Where to Stay in Andros

Andros is one of the largest islands in the Cyclades, and it stretches from the ferry port at Gavrio on the north west coast all the way across to the capital at Chora on the far east side, with the resort village of Batsi in between and the quiet bay of Korthi in the south east. Because the port and the capital are on opposite coasts, and because the island is genuinely big, where you stay shapes your whole trip. For most visitors, Batsi is the easiest base, combining a beach, a good choice of restaurants and a short drive to the port. Andros Town suits those who want the island’s most impressive scenery and architecture, and who have or want to hire a car.

Best areas to stay in Andros at a glance

• Best for first-timers: Batsi: the main resort village, sandy beach, restaurants, close to the port
• Best for architecture and culture: Andros Town: the grand neoclassical capital, museums, spectacular clifftop setting
• Best for ferry convenience: Gavrio: right at the port, practical for late arrivals and early departures
• Best for quiet and local life: Korthi: a sheltered bay village away from the tourist trail, excellent for windsurfers
• Best for walkers: Andros Town or Batsi: both give access to the Andros Routes trail network
• Best for beaches: Batsi for convenience, Zorkos and Achla for wilder beauty
• Best without a car: Batsi: the most self-contained village for a car-free stay

The best areas to stay in Andros

Batsi

Batsi is the most popular base on Andros and the easiest choice for a first visit. It is a small resort village on the west coast, set around a sandy bay about 7 kilometres south of the ferry port at Gavrio. The beach curves around a shallow bay, there are enough tavernas and cafes to keep you well fed, and the atmosphere is relaxed without being completely touristy.

One of Batsi’s practical advantages is that it sits close to the port, so you are not facing a long transfer when you arrive by ferry from Rafina. Most visitors come via the Rafina port near Athens airport, and Batsi is the first proper village south of the landing point. The bus between Gavrio, Batsi and Andros Town runs through the day in summer, which means a car is not essential for the basics.

The beach at Batsi is good for families and easy swimmers, with calm water in the main bay. For something more dramatic, Apothikes is just around the headland, Kypri offers water sports a short drive away, and the wild northern beach of Zorkos is about 30 minutes by road. For the full picture of what is along the coast, see the Andros beaches guide.

Batsi has local wineries and wine tastings within reach, and the surrounding area has some of the best walking trails in the Cyclades, part of the Andros Routes network. The Andros photography guide has the best spots near the village too.

Best for: first-time visitors, families, beach lovers, couples who want a lively evening scene without a large resort, travellers without a car.

Not ideal for: those who want the island’s grandest scenery and architecture on the doorstep, or walkers who want to be at the trailhead without a morning drive.

Andros Town (Chora)

Andros Town is the most dramatic place to stay on the island, and the right base for anyone who wants the full Andros experience. The capital sits on a long rocky headland jutting into the sea on the east coast, with a ruined Venetian castle at the tip, grand neoclassical mansions lining the main street, and a Museum of Contemporary Art that would not look out of place in a much larger city. It is a proper Greek town, lived in all year, and it feels nothing like a resort.

The walk along the main pedestrian street from the central square down to the castle point is genuinely one of the finest town walks in the Cyclades. At either end of the headland you have beaches: Paraporti on the north and Nimborios on the south, both a short walk from the town centre. For those who want the island’s remotest and most beautiful beaches, the Achla and Vitali beaches are accessible from the east coast by car or a long scenic walk.

The one practical point to weigh up is that Andros Town is on the opposite side of the island from the ferry port, roughly 35 kilometres and about 45 minutes by road from Gavrio. If you are hiring a car for your whole stay, that is not a problem. If you are arriving without a car and hoping to get the bus, the journey takes longer and runs less frequently than the Batsi route. Check the Andros bus timetable before committing to this base without transport.

The town also has a more upmarket feel than Batsi. The restaurants are excellent, the accommodation tends toward traditional mansion stays and boutique hotels rather than studios, and the evening atmosphere has a quiet elegance to it.

Best for: couples, architecture and culture lovers, repeat visitors, those with a car, walkers wanting the east coast trails, anyone who wants to see the real Andros rather than a resort version of it.

Not ideal for: families with young children who need shallow beach access right outside, travellers without a car, those arriving late by ferry and not wanting a long transfer.

Gavrio

Gavrio is a working port rather than a holiday village, but it has its uses as a base. It is where the Rafina ferries dock, and the small town around the harbour has basic tavernas, rooms, and a serviceable beach just south of the port. For most visitors it is a stopping point, not a destination.

That said, Gavrio has real appeal for one type of traveller: those arriving late and leaving early, or those using Andros as a stepping stone between other islands. Staying in Gavrio saves you a transfer on arrival and departure. If your ferry gets in at 9pm and you are leaving at 8am the next day, it makes obvious practical sense.

There are also some good beaches near Gavrio, including Agios Petros a short drive south, and Chryssi Ammos a bit further along the coast. For ferries and arrival information, see how to get to Andros.

