That Cool Travel Couple

Santorini is the quintessential Greek island and the one that draws the most tourists per season, but did you know of a smaller, dare we say “vibier” island off it’s coast? Read on to find out more about the island of Ios, a hidden paradise.

Getting There

Ios is extremely accessible from Santorini. The primary method of getting to Ios is by ferry. There are multiple ferry options available, departing at different times a day from the Athinios port in Fira. We paid a little extra for the high-speed ferry which only took 35 minutes. The ferry was extremely crowded and noisy in second-class, but luckily it was a quick journey. It prompted us to upgrade our seats to first-class for our ferry to Athens. We book our ferry tickets through Ferry Hopper as they give you electronic copies of the tickets. So far we haven’t had a problem. We always get to the port early so that we are not in a panic to get to the ship. There are plenty of small restaurants with outdoor patios at the port in Fira. Here you can wait for your boat and relax.

Where to Stay

There are quite a few hotel options when it comes to where to stay in Ios. Note that there are certainly not as many as in Santorini. This makes sense, as it is a much smaller and less visited island.

We chose to stay at Ios Palace Hotel at Mylopotas Beach and had a blast there! Our specific room type was the “Superior Suite with Private Pool and Sea View” and boy did it deliver. The private pool was massive – though unheated, it definitely was nice to cool off during the hot summer days! You can find Ios Palace here.

If you don’t choose to book a room with a private pool, the resort has multiple pool areas and sun loungers. Breakfast is at the Tomatini Restaurant which overlooks the pool and sea and is a delicious spread of Greek and intercontinental cuisine. All of the staff were so polite and delightful, we didn’t have any issues. We even chose to explore the on-site spa area and had some amazing massages. It’s also next to Delfi Market at which you can pick up snacks and drinks. This has to be one of the best hotels we have ever stayed at.

Explore the Town

We really enjoyed the proximity of our hotel to the town and did not need to rent a car. Ios Palace is conveniently located nearby the main road that connects Mylopotas beach to the town of Chora. We wandered up the road to catch the sun set. We found lots of kids playing basketball in the park, and people coming home after a day’s work. This was very different to Santorini which is more touristy and we enjoyed seeing normal life happen.

In Chora we visited the Ios Club – Sunset Dining Bar. The staff were busy setting up for a wedding and it’s clear to see why. There are amazing and dramatic views over the Aegean. The club is in the PERFECT location to watch the sun set. The dining menu featured fresh and local flavors and the drinks were light and refreshing. We stayed there a few hours before heading back to Ios Palace.

Mylopotas Beach

This was our favorite area of Ios. It is a long stretch of golden sand with crystal clear water. There are tons of beach loungers scattered around. You can usually rent these for a few hours. If you order food or drinks from the associated restaurant then it’s usually free.

In terms of food, you will be spoiled for choice of where to go. We recommend checking out Karma for an informal and relaxed meal. It is labeled as an Italian restaurant on Google Maps. We found that their menu is actually really extensive and they have delicious drinks too. The highlight of this place is the comfy seating area! There are tons of hammocks and plush pillows. All of it is beach front and you can still feel the sea breeze as you dine.

The highlight of our trip to Ios was dining at Drakos Tavern. We walked over earlier in the day to try to reserve one of the ocean front tables at sunset. They happily agreed to our request, although all of the tables are in the beautiful ocean front outdoor patio.

At Drakos, you will find the most delicious and fresh seafood you have ever tasted. Definitely be sure to bring an appetite. Because of the ambiance and setting, it was one of the most romantic dinners we have ever eaten. They even gave us free desert – mini chocolate dipped ice cream bars!

Surrounding Area

The town of Chora and Mylopotas Beach are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ios. We mostly spent our time relaxing at the beach or pool, but here is a list of other things in case you get bored!

• Rent an ATV to cover more ground (we did this in Imerovigli and had a blast!)
• You choose to visit the rumored Tomb of Homer at the north end of the island.
• Consider visiting Manganari beach at the south end. It’s supposed to be one of the best beaches in Ios.
• Check out the sea caves with a boat tour (Ios Palace can arrange this for you).

Interested in exploring more about Greece? Check out our Greece page here!