Ios has a reputation as a party island, and that is fair enough if you only see Mylopotas Beach on a Saturday night. But the rest of the coastline tells a completely different story. Once you leave the main strip, Ios has some of the quietest, most beautiful swimming spots in the Cyclades. Long sandy bays on the south coast, sheltered coves near the port, and a few remote beaches that take real effort to reach.
The island sits between Naxos and Santorini in the central Cyclades, and ferries dock at Gialos (also called Ormos), the port village on the west coast. Chora, the main town, sits on the hill above the port and the nightlife is concentrated there. Most of the beaches spread along the south and west coasts, and Mylopotas is just over the hill from Chora, walkable in about 20 minutes.
Getting around is straightforward during summer. Buses connect the port, Chora, and Mylopotas regularly, with services also running to Manganari Beach on the south coast. Check the Ios bus timetable for routes and times, and the how to get to Ios page for ferry connections from the mainland and other islands.
Which Ios Beach Suits You
The main beach everyone visits: Mylopotas Beach is the longest on the island, roughly 1 kilometre of golden sand with sunbed hire, beach bars, and watersports. It is the centre of beach life on Ios and gets busy from June through September.
Families with small children: Koumbara Beach is a sheltered bay close to the port with calm, shallow water and enough shade from the surrounding hillside that you do not bake all day.
Peace and quiet away from the crowds: Agia Theodoti Beach on the east coast is a broad sandy bay with a small church behind it, a taverna, and very few people. It feels like a different island entirely from Mylopotas.
A proper beach day on the south coast: Manganari Beach is actually a string of bays along the far south of Ios. The water here is turquoise and shallow, the sand is soft, and there are a couple of tavernas for lunch. A summer bus service runs from Chora, or you can take a boat trip from the port.
Walking distance from the port: Gialos Beach sits right next to where the ferries dock. It is not the island’s prettiest beach, but it is convenient for a quick swim before or after catching a boat.
Something hidden and different: Psathi Beach and Kalamos Beach on the east coast are reached by dirt road or footpath. No facilities, no crowds, just clear water and quiet.
Mylopotas Beach
1. Beach Type & Experience Mylopotas Beach stands as the most cosmopolitan and well-organised beach on the island of Ios. The beach stretches for approximately one kilometre along a crescent-shaped bay, with fine golden sand that feels wonderfully soft underfoot. The sand is mostly uniform and comfortable for walking barefoot, though you will find some
Planning Your Beach Days on Ios
Most visitors stick to Mylopotas and that is understandable because it has everything you need in one place. But Ios has 10 or more good beaches spread across the island, and hiring a car or quad bike for a day opens up the south and east coasts properly. If you would rather not drive, the Ios taxi page has contact numbers, and summer boat trips run from the port to Manganari and a few other south coast bays.
The Ios map shows where each beach sits on the island. For camera angles and golden hour spots along the coast, the Ios photography guide is worth a look before you head out.
Ios is not only about the beaches. The Tomb of Homer and the Skarkos Early Cycladic Settlement are both worth a visit between beach days, and the getting around Ios page covers everything from bus routes to scooter hire. For the full picture of the island, see our main Ios island guide.
