We all know Mykonos and Santorini for the whitewashed homes, volcanic-sand seashores, well-frequented seashore golf equipment––and the overwhelming crowds––however what about all the opposite 200-plus populated Greek islands that aren’t as fashionable?
A brief 3-hour ferry journey from Greece’s most well-known island duo, Syros is certainly one of these lesser-known gems which can be largely undeveloped, and that will not break the financial institution in the event you’re visiting in summer season, because it’s but to grow to be a resort hotspot.
On high of that, the mere act of strolling round as an American vacationer will not make you’re feeling as in the event you’re stepping on some indignant European’s garden:
Syros Is One Of The Friendliest European Spots To Visit This Year
Syros was voted the second most welcoming vacation spot for 2025 by Booking.com, primarily based on over 309 million verified buyer opinions that bear in mind the requirements of lodging, actions, transport, and total hospitality.
A small island situated within the South Aegean, roughly 29 nautical miles straight west of Mykonos and 64 miles north of Santorini, Syros is without doubt one of the essential cultural hotspots in Greece, with a wealthy historical past spanning over three millennia and quite a few noteworthy landmarks.
Syros is a largely residential island, with a restricted variation in inhabitants no matter season, not like a few of the most sought-after Greek hotspots, the place seasonal employees flock into for summer season, and precise islanders themselves are, in actual fact, a minority.
Perhaps that is why Syros feels so welcoming:
It’s retained a lot of its Cycladic traditions, and because it has not been engulfed by mass tourism, locals are genuinely happy or detached, at finest, when coming throughout guests.
Whether it is checking right into a resort, being approached by a chatty Greek yaya, or eating out in a marina restaurant, you will seemingly be greeted with real smiles and a few of that good previous Mediterranean hospitality.
What To See And Do In Syros
Its capital and largest settlement, Ermoupoli, house to roughly 62% of the island’s 21,124 residents, is a full of life port city dominated by a blue-dome Saint Nicholas Cathedral, which towers above the colourful waterfront.
Ermoupoli concentrates various Syros’ most well-known sights, together with Apollo Theater, constructed by an Italian architect within the nineteenth century as a miniature La Scala––as in, Milan’s iconic opera home––and the shop-lined Eleutheriou Venizelou avenue.
Though it’s the place most vacationers will land and spend a majority of their time, that does not imply it is all Syros has to supply.
For occasion, Ano Syros is a medieval hilltop village largely inhabited by Catholic Greeks and crisscrossed with winding pathways so slender solely pedestrians and bikers can entry, they usually all lead as much as a monumental Cathedral of San Giorgio.
If you’re keen on History (yep, with a capital H), you may’t miss out on a go to to the offbeat Chalandriani, an archeological web site in northern Syros relationship again to the Early Bronze Age, or the daybreak of Western civilization.
On the southwest coast, Poseidonia is all the things you’d count on a seaside city named after the Ancient Greeks to be: image stunning marine gardens, stately villas, and an extended sandy seashore lapped by turquoise seas.
Beaches Galore
Speaking of, Syros is fringed with scenic seashores, regardless of being a small island at solely 32 sq. miles––it takes 40 minutes to drive from its northernmost tip, marked by the Northern Syros Lighthouse, to the southernmost finish, the place its counterpart Lighthouse of Viglostasi stands.
In the southwest, Galissas is a peaceable settlement boasting postcard-ready golden sands extending alongside crystal-clear waters, whereas Kini, simply reverse an east-facing Ermoupoli on the alternative coast, has a extra laid-back environment and a handful of family-owned taverns.
In Agathopes, you will be met with a sandy bay fringed by tamarisk timber, the promise of some much-needed shade within the scorching-hot Greek summer season warmth, and do not forget Vari, one of many largest seashore cities, full of cozy cafes and boutique accommodations.
A Cheap Getaway Island
Syros is the right island getaway for an extended weekend, and in the event you’re planning on visiting this summer season, it is best to know costs listed below are a lot decrease than in additional fashionable Aegean locations––Oia, we’re taking a look at you.
Booking a superior twin room at Afroditi Syros, inside strolling distance of eating places and all the primary sights in Ermoupoli, prices $54-a-night, whereas the small, stylish Hotel Omiros, close to a seashore, is asking for a suitable $68.
Even the beachfront Hotel Hermes, one of many top-rated listings on the island, will nonetheless solely set you again by $93 within the peak of summer season, and in the event you’re involved about each day bills and meals, it is best to know the worth of a single meal is an estimated $12.34, in response to Numbeo.
Do your maths.
Oh, and funds traveler or large spender, you do not need to come to Syros in the event you plan on shedding these further kilos in 2025:
Chances are you will grow to be hooked on their native loukoumi, and do not get us began on these candy pies with almonds…
Heading to Greece this yr and on the lookout for off-path islands, be sure you learn additional on Rhodes, an Eastern Mediterranean island distinguished by its UNESCO-protected medieval capital, and luxurious Crete, a classy different to Santorini in 2025.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.