IOS, GREECE: SUMMER PARADISE IN THE CYCLADES
Ios is a lovely Cycladic gem that sits nestled between Santorini, Paros and Naxos in the Aegean Sea. The island boasts a particularly stunning coastline riddled with sparkling turquoise coves that serve up an epic stop for island hoppers. For travelers seeking a more budget-friendly destination after hemorrhaging Euros on Santorini, Ios is great option, and generally pretty affordable. Below is my complete guide to the island including the best beaches, resorts, hotels, restaurants viewpoints, sunset spots, Google Map pins and more.
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One of the prettiest places in all of Greece is secluded Never Bay.
HOW MANY DAYS ON IOS?
THREE TO FOUR DAYS. For tourists that want visit the island’s best beaches and secret coves, three to four days is a good amount of time to see it all at a leisurely pace.
Two of my favorite things in the Ios Chora: gelato & cats.
WHEN TO VISIT IOS IOS
- MAY, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER (shoulder season) – June and September are my favorite months to visit Ios. The weather is warm enough enjoy the island’s dazzling coastline, but crowds aren’t nearly as intense as July and August.
- JULY, AUGUST (high season) – Summer crowds pour in during these months, and temperatures can be unbearably hot if you’re not in the water. Hotel prices peak in July and August.
- NOVEMBER-MARCH (low season) – Avoid visiting in low season when the weather is cold and island closes down.
Exploring the island Chora.
IOS TIPS
- CURRENCY – The official currency of Greece is the Euro. Most places on the island accept credit card, but I always try to have cash handy for small purchases.
- BUDGET FRIENDLY – If you compare Ios to some of the other islands in The Cyclades, it’s actually pretty affordable, especially coming from Santorini or Mykonos. There are plenty of budget hotel option, and food and drinks are very reasonable.
- FLOATOPIA 2024 – The dates for the iconic floatie party on the water at Harmony Restaurant & Bar have been announced – June 13, July 18, August 8 and September 12. It’s going to be a vibe!
Church of Panagia Gremniotissa.
EXPLORE IOS
AGIA EKATERINI CHURCH
Beautiful small church at the entry to to the Ios Choa. Agia Ekaterini sits right in front of the Cathedral Church of Ios, and both serve up the loveliest white-washed backdrop.
AGIA IRINI
This beautiful 17th century white church is the first landmark visitors see as they pull into the island’s port by ferry. Agia Irini is walking distance from the port.
CHORA
The island Chora is small, but the vibrant heart of Ios. Scattered along the narrow labyrinth of alleyways are churches, boutiques, windmills and apartments. The Chora is pretty quiet during the day, and comes to life around sunset when most shops, bars and restaurants open up for business.
CHORA VIEWPOINT
A small white church sits atop this little hill that faces the island Chora and the Four Churches on the Hill. It’s a lesser known viewpoint, but one of my favorites on Ios. For exact location of the viewpoint, search Άγιοι Ανάργυροι on Google Maps. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Chora.
CATHEDRAL OF IOS
The blinding white Cathedral of Ios is a towering structure with blue domes and a bellower that is the first thing most visitors see when they arrive at the Chora. Surrounding the cathedral are cafes, bars, boutiques and restaurants.
EKKLISIA PANAGIA GREMIOTISSA
Also known as the Church of Virgin Mary of the Cliff, this beautiful blue domed church sits atop the Chora with sweeping views of the surrounding town and coastline.
FOUR CHURCHES ON THE HILL
There are four tiny white churches that sit perched on the hill that overlooks the Chora. It’s an easy 15-minute hike up to reach them, and the setting from atop the hill is a beautiful place to sit down and watch the sunset.
MANGANARI BEACH
A south coast beach where calm turquoise water meets soft sand. Great spot to spend the day soaking in the Aegean sunshine. There are umbrellas and sun beds available to rent.
MYLOPOTAS BEACH
Mylopotas is the most popular beach on the island, home to a long stretch of sand, beach umbrellas, sun beds and calm turquoise water. It’s a short drive from the Chora, a quick ride on the local air conditioned bus.
NEVER BAY
The epic sparkling waters of Never Bay is one of the prettiest coves on Ios. It isn’t the easiest place to reach, only accessible by boat or a bumpy road and exposed hike, but it’s well worth the effort. The clear turquoise waters are breathtaking, and offer up a lovely afternoon of swimming, floating and gnarly cliff jumps.
TRIPITI BEACH
Another beach that isn’t the easiest to get to – and its inaccessibility helps keep the masses away. Most visitors arrive by boat, or trek over from Managari, but an exposed hike in the heat can be brutal in summer. For those that make it, this beach is an idyllic haven – a sandy cove complete with calm blue waters and plenty of viewpoints from above.
Heart shaped rock pool at Calilo, the prettiest resort on the island.
IOS HOTELS
A new sister property to famed Calilo, Agalia Luxury Suites overlooks the island’s port close to the Chora. Similar to Calilo, the design of the suites and pools is artful and completely unique. Suites range in size from one to three bedrooms featuring everything from marble tubs to extravagant outdoor plunge pools.
