This page covers SAMOS, SYROS, MYKONOS, NAXOS, PAROS too KOS too is pretty lengthy. People wanting information on a specific isle volition find:
SAMOS - 5% downward page
SYROS - 15%
MYKONOS - 25%
NAXOS - 45%
PAROS - 60%
KOS - 75%
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I'd been waiting for a decent fare into the surface area since my final see inward 2005 too when Singapore Airlines (a grade act) came upwards amongst a create out to Istanbul I jumped at it. I wasn't wasting my fourth dimension going via Tukrey - its Aegean too Mediterranean coasts are as attractive as the Greek islands too receive got quick transfers to the latter. And Istanbul beats Athens as a tourist destination whatsoever day.
SAMOS
Samos is non a front end line isle similar Santorini or Mykonos. But it was the commencement nearby Greek isle amongst skillful carry links to others as I travelled downward the Turkish coast (big attractive Lesbos farther northward had no direct transfers to the Cyclades inward shoulder flavor 2012). Samos may non live non front end line, but it's yet an attractive house which draws a loyal bunch of provide visitors each year, peculiarly Germans too Brits. It also gets a reasonable issue of twenty-four hr menstruum trippers from Kusadasi, a bustling too enjoyable toursit metropolis inward Turkey.
Most of the principal street businesses are betwixt the Turkish ferry pier too the double-decker station - at that topographic point is a line of restaurants too bars inward the commencement half. Behind this department the parallel narrow street is pedestrianised amongst lots to a greater extent than restaurants too shops.
The reverse side of the bay is closer than this appears - my elcheapo camera's built inward broad angle tends to add together depth (and de-emphasise tiptop - those hills are to a greater extent than similar mountains).
Tsamadou beach is also pebbles - I tried the sarong on the stones but gave inward for a 4 euro Sun lounge. Water is the common super-clear stuff. As I said on 1 of my Turkey pages, this may live unsurprising seeing the house has had no polluting pelting run-off for half-dozen months or so. I wonder what it is similar at the start of the season? One thing I do know from enquiry - H2O temp inward May/June is pretty cool, non the wonderful 25 degrees of August/Sept/Oct - similar most places, H2O temp inward the Greek islands tends to lag air temp past times 2/3 months.
When my around isle double-decker trip cruel through I decided to attempt it on the normal service buses - but most services on Sundays are severely curtailed - non so to Phithagorio on concern human relationship it is the 2d busiest tourist house on the island.
GETTING AROUND - many tourists were taking payoff of the inexpensive double-decker system. However every tertiary or 4th Greek isle concern seems to live a car/motorcycle hire articulation too this seemed to live the preference of the bulk of visitors (best to receive got an European Union or International driver's licence). UPDATE - a friend who was on Samos too other Greek locations inward August 2012 told me his Aussie licence worked okay hiring cars too motos.
Some islands receive got a fair few bicycles for hire usually at the same joints - Samos is 90% high steep mountains so bicycles are non the go. However Cleomenis Hotel gave me a wheel for gratis which I rode to Kokkari too Tsamadou Beach several times (also swell for fanging downward town at nighttime for a feed) - the route sticks to the coast too has less severe hills.
There are also some small-scale twenty-four hr menstruum boats out of Pithagorio to beaches farther along the coast too bigger ones to islands southward - I think a few receive got historical sites of interest. Quite a few day-trippers jump on the morn ferry to Kusadasi for a gustation of Turkey. Kusadasi itself is an interesting house to pass fourth dimension (scroll down) too the commencement grade ancient ruins of nearby Ephesus are a major attraction.
West of town is a longish beach surface area packed amongst Sun lounges too backed past times parcel resorts. Beach surface is 100% pebbbles. Water clear. Note the isle airdrome is closed inward dorsum of the beach behind photographic goggle box camera too seemed to larn a fair few twenty-four hr menstruum flights - I doubtfulness belatedly nights would live busy. If y'all click to expand y'all volition ameliorate view the restored castle on the headland a small distance W of Pithagorio harbour.
This is the persuasion defenders would larn as the Ottoman fleet approached. Unlike the wall tower above, much of the castle has been restored - the attractive interior houses a museum amongst a prissy multifariousness of historical artifacts. Entrance was gratis which goes downward existent good amongst this budget traveller.
The trip to Pithagorio was a existent prissy way to pass my final twenty-four hr menstruum on Samos. It gave me plenty of fourth dimension to larn dorsum to Vathi, receive got a prissy repast too some other 500ml of ruby inward 1 of the waterfront restaurants too and then walk around to the other side of the bay for my belatedly afternoon boat to Syros.
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SYROS
I spent exclusively 12 hours on Syros this trip - waiting betwixt ferries (0300 to 1100 on the way to Mykonos from Samos too 1830 to 2330 betwixt Paros too Kos). But I'll write a small department hither because some of y'all may abide by yourself inward the same province of affairs - too because from my few days hither inward 2005 I works life "untouristy" Syros is a really prissy isle amongst in all likelihood the best principal town inward the Cyclades.
