Gialos / Ormos Resort Guide

Gialos / Ormos (Port) Guide

Introduction

As your ferry enters the narrow sheltered bay of Ormos (also known as Gialos by locals), the wide, sandy beach stretches out directly ahead. To the right, the unassuming village and small port await your arrival, while far-right, the pretty Agia Irini church stands watch over passing ships and makes an excellent spot for panoramic views of the bay.

Agia Irini Church, Ios — *Agia Irini Church is one of the first sights you’ll see as you arrive in Ios*

Accommodation

Those seeking convenient accommodation close to the port have plenty of options here. It’s also one of the cheaper areas on the island, making it a compelling choice for first-time visitors and those on a budget. You can choose to stay close to the port itself, or slightly north towards the large, golden sand beach. The former provides unrivalled convenience, with immediate access to a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, vehicle rental shops and mini markets that surround the marina, while the latter offers a more spacious setting and quick access to the excellent and popular beach.

We stayed in Gialos on our two most recent visits to Ios, first at Yialos Ios Hotel, then at Hotel Poseidon. You do miss some of the excitement of being closer to the livelier beach resort of Mylopotas, but it’s still just 15-20 minutes away via the very regular and cheap bus service, so being near the port by no means excludes you from getting involved in the social side of the island.

Ios Harbour Area — *Ios port with Gialos Beach in the far left background and Chora on the hillside to the right*

Facilities

Aside from the port itself, Gialos offers a wide array of amenities to meet every tourist’s needs: cafes, tavernas, vehicle rental shops and one of the largest grocery shops on the island. We’ve not tried all of them, but here are a few recommendations based on our previous experience:

Boungiorno Bakery: excellent cheap coffee, baked goods and snacks a short walk straight ahead from the port. It’s also a good place to stay cool while waiting for your departing ferry away from the more crowded spots.
Peri Anemon: situated just behind the port in the main square, it’s probably the most popular daytime food spot on the island, serving excellent gyros and other snacks at very affordable prices. Prone to getting full at lunchtime, it’s best to arrive early, but they also offer a takeaway service so you can eat on the move.
Aegeanmarket: the main village grocery store, selling a wide range of food and drink products plus various holiday essentials like sun lotion, toiletries and more. Alcohol is much cheaper here, with 500ml cans of lager around €1.80 (summer 2024 prices).
Da Luigi Pizzeria: as the name implies, you’ll find this excellent Italian pizzeria just behind the small roundabout close to the port bus stop, a few doors down from Buongiorno Bakery. Offering a good selection of pizza and pasta dishes, we’ve had several great meals here on previous trips.
Tropicana Cafe Snack Bar: located at the southern corner of Gialos Beach, Tropicana offers amazing food, cocktails and snacks at reasonable prices.
Corali Kitchen & Bar: one of our favourite dining spots on the island. Also situated behind Gialos Beach towards the south end, Corali Kitchen offers excellent pizza, pasta and other dishes at great prices. Pizzas are freshly made and cooked in their clay oven, and their arancini balls starter is one of my favourite dishes.

Getting Around

One of the main benefits of staying in the port town is access to local transportation. On most, if not all, Greek Islands, local buses serve the port regularly to provide a cheap and reliable means of getting passengers between arriving and departing boats and their accommodation. Nowhere is this more true than Ios, where, in peak season, buses run every 15 minutes between Ormos, Chora and Mylopotas.

The bus stop is just a few metres along the road from the port, and the chances are you’ll find a bus already waiting. Services to other destinations, such as Koumpara (for Pathos club), Magganari Beach, Psathi etc are less regular but you’ll find a printed timetable at most main bus stops in each resort and available online here.

There is also a taxi stand next to the bus stop, so if you prefer a more personal service or want to head directly to a destination not served by the bus network, you can take a taxi there.

If you want your own transportation for some or all of your time on Ios, the port offers a range of rental services mostly located behind the marina to the right of the bus stop. Prices vary depending on the time of year, availability and what mode of transport you want, with mopeds and quad bikes being cheaper than cars.

Ios isn’t huge and sightseeing is somewhat limited, so unless your accommodation is off the main bus route or you want transportation for the sake of convenience, it’s only really necessary to use a vehicle for a day or two and you can cover most of the attractions on the island.

Lastly, if you’re happy to explore on foot, a stepped path up to Chora gets you to the island’s picturesque capital in 15 minutes, though it’s a steep and sweat-inducing climb during the heat of the day. We tend to prefer using the air-conditioned bus service during daylight hours and saving the walk for the evening when it’s much cooler.

Ios Island Guide – Ios Accommodation – Ios Beaches