General Information & Reviews

Reviews

• mary11 15 Oct 2012
  For educational trips

  As a head of university excursions, I always try to find time for some educative excursions in the Greek land. Syros is one of the places with great history and culture well-maintained to these days. Especially the architecture of Ermoupolis is stunning, like an open museum showing a vast collection of buildings from the Venetian period and churches with barroque architecture.
  
  My students were impressed by all this beauty, our walks in the picturesque streets, our stops cozy cafes, the amazing beaches and the delicious meals looking at the Aegean sea. The island is not very touristy but it has some nice points. We liked Kini a lot and Galissas. You will find plenty of hidden spots that can offer a serene feeling and others which are very busy. I believe Syros is highly appreciated by elderly people and not so much by the young crowds and especially the party animals.
  
• alexpap26 30 Jan 2012
  The jewel of Cyclades islands

  Hi, everybody! Last summer I found myself for two whole weeks on the island of Syros as I had registered for an intensive course of Modern Greek with a school called OMILO, based in Athens. I did not know what to expect but the whole thing turned out to be a unique experience! The classes took place in a small picturesque village called Azolimnos, just a ten minute ride from Ermoupolis, the capital of the island. What I found really fantastic was that in a distance of only 10 meters from the place where the classes were held, you would find yourself swimming in a crystal-clear turquoise sea! Not to mention the free chairs and umbrellas! (after this we visited Mykonos, where we had to pay a small fortune for two chairs and an umbrella!!!)
  
  Along the beach there is a variety of tavernas with the most delicious and unpretentious food ever! Make sure you visit Petros' place for home-made food, if you are lucky enough you may listen to him playing the bouzouki late in the evening! Once he played for OMILO's students, if you like rebetika, this is your man! He even gave bouzouki lessons to the wife of one of the students! "Filomila" is also a great choice with more "sophisticated" Greek cuisine! Don't forget to taste pantzarosalata (beetroot salad) and humus!
  
  Apart from top quality teaching (thank you all teachers, you are fantastic, sorry I made your life a misery!), the OMILO staff made sure we got a taste of Greek culture too. In the summer Syros hosts a big variety of cultural events. If you like opera, dancing, music, theatre, go for it! The teachers even took us to see Olympia Dukakis performing at Apollo theatre in Ermoupolis (such a beautiful theatre, it was modeled after the La Scala di Milano Opera House!!)! A stunning performance, Dukakis was amazing! You can finish off your cultural evening with great food at OINOPNEVMATA, by the famous big square of Ermoupolis or at Lilis' place in Ano Syros, you will never forget the breathtaking view from its huge balcony! The good thing about being in a big group of students was that we could all share plates, practically the whole menu! :)
  
  By the way, stin igeia sas, my dearest friends, I hope I see you all again in Syros this summer! Anna, you promised me! :)
  
• joan_c 17 Jan 2011
  Very nice island

  A friend of mine lives in Syros so this past summer I had the opportunity to spend a few days there. She is staying in Hermoupolis, a town where the architecture of the buildings and the Venetian style is quite impressive. We visited Ano Syros on foot, the highest spot of the town. The small streets, the gardens and the view from the square will charm visitors. The island has some very nice beaches.
  
  My friend suggested we go to Galissas which is among the most popular beaches and then enjoy a nice drink in the beach bars there. You might also like Finikas and Agathopes, though they are less busy than Galissas. Syros is full of tourists in the summer period, so even if you go alone you won't feel lonely.
  
• Christin_J 31 Mar 2010
  Calm moments on the beach

  A quick ferry ride from Piraeus, Syros was an impressive view as we were approaching the port. The two large churches on two hills on one and the other side of the town, the houses along the hill, the large port were the marks of a lovely town. Our hotel was in Galissas, so we took a cab (12 euros for 6 miles) cause we had the hell of luggage with us to wait for the bus. Nice and clean, the room had view to the beach, which wasn't that busy but it had nice beach bars all along. Fish taverns in that beach were the best we tried on Syros. Kini had also a couple of good taverns, but Galissas was far better. Nightlife for us was restrained to the lounge beach bars in Galissas, didn't see what is on in the rest of the island. Beaches on Syros were the type of sandy with maybe some soft pebble on the shore. We rented a car for two days to see the island, but if you don't actually want to move much, you don't need the car. The bus to the Town and other beaches was good and frequent.
  
