Cyclades
Ios
Sun, sand, and the most relentless party scene in the Cyclades.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Busy in peak
Best months
Jun – Aug
From Athens
7h ferry
In pictures
Ios
Ios has one main job — throwing a very good party — and it has been doing it since the backpacker era of the 1970s when travellers slept on the beach and danced until dawn. The infrastructure has been upgraded considerably since then, but the spirit remains the same: Mylopotas is a magnificent long sandy beach with beach bars running at full volume all day; Chora is a beautiful whitewashed village that begins transforming into a labyrinth of clubs and cocktail bars after midnight. It is worth knowing that Homer is supposedly buried on Ios — his tomb sits on the northern tip of the island — though the nightlife has always overshadowed the history. The beaches are genuinely excellent. If you are in your twenties looking for the full Greek summer experience at volume, Ios is your island. Come with realistic expectations and you will have an extraordinary time.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Almost exclusively a party destination. There is very little else going on and the scene can feel relentless.
Hidden gem
Homer's Tomb at the north end of the island — a quiet windswept ruin most party-island visitors never bother with.
Where it sits
Cyclades, Greece
Ios — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Ios? +
- The best months to visit Ios are June to August. Avoid late July and August if you can — the island is extremely crowded in peak season.
- How do you get to Ios from Athens? +
- Ios has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 7 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Ios good for couples? +
- Ios is more about scenery than swoon — better for active or family trips than honeymoons.
- Is Ios good for families with kids? +
- Ios is not the easiest island for families with young kids.
- Is Ios expensive? +
- Ios is affordable by Greek-island standards — value-for-money is on the weaker side, so set expectations.
- Do you need a car on Ios? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Ios. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Ios? +
- Almost exclusively a party destination. There is very little else going on and the scene can feel relentless.