When you’re seeking to go to the Greek islands however need to get away from the crowds, you would possibly need to take into account a visit to lesser-known areas of Ios.
Santorini was probably the most in style vacationer locations in 2023 in line with CNN and a few would say is fighting overtourism. If you already know the appropriate locations to go, close by Ios could be a superb various for a extra enjoyable Greek island expertise.
When you’ve researched Ios earlier than, you’ve most likely seen it talked about largely as a celebration island, the place folks of their early 20s go to remain in hostels and hit the golf equipment all night time. That may undoubtedly be true, particularly in July and August. Nevertheless, the events keep on one very small part of the island — the Chora, or outdated city middle, close to the Ios ferry port.
The remainder of the island is quiet, enjoyable, and splendidly devoid of overtourism.
The perfect actions to do in Ios, Greece:
Chill out at Mylopotas Seashore
Mylopotas seashore is maybe probably the most well-known seashore on Ios, which suggests it’s normally crowded. Nonetheless, so far as location goes, you may’t beat the comfort.Many accommodations declare house on the seashore for his or her friends, however there are additionally areas the place you may lease the usage of seashore loungers and umbrellas.
Nonetheless, a day spent on Mylopotas Seashore can really feel enjoyable and splendid. For extra energetic varieties, that is the place to seek out stands to join water sports activities, like scuba diving, wakeboarding, and waterskiing.
Take a small group boat tour to hidden seashores and coves on Ios
From Mylopotas Seashore, you may also join a small group boat tour that takes you to hidden coves solely accessible by boat. Over the course of 3-4 hours, you’ll get to go to a number of hidden seashores the place you may sunbathe or swim as you see match.
These excursions are small, native operations, so that you received’t discover them on in style journey reserving websites. Simply discuss to your resort concierge or stroll as much as the ocean sport shack on Mylopotas seashore to rearrange your journey instantly.
Tip: Undoubtedly plan to e book it at the least a day earlier than you need to go, or much more in the event you’re going throughout peak vacationer season.
Go to the tomb of Homer
Whereas nobody is aware of for certain when or the place historical Greek poet Homer lived, there are numerous legends that declare Ios because the island the place he’s buried. Homer is without doubt one of the most well-known writers in all of historical past, up there with William Shakespeare. He’s credited with authoring each The Illiad and The Odyssey, recounting legendary tales of the Trojan Conflict and the lengthy and fraught homeward journey of its hero, Odysseus.
A go to to Homer’s tomb is an absolute must-do exercise whereas on Ios. Even in the event you’re not up in your historical Greek literature, you’ll benefit from the gorgeous coastal views on the stroll and the sensation of being the one one round for miles and miles. This could even be the right spot to carry a picnic lunch.
To get to this Ios vacation spot, you have to to lease a automotive or ATV and be ready for a couple of 20-minute (lovely) stroll.
Hike to the ruins of Paleocastro
These in search of an energetic vacation on Ios can hike to the ruins of a citadel known as Paleocastro.. On this lovely hike, you will have attractive views of the deep blues of the Aegean sea the entire method. On a transparent day, you’ll even see views of the close by islands, together with Paros and Naxos.
These citadel ruins date again to Byzantine occasions, and so they’re open to guests with out entrance or restrictions (although as all the time, be respectful. Let’s maintain the ruins round for a lot of extra centuries to come back). You’ll additionally cross one of many attractive Ios church buildings in your method.
The hike is on a well-maintained path and can take about 20-Half-hour every method. Remember the fact that the path is totally uncovered, so particularly if you’re mountaineering in the course of the scorching summer season months, carry solar safety and many water.
It’s an off-the-beaten-track hike, that’s for certain. We bumped into just one different couple once we hiked it, and loved having the run of the place to ourselves. For this Ios exercise, you’ll must lease a automotive or an ATV, as a result of it’s actually in the midst of nowhere on the island
Learn a e book on the secluded Agia Theodoti seashore
Agia Theodoti seashore is without doubt one of the finest seashores in Ios. It may be difficult to seek out sandy seashores on the volcanic islands, however this one has obtained sand that goes on and on, and so few folks it seems like a personal getaway.
It’s nestled away on the much less populated northern facet of Ios, so that you’ll find yourself driving about Half-hour to get right here, but it surely’s nicely price it. The water is ideal for swimming or snorkeling, and also you’ll have loads of house to unfold out and maybe get pleasure from studying a novel set in Greece.
Do a cheese tasting at Diaseli Conventional Cheesery
One of the vital pleasant experiences to have on Ios island is to tour a conventional cheesery. Attending to this cheesery would require transportation, but it surely’s nicely price it to get away from the resort areas, get pleasure from scrumptious cheese, and be taught concerning the conventional method of Greek island life.
