Hi everyone! This is the SantoriniDave guide to Where To Stay in Ios, Greece. Known as a party
island that’s popular with young people, it’s also got a very beautiful landscape,
with a picturesque central town, great food, and gorgeous beaches.
For many people, Ios is a good choice to complement a visit to Santorini,
with lots of the perfect beaches that the Cycladic Islands are known for,
though are largely missing on Santorini- Plus it’s only a 50 minute ferry ride away.
Most visitors to Ios choose to stay in one of 3 main areas, the Port, where ferries arrive to,
the main town, known as Chora, and Mylopotas Beach. There are also a small handful of places
to stay in the Manganari Beach area, which we’ll get to later in the video.
We begin with the small port which comes alive with the arrival and departure of direct ferries
from Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, and Athens. Along the waterfront is a quaint plaza
with a collection of tavernas, and small travel agencies offering excursions on Ios, and services
for visiting other Cycladic islands. Lining the marina are a variety of both private yachts, and
local vessels offering boat tours and excursions. The port is little more than a few streets,
with mini-markets, car rental agencies, and other typical services, with a handful of accomodation
available in the surrounding neighborhood. The waterfront promenade is pleasant for strolling,
and leads to a long sandy beach inside a protected bay just down the way.
A 15 minute walk or quick cab ride up the road, Chora, the capital town and main area of commerce
and nightlife, is a winding maze of cobblestone alleyways along a hillside. The village is
packed with cafes and restaurants, boutique shops and narrow pathways to explore. A short
walk up to the top of the village brings you to a picturesque church with fabulous territorial views
out over the port and surrounding areas. Chora is pleasant to get lost in at any time of day,
but really comes to life at night with bars and clubs going hard til the early morning hours.
Down the other side of the same hill, a 20 minute walk or short ride brings you to popular Mylopotas
Beach. Mylopotas is a gorgeous stretch of golden sand, in a calm bay with turquoise waters, lined
with popular beach clubs and water sports for rent. At one end is the iconic and very popular
with the young crown FarOut bar, which goes hard from afternoons into the evening. But the beach is
long enough that it’s possible to enjoy a regular family day at the beach or long walk without much
more than a faint throb of music in the distance. There’s also a handful of excellent places to
eat along the beach, and a variety of types of accomodation available in the surrounding area.
Manganari is a gorgeous and also iconic beach that is most popularly enjoyed as a day trip.
There are 2 directly adjacent bays separated by a small headland of sand
dunes and tide pools, and the long sandy beach is lined with affordable sun loungers, and room to
spread out. The water here is clear, shallow, and wonderful. Rooms are available for rent in
this quiet and beautiful area, though there are few services other than small tavernas to eat in.
A great choice is to stop along the drive at the historic Diaseli Traditional Cheesery,
on the hilltop before the road descends to the beach.
Here, the same family has been making cheese for generations, there’s a small museum to
explore and learn about cheese making and enjoy a wonderful spread of local offerings.
Another popular stop along the way is at Paleokastro,
a beautifully isolated hilltop church accessed by a long mostly flat slate path,
with dramatic panoramic views out over the sea to surrounding islands.
There is regular bus service that operates daily between all of these areas,
the most frequent route being between the Port and Mylopotas Beach via Chora
every 15 mins or so until late into the night to support the partying crowd.
The bus also goes all the way to Manganari and the other popular St. Theodoti Beach and
Psathi Beaches as well, making stops in the countryside along the way.
Let’s take a look at our 4 favorite hotels in Ios.
Calilo is a new and fabulously luxurious resort, located in a remote valley all by itself. The
beach is stunning, the pool is likely one of the largest in all of Greece, the suites are decadent,
and it’s simultaneously perfect for both families with children or a romantic get away.
Ios Palace Hotel overlooks Mylopotas Beach, cascading down the hillside with
great views out over the water. You’ve got 3 swimming pools to choose from,
there’s an excellent spa, terrific poolside restaurant, and the bar
claims to feature the largest variety of margaritas offered anywhere in Europe.
Agalia Suites is a luxurious hotel 1 mile away from the port. While not directly on the beach,
it does look out over the sea, and there are 2 quiet and excellent beaches within easy
walking distance. With a variety of accomodation types, this is an excellent choice for families.
And Yialos Ios is a lovely family-run hotel. It features a large pool and mellow vibes that’s good
for families. Located right in the port, it’s a short walk across the street to the beach,
or a 15-minute walk (or short bus ride) to the heart of Chora.
Check out our other great travel guides that cover where to stay,
eat, and go for popular destinations across Greece including Athens, Santorini,
Mykonos, Crete, Paros, Milos, and more at SantoriniDave.com and across this YouTube channel.
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Thanks for watching.