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Ios Island

- A magnet for the young
Ios Greece, Mylopotas beach

Ios or Nios (as it is called by the locals) is a very beautiful and picturesque Greek Island with excellent sandy beaches and hundreds chapels. Its pretty Hora (capital), is a dazzling mix of white washed houses and blue domed churches. Ios Island is well know for its nightlife with sounds from every corner of the planet and offer all kind of entertainment.

Ios Greece Ios Island is the place where beauty and culture meet with a laid back attitude for people of all ages from all around the world.

The island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Greek Islands. Mylopotas, Magganari, Yialos, Agia Theodoti are the most visited beaches.

According to Herodotus, Ios was the home of Homer mother Clymene, and the burial place for Homer. On 15th of May each year, the Homer festival -Homeria takes place in Ios Island and a flame is carried from the port to his tomb in Plakoto.

Every year in May an important festival takes place which is dedicated to Homer, the epic poet who composed the Iliad Odyssey.

  • Getting There

    By sea: There is catamaran service, from Piraeus twice a day in high season (3 hours 10 minutes - 3 hours 40 minutes). There are also frequent ferry links with Piraeus (7.5 Hours). Ios Island is connected with Syros, Paros, Naxos Island, Sikinos, Folegandros, Santorini, Anafi and Milos, Sifnos, Kimolos, Mykonos and Crete.


    By Air: Via Santorini International Airport and then a ferry / catamaran connection (1 - 1.5 hours).

  • Getting Around

    There is a frequent bus service between the port Yialos and Mylopotas via Hora. There is also a bus service between Yialos and Ag. Theodoti. Excursions by bus to Manganari beach or Ag. Theodoti beach can be booked in all travel agents.

    There are also boats, departing from the port to Magganari. Motor bikes and cars are available for hire. Taxis are also available.

Ios Beaches & Distances

Ios Map Agia Theodoti, long, fine sand beach
Yialos, nice sandy beach at the port
Koubara, 300 meters long sandy beach with taverns and rooms (30 minutes walk to NW of the port)
Manganari, is divided into five beaches with sand or pebbles, crystal clear and shallow water
Mylopotas, superb and very popular. One of the most famous in Cyclades Islands
Psathi, fine sand beach
Tzamaria, nice and quiet sandy beach
Yialos, nice sandy beach at the port

Distances
Yialos - Hora 2 Km
Yialos - Kalamos 16 Km
Yialos - Koubara 1.5 Km
Yialos - Manganari 23 Km
Yialos - Mylopotas 5 Km
Yialos - Paleokastro 18 Km
Yialos - Plakoto 13 Km
Yialos - Psathi 20 Km
Yialos - Ag. Theodoti 12 Km

Touring Ios Island

Hora
Hora in Ios Greece the island's capital, is one of the finest towns in Cyclades. Built on the top of a hill, with medieval castle (built in 1400), white washed houses, maze streets, churches and a dozen of windmills reminding you of past days, when the islanders used the wind power efficiently to make their windmills work. There are remains of the walls of the ancient city and there are ruins of the Temple of Apollo, close to Agia Aekaterini church. At the top of Hora is the chapel of Agios Nikolaos and under the castle the church of Panagia Gremiotissa.
In Hora there is the Archaeological Museum of the island (opening hours 08:00-14:00 except Mondays and bank holidays).
Apart of that, most of the bars and clubs are in Hora, each one offering a different style of entertainment.

Agia Theodoti
In Agia Theodoti are the remains of an ancient aqueduct and from a Hellenistic period tower. In the area are some excellent sandy beaches.

Myloptas
Is the best beach of the island and one of the best in the Aegean. It is 1 Km long, wide with fine golden sand. Mylopotas resort has many taverns and offers a great range of accommodation from luxurius hotels to studios and apartments. There is a frequent bus service to and from Hora and Yialos.

Yialos or Ormos
is Ios' port, 2Km from Hora. Yialos is quieter than hora and has a sandy beach, tavernas, bars, hotels and rooms to let. Close to Yialos are Koubara and Kolitsani beaches. Behind the port climbs the old stairway to Hora (20 minutes). Alternatively you can take a bus to Hora or carry on to Mylopotas beach. From Yialos there are caiques to some of the beaches of the island.
Yialos has a wide range accommodation, from luxury hotels with swimming pools, to apartments with cooking facilities to private rooms for reasonable prices.

Useful Info

Population: 2000
Distance from Piraeus Port: 111 Nautical Miles
Medical Center: 22860 91227
Police: 22860 91222
Port Authority: 22860 91264
Municipality: 22860 91505, 22860 91028

There are two banks on Ios Island.