While Ios is a lesser-visited greek island, it is equally awesome! Only a short hour ferry from Santorini, Ios is a great addition to your Greek Island Itinerary.
1. The Amazing Food
Yep, I put the food above the beaches. All Greek food is great, but the food we had in Ios was exceptional. Katogi was our favorite, specializing in gourmet Greek style tapas and unique cocktails. Elia was a perfect date night spot, go for the lamb and wine. Polydoros is everything you want in a homestyle Greek restaurant, including going into the kitchen to pick out your meal! For a sunset spot full of vibes and Mexican food, head to Harmony.
2. The Beautiful Beaches
Mylopotas
We spent most of our time at Mylopotas Beach which was fairly quiet when we were there (late September) but is bumping during high season. Far Out, Karma, and Free Beach Bar are the main summer spots.
Koumbara
Koumbara, sometimes spelled Koumpara, is a beautiful beach on the west side of Ios. Koumbara Beach Bar is a cute restaurant to grab a drink at. We didn’t stay too long because it was extremely windy when were there but it a relaxing beach and would make for a great sunset spot!
Yialos
Yialos, sometimes spelled Gialos, is a nice, convenient beach on the bay. It was close to our hotel so we went here a couple of times. There are some chairs to rent and the water is shallow and calm.
There are several other beaches around Ios but we didn’t have a car (nor did we have an international drivers license to rent an ATV) and the weather was bad so we were more or less stranded near our hotel (good thing it was awesome!)
3. The Town of Chora
Chora, the main town, is super cute. There are lots of shops, bars, and restaurants tucked between the cobblestone alleys. We visited in shoulder season and almost everything was closed. We were not expecting this! Chora was still fun to stroll around but I imagine it is much more lively during the summer season. Fun Fact: Chora is often the name of the main part of town on a Greek Islands.
4. The Ios Nightlife
Okay, so this one doesn’t really count considering we didn’t go to any nightlife spots… but it wasn’t for a lack of trying! Apparently, Ios has quite the party vibe. Head to Slammer, Traffic, or Circus to get in the mix.
Check out our complete guide to traveling the Cyclades here!
5. Our Ios Hotel
We loved our hotel, Yialos Ios Hotel. If you visit Ios you should definitely stay here. The pool, breakfast, and service are all top notch, and the rooms are super cozy. When we arrived it was full vacay vibes with sunshine and the pool bar. Later in our stay, the weather got crazy and it was still perfect to huddle up in our cave room. The staff was also very accommodating when we had to extend our stay due to our ferry being canceled.
Impressed with Ios Greece,
-Ray