Cyclades
Amorgos
Remote, dramatic, and the setting for The Big Blue — a pilgrimage for divers and dreamers.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
9h ferry
In pictures
Amorgos
Amorgos inspired Luc Besson's The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu), and the film's obsession with depth and darkness is entirely comprehensible to anyone who has seen this island's coastline: near-vertical cliffs dropping into water of an almost unnatural cobalt, an atmosphere of scale and silence that makes the familiar world feel very far away. The Hozoviotissa Monastery, built in the 11th century into a sheer cliff face 300 metres above the sea, is one of the most extraordinary pieces of architecture in Greece — a white slash of building seemingly grown from the rock, accessible by a narrow staircase cut into the cliff. Amorgos has two distinct ports (Katapola and Aegiali) connected by a long mountain ridge with good hiking. For free-divers, the clarity and depth of the water here is some of the best in the Mediterranean. This is pilgrimage territory for divers, hikers, and dreamers.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Long journey from Athens and limited transport once you arrive. The landscape is dramatic but not beach-paradise beautiful.
Hidden gem
Swim out from Agia Anna beach (also Big Blue territory) at dawn — the cliffs above the monastery glow pink.
Where it sits
Cyclades, Greece
Amorgos — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Amorgos? +
- The best months to visit Amorgos are May to October. It's calm and uncrowded most of the year, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Amorgos from Athens? +
- Amorgos has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 9 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Amorgos good for couples? +
- Amorgos is a charming pick for couples, especially shoulder season.
- Is Amorgos good for families with kids? +
- Amorgos is not the easiest island for families with young kids.
- Is Amorgos expensive? +
- Amorgos is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Amorgos? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Amorgos. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Amorgos? +
- Long journey from Athens and limited transport once you arrive. The landscape is dramatic but not beach-paradise beautiful.