Andros is the most northerly island in the Cyclades and one of the largest, around 40 kilometres long from end to end. Its only ferry port is at Gavrio on the north west coast, while the capital, Chora, sits right across on the east side, so a clear picture of where everything is matters more here than on most islands. This Andros map puts the whole island in one view, from Gavrio and Batsi in the west to Chora and Korthi in the east, along with the beaches and the famous walking trails that link them.
Click any pin on the map to see photos, a short description and a direct link to the full guide for that spot. You can also switch the layers on and off to show just the beaches, just the villages, or just the hiking paths.
Interactive Andros map
The map above shows every place we cover on Andros. Below you will find the same places written out by area, so you can read through them and click straight to the guide for anywhere that interests you.
The port and how the island is laid out
Andros has one main ferry port, at Gavrio on the north west coast. This is where boats arrive from Rafina on the mainland, which is the closest of the two Athens ports and often quicker to reach than Piraeus. Gavrio itself is a working harbour town rather than a resort, so many visitors move on quickly to nearby Batsi, a friendly seaside village just south along the coast with a sandy beach and plenty of places to eat.
The capital, Chora, sits on the far east side of the island, built out along a rocky headland with grand old sea captains’ houses and a ruined castle at its tip. Because the port and the capital are on opposite coasts, it is worth planning where you stay around what you want to do, since crossing the island takes time on the winding mountain roads.
Villages on the map
The villages of Andros are spread from coast to coast and up into the green mountain valleys. Batsi in the west is the main resort village, easy going and close to the port. Chora, the capital, is the grandest, with neoclassical mansions and museums that reflect the island’s long seafaring history. Above Chora sit the old villages of Stenies, known for its handsome captains’ houses, and Apoikia, close to the Pythara Waterfalls. Over in the south east, Korthi is a quiet bay with a long beach and a slower pace. For the full picture, see our guide to the best villages in Andros.
Beaches on the map
Andros has some of the best beaches in the northern Cyclades, and because the island is large they are spread out, so the map helps you find the ones near where you are staying. The west coast around Batsi has easy, sandy beaches with calm water, good for families. Further afield, quieter beaches like Zorkos in the north reward the drive with white pebbles and clear water. The bay at Korthi in the south east is a long, open beach popular with windsurfers. You can see all of them, with how to reach each one, on our full Andros beaches guide.
Hiking trails on the map
Andros is the best walking island in the Cyclades. It has a large, well marked network of footpaths known as the Andros Routes, which follow old stone paths through green valleys, past streams and waterfalls, and between the mountain villages. This is unusual in the Cyclades, where most islands are dry and bare, because Andros has springs and running water that keep its valleys green. The map shows the main marked trails, so you can see which villages, beaches and sights connect on foot before you set out. One of the most loved short walks leads to the Pythara Waterfalls near Apoikia.
Things to see on the map
Beyond the beaches and the trails, the map marks the island’s main sights. Chora holds a well regarded Museum of Contemporary Art and an Archaeological Museum, both a surprise on an island this quiet. Near Apoikia you will find the Pythara Waterfalls, a shaded spot of pools and running water in spring. Andros also has a set of sea caves around its coast, best reached by boat or on foot. The old mansions of Stenies above Chora show the wealth the island’s sea captains once brought home.
Getting around Andros
Once you have your bearings from the map, the next thing to sort out is how to move around, and on an island this size that matters. Buses connect Gavrio, Batsi, Chora and Korthi, but they run less often outside the summer months, so check the times. Because the sights are spread from coast to coast, many visitors hire a car to reach the quieter beaches, trailheads and mountain villages at their own pace. For bus routes, taxi numbers and car hire advice, see our full guide to getting around Andros.
How far is Gavrio port from Chora on Andros?
Gavrio, the ferry port, sits on the north west coast, and Chora, the capital, is on the far east side. The two are on opposite coasts, so the drive across the island takes around 40 minutes on winding mountain roads. The map shows the route between them, which is useful to check before you book a place to stay.
Which side of Andros does the ferry arrive on?
All ferries arrive at Gavrio on the north west coast, facing the mainland. There is no second port on the other side of the island, so wherever you are staying, you will land at Gavrio and travel on from there. Batsi, the main resort village, is only a short drive south along the same coast.
Where are the main beaches on the Andros map?
The easiest sandy beaches sit along the west coast around Batsi, close to the port. The quieter ones, like Zorkos, are in the north, and the long windsurfing beach at Korthi is over in the south east. Because they are spread around the coast, the map is the quickest way to find the beaches nearest to where you are based.
Where do the Andros Routes hiking trails run on the map?
The marked Andros Routes trails run mainly through the green valleys in the middle and east of the island, linking the mountain villages above Chora with spots like the Pythara Waterfalls near Apoikia. On the map you can switch to the trails layer to see which villages and beaches connect on foot.
Is Andros easy to get around without a car?
It is harder than on the smaller islands, because Andros is large and the sights are spread from coast to coast. Buses link Gavrio, Batsi, Chora and Korthi, but they are less frequent out of season. Looking at how far apart these places sit on the map makes it clear why many visitors hire a car here.
