What is the island of Ios in Greece? All about Greece
Walk through the streets of Chora
The capital of the island is the village of Chora. Tourists enjoy strolling here along the clean streets, admiring the neat snow-white houses, churches and windmills on the picturesque hills. The main attractions of the island are also located in Chora. Here are just a few of them:
Throughout the island you can find many interesting historical places - the ruins of ancient temples, the ruins of a water supply system. Beaches of Ios
The beautiful nature of the island will not leave anyone indifferent. The hills covered with vineyards, olive groves, bays with crystal clear water, and sandy beaches are impressive. Separate mention must be made about the beaches. All the beaches of Ios are famous for their clean water. One of them - Mylopotas- one of the ten best beaches in Europe. A Manganari beach was awarded the UNESCO Blue Flag for the cleanliness of the water and shore. This beach is located several tens of kilometers from the capital, in a bay. There are no big waves here and it is quite shallow, which is ideal for families with children.
The best time for relaxation is considered to be from May to the end of September. The air temperature at this time is 25-30 degrees. In winter, the thermometer drops to 8-10 degrees Celsius. In summer, buses regularly run around the island, taking tourists to the beaches. In addition, you can always rent a car or scooter. Water sports lovers will never be bored - here you can go diving, try your hand at surfing or go sailing. Ios is an ideal place where you can have a great rest, see archaeological and cultural monuments, and practice your favorite sport.
Charming Ios is rightfully considered one of the most picturesque Cyclades islands. It is especially popular among young travelers and beach lovers, as it is famous for its trendy nightclubs and picturesque beaches. The lively atmosphere is characteristic mainly of the capital of the island, and outside of Chora, even at the height of the tourist season, there is usually a very pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. Those who prefer to devote a significant part of their vacation to exploring the sights will not be disappointed either. Ios has several very interesting historical symbols, acquaintance with which will give a lot of impressions.
You should start getting acquainted with the historical heritage of the island with a walk around the capital, one of the symbols of which is the Church of St. Irene. The snow-white church amazes with its simplicity and charm; it is located in close proximity to the port area, and therefore is the first object on the list of numerous tourist routes. It is recommended to walk around the territory of Chora exclusively on foot; from the port area it will not be difficult to get to the city center.
Foreign guests may find this miniature town incredibly colorful and original; flashes of bright colors can be seen everywhere against the backdrop of snow-white buildings. City streets are decorated with thousands of fragrant flowers, and the main distinguishing feature of local houses is the presence of colorful details - shutters, window sills and doors. The capital of the island is located on a high hill, the top of which is worth climbing to the top of all lovers of hiking. Copyright www.site
Here, in addition to spacious viewing platforms, you can find several elegant snow-white chapels with blue domes - typical architectural monuments in the national style. Coming down the hill, you can see the most interesting attraction of Ios - the windmills; for many years they continue to function properly, despite their impressive age.
An interesting historical site is located in the town of Paleokastro. Here you can see a beautiful Venetian fortress, which was built in the 15th century. The history of the island is inextricably linked with the name of Homer; it is believed that it was here that he spent the last days of his life and was buried. His tomb is located among the ruins of the ancient city of Plakotos, a walk through which will certainly appeal to history buffs.
Among other outstanding attractions, it is worth noting the Church of St. Catherine, which is located in the town of Agia Ekaterini. Local residents consider St. Catherine their patroness; many amazing stories are associated with the church. For many years, the island of Ios attracted scientists and archaeologists who explored its most protected areas. You can see the fruits of their labors at the local Archaeological Museum, which displays an interesting collection of finds.
Travelers who are interested in contemporary painting and sculpture will be interested in visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, located in Kolitsani. A rich collection of works by contemporary painters is presented here, and interesting cultural events are regularly held. Monuments of ancient times have also been preserved on the island, including a beautiful amphitheater. It is clearly visible from the top of Chora Hill. Vacationers also have the opportunity to walk through the archaeological area and admire the ruins of a once large-scale structure.
On the island of Ios is one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece - Mylopota Bay. The length of this sandy beach is about 1,000 meters, it is very calm and flat, so family tourists choose it for relaxation. The beach has a well-developed infrastructure; nearby there are popular hotels, restaurants and entertainment centers. Ormos also has a very attractive beach that will appeal to fans of relaxation in a comfortable environment.
