Tour of Ios Island
Ios island is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Greece and attracts a large number of visitors every year.
It is one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean Sea and well known for its golden sandy beaches, the characteristic Aegean architecture and the intense, crazy nightlife of international fame.
The tourist infrastructure is excellent: you will find modern hotel units, apartments and rooms to let, camping sites, travel agencies, car and motorcycle rentals, taverns, coffee shops and numerous bars and clubs.
Tour of Ios Island
IOS or Chora, the capital, is almost in the center of the west side of the island, 2 kilometers from the harbor.
It spreads around a hill with a superb view of Ormos and charms everyone with its traditional architecture.
It is a typical Cycladic village one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades group.
On the top of the hill are preserved the ruins of a 14th c. Venetian castle, built by the Crispi family that ruled the island.
In Chora you will see the Orthodox Cathedral of the island called Evangelismos (Annuciation) and nearby the church of Agia Ekaterini.
To the right is the marketplace and the two main roads that lead across the village and to the square of the 12 windmills.
Following the road that goes up, you reach the second square of the village.
On the left side coming from this square, the stone steps lead to the old castle of Chora, where is the sublime church of the Panagia Gremniotissa.
Here is the highest point of the village that offers a breathtaking view.
From the square of the 12 mills, you will follow the narrow street that goes up to Prophitis Elias.
Chora Ios
In Chora it is worth visiting the Archaeological Museum which houses interesting finds.
In the capital the visitor will find hotels, pensions, rooms to let, taverns, various shops and numerous bars and clubs.
Ios is the island of entertainment, famous for its lively nightlife. The largest number of bars and nightclubs with various kinds of music is at Chora.
Every night the capital of the island is transformed into a huge party.
ORMOS
An asphalt road links the town with the harbor, called ORMOS (or Gialos).
To the left side of the port stands Agia Irene, a chapel of the 17th century.
Ormos offers a wide range of accommodation: luxury hotel units, pensions, apartments and rooms to let providing all comforts and a great variety of restaurants, taverns, snack bars and coffee shops.
From Ormos boats are leaving for day trips on the island’s beaches.
A path from Agia Irene chapel leads to Valmas and Kolitsani two small sandy beaches.
At the right side of the port you will find the long and popular beach of Gialos with many taverns, cafes, and bars. Gialos beach also offers water sports facilities and a beach bar.
KOUMBARA
The next beach after Gialos is Koumbara (about 20 minutes by foot), a beautiful sandy beach with beach bar, taverns and rooms to let nearby.
Beside this sandy beach there are many smaller ones.
Tour of Ios Island
MYLOPOTAS
The huge organized beach of MYLOPOTAS, with its fine golden sand and crystal clear waters, lies 3 kilometers south of Chora.
It is the busiest beach of the island and offers sun beds, umbrellas, beach bars, taverns, cafes and a great variety of water sports.
At Plakotos, near the northern promontory of Karatza, have been found some ancient tombs, one of which is described by travelers of the 2nd c. BC as the tomb of Homer, though this has not been confirmed. In the same area are the remains of a Hellenistic tower called Psaropyrgos.
AGIA THEODOTI
A road connects Chora with the superb beach of AGIA THEODOTI on the east coast.
It has limpid waters and a sandy beach, taverns and rented rooms, as well as the occasion to admire the 16th century church of St.Theodoti, the oldest on the island.
PSATHI
Another long and beautiful beach ideal for windsurfers is PSATHI with white sand and crystal deep blue waters.
It is the ideal place to find peace and tranquility.
In the area you will find rooms to let and graphic taverns.
MANGANARI
At the south end of the island is the small coastal settlement of MANGANARI known for its sandy beach one of the finest and the most famous in the Aegean Sea.
Various water sports, rooms to let, traditional fish taverns and coffee shops can be found in this wonderful bay.
This untold beauty of the endless beach is combined from other consequent beaches and small gulfs: Tris Klisies, Kalamos, Plakes and Louka.
It is worth visiting the Byzantine monastery of Saint John near the beach of Kalamos.
In this monastery takes place the most important religious festival of the island on 29th August.
In the region there are many seaside taverns where you can taste fresh fish, as well as good accommodation.
Papa beach is an idyllic hidden cove to the south of Kalamos.
It is the ideal place to relax and enjoy swimming and sun bathing.
Plakes is a beautiful beach with crystal waters and soft golden sand.
Tour of Ios Island
TRADITION – EVENTS
The major festivals on the island are celebrated with local instruments, dancing, singing and feasting.
On 15th of May every year, the Homer festival called Homeria takes place in Ios and a flame is carried from the port to his tomb in Plakoto.
LOCAL PRODUCTS
Don’t miss to taste the local products and recipes of Ios island.
The most famous products of the island are the cheeses (kefalotyri, skotyri a soft and acid cheese and sweet myzithra).
Ios offers a wide variety of traditional sweets like pasteli made from the fine local thyme honey and sesame, xerotigana, and amygdalota.
In the taverns of the island you can taste the fine local recipes like revithokeftedes, tomatokeftedes and tsimetia.
