Discovering Ios: Charming Ports, Villages, and Hamlets

Built on the site of the ancient city, the main town is a beautifully preserved, classic Cycladic settlement, internationally renowned for its electric nightlife in clubs that run till dawn. A network of alleys connects the neighborhoods of Hora. Amphitheatrically built, it is crowned by the church of Panagia Gremiotissa, which has a courtyard looking out a remarkable view of the sea. A little higher are three smaller chapels – Agios Nikolaos, Agios Ioannis, and Agios Eleftherios.

Since 1797, Panagia Gremiotissa has been said to “watch over the entire island,” as locals say, and owes its name to the rocky location where it is built. Tradition has it that the icon of the Virgin Mary traveled from Crete to Mylopotas on a raft during the Turkish occupation, and was placed there for safekeeping. Shepherds saw the light from its oil lamp, brought it to Hora, and the icon miraculously indicated the spot where the church would be built – facing Crete.

The Hora has a total of 22 churches. Most were built in the basilica style with domes, and some are classified as Historical Monuments. The most notable are the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Agia Aikaterini, Agios Georgios, and Panagia Kountoutiani. Walking around the settlement in daylight, you can take in typically Cycladic scenes: alleys with ‘dames’ (whitewashed joints between the slabs) and ‘stigadia’ (covered pathways); flower-filled courtyards, small squares, cute grocery stores, and gift shops. Enjoy passing old fountains, children playing in the streets, and groups of women sitting on benches and steps sharing the news of the day.

At sunset, visitors flock to the ‘Spring Square,’ also known as the windmills square, where 12 remaining tower mills create a beautiful backdrop for photos and videos. From this point, the panoramic view of the hill where the Hora is built is stunning.

At night, the scenery changes quite dramatically. Next to the restaurants and cafes, the colorful lights of bars and clubs switch on, music echoes across the land, and the multi-ethnic community of Ios’ ready revelers gathers over drinks and dancing indoors and in the alleys.

Not to miss while in Hora:

Cultural events held on the island take place in this theater, located beyond the windmills, in the Tsoukalaria area, and overlooking a singular view of the Aegean. It was designed in ancient Greek style by Peter Haupt, a professor of architecture at Berlin University and an honorary citizen of Ios. Built with marble and stone it was inaugurated in 1997, bearing the name of the Greek Nobel laureate poet. It accommodates 1,100 spectators.

The Archaeological Museum

Housed since 1998 in the neoclassical Amoiradakeio building, the museum is designed with a modern museological approach. The first hall is dedicated to the Early Cycladic period and the history of archaeological research on the island, while the second focuses on the Middle and Late Bronze Age. The exhibits in these rooms come from excavations at Skarkos. The museum’s third and fourth rooms cover the historical periods. (Tel. 22860 91246).

The lighthouse and the 17th-century church of Agia Irini stand facing each other on the arms of the enclosed bay, the port of Ios. The settlement is amphitheatrically built and has a beautiful sandy beach where you can enjoy water sports. There are shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and rental rooms. Nearby beaches include Tzamaria and Koumbara, where it’s worth staying until dusk to enjoy the sunset.

Tourist boats take you on excursions to Ios’ beaches and the neighboring island of Sikinos. Boat rental offices and a diving center cater to those interested in snorkeling and scuba diving around the rocky islet of Diakofto, Cape Fanari, Valmas beach, and other locations. The Hora is 2.5 km from Ormos.

The most famous beach of Ios has developed into a small settlement consisting mainly of rental houses and rooms, hotels, campsites, ethnic restaurants, traditional taverns, cafe-bars, and shops. The impressive bay, with its turquoise waters, embraces one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cyclades, awarded a Blue Flag. The combination of the cool, crystal-clear sea and the golden sand makes Mylopotas particularly photogenic, especially when viewed from above.

Every summer, thousands of international youths flock to the island’s most fun beach, by now globally renowned for its inexhaustible, all-day clubbing scene. Dancing and partying continue into the night when party animals also head to Hora for clubbing.

In Mylopotas, beach amenities have been recently upgraded, with sun beds and comfortable loungers, and services everything from coffee to meals inspired by various world cuisines, cocktails, and refreshments. Facilities for watersports or diving are also available, and boats of all kinds can be rented. Tourist boats also take off from here to the less crowded beaches, such as Trypiti, Pikri Nero, Klima, Manouso, and Sapounochoma. In June, Mylopotas hosts the National Beach Volleyball Championship, IOS Major. It is only two kilometers from the Hora, so many visitors walk there.

Other harbors and hamlets not to miss:

Psathi

This is a very small seaside settlement with a little harbor, created because of the orchards and vineyards that the few locals cultivate. Psathi is known for its large, sandy beach with wonderful waters, ideal for windsurfing when the winds blow. Nearby, you’ll find other smaller coves. There’s also a tavern and a few rental rooms. It is 17 km east of the Hora.

Epano Kambos

The plain of Kambos, near the Hora to the northwest, is the largest on the island and filled with crops. The small settlement offers rental houses and rooms for those seeking to avoid crowds. Nearby is the famous archaeological site of Skarkos. On the hill, located in a prime spot, a prehistoric site with multiple periods and parts of a well-preserved settlement from the mid-3rd millennium BC was discovered.