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You want to take your next trip to Greece to the Cyclades islands, right?
Great decision!
The Cyclades are a group of 39 islands in southern Greece, between Athens and Crete, 24 of which are inhabited. They truly embody the Greek postcard countryside with their white and blue buildings, churches, and winding, small streets.
You fantasize about watching the sunset in Santorini. To have fun on Mykonos to travel to lesser-known islands like Andros, Amorgos, Paros, Naxos, or Tinos?
Then you should read this travel guide!
I’ve put up this list of the top Cyclades islands for you to visit to assist you in planning your vacation. I’ll provide you with more information about the top activities, attractions, and must-see locations on each island. Detailed itineraries for visiting the Cyclades in a week, ten days, or two weeks will also be provided.
Which Cyclades islands should you go to?
Let’s investigate!
Best Cyclades islands: The absolute manual.
- Santorini
- Mykonos
- Delos
- Paros and Antiparos
- Naxos
- Amorgos
- Syros
- Milos
- Tinos
- Andros
- Ios
- Sifnos
- Serifos
- Folegandros
- The Small Cyclades
Travelling to the Cyclades:
- By ferry
- By plane
How do you decide which Cyclades Islands are best to visit?
Charter a yacht or catamaran in the Cyclades
Renting a car in the Cyclades
Tourist map of the Cyclades
Greece Tours
1) Santorini
You must visit Santorini if you are considering a trip to the Greek Islands! The Cyclades archipelago is without a doubt the most well-known and popular island.
You will undoubtedly spend some time in line to get THE best shot of the city’s recognizable white church with a blue dome that can be seen on every postcard. Also, it can be challenging to find a suitable place in the heart of the crowd when going to watch the sunset. But once you arrive, you’ll realize that the volcanic island of Santorini is definitely worth the trip—breathtaking!
Another must-see sight on your Cyclades trip is the Caldera trek from Fira to Oia, where you can take in the stunning panoramic views from the settlements.
The top activities in Santorini are:
● Fira: Visit the caldera’s summit to take in the island’s numerous vistas. To go to the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli from Fira, you must walk for 30 minutes. You can visit Golden Street if you want to enjoy the stores, eateries, and coffee shops there.
● Imerovigli: Is a town 300 meters above sea level at the summit of the caldera that is frequently referred to as Santorini’s balcony.
Oia is without a doubt the ideal location to view a sunset. You will capture stunning images of Santorini while strolling through the narrow streets of Oia!
● Black Beach: A volcanic black sand beach.
● Red Beach: named after the ochre cliffs surrounding it.
● Nea Kamini: A sailing tour around this volcano and hot spring swimming are both options.
● Akrotiri is one of Greece’s most significant archaeological sites.
The Cyclades island that couples or honeymooners should visit is without a doubt Santorini.
2. Mykonos
The Cyclades’ Mykonos is the ideal island for a night out. Together with Santorini, it is the other Cyclades island with more than a million visitors annually.
You may dance all day and all night on the island with well-known DJs! Remember to set aside sizable cash if you want to enjoy Mykonos because the costs can be extremely exorbitant, especially during the summer.
In addition, Mykonos is well known for having some of Greece’s most stunning beaches. Again, there are no secluded coves where you can swim and relax. Going to the beach on Mykonos means taking in the cool techno bars and celebrities on their yachts!
Go to the beaches of Elia, Paradise, Super Paradise, or Psarou if you’re seeking this type of party environment.
Mykonos is the ideal location for you to visit with your friends in the Cyclades, and you could combine it with a weekly cruise.
3. Delos
You must take the yacht from Mykonos to get there. You may only visit the island as part of a 4-hour excursion because it is not permitted to spend the night there.
For its ancient archaeological site, Delos is well-known. The birthplaces of Apollo and Artemis were thought to have occurred at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then it turned into a place for deity worship. The earliest temples date back to the eighth century B.C.
The top attractions to see in Delos, in the Cyclades, are listed below:
● The Terrace of the Lions, and its alignment of Lion’s statues along an alley.
● The temple of the Delians: the biggest temple dedicated to Apollo
● The House of Masks
● The House of the Dolphins
● The Archaeological Museum
● The temple of the Athenians
● The Sanctuary of Apollo
● The House of Dionysus
● The Sacred Lake, where Apollo is said to be born
● The Sanctuary of Dionysus
4. Paros and Antiparos
Let’s go on to Paros in this travelogue for the Cyclades.
The island of Paros, which is part of the Cyclades, is renowned for its numerous sandy beaches, stunning natural scenery, and traditional settlements. In the past, Paros was famed for producing fine marble that was used to create many masterpieces, including the “Venus de Milo”!
The top tourist destinations in Paros are:
● The capital is Parikia. Don’t overlook the Kastro and its churches.
● Naoussa is a fashionable fishing village with quaint shops and eateries.
● Lefkes is a tiny mountain town renowned for its breathtaking sea views. Take a stroll among the olive groves along the 3 km long Byzantine trail that connects Lefkes and Podromos from the hamlet.
● Piso Livadi harbor, where you can have delicious fresh fish cooked.