And surrounded by six more nearby territories of the Cyclades archipelago.
Ios stretches almost two dozen kilometers in length, half of which is its width. It’s a long way from the mainland main port - you have to sail more than a hundred kilometers. The island's population in the nineteenth century was twice its current size. The main activity is the tourism industry.
Island roof over your head
Hotels were placed where they are most needed. There are almost one hundred and thirty places of accommodation for tourists and just residents of the mainland who come en masse on weekends: hotels, apartments, apart-hotels, guest houses, bungalows.
Hotels are located in two south-eastern bays, mainly in coastal areas. A little to the north they came to a mountainous area where there are sights of Ios.
Located south of others in the settlement of Mylopotas guest house Psili Ammos. It looks like a white-winged butterfly frozen on the rocks. In reality, it is an amazingly beautiful and architecturally complex complex for an island consisting of three one-story cube rooms. He goes down the stone boulders to the sea, like steps. We came out of the gate - and here is your beach!
Each room has its own veranda, all household and digital amenities. There is a tavern in the hall. And dishes from freshly caught fish will be prepared for you on the shore. Two other popular beaches, Manganari and Papa, are located at a considerable distance and can be reached by public transport.
Aparthotel Kritikakis Village is located half a kilometer from the capital of the island and almost next to the port. As provided by the classification, the studio rooms here have their own kitchenette. Gialos beach is three hundred steps away.
If the external beauty of the tourist complex were taken into account when evaluating hotels, then Ritas Plaza Hotel would top the TOP 5 in Ios, or even in the Cyclades archipelago. The first thing visitors do when arriving at the hotel is take pictures of it from all angles. Everyone wants to show at home how to build such a health complex in the Jadlos resort on lifeless rocks. From there it is a five-minute walk to Chora, the capital of the island.
Ios Island, the beaches are great!
- on the southern coast of Ios, half an hour by car to the capital of the island - Chora. The luxurious bay of the Aegean Sea (trees grow even on the rocks) protects tourist spots from the strong sea wind. The island is equipped according to all the rules of coastal service, and for this it has been awarded the Blue Flag by UNESCO more than once.
In summer, regular transport links are available from Chora to the beach: buses, taxis, motor boats, rented vehicles. Including the next well-kept beach - Mylopotas.
A kilometer long, popular among the Cyclades islands. Young people love the beach and it is also awarded by UNESCO. Chora is a couple of kilometers away. Tourists go there to explore ancient sights.
The beach is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea and is popular among young people. Mylopotas will delight tourists with its natural beauty.
Sights of Ios
The capital itself is already a landmark. The island of Ios (photo) can be viewed on the website and you can see the medieval streets at the foot of the mountain, which is surrounded by the snow-white houses of the islanders. Or ancient churches and chapels, windmills from time immemorial. It’s a pleasure to look at all this. Church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia)- is located at the top of the cliff. There is a zigzag road built there - it can be seen from afar.
Tourists visit the Museum of Archeology and Local History and the Church of St. Irene near the harbor. The port of Ormos (“bay”) is magnificent. The lack of coastal territory prompted the islanders to occupy part of the bay and build a magnificent marina here, which is used by tourists as a place for a wonderful evening relaxation. The pier is like an open gate to the city.
Fortress ruins between Feodoti and Psahi also attract the attention of travelers and mainland residents Hellas, who came to Ios for the first time. The stones are silent evidence of centuries of troubled times, when the islanders defended themselves with fortresses from all kinds of invaders.
On the hill, according to legend, is the grave of the greatest poet of all time, Homer, the author of the ancient literary monuments “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, which Russians studied both at school and in humanitarian universities. About the place Homer's burial on Ios, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus and the geographer Pausanias reported.
Which is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea.
This is a mountainous island with many picturesque coves and bays, countless old churches, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful sandy beaches. Developed tourist infrastructure of the island annually attracts masses of tourists, especially young people. In addition, Ios is famous not only for its beauty, but also for its very vibrant nightlife, making it popular among the Greeks themselves, who come here for work, leisure or entertainment.
