Syros: Best things to do on this Greek Island

Syros – have you heard of it? Probably not! But, I bet you’ve heard of its’ ‘more famous’ sisters – Mykonos and Santorini. All these islands are in the Cyclades region – famous for its sunsets and white-washed houses. Syros is in fact the capital of this cluster of islands. And I’m here to tell you why Syros should be added to your Greece itinerary.

Is Syros worth seeing?

YES! It’s not overcrowded with tourists – it’s one of the least-visited islands in the Cyclades region of Greece. But that’s not to say it isn’t beautiful, it was one of the prettiest islands we’ve ever visited. Plus, the population of Syros is just under 25,000 people so you’ll get a true sense of small Greek island daily life here! Syros was in fact one of our favorite stops on our six week trip through Greece. P.S. another big favorite of ours was the super-unique Meteora on mainland Greece.

Syros is one of the first stops on the ferry from Athens to Santorini. It’s one of the least-visited islands in this region and so is a pleasant change from the more crowded Greek islands. Syros is the epitome of Greek island life. So here are a few things to do in Syros that will make you add this hidden gem to your bucket list.

From Athens you can book an exclusive sailing tour to the lesser-known islands in the Cyclades (including Syros and Serifos). The tour is 8 days in duration and starts from a very reasonable 1190 euro per person!

Explore the island’s biggest town Ermoupoli

Ermoupoli is the administrative capital of the Cyclades. Filled with narrow cobbled streets, white-washed houses and everywhere you look gorgeous sparkling blue water (enticing you to jump in). I did jump in! Whilst Paul climbed up to Ano Syros I went swimming off the pier. Afterwards, we had lunch down a narrow colorful lane – a frappe and a gyros for me always.

Have a beach day at gorgeous Galissas beach

We stayed a couple of steps from the gorgeous Galissas beach – easily the nicest beach on the island. Galissas is a sleepy beach town, with several outdoor restaurants lining the promenade and the sea crashing behind. Fresh seafood is the order of the day here.

Every morning I got up early and walked the beach – that’s the sign of a special place when I’m up early on vacation. I didn’t want to miss out on any time here. For a quieter beach experience, try Armeos beach. Follow the pathway from Galissas beach to get here.

Climb up to Agia Pakou church for sunset

Every single night we bought some beers from one of the little corner shop in Galissas and climbed up to this gorgeous white church on the hill. Then, we sat on the wall and watched the sun sink into the ocean for what seemed like hours.

Eat all of the fresh Greek food

Greek food is one of my favourite cuisines and the island of Syros specialises in fresh seafood. You will find a lot of octopus and calamari on the menu’s here. Some standout dishes native to Syros include marathopita (fennel pie) and lachanodolma (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice)

Some restaurants we recommend in Syros –

• In Ermoupoli – Taverna To Petrino for impeccably prepared dishes, excellent service and a lovely outdoor seating area
• In Galissas – Savvas for fresh seafood and friendly service and Iliovasilema for great greek cuisine and a lovely view.

Where we stayed in Syros

As mentioned, we stayed at the sleepy beach town of Galissas. More specifically at the bright and modern Hotel Remvi. Gorgeously decorated and airy rooms featuring a fantastically large balcony. A lovely pool to dive into after a hot day of exploring. Also worth noting is the excellent breakfast and the very reasonably priced beers at the bar. Here’s a list of other accommodation available in Galissas.

If you book any of the below hotels, I will get a teeny commission from booking.com whilst you get the best available rate.

The best places to stay on Syros Island

• Apollonion Palace in Ermoupoli for luxurious rooms and direct sea access. Price from | €90 per night

• Doras’s Studio and Apartments in Megas Gialos for great views, clean and luxurious rooms and friendly service. Price from | €50 per night

• Aktaion in Ermoupoli for neoclassical beautiful rooms right in the heart of the town. Price from | €80 per night

• Aegean Paradiso in Azolimnos is just steps from the beach with a lovely outdoor swimming pool. Price from | €60 per night
• You can search all available properties in Ermoupoli here in Megas Gialos (also knowns as Megas Yialos Nites) and in Azolimnos here.

How do you get to Syros, Greece?

Syros is well-connected with Athens and other Aegean islands. The ferry to Syros from the main port of Athens – Piraeus port, is daily and the trip takes about 3 hours.

There is also a small airport on Syros, just 3km from Ermopouli. Direct flights operate from Athens with Aegean Air and Olympic Air. The flight takes approximately 40 minutes.

So, tell me what did you think of our recommendations for things to do in Syros. We’d love to hear from you in the comment sections below. We also have lots more information on our travels through Greece on our website. We especially loved our time in Meteora, a majestic place smack-bang in the middle of the country.

We have loads of other Europe content including best things to do in Alicante Spain; 5 unique things to do in Cinque Terre Italy ; Istanbul Travel Guide and much more!

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