Things to Do in Ios

Ios has a reputation as a party island, and it earns it, but anyone who comes only for the nightlife is missing most of what makes the island special. Ios has one of the prettiest hilltop capitals in the Cyclades, some of the best sandy beaches in the whole island group, a Bronze Age settlement that is among the best preserved in the Aegean, and a legend that the poet Homer is buried here. It is small and easy to get around, with an excellent bus network, so you can spend your days on quiet beaches and ancient sites and your evenings out in the lanes of Chora if you want to. Here is what to do when you visit.

The best things to do in Ios at a glance

• Wander the lanes of Chora, the whitewashed hilltop capital with its windmills and churches
• Watch the sunset from the church of Panagia Gremiotissa above Chora
• Relax on Mylopotas beach, one of the longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades
• Visit the Tomb of Homer, the legendary grave of the ancient poet on the northern tip
• Explore Skarkos, the award winning Early Bronze Age settlement near the port
• Take a boat trip to the remote beaches on the west and south coasts
• Swim at Manganari, the calm turquoise bays on the south coast
• Experience the nightlife in the bars and clubs of Chora after dark

The main things to do in Ios

Wander the lanes of Chora

Chora is the heart of Ios, a classic Cycladic hilltop town of whitewashed lanes, blue domed churches and old windmills on the ridge above. By day it is genuinely pretty and quiet, a lovely place to wander through the maze of cobbled alleys, stopping for a coffee and climbing up past the windmills for the view. By night it transforms into the centre of the island’s famous nightlife, with the bars and clubs concentrated in the old town lanes.

At the top of the village is the Odysseas Elytis open air theatre, a modern amphitheatre named after the Nobel Prize winning Greek poet, which hosts performances in summer and offers one of the best sea views on the island. The photography from up around the windmills and the theatre is superb, especially in the golden light of late afternoon. For more on the town, see our guide to the villages of Ios.

Watch the sunset from Panagia Gremiotissa

The best sunset on Ios is from the church of Panagia Gremiotissa, the main church of Chora, set high on the edge of the village with a wide view out over the sea and the port below. As the sun drops toward the horizon, the whitewashed church and the town around it catch the last of the light, and it is one of the most atmospheric spots on the island. Get there a little before sunset to find a good position, as it is popular. The walk up through the lanes of Chora to reach it is part of the pleasure.

Relax on Mylopotas beach

Mylopotas is the main beach of Ios and one of the longest and best sandy beaches in the Cyclades, a wide sweep of golden sand set directly below Chora. The northern end is the lively part, with beach bars, watersports and the famous FarOut club, popular with a young crowd. Walk to the far southern end and the beach becomes noticeably quieter, with space to spread out. The water is clear and the swimming is excellent.

At the western end of the beach, right at the water’s edge, sits Drakos Tavern, a family run fish taverna that is one of the best places to eat on the island, with fresh seafood served on the quayside as the water laps against the shore. It is exactly what a Greek island lunch should be. Mylopotas is a short bus ride or a walk from Chora, connected by the frequent island bus.

Visit the Tomb of Homer

On the northern tip of the island, above Plakoto Bay, is the Tomb of Homer, long believed to be the final resting place of the great ancient poet. Legend says that Homer’s mother came from Ios and that he died and was buried here, and the island took the connection seriously enough to mint ancient coins with his face on them. A Dutch archaeologist claimed to have found the grave here in 1771, and while the truth is lost to history, the site has drawn travellers since ancient times.

The setting is the real reward. The tomb sits on a bare northern hill with panoramic views over the Aegean, and reaching it takes you to a wild, empty part of the island most party visitors never see. A car or scooter is the easiest way to get there, and it makes a memorable half day combined with the quiet northern beaches.

Explore the Bronze Age site of Skarkos

Near the port, an easy walk down from Chora past the windmills, is Skarkos, an Early Bronze Age settlement that is one of the best preserved prehistoric sites in the whole Aegean. Dating back around 4,500 years, the site won a European heritage award for its conservation, and walking among the low stone walls of the ancient houses gives you a real sense of how people lived on these islands thousands of years ago. It is a genuine surprise on an island better known for its beach clubs, and well worth an hour or two.

Take a boat trip to the remote beaches

Some of the most beautiful beaches on Ios have no road and can only be reached from the water, which makes a boat trip one of the best things to do on the island. From the port and from Mylopotas you can hire a boat with a skipper, or join an organised trip, to reach the remote coves on the west and south coasts, places like Tripiti, Pikro Nero and Klima, which are wild, unspoilt and often deserted. Many have no facilities or shade, so bring water and sun protection.