I waited likewise long to snap this shot hoping to larn the total town inward - the distance-wide angle de-emphasises the super steep too high hills the town extends upwards behind the harbour. The surface area looks to a greater extent than impressive if y'all click-expand the image.
The U shaped harbour surface area is a winner - it is lined past times shops, restaurants too bars, peculiarly inward the arm facing the camera. The large edifice a few blocks dorsum from waterfront-central is the town hall. There is a large plaza at that topographic point lined amongst palm trees too restaurants.
There are way fewer cruising yachts inward this shot too a Google world prototype I only looked at than when I visited inward 2005. But the GE prototype shows a large marina southward of the shipyard (the shipyard is maybe 300m to left of this image) which may live novel from 2005.
THE ISLAND
WAITING STRATEGIES
Some of y'all may abide by yourself inward the same topographic point as me, having to hold off some hours on Syros for a ferry connection.
This is my shoulder flavor (Sept 2012) route IN from nigh the Turkish coast too after a few weeks BACK. My IN destination from Samos was Mykonos - inward high flavor at that topographic point is a direct boat. But 3 days later on I had to go via Syros amongst an 8 hr hold off from 3am. Similarly high flavor has a direct boat from my starting betoken inward Naxos BACK to Kos nigh Turkey. But inward belatedly Sept 2012 I had to go via Paros too Syros. Check the ferry booking sites for when y'all move - the economical crisis seems to receive got made the province of affairs fluid (there were way fewer ferries running than at the same fourth dimension inward 2005). Note that those sites don't pose out shoulder flavor timetables until a few days before they boot inward - around Sept 12 this year.
At 3am at that topographic point was yet a handful of locals coming together the ferry too offering rooms - I recongised the old guy who gave me a inexpensive but adequate room inward 2005 (off an earllier 2000 ferry from Naxos). So if y'all must larn some sleep, y'all won't receive got to trawl around hoping some of the hotels receive got all nighttime reception.
I'm tight amongst coin too tin do without sleep. There was a small-scale cafe direct reverse the principal ferry landing surface area which was yet opened upwards when I landed. This did a skillful merchandise inward java too snacks until it closed at 0430. About one-half a dozen of us continued to sit down at the sidewalk tables too swap move tales - a prissy Kiwi lady told me nigh a skillful budget hotel on Kos which proved really useful a few weeks later.
It's past times no agency dull on the pavement. Around 5am a huge superferry from Rhodes enroute to Athens pose inward - lots of locals too vehicles showed upwards to embark. My old room guy was dorsum - too I noticed he got a customer.
At 0630 some other ferry came inward enroute to Paros/Naxos too the circus was repeated.
Around 6am a bigger cafe amongst prissy baked materials too really inexpensive java opened a small distance to the correct facing the water. This house also had wifi amongst purchases - a distich of waiting backpacker babes laid their laptop upwards too were yet at that topographic point when I returned for some other java hitting at 1030 - the wifi must live fourth dimension based because 1 of them scrounged my receipt for some to a greater extent than time.
I works life a small-scale make marketplace topographic point inward 1 of the small-scale alleys leading from the harbour upwards to the town hall also opened upwards around 6am (they in all likelihood laid upwards earlier) too at that topographic point was a handful of fast-food places opened upwards inward this laneway.
Some of the really prissy absolute waterfront cafes on the harbour concourse inward this surface area opened upwards for breakfast nigh 0800.
At nigh 0900 I wandered across to the "bus station" (a department of the harbour concourse a small distance to the left [facing the water] of the principal ferry landing spot) too jumped on 1 of the buses to Galissas because I knew from my previous remain that this does a circular route visiting many of the scenic bays too villages inward the southward of the island. The trip is supposed to receive got an hr but my double-decker was picking upwards everyone who wanted to go into town that morn (ended upwards standing room exclusively - if y'all receive got a large pack, maybe leave of absence it at a cafe or ferry booking agency) too took to a greater extent than similar xc minutes.
Alternatively y'all could jump on the 0930 double-decker to Agios Ana (or similar me inward 2005, walk upwards there) to explore the wonderful twisting laneways too drinkable inward the views. Once again, leave of absence your luggage downward at the harbour.
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MYKONOS
Mykonos was non 1 of the half-dozen islands I visited inward 2005. But people receive got since told me a broad agreement of the Greek islands needs Mykonos so I made a betoken of staying at that topographic point latest trip.
THE ISLAND
Mykonos is fairly compact amongst rugged semi-barren hills rather than the mountains of many islands.
Ferry passengers should inquire which port their vessel leaves from - most (but non all) of the large ferries summation the cruise liners utilization the novel port nigh 2km northward of the old port nigh town central) - at that topographic point is a shuttle double-decker betwixt the ports but I don't know how frequently it runs.
THE BEACHES
Paradise beach is perhaps the best known of them all. This shot is misleading - what appears to live a narrow strip of people too Sun lounges along the H2O is inward fact 4 or five rows deep as a click-expand volition show.
The guide books verbalize nigh golden sand - hur hur hur. H5N1 brownish shade of yellowish is the truth, too quite coarse inward structure. Water is clear.
