Things to do in Ios, Greece that don’t have to do with island nightlife
Sunrise over The Chora.
Is Ios Greece more than a party island?
It’s true, Ios is arguably the best party island in Greece with nightclubs staying open until practically normal morning hours. The city center known as “The Chora” is an actual ghost-town during the daytime. Literally, not a soul in sight except the few confused tourists wandering the streets. But as the sun sets and the city lights come on, sounds of activity begin to fill the air. And it’s not just the bars and beach clubs. Car horns and bicycle bells begin to ring out in the streets. Dog barks echo as residents take their pets out for an evening stroll. In the public park, shouts of local children can be heard as they start playing pick-up games.
In almost every way, party culture has reshaped the island’s internal clock, with local residents embracing a reversed schedule and breathing a whole new meaning to the word “nightlife.” Though neither of us are real party-goers, we were pleasantly surprised how much more the island has to offer for travelers like us.
Best things to do in Ios other than partying
We picked Ios as part of our Greek island-hopping trip because of its proximity to Santorini (about 2 hours by ferry). Unlike Santorini, Ios has only one central village built around the harbor. This is where most of the bars and restaurants are located. The rest of the island is rugged and mountainous, with highways that wind through the hills connecting small developments built near the beaches. It’s extremely easy to navigate, and most places took us 30 min or less travel time via ATV. Read on and start compiling your list of the best things to do in Ios, Greece.
Sunset over the harbor and The Chora.
#1 Wander through The Chora
The Chora (main village) on Ios sits right next to the port and is definitely worth a visit. The buildings wind their way up a rocky hillside in a maze-like fashion, with all sorts of connecting alleyways and courtyards. During the day you won’t find much activity in this part of the island as most visitors spend their time lounging at the beach, sleeping off the previous night’s activities. You’ll practically have the whole place to yourself. Come back in the evening though, and you’ll witness the city come alive as all the shops and restaurants open their doors. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting down to eat dinner at 10pm. A few restaurants we liked:
La Buca – Fresh pastas, pizza and wine
Elia – Traditional Greek cuisine
The Mills – Courtyard setting among the old windmills
Sainis Taverna – Greek tapas and mezzas
Yummy – Gyro, pita and salads
Except for a few tourists, The Chora feels virtually empty during the daytime.
#2 See the old windmills of Ios, Greece
Did you know the Greek islands are very windy? For this reason you’ll see many old windmills dotting the landscape on islands throughout the Cyclades region like Ios, Mykonos and Santorini. Most no longer have blades as they’ve deteriorated over the years, but their unique circular construction and cone-shaped thatched roofs make for a wonderful photo backdrop.
These windmills of Ios are very easy to visit as they’re just a short walk from the main town. Explore the area and take a few photos while enjoying a nice view back toward The Chora.
#3 Hike down to Never Bay
Never Bay is a rocky cove with stunning crystal clear waters situated below steep cliffs that have panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Getting to this location is a bit tricky as there are no paved roads that lead directly there. We rented an ATV and were able to take our vehicle all the way to the edge, but we saw others parking their cars just before the dirt road bends and begins to go uphill. The walk from that point probably takes about 15–20 minutes. Getting down to the water’s edge is also a bit precarious as you’ll have to scramble down some loose rock on a steep incline, but we managed it ok. On a windy day, the water is often too rough for a swim, so be cautious and just enjoy the view. But if the weather is calm, it’s a wonderful place to jump in and take a dip.
TIP:
Wear water shoes! Preferably some with good grip. This advice goes for almost anywhere in the Greek islands. The terrain is extremely rocky and sometimes sharp. Water shoes are a must for exploring the rugged coastlines.
Standing on the cliffs above Never Bay.
#4 Relax at Magganari Beach
This spot is close to Never Bay (#3) so you could easily do both in one afternoon. We opted to visit Never Bay first since it required a bit of hiking and stopped here on our way back to cool off in the water and grab some lunch. This spot is easy to reach with a paved road and parking just before the sand and the water is clear and calm.
Conveniently, there are also a few restaurants right near the beach. We enjoyed an absolutely delicious lunch at of squid, goat chops and fries. It’s common in the Greek islands for restaurants to also manage the loungers out on the beach. You can pay to rent or purchase a meal which allows you to use them afterward. Perfect for an afternoon nap. As you look out across the water, you can see the island of Santorini in the distance.
View of Magganari Beach with Santorini in the distance.
Calm, clear waters at Magganari Beach.
Squid and goat chop lunch at AntonIOS on Magganari Beach.
#5 Explore Venetian ruins at Paleokastro Monastery
This one’s a bit tricky to get to but absolutely worth the journey. This little church sits on a peak on the east side of the island and was a favorite stop during our visit to Ios. It’s surrounded by ruins of an old Venetian castle and has some amazing vistas out across the water. There are no crowds either, at one point we had the entire place to ourselves.
To get there, simply follow the highway until you reach a tight switchback near the base of the hiking trail. We left our ATV in the small dirt parking area in the middle of the curve and crossed the highway to reach the trail. The trail is actually a stone path that hugs the side of the cliffs and winds its way up toward the castle. After about 10–15 minutes of walking, you’ll reach the top and be rewarded with some incredible views.
Panagia Palaiokastritissa Church in Ios, Greece.
#6 Drive around the island
This might sound mundane, but we honestly had the greatest time on our drives across the island going from place to place. The drive itself became one of our favorite activities. The highways in Ios are in great condition and weave their way through the mountains and along the coastline with terrific views out across the sea. There’s plenty of places to pull off and just take in the view.
Most of the terrain is hilly so if you do opt for an ATV just make sure you get one with enough power. Otherwise, your uphill climbs will be really sluggish. There’s very little traffic on the roads with just an occasional car or bus passing by.
Views of the Ios coastline near Neraki Beach.
On the roads in Ios, Greece just above Manganari Beach.
#7 Visit ancient ruins of Skarkos
The ruins of this Greek city date back to the early Bronze Age and are one of the most significant archeological sites in the Cyclades region. They show how the ancient inhabitants built the city in a circular fashion with different tiers leading up to a central overlook with a view of the port and coastline.
It’s just a short drive from the main part of town and the site is free to walk around. You only have to pay a small fee to enter the city center and walk the steps up to the top of the hill. From the top you can see the outlines of buildings and how many of them shared walls, similar to the style of Greek cities today.
Exploring the ruins of the Bronze Age city of Skarkos.
#8 Chill out at the famous Mylopotas Beach
If you’re looking for ease and convenience, look no further than Mylopotas Beach. This stretch of sand just a few minutes from the Chora is a favorite spot for visitors looking to find some rest from the previous night’s activities. It’s located next to numerous bars and restaurants and is the perfect place to snooze the day away under the sun. And before you know it, you’ll be wading out into the sea to wash away your worries — the turquoise-blue water is irresistible.
Cool locations in Ios, Greece
As you can see, Ios has so much more to offer than just its party scene. The island is relatively small so all you need is a couple of days to experience its most beautiful locations. If you’d like to save any of the areas mentioned above, just check out the map below. We hope you find this post helpful and make the most of your time in Ios.
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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.