At Diaseli Conventional Cheesery, you may select to tour the farm, do a cheese tasting, or mix the 2 actions (I extremely suggest doing each!). The farm tour is small however quaint and is without doubt one of the finest methods to be taught extra about life on the Greek islands earlier than tourism grew to become the dominant trade.
There’s a reproduction of what a home would have regarded like for farmers on Ios, and the tour information will inform you numerous concerning the day-to-day life and tradition of the Greeks residing right here.
The resident cheese maker, Dimitris, is descended from a protracted line of cheese makers on his farm, and nonetheless makes it in the best way his grandfather taught him. In the course of the tasting, you’ll get to take a seat in a beautiful outside patio space and style some wonderful sheep’s milk cheeses, all made utilizing the normal strategies.
After I did the tasting, in addition they threw in a carafe of do-it-yourself wine, honey from the property, and a few scrumptious olives. It was an absolute delight to do each the tour and tasting, and it’s an exercise you shouldn’t miss whereas on Ios.
You possibly can e book the tour upfront by calling the cheesery, or you may simply present up and see if they will accommodate you.
Take footage in entrance of the enduring blue-domed church buildings
Vacationers annually flock to Santorini and stand in lengthy traces of different vacationers to get a photograph in entrance of the enduring blue-domed church buildings. However that is completely pointless, as most of the different, much less touristy Greek islands additionally function these identical church buildings!
That’s undoubtedly true of Ios, which has a number of places the place yow will discover and {photograph} these attractive, whitewashed buildings. In actual fact, Ios is typically known as the island of 365 church buildings, as a result of, you guessed it, there are 365 church buildings on this small island. One for on daily basis of the 12 months, which suggests there’s no scarcity of alternatives to see or {photograph} them.
So skip the Santorini crowds and have your personal personal photograph shoot with one of many attractive Greek church buildings on Ios. Merely drive across the island, or stroll across the Chora, the outdated city, and also you’ll come throughout them each step of the best way. With 365 of them, they’re truthfully exhausting to keep away from.
Attend a summer season live performance or play at an outside amphitheater
Overlooking the remainder of the island of Ios, there’s a attractive outside amphitheater known as the Odysseas Elytis theater. It’s named after a Greek poet and Nobel prize winner of the identical title.
The Odysseas Elytis theater is a contemporary development of marble, however in-built a classical roman theater fashion, and the views of the remainder of the island can’t be beat. In the course of the summer season months, the municipality of Ios places on a sequence of cultural leisure right here, which can embody music live shows, performs, or different occasions. When you’re visiting in the course of the summer season, this expertise needs to be on the prime of your record.
When you go to in the course of the off season and there aren’t any live shows when you’re visiting, that is nonetheless an incredible place to catch the sundown over Ios.
Try the outdated windmills
Close by the Odysseas Elytis theater are the well-known outdated windmills over Ios. These are previously operational windmills that when floor grain that was grown on the island. Now, they’re a weathered however lovely reminder of occasions passed by.
There are 12 windmills in whole on Ios, these most have been utterly run down. They make for nice photographs and nice views over the Chora, particularly at sundown.
Discover the island by ATV
ATVs are in style rental decisions for guests to the Greek islands, and I believe Ios is a good place to do it. On Santorini, the roads are so congested with automobiles and buses, it may be extremely harmful to attempt to navigate these roads with an ATV.
On Ios, the roads are rather more open, and actually, most of the roads on Ios are unpaved and solely actually appropriate for ATV driving. Which means you may get away from the crowds of the Chora and discover rather more of the island.
You possibly can e book your ATV upfront, or just stroll to a number of rental places close to the ferry port within the Chora. Simply bear in mind it received’t be an appropriate strategy to get your luggage to your resort except you solely carry a small backpack!
Methods to get to Ios
Take the ferry from Athens.
One choice for arriving in Ios is to take a ferry from Athens Port Piraeus. There are a variety of corporations that run ferries, and the journey time could be anyplace from 5.5 – 9 hours, relying on the ferry’s pace and the variety of stops alongside the best way.
From my expertise, the ferry was large and completely snug, with assigned seats that recline, free Wifi, loos, and even meals on the market on board. It appeared all the ferry obtained off at Santorini, whereas solely a handful of us obtained off on the Ios port. I used to be fairly happy with my alternative and getting away from Santorini crowds!
Simply notice that taking the ferry will primarily take a full day of journey out of your journey itinerary.
Fly into Santorini airport and take a shorter ferry from there. Ios may be very near Santorini, which has a world airport on the island. If you wish to scale back your journey time, fly into Santorini airport and catch a shorter, 30-minute ferry to Ios. Simply be certain that to examine timetables and permit for potential flight delays.
These 10 actions in Ios, Greece, are certain that can assist you have a soothing and enjoyable vacation whereas escaping the vacationer crowds of the Greek islands.
Visitor put up by Constance of A Effectively-Learn Wanderer.
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