The capital of the island and its administrative center is village Hora (Ios). along its streets with snow-white houses and ancient churches, among which special attention is deserved Church of St. Catherine (Agia Ekaterini), Church of John the Baptist (Prodromo), and many others. Also in the village you will find the ruins of a medieval fortress and windmills on the top of the hill. If possible, in Chora, as well as in the area Kolitsani.
The island will definitely be appreciated by lovers of beach holidays and water sports. There are also noisy and crowded places, such as Mylopotas, not far from Chora, and more secluded, such as Agia Theodoti, Kalamas, Kolitsani, Manganari and etc.
Another popular place on Ios is Manganari, which is literally a few tens of kilometers away. from Chora. Essentially, these are several sandy bays combined into five small beaches - an ideal place for families with children. The coastal waters here are crystal clear and quite shallow, and strong waves are very rare. You can also rent sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach, and there is a children's playground. Active recreation enthusiasts can go windsurfing. By the way, it was in Manganari that the famous film by French director Luc Besson “The Blue Abyss” was filmed.
Ios is perhaps the most “party” among the Cycladic islands. Young people from all over the world come here. The Greeks joke that in the evening in the capital of the island, Chora, old people have nothing to do - young people go out for walks!
As for the other resorts on the island, they are much calmer and can offer their visitors beautiful quiet beaches, picturesque landscapes and quality service.
On Ios you will also find many restaurants and taverns serving national Greek and European cuisine, tons of souvenir shops and shops so you can buy memorable souvenirs, as well as a large number of architectural monuments telling about the history of the island.
Ios is considered perhaps one of the most beautiful Cyclades islands. It is located in the southern Aegean Sea, between the islands of Santorini and Naxos. Ios is essentially the most "party" among all the islands of the Cyclades. Young people from almost all over the world gather here during the season. In the evening at the height of the season, it is better for older people not to appear in the capital of the island, the city of Chora, as there are literally no crowds of teenagers there. But the rest of the resorts on the island are much calmer; there are amazingly beautiful beaches for vacationers. Some of them are even included in the top ten best European beaches. The island also has very picturesque landscapes, where houses built in the style of traditional Cycladic architecture look great.
You can get to the island by ferry from the port of Piraeus. The ferry makes at least 4 trips per day during the season. The travel time is 7 hours, and you will have to pay 30.5 euros for a ticket. In the summer, catamarans also go to the island of Ios; they deliver passengers faster - in 5.5 hours, but their tickets are more expensive - 50 euros. True, such catamarans sail once a day. From Ios you can also take a ferry or catamaran to almost all the islands of the Cyclades archipelago. In summer, buses run around the island every 15 minutes, and excursion buses take vacationers to the beaches of Manganari and Agia Theodori twice a day. In addition, in Chora and Ormos you can rent a scooter if you wish. 
On the right side of Chora there is the amazing sandy Milotop Bay. This is practically one of the best Greek beaches. Its length is 1 kilometer. There is another very good beach in the main port of the island - Ormos. From Chora to the port there is a 2-kilometer-long asphalt road, along which you can then drive to Milotop Bay. Also, good beaches are located near the villages of Manganari, Dzamarya, Kalamas, Agia Theodori, Plakesa, Psafi and Kolitsani. You can get to them either by car or by boat. On the beaches located near Mylopatos, Manganari and Chora, you can go water skiing, banana boat, or go diving and snorkeling. 
Among the attractions on the island you can see the very picturesque Church of St. Irene, which is located near the entrance to Chora, and the Venetian fortress built in the 15th century, located in Paleokastro. At the exit from Chora, on a very small hill you can see ancient water mills - this is a favorite place for tourist walks.
According to ancient legend, it was on this island that the great Homer was buried. His grave can be found among the ruins of the town of Plakotos. Other attractions include the Church of St. Catherine, located in Agia Catherine, the Museum of Contemporary Art, located in Kolitsani, the Archaeological Museum and the outdoor amphitheater. 
Nightlife on the island during the high season is very vibrant. On Ios you can find bars and music for literally every taste. In fact, nightlife on the island began to emerge back in the distant 70s of the last century, that is, at the time when the island was chosen by the then hippies. Probably, since that very time, lovers of parties, discos, and generally an idle lifestyle come here every summer. In addition, Ios has very competitive prices for alcoholic drinks in comparison with Santorini or Mykonos.