● Paros Park: explore the lovely views of the coast and the lighthouse by taking one of the three designated trails. There is also a pretty lovely beach with shallow water that you can enjoy.
5. Naxos
The small island of Antiparos, which is in front of Paros, is quite simple to get to from that island. You can even cross with your rental car on the ferry, which travels from Pounta town to Antiparos in about ten minutes. In the summer, you can also travel from Parikia to Antiparos (without a vehicle this time!)
The largest island in the Cyclades is Naxos. There, you can take advantage of a variety of lovely beaches and explore far-flung mountain settlements.
The top activities in Naxos are listed below:
● The capital city of the island is called Chora. Take a stroll through the Kastro neighborhood, explore the Old Market lanes, and take in the Portara (at the port entrance).
● Filoti: A charming alpine community.
● Halki: A different mountain community. You can stroll on numerous clearly defined paths from there. Don’t overlook the church, which is reachable after a 10-minute stroll through the olive groves. (Just heed the directions.)
● Another charming mountain settlement is Apiranthos. Explore its alleyways and delight in its little museums.
● A 10-meter-tall statue of Apollo or Dionysus is known as the Kouros of Apollonas.
The ascent of Mount Zeus, Naxos’ highest point, through the walk.
And if you want to experience Naxos’ top beaches, try these:
● Agiassos is a sizable, rather untamed beach with plenty of parking and a tavern.
● Three tiny beach coves can be found between Agiassos and Pyrgaki. The area is peaceful and gorgeous. It’s ideal for a swim.
● Pyrgaki is a sizable beach.
● Another sizable beach with a view of Paros is Kastraki.
● Mikri Vigla: A beautiful place to kitesurf and two windy beaches (south and north).
● Agia Anna: a beach with little sand. The public beach and the private beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas are both available there.
● Agios Prokopios is a beach that is both public and private. It was the busiest I saw in Naxos when I was there.
6. Amorgos
Which Cyclades Island is the greatest for hiking?
Amorgos!
The numerous designated walking pathways on this island are well-known. For instance, you can climb from the Monastery of Chozoviotissa to the village of Potamos or from the village of Langada to the Timios Stavros Church. In Amorgos, these two hikes are among the most well-known.
Also, you can travel a 9 km long, clearly indicated trail to find the lovely towns of Potamos, Langada, and Tholaria.
In addition to trekking, these are the top attractions of Amorgos:
● Chora, the capital of Amorgos a charming village with several cafes and traditional restaurants. Take the trek and ascend to the historic windmills that are situated above the settlement.
● The island’s two ports, Katapola and Aegiali, each include a few stores and eateries.
● The magnificent Panagia Chozoviotissa Byzantine Monastery is situated behind a tall cliff and offers views of the ocean.
● It is a little, rocky beach called Agia Anna Cove. The adjoining tiny white chapel makes the place incredibly picturesque.
● Mouros Beach, which is wind-protected.
● I consider Kalotaritissia to be Amorgos’ most gorgeous beach. Its lovely sand and blue waves will win you over.
● The movie “The Big Blueshipwreck. “‘s As you may be aware, Amorgos served as the backdrop for a portion of this Jean Reno picture.
7. Syros
Although being one of the smallest islands in the Cyclades, Syros serves as the administrative hub, the capital, and the island with the highest population.
There are a few neoclassical structures that can be found in Ermoupoli, Syros’ capital city, including the city hall, which is situated near Miaouli Square. Avoid missing the Municipal Theater “Apollo,” which resembles a scaled-down version of Milan’s “La Scala.”
Then stroll through the Vaporia neighborhood, which is on Ermoupoli’s eastern side. You can appreciate several stunning neoclassical mansions there.
Some top attractions in Syros include:
● Ano Syros village with all of its lookout points, churches, and monasteries.
● Beach called Azolimnos, which is adjacent to Ermoupoli.
● Galissas: from there, you may hike up the hill to get a fantastic 360-degree panorama of the hamlet.
● Sand beach Finikas Beach is popular with vacationers.
● Kini, Delfini, Aetos, and Lia beaches.
8. Milos
The shoreline of the volcanic island of Milos is renowned for its unusual rock formations and breathtakingly high cliffs that descend to the water.
You might not be aware of this, but Milos has the most beaches among the Cyclades.
Unfortunately, due to the island’s highly developed mining industry, the interior of the island is less intriguing than the exterior. Milos is the first European Union country to extract perlite and bentonite.
The Cyclades island of Milos has the following top attractions:
● Milos’ principal port, Adamas, is home to various eateries and hotels.
● The finest site to see the sunset in Milos is from Plaka, which is also where lovely walks begin.
● Klima is a charming fishing village with cliff-side homes that are beautifully colored.
● Tripiti and the gulf in view.
● The famed “Venus de Milo,” on display at the Louvre in Paris, was found by a farmer at the Roman Theatre.
Milos is known for its gorgeous beaches, as I mentioned previously. The most well-known beach is undoubtedly Sarakiniko, with its white rocks and clear waves. The beaches of Kiriaki, Provatas, and Papafragas are also accessible.