Paradise used to be THE gay beach of the Aegean but at that topographic point was a skillful mix of both sexes. It used to live known for nudity but at that topographic point seemed to live exclusively a few brave virile individual singles too couples mainly at the nigh end. As a affair of fact topless women were far less mutual than on a typical Sydney beach. No lack of hot ladies though. Or hunks if that's your preference.
My camping ground cabin at Paranga beach was less than 2km away too I didn't listen whatsoever thump thump thump after nigh 2200 - I don't think the political party goes 24 hours inward shoulder season.
Super Paradise is nicer IMHO than Paradise - maybe a flake less crowded but yet busy. Has the thumping music too. More nudists - 85% virile individual couples but "textiles" of both gender activity predominate.
Interestingly Super Paradise does non receive got a double-decker service from town - Paradise Beach does, at one-half hourly intervals good into the night.
The approach from Super Paradise is over the steep headland background far left - the trek takes a skillful 45 minutes summation to Agari because in 1 lawsuit y'all climb the slope inward the background of the previous shot y'all drib steeply into a gully amongst a small-scale beachless bay too and then climb a similar slope to the top of the headland background of this shot.
But those climbs are goose egg inward steepness compared to the 1 I took to larn this shot - at to the lowest degree at that topographic point was a route most of the way upwards through some failed existent estate surface area - I swear it had a slope of 1 inward 5. The persuasion behind photographic goggle box camera of the beaches of the lower E coast is similarly skillful but these are much less busy too I was damned if I was going to trudge on to cheque them. Hell, I had to larn dorsum over five headlands to Paranga Camping from the inward a higher house spot. I was so fit from climbing hills when I left Mykonos that I had muscles on my boogers. For some argue I exclusively visited the inward a higher house beaches in 1 lawsuit vs 3 times for Paradise too Super Paradise.
Note to those interested - the department betwixt Agari too Elia inward a higher house is a gay cruising area. As such at that topographic point are plenty of tracks to receive got dissimilar the gaps betwixt other beaches.
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Certainly the people inward vacation accommodation, restaurants/bars, carry yada seemed hard workers - maybe the goof-offs are inward the populace service too those doctors don't wanna pay tax. But y'all can't create sustained national wealth amongst hard function inward some sectors if the province has a relative shortage of natural resources, excogitation too leadership. Sure, y'all tin agree northern European living standards too national infrastructure for a small piece using borrowed money. But that ends when the lenders start to worry they won't larn repaid.
So here's me - brand it at Mykonos/Paranga Camping too the commencement thing I do after getting settled is to receive got off for Paradise Beach, unaware that a far ameliorate beach is a few steps away. Duh. I blame it on the guide books that give no indication how prissy Paranga is. Those guide books.
To larn to Paradise Beach, follow the path behind photographic goggle box camera around the headland where y'all volition view Paradise less than fifteen minutes away. No ridiculous headlands to scramble over.
MYKONOS/PARANGA CAMPING
The puddle surface area at Mykonos Camping is a prissy house to pass time. There is a bar behind photographic goggle box camera amongst overpriced 3euro beers (about 300ml inward plastic cups) too okay music, summation a prissy outlook over the bay too beach.
I wanted to remain at 1 of the beaches without wasting likewise much fourth dimension finding a articulation (arrival twenty-four hr menstruum was half-gone) - MPC's van was at the ferry so I jumped in. Paradise Camping's van was also at that topographic point but I'd heard the all nighttime parties brand that articulation noisy.
Mykonos/Paramga Camping has a large make of accommodation - google the website. These are the "bungalows" - basically a steel framework/roof amongst cloth covering. That's mine inward background - the Castilian distich staying commencement nighttime inward the nigh 1 moved out (thank God - I think they were honeymooners) too because the venue was shutting downward inward a fortnight (unusual - closing at the destination of September when most venues too the skillful conditions final 'til the destination of October) the guys stripped the cloth for repair.
These cabins were overpriced at 10 euros per individual (I paid e20 solo "because mine could slumber two" - couldn't create out a discount despite the lower have on too tear, hot H2O utilization etc of one, too I'm a world grade haggler) but were fairly spacious, non hot too had a comfy double bed. The bath blocks were create clean but the nearest 1 had a bust hot H2O organization which they weren't prepared to ready inward a hurry, necessitating a 300m walk to the other block for a shower - this house covers a large area. MPC has a medium-sized overpriced supermarket amongst exclusively nigh 20% of stock left so belatedly inward its season. Breakfast was no longer served past times my commencement morn (it was gratis presumably to clear stock - I did my best to help: btw the toll listing suggested goose egg is ordinarily a bargain), but the rather skillful "stone-oven" surface area continued to sell large tasty pizzas, pita wraps too other yummy meals at dinner fourth dimension for really reasonable prices.
I would live leery booking an "apartment" at MPC if I was expecting the typical Greek isle white-masonry type - they are plywood structures non likewise much flasher than my articulation - although they receive got their ain bathroom.
IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?
Miss Mykonos 2012 knows where the fishies are. Okay, maybe technically dolphins aren't fish. You receive got to trust me on the authenticity of this shot.
