Things to Do in Syros

Syros is the capital of the Cyclades and quite unlike any other island in the group. It is a real, working island that lives all year round, built around one of the most beautiful and surprising towns in Greece. In the 19th century Syros was briefly the country’s most important commercial port, and the wealth of that era left behind a grand neoclassical capital of marble squares, merchant mansions and an opera house modelled on La Scala. This is an island for those who want culture, history and genuine local life alongside their beaches, and it has a cosmopolitan spirit found nowhere else in the Cyclades. Here is what to do when you visit.

The best things to do in Syros at a glance

• Explore Ermoupoli, the grand neoclassical capital of the Cyclades
• See the Apollon Theatre, the opera house modelled on La Scala in Milan
• Wander Miaouli Square and the Vaporia district of sea captains’ mansions
• Climb to Ano Syros, the medieval Catholic hilltop village
• Taste the island’s famous sweets, loukoumi and halvadopita
• Relax on the beaches, from family-friendly Galissas to the calm bays of the south
• Watch the sunset at Kini, the fishing village with the mermaid statue
• Hike in the north to remote, deserted beaches

The main things to do in Syros

Explore Ermoupoli, the grand capital

Ermoupoli is unlike any other town in the Cyclades and one of the most beautiful in all of Greece. Built by refugees in the 1820s during the Greek War of Independence, it grew into the country’s leading commercial port and briefly its most important city, and that cosmopolitan ambition is written across its grand marble-paved streets, its merchant mansions and its neoclassical public buildings. It is a genuinely lively, year-round town with excellent restaurants, cafes that stay open through the winter, and a cultural calendar that never stops.

The heart of it is Miaouli Square, one of the grandest public squares in the Greek islands, dominated by the imposing marble Town Hall and lined with palm trees, cafes and shops. Sitting here with a coffee, watching island life go by, is one of the simple pleasures of Syros. From the square, wander the streets to discover the town’s grand church of Agios Nikolaos, its museums and its elegant shopping streets. The photography throughout Ermoupoli is superb. For more, see our guide to the villages of Syros.

See the Apollon Theatre

Just off Miaouli Square stands one of the great surprises of Syros, the Apollon Theatre, a beautiful 19th-century opera house modelled on La Scala in Milan, a miniature version of the great Italian theatre in the heart of the Aegean. Built in the town’s golden age, it was recently restored and reopened, and it hosts performances, concerts and the Syros International Film Festival through the year. Even if there is no performance on, you can often peek inside to admire the ornate tiered auditorium and painted ceiling. It is a wonderful symbol of the cultural ambition that made Ermoupoli so remarkable, and unlike anything else you will find in the Cyclades.

Wander the Vaporia district

From Miaouli Square, walk down towards the sea to the Vaporia district, the aristocratic quarter of old Ermoupoli and the residential legacy of the island’s glory years. This is where the wealthy sea captains and merchants built their grand neoclassical mansions, many of them perched right on the waterfront with elegant balconies hanging over the sea. Wandering the streets here, admiring the pastel facades and the picture-perfect seaside balconies, is one of the loveliest things to do in the town.

The district is also home to some small bays where you can swim, including Asteria, where a beach bar lets you take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear water right below the mansions. It is a wonderful place to combine a swim with the grandeur of the old town. To understand the town’s history further, the Industrial Museum charts the manufacturing heritage that made the city rich, and the Archaeological Museum traces the island’s story back through the centuries.

Climb to Ano Syros

Rising high above Ermoupoli on a steep hill is Ano Syros, the medieval Catholic settlement founded by the Venetians, which feels like another world entirely. It is the first thing you see as you sail into the island, a cluster of white houses spilling down the hillside, and climbing up into it is one of the best things to do on Syros. The old town is a maze of narrow, winding, stepped alleys, cobbled lanes and stone houses, with panoramic views over Ermoupoli and the Aegean that only get better as you climb.

At the summit stands the Cathedral of Agios Georgios, the Catholic cathedral, with sweeping views. Ano Syros is also the birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, the great rebetiko musician whose songs captured the soul of early 20th-century Greece, and there is a small museum honouring him. The climb is steep, so take water and go in the cooler hours, and time your visit to stay for the sunset and dinner in one of the traditional tavernas, when the views are at their most magical.