• johnkar 23 Jan 2010
  Need only your swimming tank

  Ermoupolis had very few things in common with the towns in other islands. Except for the big port and the gift shops, it didn't have the blue and white colours of Cyclades. Its colours were more earthy (brown, yellow, pink and grey) and the houses were Neoclassical rather than traditional. The paved paths were adorable and in every corner you had nice views of the port or the town.
  
  The best view is from the square in Ano Syros. Actually you don't need a bus to go there. Walking will be more fun. Ano Syros and Ermoupolis are getting like one town. In Ano Syros, you will also see a nice museum dedicated to a Greek musician and many bouzoukis are exhibited inside.
  
  To get good beaches on Syros, you don't have to go far. Our hotel was in Galissas and I think we choose the best location on the island. The beaches of Galissas and Vary were the best for me and we had a great time in both. I like it in Greece that you find food anywhere and it is very good that there are taverns on the beaches. So, after swimming, you eat and spend all the day out of the hotel. We actually use the hotel only for sleeping and taking a bath in our vacations. We usually get out in the morning and return at night. After all, the only thing we need in our Greek vacations is a swimming tank and a sun lotion!
  
• 44444 21 Aug 2009
  Very untouristic feeling

  We went to Syros the first week of July to attend the Opera Festival at the Apollo Theatre. We had a fabulous time on the island. We loved that the cruise ships had not spoiled Syros and that it had a very untouristy feel. Most Greek islands we have visited are packed with tourists and hotels, but Syros seemed more calm and quiet to us.
  
  Beaches were clean and partly organized. If you drove around the island, you could find many nice coves to swim. Our favourite beach was Kini. Galissas was also nice as a village, but the beach was far too crowded than the other beaches on Syros. Stay at least a week, if not more, to enjoy all the island. There are not many sites or museums to see but the nature is nice.
  
  Swimming and eating were our favorite activities. We had only one negative eating experience in Pireaus when we were charged eighty euro for a fish. Otherwise, food is fresh, delicious and reasonable everywhere in Greece.
  
• alice44 03 Jul 2009
  Walk in Vaporia

  The most impressive thing in Syros was the Town and mostly a neighbourhood called Vaporia. It means Ships in Greek and they were picturesque. old, tall mansions right in front of the harbour line. Cafeterias at this place were great, with nice view. Best beach was Galissas and most hotels on Syros are located there. Our room was on a hill and from the balcony we could see all the bay of Galissas. If you want beach bars, you will also go there. Kini and Vari beaches are also nice, but buses don't go there very often. I suggest you rent a car in Syros, or better a motorbike if you have licence for this. It will make your vacations much more easier and you will not face a parking problem, which is an issue in all Greece.
  
• alexser 26 Feb 2009
  Best fish on Galissas

  I had the best meal on Galissas, grilled fresh fish especially cooked by Mr Giannis with green peppers, onion and oreganum. I couldn't stop tasting my figures. I was going there every day and eat the same food for three days. Excellent!! I don't remember the name of the tavern now, something with a mermaid... You will find it in Galissas beach, it has a picture with a blonde mermaid at the entrance.
• shirley43 11 Jan 2009
  Lovely traditional pictures

  We stayed only for three days in Syros and didn't see much except for Ermoupolis, Ano Syros and the beach of Galissas. Ermoupolis was a great town, so elegant and so authentic. You could see Neoclassical buildings and old houses in every corner. Ano Syros was not as impressive in architecture but you could have great views to the sea. There were children playing in the square and old men in the traditional coffee shops. I loved these pictures, it reminded me of old, good times. Galissas beach was fine, just a clean but crowded beach to swim with a lot of beach bars.
• katerina23 28 May 2008
  Definitely go

  The trip to Syros island was recommended by friends and I did not regret it. In my opinion, the island is perfect. The landscapes are really nice and it is covered in trees. I have visited a couple of other Greek islands and I think Syros has a lot of green compared to them. Nightlife is also great. The Pirates in Ermoupoli was my favourite club and in the tavern "I gonia tou Themi", I ate the best kamalarakia. Definitely go!!
• theodora_s 18 Mar 2008
  A lovely island