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NAXOS
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Nice twilight at Agia Anna
Naxos is the exclusively 1 of my 2005 islands I planned to revisit. It is 1 prissy island. I'm non the exclusively 1 thinks this - I notice GREEK ISLAND HOPPING which comes out annually (and is a fabulous resource), rates inward their readers' survey Naxos as most visited isle and most days visited. I would receive got thought Santorini would receive got won hands downward - so Naxos has the goods for to a greater extent than than me.
Naxos is a medium sized isle amongst plenty of prissy beaches too an impressive principal town. The eastern one-half is dominated past times mountains. I receive got made no sweat to house all spots of involvement inward the inward a higher house - exclusively the places I parent below - summation the airport.
Note likewise that spelling of places varies - Apperirantho(s)/(n) too Ag(H)ia/(os)) Anna - (image - modified Google Earth).
When I arrived at the pier one-half a dozen ladies were waving their accommodation signs at me. Which one? Well I picked the lady on the left. Sofia told me her house was at Agia Anna which I knew was a skillful surface area too she had a studio for e20. Sounded skillful to me. Not wrong.
Sofia's was on a slight rising 700m from the body of body of water - topographic point ideal, closed to my favourite beach location. This is the outlook from my balcony - that's the neighbouring isle of Paros inward background - closer too higher than my elcheapo photographic goggle box camera makes out. My room was spacious, clean, comfy bed, quiet, had a kitchenette. Breakfast was included but was a flake basic too at 1000 likewise belatedly most mornings but Sofia made upwards amongst a Fri nighttime bbq to which she invited guests too a bunch of friends.
Sofia's too Agia Anna inward relation to Naxos town. There is a regular double-decker service runs from town past times Agia Anna too continues southward of Plaka. It leaves from the double-decker station at the arrivals pier on the hour. My favourite department of beach runs from that small-scale headland only nether the "a" inward Anna past times the Plaka label. That bare patch left of the airdrome is a tabular array salt lake.
Agia Anna-Plaka beach. This is the northern km or so - it stretches the same distance or to a greater extent than behind camera. This is the best stretch of beach I've seen inward the Greek islands - the sand is fine-grained too genuinely to a greater extent than low-cal yellowish than brown. Water is the common super create clean materials - to a greater extent than frequently than non sand off the beach although at that topographic point are some sections where y'all mensuration out onto a stone shelf. In the far northward around that distant betoken the beach ends inward a rocky department nigh a small-scale church, where at that topographic point is a small-scale sandy bay amongst a lot of offshore rocks okay for snorkelling. The beach isn't perfect - it has the coast route behind (quite a lot of accommodation too a few skillful tavernas) which is dirt surfaced too so y'all tin larn some dust inward sections closest the route when the air current is from the incorrect direction. The infamous meltemi northerlies are non likewise bad from this betoken of view, blowing along-shore, but some parts of the beach are exposed.
This is some other clothing-optional beach. Starting at the surface area upwards around the rocks inward north, at that topographic point are several areas which are only nigh 100% nude. In other areas "textiles" predominate, but it's non odd to view a nudist distich stretched out on a Sun lounge surrounded past times one-half a dozen textile couples. And vice versa - no-one gives a damn. As y'all tin view from the inward a higher house shot, at that topographic point is plenty of infinite to stretch out a towel if y'all are non into Sun lounges.
The previous beach started nigh five minutes walk W of Agia Anna central. This stretch of beach was correct inward town - pleasant plenty if y'all don't desire to walk. The route is paved hither so no dust problem.
And this is the department of beach only to the northward of Agia Anna primal - lots of vacation accommodation inward this area. This department of beach seemed best protected on the blowy meltemi day.
btw - lots of other beaches on the isle but having having works life too enjoyed these on my 2005 see I had no existent desire to seek anywhere else.
NAXOS TOWN
This house loses goose egg to most Greek isle capitals. There is a existent prissy stretch of bay-front restaurants too bars behind the marina y'all tin view slightly left of central. The town spreads upwards moderate hills behind - if y'all are seeking the narrow alleys too white buildings of the old-time isle choras this department has no shortage. You may live able to view a bigger white construction only correct too a flake lower than mid shot - I'm non certain if this is town hall, but inward that surface area is a prissy primal foursquare amongst lots to a greater extent than restaurants too bars. The surviving gates of the Temple of Apollo are on that tied islet at left (oblique prototype - Google Earth)
There's quite a few ruins on Naxos but the most accessible are the gates of the Temple of Apollo 300m from the ferry pier inward Naxos town. The temple was started past times some ancient Naxos tyrant but never finished - I think some later on invading dudes smashed everything standing but this.
MOUNTAIN TOURING
On my final total twenty-four hr menstruum on Naxos I decided to cheque the mountains out. Sofia told me that the best destination was only past times the mount hamlet of Filoti - too the double-decker station ticket purpose (look 100m inland-left from where the buses commons at the ferry pier) had some maps showing a issue of treks inward that area. So I jumped on a double-decker - but a misunderstanding saw me overshoot my halt too the ride was such a hoot over the narrow twisting Tour de French Republic mount phase type route that I stayed on correct to the destination - Apollon which is nigh 55km from Naxos town.