Best for: late arrivals and early departures, island hoppers using Andros as a transit stop, those who want to explore the north of the island from a practical base.

Not ideal for: anyone looking for resort facilities, a real village atmosphere, or good swimming close to the accommodation.

Korthi

Korthi is for travellers who want to see the Andros that most visitors miss. It sits in a sheltered bay in the south east of the island, a genuine village rather than a resort, with a long beach, a couple of tavernas and almost no tourist infrastructure. The windsurfing here is excellent when the Meltemi blows, and the surrounding countryside has old towers, abandoned villages and views that reward anyone who takes the time.

Getting to Korthi from the ferry port requires either a car or a bus journey with a change, and the bus does not run as frequently as on the main Gavrio to Andros Town route. It is genuinely off the beaten track. That is exactly the point. Pair a stay here with days in Batsi or Andros Town if you want a mix of convenience and discovery.

The Tis Grias to Pidima beach is nearby and has a legend attached to it, a large sea rock said to be a petrified old woman, which makes it one of the more memorable beach stops on the island.

Best for: windsurfers, repeat visitors, those who want genuine quiet, independent travellers with a car or scooter.

Not ideal for: first-time visitors who want easy access to the main sights, those without transport, families who need good restaurant choice.

Best area in Andros for…

Families

Batsi is the best family base on Andros. The beach is calm and shallow, the tavernas are close, the port is nearby if anyone needs to leave early, and it is the easiest village to manage without a car in summer. For families with older children who want more activity, the Kypri beach water sports are a short drive away, and the Andros Routes walking trails give older kids a real sense of the island’s landscape. Check the Andros weather page before travelling, as the island is known for its wind.

Couples

Andros Town is the most romantic base on the island, with its neoclassical architecture, the castle point walk, and restaurants that are genuinely excellent rather than just adequate. For couples who want a beach base with some evening atmosphere, Batsi works well. For something completely different, a night or two in Korthi gives you the remote bay and the landscapes that the rest of the island’s visitors never reach.

Walkers

Andros has the best waymarked trail network in the Cyclades, and either Batsi or Andros Town gives you access to the main Andros Routes paths. Some of the most rewarding walks on the island start from the Andros Town area, heading down to the Achla beach through the valley, or up into the villages above the town. The Gialia and Piso Gialia beaches are also accessible on foot from trails near Batsi. See the full Andros villages guide for more on the walking country between the settlements.

First-time visitors

Batsi is the clear answer. It is close to the port, has a beach, has enough going on in the evenings, and the bus connects it to Andros Town and Gavrio through the day. From Batsi you can do a day trip to Andros Town, a day trip along the coast, and still have time to swim. That is a complete first visit without needing to own the logistics of a hire car from day one.

Without a car

Batsi is the only base on Andros that works comfortably without a car. The bus timetable connects it to Gavrio and Andros Town through the day in summer, and the village itself has a beach and restaurants within walking distance. Andros Town is doable without a car if you plan around the bus, but the transfers are longer and less frequent. Korthi without a car is genuinely difficult.

Windsurfers and water sports

Korthi is the windsurfing base on Andros, especially when the Meltemi is blowing from the north. The Kypri beach near Batsi also has water sports facilities and is the better choice for those who want activities alongside resort amenities. Both need a car to reach comfortably.

Getting around Andros

Andros is large enough that transport planning matters. A bus links Gavrio, Batsi and Andros Town through the day in summer, though it runs less often in spring and autumn. The journey from Gavrio to Andros Town takes about 45 minutes. Check the Andros bus timetable carefully before planning day trips around bus times.

A hire car opens up the island properly. The wild northern beach of Zorkos, the remote Achla and Vitali valleys, Korthi in the south east, and the remote Piso Gialia beach are all much easier with your own wheels. Taxi and car hire information is on the Andros taxi page. For the full transport picture, see getting around Andros.

When to visit and booking tips

June and September are the best months on Andros for most visitors. The sea is warm, the walking trails are not too hot, and the Meltemi wind that blows strongly through July and August is calmer. July and August are the busiest months, with accommodation filling up well in advance, particularly in Batsi.

Andros is popular with Athenians at weekends throughout the summer, because Rafina is the closest port to the capital and the crossing is short. This means Friday and Saturday nights in high season can be busier than you might expect on a relatively quiet island. For conditions and monthly breakdown, see the Andros weather page.

Book early for July and August, particularly in Andros Town where the boutique and mansion accommodation is limited. Private villas with pools on Andros are worth booking months ahead for peak summer. If you have flexibility, May and October offer a quieter and cheaper alternative, though some businesses in Batsi may be winding down by late October.

Explore more of Andros

Now you know where to base yourself, read the full guides for the places you want to visit. Start with the main Andros guide, browse the beaches and villages, and use the Andros map to see how everything fits together. Plan how you will reach the island on our ferry page, and see how Andros connects to the rest of the Cyclades on the Greek islands map.