Calilo exploded on social media as the hot new property in the Greek islands. The resort’s 30 stone suites sit on the island’s east coast along with picturesque heart shaped stone pools, floral swings, outdoor stone tubs and infinity pools that overlook a private bay. It’s a popular stay for celebrities thanks to the unique design, remote location and hefty price tag.
Mid-range collection of suites and villas that sit over Mylopotas Beach, a short drive from the Chora. Hideout Suites is one of the newer properties on the island – suites are fresh, clean and spacious, all with Cycladic design cues and private pools.
One of my favorite boutique hotels in Greece. Liostasi is a 10-minute walk from the Chora – the town is completely accessible, but not too close. I walked to town every day – never had to drive or take a taxi. The property faces the sunset, offering up spectacular views over the Aegean Sea from the pool deck and several suite balconies. Rooms are spacious, stylish, clean and modern.
Luxurious five-bedroom villa that’s a short drive from Mylopotas Beach. The five bedrooms make Mylo a fabulous option for groups. Design is minimalist with neutrals that blend with the stone relief walls. The villa has a private infinity pool that faces that Aegean Sea.
A budget friendly option located at the end of Mylopotas Beach. The rooms at Psili Ammos are small, but clean with Cycladic styling. And balconies offer up lovely views of the Aegean Sea.
Dinner with a view at The Mills – the grilled sea bass was delicious!
Greek tapas at Katogi and fresh pasta from La Buca.
GREECE GOOGLE MAP PINS
Every summer I visit the Greek Islands, and now I’m sharing more than 400 of my Google map pins across 12 islands with you guys here. The map is savable to your Google account, and easy to use for trip planning and navigation once on the ground in Greece.
Map pins include:
- must-visit destinations, churches, historic sites, viewpoints
- hotels, villas and Airbnbs
- bars, cafes, gelato shops, restaurants
- beaches, cliff jumping locations, secret coves, sea caves
- boat rental companies, ferry ports
- photos from several of these locations
Islands included in the map: Corfu, Crete, Ios, Kastellorizo, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros + Antiparos, Paxos + Antipaxos, Santorini
My 400 Google Map pins from the Greek islands are available here.
IOS BARS, GELATO & RESTAURANTS
HARMONY
Visit for the vibe! Harmony is a Mexican restaurant perched on the cliffs at the north end of Mylopotas. Tapas menu includes street corn, fajitas, grilled prawns, fish tacos, chicken burritos, salads and more. Harmony is home to island’s iconic Floatopia where once a year, dozens of beachgoers show up with fun floaties and jump in the water at Flat Rock.
L’ARTE DEL GELATO
This is one of the only gelato shops on the island, making L’arte a popular spot on a warm summer day. It’s located at the base of the Chora, perfectly situated to grab a cone and then explore town.
LA BUCA
A nice alternative to Greek food is La Buca’s Italian offerings including fresh pasta dishes, salads and pizza. A must is their salty homemade focaccia that is served smothered in olive oil. So delicous!
LOST BOYS BAR
This popular Chora Bar is the place to party in the Chora. Drinks flow at the bustling bar that is filled with music, beer pong, and friendly Aussies. If you ask nicely, they’ll provide directions to Never Bay.
KAFENEIO H NIOS
A cluster of colorful wooden chairs fill a small white-washed square where guests sit under blooming pink flowers. Great spot for a drink in the evening – the most colorful cafe Ios.
KATOGI
Katogi is considered the best restaurant on the island, and for good reason. The delicious Greek tapas at this little gem in the Chora are fresh, delicious and bursting with flavor. Menu is a mix of meats, seafood, salad, lentils, veggies and cheese dishes – something for all taste buds. Reservations are an absolute must – the restaurant is small and fills up every evening.
THE MILLS
This is the prettiest dinner setting in the Chora, located across from the windmills in an open courtyard. The Mills serves classic Greek dishes and seafood – my favorites were the homemade pita, tzatziki and whole grilled sea bass.
NEST
Popular restaurant in the Chora that serves traditional Greek dishes, as well as seafood options.
NUTELLERIA
Fresh, delicious crepe stop located across from the island Chora.
Chasing windmills on Ios.
GET AROUND IOS
If you don’t plan to venture beyond the Chora and Mylopotas Beach, it’s easy enough to explore on foot and access the beach by bus. For visitors with more time on the island, scooters and cars are available to rent at the port. There are no big brand names on the island for rentals. And if you plan to rent a car or scooter, most places require an international drivers license. Americans can get this from an AAA office for $20 by filling out an application.
Colorful spot for drinks in the Chora.
GET TO IOS
Unlike neighboring Naxos, Santorini and Paros, the island of Ios does not have an airport. It’s only accessible by sea. Ferry stops are frequent – schedules are posted on Ferry Hopper, which I use to to book all my ferry tickets within Greece.