The boat trips are also the best way to explore the island’s sea caves and to swim and snorkel in coves you could not otherwise reach. A traditional caïque boat also runs from the port down the dramatic south coast to Manganari, stopping at quiet bays along the way, which is a lovely way to spend a day.

Swim at Manganari and the quieter beaches

For a calm, beautiful beach day away from the crowds, head south to Manganari, a series of turquoise bays on the southern tip of the island with incredibly clear, calm water. Some of the bays are organised with sunbeds and tavernas, while others are completely unspoilt and peaceful. It is a favourite for families and anyone wanting a quieter side of Ios.

Closer to Chora, Koumbara is a lovely beach split into two parts, one with luxury shaded sunbeds and one more traditional, with beautiful water and a wonderful sunset. On the north east coast, Agia Theodoti is a long sandy bay with a quieter feel, and the nearby Psathi and Kalamos are worth seeking out. The beach at Gialos by the port is handy and well organised. See the full Ios beaches guide for all the options including the small cove of Kolitsani near Chora, the exotic Papa beach, and the remote Tris Klisies.

Experience the nightlife

There is no getting around it, the nightlife is a big part of what Ios is known for, and for those who want it, it is one of the best party scenes in the Greek islands. The bars and clubs are concentrated in the lanes of Chora, which fills up after dark in July and August, and there are beach clubs at Mylopotas that run parties into the evening. The scene ranges from cheap and cheerful bars in the old town to more upmarket clubs, so there is something for most budgets. Even if partying is not your main reason for coming, a wander through the buzzing lanes of Chora on a summer night is an experience in itself.

Hike the trails

Ios is small and has some good short walking trails, particularly the paths between Chora, the beaches and the old churches. The walk down from Chora to Skarkos and the port past the windmills is easy and rewarding, and there are trails linking Chora to Mylopotas and out to the quieter beaches. Walk in the cooler parts of the day and take water, as Ios is exposed and there is little shade. Check the Ios weather page before setting out.

Taste the local food and wine

Beyond the beach bars, Ios has a genuine food scene. The fish tavernas like Drakos at Mylopotas serve fresh seafood, and there are good traditional tavernas up in Chora. The island also has wineries and wine tastings and cheese making experiences where you can taste the local produce. Ios cheese, particularly the local skotyri, is worth trying.

Best things to do in Ios for…

Young people and groups

Ios is one of the best islands in Greece for a lively holiday. Base yourself in Chora or at Mylopotas, spend your days on the beach and your nights in the bars and clubs of the old town, and take a boat trip or two to the remote beaches. It has the best nightlife scene in the Cyclades outside Mykonos, at more affordable prices.

Families

Despite the party reputation, Ios works well for families, particularly those with teenagers who will love the beaches and water sports. Base yourself at the quieter Gialos by the port, spend calm beach days at Manganari in the south, visit Skarkos and the Tomb of Homer, and use the excellent bus network to get around. The frequent buses mean you do not even need a car.

Couples

For couples, Ios has a quieter side that is easy to find. Wander Chora in the daytime, watch the sunset from Panagia Gremiotissa, take a boat to a deserted west coast cove for a swim, and have dinner at a fish taverna by the water. The calm bays of Manganari and the split beach at Koumbara at sunset are romantic spots away from the party scene.

History and culture lovers

The Tomb of Homer and the Bronze Age settlement of Skarkos give Ios a genuine historical depth, and the Odysseas Elytis theatre in Chora connects the island to modern Greek culture too. Spend a morning at Skarkos and an afternoon driving out to Homer’s tomb in the north.

Planning your visit

Ios is small and easy to get around, which is one of its great advantages. The island has an excellent bus network running between the port at Gialos, Chora and Mylopotas frequently through the day and into the night in summer, and buses also run to some of the further beaches like Manganari and Agia Theodoti. This means you can manage without a car for most of a stay. For the Tomb of Homer and the remote beaches, a scooter, car or boat trip helps. See our guides to getting around Ios, the bus timetable and taxi and car hire for full details.

To decide where to base yourself for the things you most want to do, read our guide on where to stay in Ios. To plan your arrival, see how to get to Ios and the main ferry page. To see how everything on the island fits together, use the Ios map, and for the wider region, the Greek islands map shows how Ios connects to the rest of the Cyclades.