Taste the island’s famous sweets and food

Syros has a distinctive food culture, and its most famous product is loukoumi, the soft, sweet jelly known elsewhere as Turkish delight, which the island has made since the 19th century and is renowned for throughout Greece. Visiting one of the historic loukoumi workshops in Ermoupoli to see it made and buy some to take home is a lovely thing to do. The island is also known for halvadopita, a sweet nougat-and-wafer treat, and for its San Michalis cheese, a hard, spicy cheese with protected origin status found only on Syros.

Beyond the sweets, Ermoupoli has some of the best restaurants in the Cyclades, from traditional tavernas to creative modern cooking, reflecting the town’s year-round, cosmopolitan character. Seek out the island’s cheese making experiences and wineries to taste the local produce at the source, and take a sweet tour of the loukoumi and halvadopita workshops.

Relax on the beaches

Syros has a good spread of beaches, mostly down the west and south coasts, and they range from lively organised beaches to quiet family coves. On the west coast, Galissas is one of the most popular, a long sandy beach with everything you need for a full day, while nearby Kini is a beautiful fishing village bay with clear water. Down the south coast are the sheltered family beaches, including Vari with its calm shallow water, the lovely Agathopes near Poseidonia, Finikas with its marina and fish tavernas, and Megas Gialos.

For a quieter swim, Delfini is a sheltered cove near Kini, and Komito and Azolimnos are worth seeking out. The full Syros beaches guide covers all of them and how to reach each one.

Watch the sunset at Kini

The west coast fishing village of Kini is famous for having the best sunset on the island, and an evening here is one of the loveliest things to do on Syros. The village has a sandy bay with clear, calm water, a row of excellent seafood tavernas along the waterfront, and a distinctive bronze statue of a mermaid holding a fisherman that has become part of Kini’s identity. Time your visit to swim in the late afternoon, then settle in at a waterfront taverna to watch the sun sink into the Aegean over a plate of fresh fish. Nearby Delfini is another beautiful sunset beach.

Hike in the north

The wild northern part of Syros, known as Apano Meria, is a rugged, unspoilt region of hills, terraced fields and remote beaches, and hiking here is one of the island’s hidden pleasures. A network of old paths leads to deserted beaches reachable only on foot or by boat, such as Varvarousa, Gria Spilia and Aetos, where you can swim in complete peace. The north is also home to the important prehistoric archaeological site of Kastri and the ancient settlement of Chalandriani, one of the most significant Early Cycladic sites in Greece. The hiking here is more demanding and remote than in the south, so go prepared with water, proper shoes and a hat, and check the Syros weather page before setting out. See the caves of Syros too.

Best things to do in Syros for…

Culture lovers

Syros is the cultural capital of the Cyclades, and it rewards those who love history and the arts. Catch a performance at the Apollon Theatre, explore the Industrial and Archaeological Museums, wander the neoclassical mansions of the Vaporia quarter, learn about rebetiko music in Ano Syros, and simply soak up the year-round cultural life of Ermoupoli.

Couples

Syros is a romantic island for couples who want more than a beach. Wander the grand streets of Ermoupoli in the evening, climb to Ano Syros for the sunset and dinner in a traditional taverna, watch the sun go down over the mermaid statue at Kini, and enjoy the excellent restaurants and cafe culture the island is known for.

Families

Syros suits families well, with the calm sandy beaches at Galissas and the sheltered south coast bays around Vari and Agathopes, the fun of watching loukoumi being made, and the safe, walkable town of Ermoupoli. Check the Syros weather page before travelling.

Foodies

Syros is a food lover’s island, from the historic loukoumi and halvadopita workshops to the San Michalis cheese and the excellent restaurants of Ermoupoli. Take a sweet tour, seek out the local cheese, and enjoy long seafood lunches in the fishing villages of Kini and Finikas.

Planning your visit

Syros is a compact island but it has plenty of places to visit, so a car helps if you want to see it all. The good news is that the island has a genuinely good bus network centred on Ermoupoli, connecting the capital to the beach villages down the west and south coasts, and the town itself is very walkable. A hire car or scooter gives you the freedom to reach the northern hiking areas and the quieter beaches. See our guides to getting around Syros, the bus timetable and taxi and car hire for full details. Because Syros is the ferry hub of the Cyclades, it is also very well connected for day trips and island hopping.

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