  My name is Theodora and I am Greek/American. Last August, we visited Greece for our vacations and stayed for 4 days in Syros, because our relatives had recommended it. It was indeed a lovely island, with clean beaches, delicious restaurants and nice paths to walk, especially in the main town. It was not crowded and that made it even more pleasant. Our only problem was the limited parking spots. I recommend you to go to Syros, stay there for a few days and then make it your home base to visit other islands in the area; at least, that’s what we did. Me, I am fully satisfied from the island and its people and would definitely like to go back.
• Elena 02 Dec 2007
  The best period to visit it is during srping

  Although the beaches are not the best you can find around the aegean, the sea water is clear, LOVED Agathopes and Komitos beaches. Vaporia area is very beautiful with a magnificent view. A good area to stay. Kini was the nicest of all villages. We also loved walking aroung the narrow streets of Ermoupoli. The nightlife is quiet and relaxing with a few bars. The island is full of small taverns with a nice character and traditional meze. I thing the best period to visit the island is during srping and especially easter
  
• wsteenkamer 03 Oct 2007
  Syros is a wonderful small island

  Syros is a wonderful small island. We enjoyed it very much. We visited many times the town Ermoupolis. We admired the nice colurs and the flowers. Also we visited the court house and the copy of the Scala of Milan, nice places to see. If you like to visit nice churches, on this island you can find it. We rent a car and visited all the beaches of
  the island. Kini and Azolimnos Beach were the best ones. Also we went to the north of the island, the seaview was very nice there, we even got to that place fot the second time. This part was spectacular. The two best restaurants we find were O Talaras in Megas Gialos and Ferrolifia in Kambos (the name of this part of this island), they were very good and the food was excellent. Near the harbour in Ermoupilis were very nice coffee shops, we have been there many times. The foods were excellent all over the island. We like the Syros inhabitants, the people are very kind and try to help you when it is necessary.
  Another part (town) of the island is Ano Syros. that is a very romantic place with a nice church. We walked around the narrow streets and every street had something beautiful. The temperature was 40 dregrees but we have been there three time to admire all the things.
  The island is wonderful but you must realise that it is a very small island. If you go for walking go at the end of April, beginning of May because there is mostly a high temperature when you go later on. Then is not possible to walk.
• alanbuck99 07 Jun 2007
  Syros 1957 visit

  I arrived in Syros, aged 7, on the Barrington Court from Genoa. My dad was captain of the ship and we had gone to Syros for the ship to be sold. That sale took 9 months which were the happiest months I can remember. I learned to swim having been thrown off the ship! I played with local kids who taught me to catch octopus using a spear and an oil drum. I picked oranges and figs from trees and watch Tarzan films in English with Greek Subtitles in the open air cinema. Hair cut by hand (no electricity). In the 50s, Syros was unspoilt and idyllic. Beautiful scenery and not a tourist to be seen. I wonder whether anyone remembers that period?
• D_Battisti 05 Jun 2007
  A real beauty

  Hello, I'm Daniela Battisti and I'm Italian. I'm 41 years old. I arrived on Syros by plane with Olympic Airlines and by boat. The trip was very good with no delays.
  The trip to the island was recommended by friends and that is the reason I decided to visit. Also I have relationship with Syros.
  Syros is perfect in my opinion. The landscape is really nice, and it is covered with trees. The beaches are clean and the waters crystal clear.
  The villages are really beautiful, and the main town has a real beauty as well. Another thing I liked was the nightlife of the place.
  All in all I liked everything about it, and I would definitely visit again.
• jose 27 Sep 2005
  A great pleasure

  I had a couple of friends who bought a house on Syros and I was curious to see how this (still unknown for me) island was looking like.
  
  I learned that it was the capital of the Cyclades.
  
  I was impressed by the beauty and the grandeur of the main town, Ermoupolis, where I admired numerous neo-classical houses, beautiful fountains and statues of marble.
  
  I also went to the various picturesque villages of the island.
  
  I felt in love with Ano Syros, a wonderful place which combines medieval and traditional Cycladic architecture.
  
  The beaches of Syros were my only disapointment. There are many of them and great for families but not as georgous as other islands of the Cyclades.
  
  
  
  My whole stay was a great pleasure and I will surely go back there?if my friends are not tired of me.