Mylopotas Guide

Introduction

If I close my eyes and try to picture a perfect Greek beach resort, the result looks a lot like Mylopotas: a vast expanse of soft, golden sand, shelving into crystal clear water, backed by low rolling hills and a smattering of low-rise whitewashed hotels. The feeling of space and openness leads to a sense of deep tranquillity that eases away any stress and makes you feel at peace with the world.

We stayed in Mylopotas on our first three consecutive visits to Ios and it really does seem like the ideal place. With regular bus access to Gialos/Ormos port and Chora, you don’t feel disconnected from the rest of the island, except when you want to immerse yourself in the beach atmosphere and forget that there is life beyond the resort.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Mylopotas is mostly located on the hillside at the northern end of the beach, close to the winding road that leads to the capital, Chora. You’ll find a range of hotels from budget 2- and 3-stars up to the more luxury 4-star places like Ios Palace and Hideout Suites. We chose Holidays in Ios for our first visit, Manthos Place for our second trip, while our third visit was closer to the beach at the excellent Deep Blue Rooms.

If you don’t mind climbing a moderately steep hill, then any of the accommodation will suffice, but if you do have mobility issues or prefer being in closer proximity to the beach, you’ll want to limit your options to places like Ios Palace, Deep Blue Rooms or the few other hotels that are at beach level (Nissos Ios, Aegeon, Noufaro etc).

Then, of course, there’s the famous Far Out Beach Resort & Camping and adjacent Far Out Village. The former offers low-budget campsite-style accommodation ranging from fixed 2, 3 and 4-person huts, glamping tents and pitches where you can set up your own tent. These are aimed squarely at those who want to enjoy the vibrant party scene at Far Out Beach Club on a budget. More typical rooms are also available that include private bath and toilet facilities.

Facilities

The main draw of the resort is Mylopotas Beach, a vast soft sand beach, with Meltemi Watersports at the south end offering diving, boat tours and the usual array of watersports activities. Far Out Beach Club is the main source of entertainment, with a growing list of international DJs visiting each year.

Far Out also offers a gym, basketball and tennis courts as well as food, drink, sunbeds and a pool at Far Out Village. Costa’s Moto Club provides quad bike and moped rentals at reasonable prices and with great service. Free Beach Bar also plays music and offers bar drinks and food with a small pool and sunbed area, though it’s nowhere near as popular as Far Out.

Dining options are slightly limited in Mylopotas, though the quality makes up for a lack of quantity. Try the excellent Harmony Ios for awesome Mexican-style food, cocktails and live music most nights. Karma is an Italian Restaurant serving a variety of pizza, pasta and other dishes with good value cocktails and 2-for-1 deals. Delfini del Mar is another excellent restaurant, offering delicious breakfast, brunch and dinner options.

Salt Restaurant Bar and Bamboo Restaurant and Cocktail Bar offer a more upmarket dining experience and also have beach sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.

Getting Around

During peak summer season, buses run between Gialos/Ormos port, Chora and Mylopotas every 15 minutes, so it’s easy to get to and from the resort at any time. Due to its popularity and size of the beach, there are four bus stops available:

• At the top of the hill as you enter Mylopotas, close to this church.
• The first beach stop is opposite Salt Restaurant Bar.
• A second stop is close to the centre of the beach near Free Beach Bar.
• The last stop is outside Far Out Beach Club.

Be aware that buses get very busy late evening outside Far Out as the nightlife tends to finish between 10-11 pm and most people then head into Chora. Often, multiple buses will be laid on to cope with demand, but it does mean if you queue for the Chora bus at one of the other beach stops, you may find that the bus is already full and won’t take any more passengers. It’s sometimes worth walking down to Far Out and joining the crowd to increase your chances of getting on the next bus.

If you have your own transportation, driving from Mylopotas to Chora takes less than five minutes and is a journey you’ll likely make regularly, especially as the fuel station is in Chora (there is another one north of Chora, EKO Gas Station, should you need it).

It is possible to leave Mylopotas via a road south next to Drakos Tavern, but this is a very bumpy dirt track that takes several kilometres to join the main road to Magganari and isn’t recommended, even on a moped or quad bike. It’s safer and easier to explore the island by heading to Chora and sticking to the main roads.

Summary

Mylopotas is one of the best beach resorts in Greece and has something to offer everyone, whether you like to party, want to eat good food or just relax on the immense sandy beach. It’s our favourite place to stay in Ios and should not be overlooked.

Ios Island Guide – Ios Accommodation – Ios Beaches