
Our overview of the Cyclades Islands
- Santorini – unique sunsets
- Mykonos – the Ibiza of the Cyclades
- Ios – the smaller party island
- Paros – world famous for the white marble
- Antiparos – particularly remote and idyllic
- Naxos – the largest island in the Cyclades
- Milos – the white rocks
- Amorgos – the hiking island
- Syros – the administrative center
- Delos – birthplace of the children Zeus
- Tinos – pilgrimage site for the Greek Orthodox
- Andros – countless hiking routes
- Sifnos – the “gourmet paradise”
- Serifos – calm and traditional
- Folegandros – “little Santorini”
- Die kleinen Kykladen – die 4 Geschwister
The main attractions of Santorini:
- Fira: Is the capital of Santorini and the spot to enjoy the view of the island during the daytime. The summit of the caldera is an absolute highlight. From here it is very easy to get to other villages such as Firostefani and Imerovigli. It’s less than a 30-minute walk if you are good by feet. You will find the famous churches with their blue domes along the hike. If you are looking for nice shops, you should be in good hands in the famous shopping road “Golden Street”.
- Imerovigli: is the village at the end of the caldera and with its 300 meters above sea level it is understood why the call it “the balcony of Santorini”.
- Oia: is the second largest city of Santorini. The city is very lively and a special pearl, especially in the evening at sunset. There is the Franco bar where classical music is played every evening. An absolute must in our opinion, even if a beer costs about 9 euros.
- BlackBeach: This is, in our opinion, the most beautiful beach on Santorini. Even if Santorini is not known for its beaches, it is a sepcial feeling to be at a beach with typical black Santorini volcanic rocks.
- RedBeach: In addition to the black beach, the red stand is also a personal highlight of ours. This beach has its red color because of the ocher rocks of the cliff that surrounds it.
- Nea Kamini: Depending on how much time you have, it is worth taking a boat tour. The boat tour goes around the volcano and you can even bathe in the hot springs of Nea Kamini.
In conclusion, we would like to say that Santorini is really worth it just because of the breathtaking scenery and it is one of the most beautiful Cyclades islands. It is particularly worthwhile to come here as a couple, for example on your honeymoon. For the beach lovers we would recommend other Cyclades islands with fewer tourists. For Island hopper we would definitely plan a short stopover for 2-3 days.
PS: If you want to enjoy the sunset in Oia to the fullest, you should be there at least 1-2 hours in advance, at least in the main season.
12. Andros
Andros is probably the island with the most hiking routes. There are over 18 designated routes. From easy to difficult, from 30 minutes to 6 hours, so there is a route for every hiking enthusiast. The best thing to do is get a hiking map on site and choose the right route based on your skills and physical fitness. If you don’t want to wait that long, we recommend the Andros Routes website. Here you can find all the information you need for hike route planning.
15. Folegandros
Folegandros is also known as the “little Santorini” because of its impressiv sunset. There are wonderful villages to discover, each with its very individual flair. In the capital of Folegandros named Hora you should definitely admire the church above the village. From here you have an unique view over the whole island.
For those who are interested in hiking, we can definitely recommend the route to the lighthouse at Cape Mileo, which is still active since 1912. The beaches of Folegandros can be reached best by feet or by boat, so a day trip by boat is worthwhile. The island is quite small, so you don’t need a car, a scooter is completely sufficient.