Simply take a yacht or catamaran excursion around the island of Milos to view its numerous unusual rock formations if you want to experience the must-see sight on Milos. You will also find many beaches and coves on this route that are not reachable by automobile, such Kleftiko beach.
At Milos, there are numerous cruises offered with a variety of destinations, yachts, or even catamarans. Select based on your interests and spending limit!
Have a look at this one if you’re searching for a fancy boat tour.
9. Tinos
One of the main places of pilgrimage for Greek Orthodox is Tinos. Thousands of people travel there each year to pray at the churches of Panagia Megalochari or Evangelistria.
There are lots of stunning locations to see in Tinos, even if you’re not particularly religious. Some of the top destinations on this Cyclades island are listed below:
● The capital is Hora. Using white marble from Tinos, it constructed a stunning church. Many shops and dining options are available as well.
● Kechrovouni Monastery has multiple houses and is set out like a small village.
● Volax is a tiny settlement surrounded by huge, gray boulders.
● Kardiani: The town and the route leading there both provide stunning views of the bay and the beaches below.
● The largest village on Tinos, Pyrgos, is well known for its marble.
● Panormos is a wonderfully adorable port with a lot of seaside eateries.
● Tarambados, home of the renowned pigeon towers
● With its two lovely sand beaches, Kolimbithra.
10. Andros
● Andros is the ideal island if you want to enjoy both hiking in the Cyclades and gorgeous beaches.
● Throughout the island, there are 18 clearly marked paths with varying lengths (from 30 minutes to 6 hours) and levels of difficulty (easy or moderate). Purchasing the Andros hiking map from one of the gift stores is the simplest method to organize your hikes.
● Moreover, you can visit the Andros Route website to learn more about the island’s recognized paths.
Some top attractions in Andros include:
● Gavrio: A port with shops and eateries where you will be arriving.
A charming seaside town with a great beach is Batsi.
● The capital of Andros: Simply stroll along the main avenue to the bridge and the tiny island.
● Apikia, from whence several hikes depart.
● Felos beach: A sizable, charming bay-side shingle beach.
● Agios Petros, Chrissi Amnos, and Kipri are just a few of the many sand beaches you can find between Gavrio and Batsi.
11. Ios
You may think of Ios as the younger sister of Mykonos. It’s unquestionably a terrific location to go if you want to have a blast and party all night.
Your schedule in Ios will be rather straightforward: spend the day lounging at the beach and getting some rest. ThEnglish when night falls, have a good time until dawn in one of the island’s many hip bars! The majority of visitors to Ios are young and from Northern Europe.
You can experience the greatest nightlife on Ios from June to September.
On the island, there are numerous lovely beaches where you can swim. Try Mylopotas Beach, Kalamos Beach, or Manganari Beach, for instance.
12. Sifnos
Sifnos is most known for its superb gastronomy and ceramics. It is a reputation for having some of the Cyclades’ best meals!
The island is renowned for being a paradise for hikers.
Throughout the island, there are a dozen routes and approximately 100 km of defined trails. You can always find a trail that suits you, whether you want to take a quick stroll or a strenuous climb. Don’t forget to purchase the marked trails Map once you arrive on the island.
Apollonia to Mount Profitis Ilias is the starting point of one of the island’s best walks. From Artemonas, one can travel to the Panagia Poulati Monastery and the Kastro settlement.
The top attractions in Sifnos are as follows:
● The port of arrival for the ferries is Kamares. If you’re traveling with youngsters, you’ll like the lovely beach there with shallow water.
● The nation’s capital, Apollonia, is a maze of narrow lanes lined with boutique stores, eateries, and coffee shops.
● One of Sifnos’ most picturesque settlements, Artemonas features traditional Venetian architecture.
● Kastro is a hamlet from that era.
● Faros is a tiny fishing village. You can stroll from there to the Chrisopigi Monastery.
● The longest sand beach in the Cyclades archipelago is Plati Gialos Beach.
13. Serifos
You’re seeking solitude during your vacation in the Cyclades. Then you should without a doubt visit Serifos.
You can spend a lot of time there admiring the island’s mountains and barren slopes.
When you are in Serifos, you can go to:
● Livadi’s harbor.
● Enjoy the stunning views of the plains from Livadakia Beach in Hora, the capital Moni Taxiarchon Monastery, and Panagia village.
● Beaches at Lia, Agios Sostis, Karavi, Avlomonas, and Psili Amnos.
14. Folegandros
One of the most picturesque settlements in the Cyclades may be found on the island of Folegandros. A typical Cycladic village, Hora has vibrant squares and white and blue buildings. Don’t forget to visit the chapel located above the village to take in the breathtaking view of the island.
Folegandros has a lot of beaches as well, but only a yacht can reach the most stunning ones. You can take a daily or weekly catamaran trip around the island, stopping frequently to jump in the water, if you want to learn more about them.
15. The Small Cyclades
Between Naxos and Amorgos lies a collection of islands known as the Little Cyclades.
It is a little archipelago with numerous smaller islands.
Ios, Schinoussa, Keros, Amorgos, and Anafi are just a few of the Cyclades’ smaller islands that you may visit on a weekly trip that departs from Santorini.
Every island in the Cyclades provides a distinctive landscape and a totally different vibe.