Better than watching the Monaco Grand Prix. Here the double-decker is nose-in to that building, component way thru a back-and-file shuffle negotiating a super-tight hamlet corner BEFORE that left hander inward shot. Those double-decker guys are swell drivers.
Apollon is a prissy footling fishing/tourist town inward the north-east corner of the island, 54 km from Naxos town. Plenty of accommodation too restaurants, too a prissy town beach sheltered from the meltemi which was reasonably rigid that day. When the double-decker got inward I adjourned to a bay-side eatery for a java too consulted the double-decker timetable: Sunday: pregnant curtailed services amongst no provide double-decker for 4 hours. So I began trudging upwards the steep twisty mount route for some exercise/sightseeing - I figured the double-decker had to come upwards past times wherever I got to.
This is 1 scenic walk. That's component of Apollon's footling bay background-center. btw nosotros are exclusively one-half way upwards the slope here. Nice shot to click-expand.
Stereotypical picture-postcard mount villages clinging to the steep loma sides. That's Koronas inward the foreground, Skado behind. My aim was to larn to Apeirantho towards the top of the make on concern human relationship this was where the most people got off the double-decker on the way in.
Apeirantho(s) is a sweetness fairly large hamlet 32km from Naxos town, 650m high. Lots of whitewashed buildings too marble lane ways. There seemed to live a hell of a lot of small-scale museums - "Museum of Village Tapestry" etc - so if that's your thing, this is the place.
No shortage of neat footling lane-way restaurants either. I made it upwards hither from Apollon inward 3 hours including 2 small automobile lifts from a sight-seeing Dutch couple. The trek was pretty hot so when this restaurant's host told me she had some elcheapo chilled rose made past times her granddad inward 500ml tankards I went for it. The passing parade was interesting.
Oblique angle Google world prototype of component of the route looking from the north-east. Note y'all tin do a circular route Naxos town-Apollon-Naxos town using the E coast road. The Dutch distich said it was scenic. There are weekday buses from Naxos town to Apollon via the coast - I don't know how good they co-ordinate amongst the mount buses time-wise. Apeirantho is towards the top of the eastern side of the mount make - Filoti is on the western side a fair flake downward from where the route peaks.
On provide I decided to forego my common repast bayfront at Naxos town for dinner at the taverna across from Agia Anna's small-scale pier. The nutrient was tasty too inexpensive. The persuasion wasn't shabby either....
.....and didn't larn worse as fourth dimension passed.
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PAROS
I didn't think to revisit Paros. But my memories of it too closed neighbor Antiparos are positive so when my route from Naxos dorsum to Syros too then Kos too then Turkey entailed a ferry via Paros, I decided to bail out too pass a few days there.
When I arrived from neighbouring Naxos on that large ferry only leaving the quay the common dozen or so people were waving their accommodation cards. Once in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than I picked the individual on the far left: he had a hotel amongst puddle reverse the first department of Livadia beach 700m southward of the quay for 25 euros. Sounded skillful to me. While nosotros were talking the smaller ferry at left arrived - I suggested he attempt to larn some other client piece I had a java from the footpath house where this shot was taken. I used to sit down hither inward 2005 to sentinel the ferry activity too passers by.
A small distance to the correct is a variety of windmill inward the middle of the foursquare amongst a skillful tourist data office. Plenty of accommodation booking/ferry ticket/forex agents inward this area. The double-decker station is a department of the quay nigh 100m left. The bay-side route which continues to the left has a large make of shops, restaurants too bars - non exclusively skillful for a feed but a swell people-watching house inward the evenings when visitors too locals come upwards out to stroll. Walk inland this department too y'all are really speedily inward 1 of those areas of the master hamlet - the narrow twisting lanes which brand these towns so attractive - to a greater extent than restaurants/bars too shops here. The bayside route to the correct has the busy marina inward its commencement department too a bunch of hotels, to a greater extent than restaurants/bars too shops on the other side. The principal street angles off only behind photographic goggle box camera - the commencement component is a large civic foursquare amongst lots of greenish too some skillful restaurants at the side.
Parikia - some of the places mentioned inward the previous caption. Note the bay top left continues for some distance amongst a large western headland - Parikia has a nicely protected harbour inward most conditons. The small-scale beaches on the northern side of those bays are nicely sheltered from the rigid meltemi winds (modified Google world image).
Hotel Argo - 60's style house inward pretty skillful condition. Friendly efficient hosts. Busy route betwixt Argo too beach but I had a comfy, tranquillity too cool room at the left side (didn't larn the afternoon sun). Road straight off correct has a distich of small-scale supermarkets too some skillful value bay-view restaurants. Beach pretty prissy for a town beach, sand fairly create clean too non likewise coarse, H2O okay amongst sandy bottom. Sun lounges are comp for guests, prissy places to pass fourth dimension amongst a beer or 3 from the supermarkets nigh sunset.
