Top Things to do in Cyclades
Top Hotels in Cyclades
What to do and see in Cyclades, South Aegean: The Best Things to do
The Cyclades is a group of Greek islands with beautiful, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains and lush valleys. Glamorous Santorini and Mykonos attract the jetset, while lesser-known isles, such as Milos and Naxos, are the perfect places for beach lovers. Ruins, including the 11th-century Dorian settlement and volcanic ash-preserved Ancient Akrotiri in Santorini, amaze those with a bent for ancient history. Sifnos' cuisine wins it admirers. Hydrofoils, ferries and catamarans connect the islands.
Restaurants in Cyclades
1. Hiking Trail Fira - Oia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,221 reviews
This is the most obvious hike you can make on the island of Santorini and it will lead you - if you have not discovered them by now - through the sister villages of Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli, going higher up all the time above the caldera. It then continues through the expanding housing in northern direction and it finally goes to Oia via a really magnificent path. This hike offers many changing views on the volcano, the sea and the caldera. This hike takes two hours and a half (actual walking time), but the total time can reach 4 or 5 hours. It is ideal to leave Firà at about 10am and in this way you will arrive in Oia already between 1 and 2pm. You can then eat in Oia in one of the many bars. In the afternoon you can descend to the little harbour of Ammoudi in Oia. From the bus square in Fira (when you get to Fira by bus) you have to continue to the very busy square of Theotokopoulou. This is the modern centre of Fira with a lot of travel agencies, banks and bars. In the corner, in between the George's Snack Corner and the Pelican travel agency you go left, in the direction of the caldera. You can then take one of the three streets off the right, they all lead towards the higher part of Fira. Once at the Archaeological Museum higher up (this museum is open till 3pm, but not on Mondays), take a left, past the upper station of the cable car. You then go right above the caldera, until the red-brown building higher up that dominates this neighbourhood of Firostefani: it is the P.M. Nomikos Conference Centre, where a lot of exhibitions take place – on the extending corner in front of this building many people take pictures of the marvellous panoramic view. On the left of the Centre you follow the tiled road and stairs, while you enjoy the view – in front of you you can see the even higher situated village of Imerovigli.
Reviewed By SharonR227 - Wayzata, United States
We took the bus from Oia towards Fira and asked the bus driver to let us off in Imerovigli. The nearby tourist office told us where to find the cliff walk trail. It was great to begin in Imerovigli, because then you are walking downhill to Fira. The views are fabulous, and there was a nice cooling breeze. We had good walking shoes and enjoyed seeing Skaros rock in the distance, the Mylos windmill, and the gorgeous blue domed church and 3 bell tower just beyond the Mama Thira Taverna. There are so many picturesque white washed dwellings, wildflowers, and stunning caldera views that it is a photographer's dream. We took the bus from Fira back to Oia. It was a great morning walk!
2. Plaka Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,269 reviews
A sunny stretch of sand by the sea, littered with nude and semi-nude sunbathers from all over the world.
Reviewed By bikerbabe22 - Milton, Canada
This is a great beach. The sand is super fine, there is plenty of space available, and it’s surrounded by shops and restaurants
3. Museum of Prehistoric Thira
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,871 reviews
Using finds from various excavations, this museum traces the course of prehistoric Thira from the late Neolithic to the late Cycladic I period.
Reviewed By Tripmonkey00 - Horsham, United Kingdom
Visited here while on our last day in santorini a great museum with amazing artefacts and wall paintings a must while on santorini i recommend visiting Akrotiri first to get a sense of the way of life of ancient people and to see the original setting of the wall paintings displayed
4. Little Venice
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,964 reviews
Reviewed By NicolasC973 - Limassol City, Cyprus
A must do while in Mykonos! Sunset time is the best time to visit Little Venice, preferably latest by 7.30pm to have an hour to watch the full sunset while enjoying a refreshing cocktail at one of the cafes situated on the shore of this location. Best enjoyed in a romantic mood with your loved one, or a flirt, easily found in Mykonos ;))
5. Lefkes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,171 reviews
Reviewed By francinal - Stanford, United States
Topical Cycladic village. Extremely clean and friendly. I highly recommend a visit in the early morning if you are in Páros. Don’t forget to visit the cafe by the big church and meet Konstantinos the owner.. he serves the best lemonade in town. Truly a gem.
6. Amoudi Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,828 reviews
Reviewed By stardust2newyorkcity - New York City, United States
Ammoudi Bay feels like a quintessential Greek island experience to me. You can walk a rustic path from the town of Oia down to the bay...smelling donkey doo-doo then entire way and chatting with fellow travelers and locals along the way. Once down at the water's edge there is a path for walking around the rocky coast and exploring a bit...you can watch the famous Santorini sunset from here...AND you can have an amazing lunch at the Sunset Ammoudi Tavern--here you can gobble sun-dried octopus, grilled squid, fried red mullet, fried sardines and anchovies, and grilled whole scorpion fish--absolutely wonderful! We love Ammoudi Bay and the restaurants down here...be sure to come down here if you visit Santorini, it has the best views and best dining on the island.
7. Sarakiniko Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,202 reviews
Reviewed By OanaBoiangiu - Bucharest, Romania
Definitely the place to be when you are in Milos. I would recommend going early in the morning if you want it to be quiet. The place is popular so it will have tourists that are taking photos, especially after 10:30 AM. Take a camera with you as you'll find many spots where you can take amazing pictures. Close to the beach you can find a food truck with beverages in case you forget to take water with you.
8. Fokos Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 191 reviews
Reviewed By NicolasC973 - Limassol City, Cyprus
This is the kind of beach that you can visit while in Mykonos, if you want to avoid big crowds without sunbeds/umbrellas, and instead lay down on the amazing yellow sand, and enjoy your day while reading a book or diving in the sea. There is a tavern on this beach where you can enjoy traditional food. You need to have a 25 min drive to get here from the centre of the city, but the road is easy, unlike other beaches where one has to take a lot of small curved roads. Be prepared to be without internet while here, cause the area does not have internet reception. Better have a book or good company with you for this beach ;)
9. Agrari Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 417 reviews
Reviewed By REDMAN5314 - Egaleo, Greece
Haha yeah, I froze to death in the water of this beautiful beach, but it worth it. We enjoyed the blue waters combined with the wind and the rocks.
10. Agia Anna Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 339 reviews
Reviewed By NeilCu - Old Windsor, United Kingdom
Ignore the stroppy reviews. The staff were lovely and attentive for our group of 12. It is expensive with beds ranging from €35-150 for front row cabana. Service was attentive all day. You can pay by credit card despite a review here to the contrary. Lunch served at the bed or in the small restaurant with different menus at each. Fresh and tasty. Cocktails are well made and again fresh. It’s no cheaper than all the glitzy beaches further west but the beach is nicer and the water less rocky. Nice swims in the small bay.
