A lot of trips to the Cyclades follow the same shape. A few nights on Ios, then a few more on Naxos, with the beaches and the big sights already planned out. What often gets left open is that one spare day in the middle of each stop. If that sounds like your trip, here is how we would fill those days, along with some proper advice on the bus system for both islands.
If You Have A Free Day In Ios
If your Ios days are already built around the beach, the bars, and Chora, your free day is the perfect chance for something a bit different. Here are a few good ways to spend it.
If you fancy exploring on wheels, rent a quad bike or ATV. This is one of the most popular ways to see Ios beyond the beach strip. A common route heads out to Homer’s Tomb on the northeastern tip of the island. Nobody can actually prove the poet is buried there, but the ride out through the hills and the view from the top are worth it either way.
If you want a quieter beach, head to Manganari. On the south coast, Manganari is really a string of coves rather than one single beach, so there is plenty of room to spread out. It is a fair bit further from Chora than the main beaches, which is exactly why it tends to be so much calmer.
If you would rather take it easy after a big night, try watersports at Mylopotas. Mylopotas Beach has several operators offering jet skiing, wakeboarding, and paddleboarding. It is a good way to fill an afternoon without needing much energy or planning.
If you prefer being on the water without the effort, book a boat trip around the coastline. Ios has caves and hidden coves that are really only visible from the sea, and most tours build in a swim stop along the way.
Whatever else you do, end the day at Panagia Gremiotissa church above Chora. It is a short walk up, it costs nothing, and the sunset view over the Aegean is one of the best on the island. From there it is an easy stroll back down into town if you want a second night out.
If You Have A Free Day In Naxos
If your Naxos days are already covering the beaches, Mount Zas, and the villages, a boat cruise is a genuinely good way to spend a spare day, and one we would recommend.
If you want the classic day out, book a Small Cyclades cruise. Most boats from Naxos head to Iraklia and Koufonisia, two tiny islands with a fraction of the visitors you will have seen elsewhere. The water around them is some of the clearest in the Cyclades. Trips usually leave in the morning and get back to Naxos by late afternoon, leaving your evening free.
If you want something a bit more active, look at sailing trips that stop at Rina Cave. A few of the smaller sailing tours combine a visit to Koufonisia with a swim at Rina Cave, a sea cave on the south coast that can only be reached by boat.
If a boat trip is not your thing, stay on land and spend the day around Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna. These are two of the best beaches close to Naxos Town, and following them up with a night out in town is a good way to close out the trip. Naxos Town has a far more relaxed feel than Ios, but there is still plenty going on.
Whichever option you go for, it is worth booking a few days ahead in August, since the popular routes tend to fill up.
The Bus Situation On Ios And Naxos
This is where most people get confused, mostly because the information online can be inconsistent. Here is what actually holds true.
There is no single bus system covering all the Greek islands. Buses are run by local companies known as KTEL, and each island runs its own network completely separately. Advice written about buses on other islands will not apply here, and even guides for Ios or Naxos from a season or two back can be out of date, since routes and timings shift a little each summer.
If you are getting around Ios by bus, services run regularly between the port, Chora, and Mylopotas Beach, with fewer departures to beaches further out such as Agia Theodoti and Manganari. Tickets are cheap and buses run late in high season, which is handy after a night out or a day at the beach. Even so, do not rely purely on what you find online. Once you arrive, check the timetable posted at the bus stop near the port, since that is the version most likely to be accurate for your dates.
If you are getting around Naxos by bus, the network is bigger and covers more ground. One route runs frequently to the beaches south of Naxos Town, including Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, and Plaka. A separate route heads inland to the villages, including Halki, Filoti, and Apeiranthos, but this runs far less often than the beach route. If you are planning a day trip inland, work out your return bus before you set off, or you could end up waiting a while.
A few tips that apply on both islands. Buy your ticket before boarding rather than expecting to pay on the bus, since that is not always possible. If you are staying outside the main town, or planning a late night, it is worth having a backup option such as a taxi number or a hired scooter, since bus services thin out later in the evening even in summer. Treat every posted schedule as a guide rather than a guarantee, since demand and conditions can shift things around during the busiest weeks of August.
Need A Hand Booking Anything?
If you would like help arranging a boat trip, a quad rental, or anything else, get in touch and we will happily sort it out. Ios and Naxos are quite different from each other, and that contrast is exactly what makes visiting both on one trip so good.