Paros is a reasonably large isle amongst a host of bays too beaches - so many places to stay. Much of the mid-section if non mountainous is best described as seriously hilly. Antiparos is similar too exclusively a few minutes ferry trip from the bigger island.
NAOUSA (say Nowsa)
Parikia is a skillful house to live located too at that topographic point are a heap of other prissy places around this fairly large island. But the guidebooks too move websites all reckon Naousa inward Paros' northward is the pick. This is yet a working angling town but tourism is to a greater extent than of import amongst a lots of accommodation inward every toll range. Naturally the town abounds amongst all that is attractive - the narrow winding alleys amongst dozens of restaurants/cafes/bars too the trendy shops. H5N1 picturesque harbour.
There is a frequent double-decker service to/from Parikia which makes a twenty-four hr menstruum see hither slow - live careful because the route thru town is circular amongst the deviation waiting spot some distance from where y'all are dropped only behind the harbour. Don't inquire me how I know this.
The surrounding surface area is likewise attractive. The surface area around Monastiri beach top left is a national commons amongst rugged rocks too headlands. I visited the beach inward 2005 - it is inward a really sheltered cove (head hither if the rigid northerly meltemi is blowing) too has a trendy sort of beach bar/club which seemed to attract the island's in-set - lots of yachts too other leisure arts and crafts moored off the beach. The bay surface area dorsum around to Naousa has several small-scale sheltered sections of sand. Lageri Beach top correct is article of apparel optional inward its southern section. H5N1 H2O taxi service from town takes y'all to Monastiri too Lageri relatively cheaply - it wasn't running my latest trip (taken same fourth dimension of twelvemonth shoulder flavor mid September) maybe reflecting the economical difficulties. It took me only nether an hr to walk from town to Lageri.
Santamaria Beach is at the northern destination of the E coast - y'all tin walk from Lageri inward nigh 10 minutes. Santamaria catches winds nicely too is the focus of the islands's wind-surfing/kite-surfing activity, which is pretty large inward the Cyclades. In 2005 I caught a double-decker to Molos one-half way downward the E coast too walked to Santamaria. Lots of prissy footling bays too beaches amongst cute villages too a huge array of tourist accommodation along here. This was inward the twenty-four hr menstruum when I travelled super-lite without photographic goggle box camera so I don't receive got whatsoever shots to show.
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As said before, I'm non existent keen nigh waving a photographic goggle box camera around nudists' beaches - so I pinched this swell Lageri shot off Captain Barefoot's swell guide to Greek naturist beaches. The beach is narrow but clean, the sand non likewise coarse too as y'all tin see, the H2O super clear. It doesn't shelve likewise speedily so is non a bad beach for people amongst kids. Quite a few "textiles" sharing this department when I visited too at that topographic point is a dedicated textile surface area amongst Sun beds maybe 400m to the left where the taxi boats from Naousa ordinarily come upwards in.
ANTIPAROS
Antiparos is a destination inward itself too quite a few people brand it their exclusive Greek isle vacation destination. It's such an slow see from Paros that a daytrip hither is a natural.
There are a distich of daily ferries from Parikia, but for convenient access y'all can't trounce the small-scale half-hourly vehicle ferries from Pounta to the southward (don't confuse amongst Pounda farther south). The ferries receive got nigh 10 minutes to cross too the frequent double-decker service Parikia/Pounta 20 minutes - both inexpensive. Most buses seemed timed to the ferries.
Here nosotros are cruising into Antiparos town - a sweetness footling house that has everything y'all expression for inward a Greek isle village.
The isle has a lot of historical sites summation (according to the websites) some pretty skillful beaches downward southward - all of which is ideal for dudes amongst European Union or International Drivers' Licences who convey their cars too motorcycles across. I walk so both visits I've stayed closed to Antiparos town. The nicest beach inward that surface area is Theologians (various other names) inward the northward maybe fifteen minutes walk via Antiparos Camping (follow the signs).
Once in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than I've pinched this from Captain Barefoot. The pic is a flake misleading - this is from the narrow western destination of the beach - inward background it widens to a prissy triangular surface area technical beach nerds would telephone telephone a cuspate foreland - sand okay, existent prissy H2O (no currents, really clear too fairly shallow for some distance offshore: ideal for people amongst kids. You tin wade across to nearby Diplo isle if the tide is down). This is an official nudist beach but in 1 lawsuit once to a greater extent than "textiles" utilization it too no-one gives a damn. I noticed some local guys brought a rake, shovel too bin across during my latest see too spent some fourth dimension cleaning the beach. Nice.
There are 3 beaches easily walked to from town on its southern side - these are goose egg to write domicile to mum nigh sand-wise but receive got the sun-lounges yada. The commencement has a beach society amongst puddle at the northern destination amongst cool dudes hanging around. I felt quite out of place. Not so the completely naked acre local infant standing on the sand out front end talking to a clothed bloke when I passed past times inward 2005. Those completely naked local babes.
