site of Skarkos 
• Hiking, Start from Chora or Mylopotas (See OSM hiking routes or SKAI terrainmap Ios). Hike the beautiful mountainous landscape of Ios for one day excursions to the mountain peaks of Profiti Ilias or Pyrgos. Or do a 4-day circuit around the Pyrgos Mountain passing the beaches of Klima, Manganari, Kalamos, Psathi, Ag. Theodoti as well as Kalamos Monastery and the ruins of Paleocastro - Always take plenty of water, hat, sun protection, good boots and during the season of Meltemi end July and August also wind protection. - No shops, but nice restaurants and accommodation are available in Manganari, Psathi, Ag. Theodoti. Check in advance for availability. Be aware that a large area of the island of Ios is protected as a nature reserve.

Eat

In Ios there are a number of good to very good restaurants. Here are the restaurants that you must visit...

• Ali Babas (Same street as the Emporiki). 12 L cocktails served in two goldfish bowls with neon-coloured foot-long straws for €35. Pad Thai or green curry, chicken and mushroom pie, fish & chips and "dinosaur ribs". Restaurant fills up in the later hours and the waitstaff take pictures of the partying and then flash them up on the restaurant's big screen. A/C, wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. 
• Koulidas (Unique), Koulidas (Towards Plakotos (Homer's Tomb)). Unique view of the island with international cuisine and BBQ. 
• Far Out Village. Lovely bar/restaurant facing the beach, and quieter than the next door Far Out Camping pool bar, where the main action is checking out the opposite sex. 
• Katogi (beneath No Name bar). Serves Greek dishes, Mezze style. 
• Lord Byron (opposite Pomodoro and Disco 69). Wonderful small restaurant with good ambience. Serves Greek food, also renowned for its cocktails and home-made desserts. 
• Arhoniko (on top of Disco 69 near the main square). Previously named Pomodoro. International cuisine 
• The Mills. Serves traditional Greek dishes. Really tasty food and good prices. 
• Cantina del mar (Beach Bar Ios), Mylopotas beach (on the main beach), ☏ +30 22 8609 1016. 08:00-01:00. Beach bar that does sandwiches, fresh salads, veg/fruit smoothies and tasty waffles. 
• The Nest, Next to the Orange Bar. Traditional Greek Taverna - Greek food made by a lovely Greek family. Excellent food and a warm welcome at moderate prices. 
• Harmony, Mylopotas beach (On the right of Mylopotas facing the sea.). Mexican restaurant. Usually has live music. 
• Enigma, Port of Ios (Next to the super market at the port.). International cuisine with nice view of the port. 

Drink

View of the port from a bar in the Chora

Ios has everything to offer whether you're young or old. Fantastic nightlife with sounds from every corner of the planet; since the 70s hippies flocked to Ios for their summer solstice.

People from all over the globe converge on Ios during the summer months. Ios' bars and clubs offer a huge variety of entertainment 7 nights a week 24 hr a day. Drinking in Ios is very reasonably priced compared to Santorini and Mykonos.

In the main village there are bars such as Red Bull, Flames, Slammers, Disco 69, Circus Bar, Bulldog, Shooters, Pegasus, Orange bar, Coo, Ammos, Satisfaction, Click, Astra bar, Stellas champagne bar, Barmacy Bar, Shamrock, No name, Jonnys electric, Louies, Blue note, Ios blue, Balsamu, La cuva, Lotus, Agelos, Frankies, Fun Pub, Voodo, Liquid and Dolca Vita.

Night clubs in the village include Rehab, Sweet Irish Dream, and Scorpion.

Sleep

• Nikos Place (Chora, Ios, Greece). Beautiful Studios with TV, Kitchen, Frige, Shower, Free Internet, AC, Balcony, Garden, Car Parking. Located in the Main Village (Chora) of Ios, close to all the nightlife but far enough away to be nice and quiet during the night. €10. 
• A1 Princess Sissy Hotel (Chora). Economy hotel with bar. 
• Poseidon Hotel (Ormos). 300 m from the beach and 50 m from the port. 
• Francesco's (Chora). Sits just above the main town and it is very popular. Great breakfast, nice pool and amazing sunset views from the terrace. 
• Ios Resort, ☏ +30 22860 92685, go@iosresort.com. Hotel with a great pool and bar in the main town of Ios island, a few minutes away from the clubs and restaurants. It is a modern, friendly and affordable hotel and the owner make you feel right at home. All rooms include free WI-FI, A/C, fridge, TV, safe box, hair dryer, private shower, telephone and a private balcony. The hotel offers double rooms, tripple rooms and rooms for 4 person. (updated Jul 2015)
• Yialos Sandy Beach (near the port and not far from the town) is the alternative way for quiet holidays.
• Glaros Hotel on the beach.
• 1 Homer's Inn Hotel, Main Rd, Ios Island Cyclades, 84001 (500 m from the port on the main road), ☏ +30 22 8609 1365. Check-in: 01:00, check-out: 12:00. 2-star hotel situated between the port and the village. If you need to check in after 01:00, contact the hotel first. 20E-150E. (updated Sep 2016)
• George and Irene's Hotel, centre of village up hill from supermarket
• Sunrise
• Blue Sky Apartments. 5 min walk from town, 5 min walk from beach. Clean with friendly staff. 
• 2 Brothers Hotel, Ios, ☏ +30 2286091508. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: 11:30. From 30.00-90.00. 
• Gorgona hotel (Mylopotas beach), Mylopotas beach (stay on bus until the end of Mylopotas), ☏ +30 22 8609 1307. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Beachside with views. 14 rooms, studios and apartments and one private house. All have bedroom, private bathroom, A/C, refrigerator, satTV, balcony overlooking the sea and some have a fully equipped kitchenette. Spacious family accommodation can accommodate 3-4 persons and are separated into 2 areas. Studios of 1-2 rooms can accommodate 2-4 persons. 
• Hermes Hotel (Between main village and main beach within walking distance of both). Views and swimming pool. 
• Levantes boutique hotel (Only ten minutes away from the harbour of Ios, in the famous beach of Mylopotas). 
• Skala. 3-min walk from the village. Pool and bar, with good view, great owner and Kiriakos is a good host. 
• The Windmills Rooms, 84001, Chora (Main Village, Chora (near windmills)), ☏ +30 2286091482. Situated in the main village 'Chora' with very good close access to all the bars, clubs and restaurants. 15-40 Euro per person. 

Camping

• Far Out Village & Camping, Mylopotas Beach (Free Pickup from Port). The epicenter of daily beach life at Mylopotas. Cafeteria, pizzeria, 2 bars, 2 swimming pools and direct beach access. The rooms all come with an en suite bathroom with a hairdryer, a minibar, centrally regulated air conditioning, and a private terrace. In addition, a radio, a direct dial telephone and satellite/ cable TV are also provided in all accommodation units as standard. 
• The Purple Pig, in Mylopotas. Cheaper than Far Out; the owners come from Holland.

Go next

Visit the other islands of the Cyclades and the rest of the Aegean Sea. The archipelago contains some 2,200 islands, islets and rocks and only 33 islands are inhabited.

• Santorini, a main island in the Cyclades group
• Mykonos, a main island in the Cyclades group
• Athens, largest city in Greece
• Crete