Travel Guide
Move Over Mykonos! This Stunning Greek Island Offers Stunning Beaches & Welcoming Locals
Mar
Many think of Mykonos as the quintessential Greek island getaway:
It is popular for a reason, as it ticks all the boxes for what makes a summer destination great, from the paradisaical beaches to the picture-perfect villages to the buzzing social scene—if you’re the kind to stay up for some late-night bar crawling, you’ll certainly find your crowd here.
However, the unchecked levels of tourism can be a tad excessive, and if you’ve been hoping for a warm welcome from locals, with genuine smiles and pouring sweet ouzo, you’ll be surprised to find that many of them have in fact been pushed out of the main towns.
Those have now been taken over by big developers and seasonal residents, to the point Mykonos hardly feels like your typical Aegean escape anymore.
Luckily, there are 226 other islands in Greece to pick from, and if you’re hoping for a Mykonos dupe that’s comparatively great for nightlife and with its fair share of cultural charm, you should hit a rapidly-rising Ios instead before it, too, gets spoiled by the masses:
Could Ios Be The Next Mykonos?
One of Greece’s destination highlights for the previous year, Aegean island of Ios looks set to keep increasing in popularity for 2025.
Despite its small size, at roughly 11 miles long and 10 miles wide, and small permanent population of around 2,300 people, it is rapidly establishing itself as one of the trendiest islands in the region after Mykonos and Santorini.
For starters, it has a Chora, or Main Town, with the traditional Cycladic blanche houses and bougainvillea-framed streets.
Other than having its every corner be Instagram-ready, Chora is home to a number of cultural landmarks, including the cathedral, with its chalk-like exterior and blue dome, the open-air Odysseus Elytis Theater, hosting concerts in summer, and a row of 12 windmills perched on a hilltop.
If we may add, they’re the perfect spot for catching those blood-orange Aegean sunsets.
The thing tourists seem to love the most about Ios, however, is how welcome they feel as tourists here:
Welcoming Locals & Hearty Greek Food
There are no ‘go home’ placards being brandished, no dismissive looks from angry locals, and whether you’re ordering food at a restaurant or simply browsing souvenirs at a local market, it’s good-old Aegean hospitality you’ll get.
The center of town is also peppered with family-run eateries, where they’re still serving yaya‘s homemade pastitsio and freshly-caught octopus soaked in homegrown olive oil.
You haven’t really engaged in a cultural immersion in Greece until you’re lying back on your alfresco cushioned seat, discreetly loosening your belt a little to better digest all that delicious tzatziki and the slow-cooked lamb, or how they call it here, kleftiko.
For the best traditional food in Ios, make sure you check out Drakos Taverna, by Mylopotas Beach, or the popular Almyra By The Sea—the latter even has a number of vegan options, a rare find in any small, staunchly-Greek island.
Additionally, we love Pathos for its seafood and innovative take on sushi, but it can get busy at certain hours: it is a beach club with a beautiful aqua-colored pool facing the Aegean, after all, and the thumping DJ music and affordable drinks tend to draw the young beach-going type.
How Does Ios Compare To Mykonos On The Nightlife Front?
Speaking of clubbing, Ios is a mini Mykonos in the making, without the shocking prices, and far more laid-back.
It had had a reputation as a party destination since at least the 80s when the first hippies and backpackers made landfall here, but as you’ll soon notice once you hit a bar or two, it has none of Mykonos’ stuck-up attitude.
In other words, you won’t find Lindsay Lohans and Paris Hiltons playing sets here all summer and dragging along with them the usual hordes of friendship bracelet-wearing, braided-haired, high-waist-skirt-wearing, kumbaya Beverly Hills girlies.
If anything, the smaller venues around Chora feel a touch more authentic, from the chilled-out cocktail bars, with Click and Atlas, to name a couple, to the full-fledged techno clubs, like the aforementioned Pathos or Disco 69.
Beautiful Beaches For Miles
As for the beaches, the Ios coast is a tourist attraction in its own right.
For the Ios-classic partying on a golden-sand strip, head out to Mylopotas, where a plethora of taverns and vibrant bars await.
If you’re keen on relaxing a little, Manganari is set on a peaceful bay laden with fine, ivory-white sands, and the seas are of the turquoise-most blue.
For something in the middle, not too quiet, but not as well-frequented as Mylopotas, Agia Theodoti Beach to the northeast has soft sands, shallow teal waters, and it even has a solitary tavern if you’re ever in need of refreshments.
Looking for that secretive nudist spot?
You should know every Greek island has them, and on Ios, Kolitsani Beach is your best bet at baring it all and becoming one with the lush Mediterranean nature without the judgmental gaze of passerby.
How To Get To Ios This Season
Ios is not exactly the most accessible of Greek islands, as it does not have its own airport.
Inconveniences aside, that’s part of the reason why it feels less impacted by mass tourism than Mykonos, Santorini, and other world-famous islands.
It doesn’t mean you’ll need to embark on a Homeric journey to get there, either.
Ios can easily be reached by boat, and the best ferry connections are found in the port of Athinios, in Santorini, with crossings taking approximately 35-45 minutes, and tickets costing as cheap as $33 when booked in advance.
In general, Ios is a very affordable island to visit, with tourists spending an average $85 per night on hotels, and around $20 on individual meals daily, according to Budget Your Trip.
This spring, the centrally-located Likno’s guesthouse, right in the heart of Chora, has entire studio apartments with sea views starting at $63 per adult, per night.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