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KOS
I used Kos as a deviation betoken dorsum to Turkey - its closeness is a summation as is the intense contest betwixt day-boats to Turkey making the one-way fare 10 euros, considerably cheaper than alternatives Samos too Rhodes. To cap this, Kos is a really prissy destination.
Paradise beach inward the southward W of Kos - a prissy shot to click-expand.
Kos is a fairly large isle amongst a permanent population of around 30000 which swells inward summertime - it is a pop tourist destination, peculiarly amongst Scandinavian packagers. I've exclusively pose inward the places mentioned inward the text downward page. The airdrome was surprisingly busy for shoulder flavor - buses to Kardamena too Kamari on the southward coast telephone telephone past times too the 4 times I visited saw a distich of hundred people waiting on the concourse outside, presumably for hotel shuttles.
That's the western destination of Turkey's Datca peninsula bottom right, the nearest component exclusively 15km from Kos. But the narrowest gap is to the south-west corner of the Bodrum peninsula direct northward of Lambi at top - 5km. Bodrum town itself is nigh 17km past times sea.
The isle only northward of Tigaki is Greece's Pserimos, small, pretty barren too sparsely settled (population less than 150) but a fairly pop telephone telephone inward for twenty-four hr menstruum boats. The isle tip y'all tin view top left is Kalymos, nigh one-half the size of Kos too a vacation destination inward itself amongst skillful beaches, stone climbing, some rugged scenic province too a really attractive principal town. Day trip boats from Kos' Mastichari are popular. Just out of frame bottom centre is the small-scale volcanic isle of Nisyros - a pop twenty-four hr menstruum see out of Kardamena.
Nisyros is a classic cone-caldera. The volcano has been dormant for some time. The isle has 3 small-scale villages too a flake of vacation accommodation.
This oblique Google world prototype from the NNE shows the impressive mount make which dominates primal too southern parts of eastern Kos. Further W is mainly a depression plateau although it gets hilly towards the island's western end.
Despite the mountains inward prototype it is really storey inward the nigh coastal department from Agios Fokus far left past times Kos town too Lambi to Tigaki far correct too beyond. I receive got never seen so many locals too tourists riding bicycles inward the Greek islands. On my final twenty-four hr menstruum I rode Kos town/Embros/Tigaki/Marmari/Kos town maybe 60km, too passed literally thousands of cyclists. There are dedicated cycling lanes in/near town too the coastal acre betwixt Lambi too Tigaki has some tranquillity roads away from the (hillier) principal route farther inland. From Agios Fokus to Embros the route climbs some pretty decent slopes, exclusively for the fit. There is a super steep runway downward the mountainside to the sea-side themal puddle hither - exclusively skilled mount bikers too fools similar me volition sweat to ride this stretch..
The nigh coast inward the prototype is really touristy. There is an intense department of parcel accommodation behind the beach from Kos town to Lambi. The beach continues backed past times intermittent resorts to busy Tigaki far correct (check the tabular array salt lake only past times Tigaki). It is similar but a flake busier inward the department from Kos town to Agios Fokus far left
The thermal puddle at Embros. This is connected amongst the seismic activity inward the full general Nisyros region. I didn't go inward on concern human relationship I was already hot too sweaty from my ride here. I was existent pleased amongst myself - I managed to ride downward the super steep/rough access route without my common play tricks of locking the brakes, sliding into a oestrus too going caput over turkey. Great amusement for watchers but non so enjoyable for the performer. And on the way upwards I fluked the correct gear so I did't larn wheelspin when off the topographic point or front end wheel elevator when on. H5N1 technical mount bike rider I'm not.
Part of the Kos town to Lambi parcel beach strip inward background, photographed from the top deck of the daytrip boat waiting to clear emigration on the way to Turkey.
West of Lambi, the northward coast is to a greater extent than or less a continuous strip of sand for the 20km to only past times Mastirchari, but it gets widest hither inward the Tigaki area. Not bad sand (a fair flake of fine weed at the water's edge), the common lovely clear H2O which hither shelves fairly gently amongst no rocks underfoot. In the background is a really large department of sun-lounges closer to Tigaki town which is perhaps 800m from the camera. Behind the Sun lounges are some prissy beachside tavernas - they do the quick delivery of drinks too nutrient to the Sun lounges.
Immediately behind photographic goggle box camera is the entrance to a tabular array salt H2O lagoon . H5N1 pipeline had been rigged upwards to assist the tide drain/refresh the lagoon - seemed to live working surprisingly well. On the other side of the pipeline was the article of apparel optional department - at nowadays I'm pretty relaxed too I don't desire to audio elitist, but I gotta say it seems Kos is the exclusively adventure inward the twelvemonth for a lot of Scando senior citizens to do their nude thing . And they aint inward existent skillful shape.
Tigaki town itself is a busy house amongst a heap of shops, restaurants, bars too accommodation. The double-decker service hither from Kos town is quite frequent but brand certain y'all larn the incoming driver to present y'all where the outgoing double-decker picks upwards - non the same house as where y'all are dropped.
Marmari too Mastichari farther W are similar to Tigaki athough Mastichari has a prissy footling harbour.
