Ios Island Overview

If you’ve heard of Ios, it’s probably the tiny Cycladic island’s reputation as a party destination for those seeking a cheaper and more pleasant alternative to Mykonos. While it’s true that young revellers are drawn to the island in peak season, this shouldn’t put you off visiting Ios, as it’s a big island with something to offer everyone, and the nightlife is confined to the late-night bars and clubs in Chora and the south end of Mylopotas Beach.

Ios itself exudes a relaxed and peaceful vibe that has drawn us back no less than four times since our first visit in 2017. The island has many excellent beaches, great food and drink, and competitive pricing, making it an ideal destination for anyone looking for an affordable Greek island to relax and unwind.

For more background on Ios, check out our recent article: Is Ios the Most Misrepresented Greek Island?

Getting to Ios by Ferry

Ios has no airport but is on a popular north-south ferry route between Mykonos and Santorini, making it easily accessible over the summer tourist season. Use the search box below to find ferry ticket prices and availability:

The port is situated close to Chora in a small resort called Ormos. While it might seem tempting to walk to Chora, the ascent is quite steep, so if you’re travelling with luggage, it’s preferable to take the local bus to your accommodation rather than attempt it on foot.

We first visited in 2017 and found a bus waiting for the ferry on arrival. It only took 10 minutes to reach the nearby resort of Mylopotas, where the bulk of accommodation is located. There are regular buses throughout the day covering the main beaches and tourist resorts, though if you want to explore the island thoroughly, it’s better to rent transportation. The island is surprisingly large and can take some effort to explore due to its limited and winding road network.

Where to Stay on Ios

Unless you have a sufficient budget for the eye-wateringly expensive luxury Calilo resort, you’ll probably want to choose one of the following for your base on Ios:

Gialos Beach / Ormos (Port)

Check out our Gialos / Ormos Resort Guide.

Chora

Read our Ios Chora Resort Guide.

Mylopotas

Check out our Mylopotas Guide.

Ios Map of Hotels, Beaches and Attractions

The interactive map below shows some of our favourite hotels, restaurants, beaches and places of interest on Ios. Click on the map markers below to see more details.

Ios Attractions and Things to Do

Despite its central location within the Cyclades, Ios remains unspoiled and traditional, with many superb sandy beaches dotted around the coastline and plenty of decent restaurants. Much of the island is barren and uninhabited, with most of the island’s population concentrated in Chora.

Homer’s Tomb

The most well-known attraction on the island is the Tomb of Homer, the supposed burial place of the Greek Poet and author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Whether he was responsible for those works remains disputed, as does his actual death and burial on Ios. However, a small tomb and headstone dedicated to Homer can be found in a remote setting to the far northeast of the island here. It takes about 30 minutes by quad bike and slightly less by car or moped.

The site is a little underwhelming and not entirely worth the effort, except perhaps as an opportunity to explore the island. Two small sandy bays can be found nearby on the northern coast (both called Plakoto), but neither is comparable to the excellent selection of beaches elsewhere on the island.

Skarkos

The island’s only other tourist attraction is the remains of a bronze-aged settlement called Skarkos. Situated just a few minutes north of Chora, it’s easily accessible and worth visiting for a bit of Greek history.

Ios Nightlife

The party atmosphere is mainly limited to the south end of Mylopotas Beach at the FarOut Beach Club, then into Chora, where a good selection of bars can be found down the small Cycladic streets. Things don’t get going in Chora until midnight and often continue until after sunrise.

Elsewhere, you’ll find EREGO Beach and Pathos clubs near Koumpara Beach around the bay west of the port. EREGO is open during the daytime and offers a pool with good music, cocktails and a restaurant. Pathos opens late afternoon with a superb sunset infinity pool and fantastic music. Both are more expensive, so if you’re looking to party on a budget, it’s better to stick to Chora or the more reasonably priced Far Out Beach Club at Mylopotas.

Videos of Ios

Check out our video guide of Ios recorded in the summer of 2021:

Ios Conclusions and Alternatives

Ios is an island of two opposites: you can come here for a relaxing, traditional Greek experience and enjoy good food and superb beaches while soaking up the Mediterranean sun, or you can sleep in until noon, grab a few hours by the beach or pool and then party from dusk until dawn. Whichever one you choose, Ios delivers. After five visits in seven years, it’s one of our favourite summer destinations.

If you’re looking for alternatives to Ios, it depends on what aspect of the island you’re most connected to. The only obvious candidate for nightlife is Mykonos, though we’re not a big fan due to its high prices and over-popularity. Good nightlife can be found on other Greek islands, such as Malia on Crete, Kavos on Corfu, and Laganas on Zante, to name just a few.

Those looking for a quieter and more typical Greek island experience should check out nearby Folegandros, Amorgos or our favourite island, Sifnos.

Ios Blog Posts

Find out more about Ios by reading blog posts from our recent visits:

More blog posts