Location in Ios

The island of Ios, in Greece, is a part of the Cyclades Islands in the south of Greece, situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini.  Ios is a short ferry ride from Santorini making an extended holiday or even a day trip a feasible option.

Over the last few years, Ios has developed into an island that has something for all ages to enjoy. For many years Ios was known as the party island, however, there is so much more that Ios has to offer.

Ios has regularly been voted in various polls as having one of the "Top 10 beaches in Europe" and in fact boasts 75 kms of beautiful, white sandy beaches and turquoise coastlines.  The architecture of Ios is typically Cycladic and features whitewashed buildings perched beautifully on hill tops and dotted around valleys.

Ios still maintains a lively nightlife, the style of which you will not see on the other islands.  Unlike the ‘’package resorts’’, the nightlife of Ios is concentrated in one place, Chora, it is very cosmopolitan and still quite traditional.   The main meeting point is in the main square.  By day, Chora reverts to a beautiful tranquil traditional Greek village where you can see the locals chatting in cafes and playing backgammon.

For those not wishing to experience the nightlife, Chora is wonderfully peaceful in the early evening and is awash with clothing and jewellery stores, souvlaki shops and excellent restaurants.  Yialos or the Port is an excellent place to escape the crowds in the evening as is the beautiful Mylopotas beach.

During your stay at the island guests shouldn’t miss a visit at the Archaeological Museum, which includes unique treasures.  According to ancient writers like Herodotus and Pausanias, the known poet Homer died and buried in the island of Ios.  His tomb is located at the area of Plakoto at the top of a hill where visitors apart from the monument can gaze at the marvellous Aegean Sea and the near islands. 

Also, the prehistoric settlement of Skarkou should not be missed, situated in a short distance from the village of Chora. The settlement has been declared “as the largest settlement of the prehistoric years known to date, in the years of full growth and strength”.   

Another amazing archaeological spot is Paleokastro, a Byzantine castle, built at the top of a hill in the north-eastern side of Ios.  Visitors can see the walling, the internal part of the Castle, the church of Panagia Palokastritsa and admire the splendid view of the Aegean islands.   

The island’s visitor is impressed by the numerous white churches of the island. The church of Panagia Gremniotissa is a characteristic church of the island, with the typical Cycladic architecture.