SOUTH COAST BEACHES
This is the beach surface area only W of Kardamena. I wasn't whelmed - the sand was non peculiarly create clean (the hills only across the route are semi-arid pregnant a lot of dust gets blown when the rigid northerly meltemi winds boot inward - hither things seemed worse amongst evidence of a recent scrub burn across there) - too the entrance to the H2O was rocky. About 600m behind photographic goggle box camera is the article of apparel optional department which Captain Barefoot calls Natural or Tropical Beach. It looks much the same as the inward a higher house amongst maybe to a greater extent than rocks waterside - the taverna people at that topographic point receive got pose a string of sandbags into the H2O to brand it easier to come inward (I works life a sandy bottom in 1 lawsuit I swam out 25m) - the Cap'n enthuses, maxim it is 1 of the nicest naturist beaches around. I don't think so - I reckon he has been carried away past times the hospitality of the prissy Brit lady who runs the taverna.
Kardamena town is the typical small-scale tourist town amongst the common things people are looking for inward a
Greek isle coastal village. It's some other house where the double-decker pick-up is different from the drop-off point. There is a heap of package-type resorts along the coastal route behind shot W of town.
This is the best department of beach on Kos IMHO - Magic/Exotic Beach inward the southward west. Start looking for the Magic Beach sign in 1 lawsuit the route gets nigh the coast on the way to Kefalos/Kamari from the airport. The double-decker driver knows where to drib y'all off. Follow the steepish route downhill too plough left at Magic Restaurant which has a neat topographic point on the dunes only inward a higher house the beach too would live a prissy house to pass fourth dimension (NOT those white edifice upwards top inward shot). The sand hither was pretty create clean despite the semi-arid hills behind (but a few thorns!) too is fairly fine grained. The H2O was gorgeous - warm, clear, no rocks too shelving non likewise quickly
If y'all click-expand y'all volition ameliorate view the Sun lounges department - too the destination of the long strip of sand at Paradise Beach against the far headland. There were several other Sun lounge sections before Paradise. Behind photographic goggle box camera begins the article of apparel optional department which runs as as far upwards to the start of the higher Earth the airdrome is on. Polemi beach is component of this section.
Paradise Beach foreground, Magic/Exotic middle Earth (you tin view that high white building) too Polemi farther away. I thought Paradise pretty sweetness but a mensuration downward from Magic/Exotic - a few stones inward the H2O inward places summation all those Sun lounges. 100% textile when I passed past times despite what the Cap'n suggests.
Turn 180 degrees from the previous shot for this pic of Camel Beach. If y'all desire somewhere off the beaten runway this could live the house - that far department was peculiarly uncrowded too appealing in 1 lawsuit I trudged downward there. Ony occupation - I had to trudge dorsum upwards to ....
.... larn this shot of Agios Stefanos (foreground) too Kamari (background). Lots of resorts too tavernas backing these beaches. I wan't existent impressed amongst beach character - the H2O was the common skillful thing but the sand piece non likewise bad at Stefanos, got progressively to a greater extent than coarse-grained too grey. Towards the far destination it becomes pebbles/shingle. No shortage of Sun lounges along here. The picturesque loma town of Kefalos is upwards the slope correct background, but I was a flake tired of trekking slopes too gave it a miss ....
---- instead retiring to the upstairs deck of Santa Barbara Restaurant amongst a bottle of their elcheapo local ruby - only the thing for whittling away fourth dimension until the following bus.
Watching the passing parade at Santa Barbara was interesting - here's something a flake different: poochie having a ball; mistress inward cool over-achieving Sun hat.
This contraption passed past times later on when I was waiting at the double-decker stop. It's the tourist "train" which does a circular route past times points of interest. I noticed others at Kardamena too inward Kos town. The latter would in all likelihood transcend most points of interest. Bit cheesy for me
KOS TOWN
At commencement I wasn't all that impressed amongst Kos town - but a 4.30am arrival off the ferry from Syros doesn't present the articulation at its best. Which is maybe after sunset when all the restaurnants, cafes too bars lining the concourse at the old harbour too only inland at historic Eletherias Square larn crowded amongst people. The narrow alleys betwixt these places too leading farther inland towards the double-decker station are packed amongst trendy shops which pull a crowd. I was surprised how busy the inward a higher house areas were despite shoulder flavor too the economical woes. And Greeks outnumbered tourist, non that at that topographic point was whatsoever shortage of the latter. 
The old harbour from the departing twenty-four hr menstruum boat to Turkey. That's the emigration/immigration purpose closed at left. The twenty-four hr menstruum boats come upwards across from their berths at the harbour-front concourse inward background too hold off for passengers to larn their passports stamped. Bit of a circus - at to the lowest degree half-dozen dayboats, maybe 700 people too 2 officials - but maybe this is a reflection on austerity spending cuts.
The wall behind the e/i purpose is component of the old crusader castle which extends way dorsum as far as storey amongst the harbour front end concourse. There is a heap of historical sites inward Kos town - walk around too y'all are constantly passing ancient places inward ruins, nether restoration or refurbished. I'll leave of absence y'all antiquity enthusiasts to Google search.
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