Ios, Greece travel guide — a little island with a lot to offer
View of The Chora. The main town on Ios, Greece.
What is Ios best known for?
NIGHTLIFE:
Ios is a Mediterranean hotspot for nightlife. Young crowds flock to the island during the summer to drink and dance at the numerous bars and beach clubs across the island. Most stay open until the early morning hours and allow guests to visit multiple establishments throughout the night. For this reason, the island lives on a virtually nocturnal schedule, with much of the town closed during the daytime. But as the sun sets and the city lights come on, Ios comes alive. Residents and visitors alike begin to fill the streets, opening their businesses and going about their daily routines. Operating like this makes sense with customers mostly coming out at night, but it also helps beat the scorching summer heat.
BEACHES:
Beyond nightlife, Ios is also known for its beautiful beaches. Every few miles along the coastline lies another stretch of golden sand met by calm turquoise-blue waters. Some of the more remote beaches on the east side of the island are only accessible by boat, but many can be reached in a short drive via car or ATV.
HISTORY:
If dancing and beach-bumming aren’t your thing, there are also some great historical sites worth visiting. The ruins of a city called Skarkos just behind The Chora (main town) is an important archeological site and dates back to the Bronze Age. The Tomb of Homer, believed to be the final resting place of the famous Greek poet, is a popular spot with panoramic views over the water. There’s even remains of a large Venetian Castle surrounding a small church called Panagia Palaiokastritissa.
For more details, see our full post on things to do in Ios.
Standing on a hill overlooking The Chora in Ios.
The Chora in Ios is very calm during the day with almost no one around.
How to get to Ios, Greece
Ios does not have an airport so you must reach the island by ferry. The ferry from Athens takes anywhere from 4–6 hours depending on schedules and weather. You can also arrive by ferry from neighboring islands such as Naxos, Paros or Santorini. The closest international airport is on Santorini. We flew in here for the first leg of our Greek island-hopping trip and then caught the ferry to Ios which is only about a 2-hour ride.
Entering the port of Ios, Greece via Greek Ferry.
Cathedral Church in the main square of The Chora.
When is a good time of year to visit Ios?
Like the rest of the Greek islands, summer is the best season to visit Ios. The weather is pleasant and the water is warmer. A trip in early May or September will also help you miss some of the crowds. From October to April the weather is more wet and many business owners leave the islands to go back to Athens to work. This is true across many of the islands. It’s not that you can’t visit during this time, but it will be very quiet and you may struggle to find very many shops and restaurants that are open.
Mylopotas Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Ios, Greece.
Magganari Beach is known for its pristine turquoise-blue waters.
Do you need a car in Ios?
You don’t necessarily need a car in Ios, but whether or not depends on your style of vacationing. The Chora is the only main village on Ios and if you’re staying in its vicinity, there are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, and you can even catch the bus to popular beaches such as Mylopotas or Magganari.
However, if you’d like to visit more remote locations, we’d definitely recommend renting a car or ATV. The terrain is mountainous but the highways are well maintained and not crowded. We rented an ATV from Costa’s Moto Club near Mylopotas Beach and had a blast motoring around the island. The views from the roads are an activity all on their own.
View from the highway looking towards Neraki Beach.
Our ATV near the cliffs at Never Bay.
Where to say in Ios
Ios has one main hub called The Chora that sits just beside the harbor. Here you’ll find many hotels and vacation rentals scattered throughout the village beside numerous shops and restaurants. This is the best place to stay if you want convenience and walkability. We rented a room on AirBnb from Wabi Luxury Suites on the hillside just above town and couldn’t have been happier. The accommodations were clean and modern and the view from the back patio was spectacular. Every day we’d make sure to be back in time to watch sunset over the water. And it was only a short walk into town to grab a bite.
Beyond The Chora, there are also many properties built near popular beaches in the more remote areas of Ios. To reach these hotels you will need to drive or take public transport. If you’re interested in a resort vibe, Calilo is a newer property popular with the instagram influencer crowd.
View from our back patio at Wabi Luxury Suites in Ios.
Exploring the old windmills on the hill above The Chora in Ios.
What to do in Ios, Greece
Though small in size, Ios has a lot to offer in terms of activities. The island is most well known for its bars and beach clubs that cater to young people on summer break, but there are also plenty of things to do outside the island’s party reputation. See our full post on things to do in Ios other than nightlife. Below are some ideas to get your itinerary started:
Panagia Gremniotissa – famous sunset spot (arrive early)
The Chora – a maze of buildings full of shops and restaurants
Windmills – old Greek windmills just above The Chora
Mylopotas Beach – beautiful beach right near The Chora
Never Bay – sea cove with crystal waters and views
Skarkos – ancient ruins from the Bronze Age
Panagia Palaiokastritissa – small church with incredible views
Magganari Beach – pristine beach and turquoise-blue waters
Panagia Palaiokastritissa. Ios, Greece
Colorful, crystal clear waters at Never Bay.
On the rocks at the bottom of Never Bay.
How many days do you need in Ios?
Because Ios is relatively small and easy to get around, you really only need 2–3 days to get a good feel for all the island has to offer. We used our mornings to tackle something adventurous such as hiking down to Never Bay or exploring the ruins of Skarkos and saved our afternoons for lounging at the beaches. In the evenings, we’d wander into The Chora for a stroll through the city followed by some delicious Greek cuisine for dinner. Upon leaving after 2 full days, we felt like we had a good grasp of the island.
Walking around Mylopotas Beach.
Overlooking the harbor and the Chora during sunset.
Is Ios worth visiting?
Definitely! We originally picked the island as part of our Greek island-hopping trip because of its proximity to Santorini and Milos, but were pleasantly surprised how much the island has to offer. Between the charm of the hillside Chora, the spectacular sunsets and the pristine beaches, Ios provided some of the best memories from our trip. We certainly hope to be back soon and relive it all again.
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About Us
We’re Rob and Lauren — a designer & photographer duo passionate about travel. We hope you find some travel inspiration here and the courage to go book that dream vacation.
With so many beautiful places, we can’t help but feel that somewhere is always waiting to be discovered.
