Cyclades Islands (Island Complex)

Cycladic Idol (Harpist-Athens Archaeological Museum)

Welcome to the Cyclades!

The Cyclades Islands form an insular cluster consisting of 56 large and small islands scattered around the blue Aegean Sea. Some are globally famous, not only in the wide public sense, but also to the international jet-set, and others are almost unknown to the contemporary flow of tourism. Molded of stone, light and sea brine, they extend westward to the eastern part of Peloponnese, reach eastward to the western side of Samos and Ikaria, and they meet the Cretan Sea in the south.

The Cyclades are mythology and history, harmony and extreme, a mystic attraction and a tangible, unexpected beauty. According to the most dominant tradition, they took their name from the imaginary circle that they form around the sacred island of Delos.

Their many charms have attracted people since ancient times, even when their access was not particularly easy; much more so today, with direct chartered planes to the most frequented of them and with the high level of hotels and services offered to their visitors. Geologists attribute today's peculiar form of the Cycladic cluster to the consecutive geological alterations of earthquakes, volcanic explosions, and displacements of the earth's crust, which submerged many parts of the land.

The multiform figures of the islands emerge from the blue sea, bathed with light and adorned with whitewashed houses, and above all, inhabitants having a unique perception of life and enjoying the narrow alleyways and the paths of their countrysides, the numerous churches, windmills, or windswept slopes, all features that you will find everywhere during your journey.

It's a group of islands unique to its kind in the world, because nowhere else will one find such a powerful and passionate blend of light, sea, wind, earth, and sky, mixed together with the distant past, and the colorful present! For every traveler, holidays in Cyclades present a glorious synthesis of small worlds, which encompasses the beauty of our entire planet!

Amorgos (Island) Amorgos beach Welcome to Amorgos!This long, narrow Cycladic island is the furthest east of the Cycladic chain. In fact, the island is so far east that it is almost in the Dodecanese! It has an area of 121 square kilometers (313.5 sq. miles) and a coastline of 112 kilometers (69.5 miles). ... Explore Amorgos Island

Anafi (Island) Anafi Welcome to Anafi!This small island of only 38 sq. kilometers played a prominent role in Greek Mythology, providing refuge and shelter for Jason and the Argonauts, and the same can be said today, since it offers a haven for travelers weary of the more heavily visited tourist islands. It is one of the quietest and most serene of the Cycladic Islands and is a perfect choice for visitors looking to return to the basics. ... Explore Anafi Island

Andros (Island) Andros Welcome to Andros!The most northerly island in the Cyclades and the second largest in the group after Naxos, the island of Andros is also one of the most beautiful. ... Explore Andros Island

Antiparos (Island) Antiparos Welcome to Antiparos!Of late, Antiparos has been attracting quite a bit of attention in its own right as a modern holiday venue. Once considered just a nice one-day excursion for vacationers on Paros, this sweet little gem of an island is quietly capturing the attention of some of the Hollywood jet-setters looking for a “new Mykonos. ... Explore Antiparos Island

Delos (Island) Delos Island At Spring Time (A Picture Taken By Henry Wu) Welcome to Delos!Magical Delos, the sacred birthplace of the god of light, commercial center in antiquity, religious center for thousands of years, pirate hideout for centuries. An island of grandeur and wealth, of many different rulers over the millennia, looted and pillaged, destroyed and rebuilt, always then and now the center and heart of the Cyclades. ... Explore Delos Island

Donoussa (Island) Lesser Cyclades Donoussa Welcome to Donoussa!Welcome to Donoussa of the “Lesser” Cyclades, called that due to limited ferry service and very small populations. These islands offer an alternative to mass tourism, plush resorts, and throbbing nightlife. However, they are being discovered of late, so you can expect to find some crowds (given their small size!) during the high summer months of July and August. ... Explore Donoussa Island

Folegandros (Island) Folegandros Welcome to Folegandros!Slightly off the beaten path and situated right between the Western and Eastern Cyclades, this long, rocky island of 32 square kilometers is now beginning to attract some of the tourism that has long been enjoyed by its more illustrious neighbors, Santorini first and foremost among them. ... Explore Folegandros Island

Ios (Island) Ios Sunset Welcome to Ios!The coastline of this predominantly mountainous island with its countless chapels, its olive trees, its vineyards and its limpid air, is adorned with small, attractive coves. Those features combine with the crystal clear sea, the superb sandy beaches, and the excellent range of amenities to make Ios a magnet for tourists.Locally called Nios, this is an island whose history goes back to prehistoric times. ... Explore Ios Island

Iraklia (Island) Iraklia Welcome to Iraklia!Iraklia of the “Lesser” Cyclades (called the Lesser Cyclades due to limited ferry service and very small populations), offers an alternative to mass tourism, plush resorts, and throbbing nightlife. However, these islands are being discovered of late, so you can expect to find some crowds (given their small size!) during the high summer months of July and August. ... Explore Iraklia Island

Kea (Island) Kea the Monastery and the beach of Kastriani Welcome to Kea!This small and mountainous island is the nearest of the Cycladic chain to the mainland of Greece, lying merely 16 nautical miles from the southern tip of Cape Sounion, and with ferry service from the mainland’s southern port of Lavrion. While not one of the Cyclades’ main tourist destinations, it is a lovely small island to explore, either on its own, or combined with nearby Kythnos or Serifos. ... Explore Kea Island

Kimolos (Island) Kimolos Welcome to Kimolos!Though only a small segment of the Cycladic Islands, similar in size to Anafi, Kimolos more than holds its own when it comes to island beauty. In fact, it's natural beauty is enhanced by the white stratified cliffs and rocks near certain beaches giving these areas a chalk-like appearance (in Greek, the name Kimolos means chalk). ... Explore Kimolos Island

Koufonissia (Island) Koufonissia Welcome to Koufonissia!With the largest population in the “Lesser” Cyclades (called the Lesser Cyclades due to limited ferry service and very small populations), it does offer an alternative to mass tourism, plush resorts, and throbbing nightlife. ... Explore Koufonissia Island

Kythnos (Island) Kythnos beach Welcome to Kythnos!Situated in the Western Cycladic chain, Kythnos is the start of the route when making your journey from the mainland. In all likelihood, it will be the first island stop as you make your way to Serifos, Sifnos, and Milos. ... Explore Kythnos Island

Milos (Island) Milos Beauties Welcome to Milos!With its distinctive horseshoe shape, Milos is the most southerly island in the Western Cyclades. It is notable for its volcanic soil and for the rich deposits of minerals that lie beneath. There are various kinds of beaches on Milos. Some of them are wonderful beaches with golden sand, and some of them have sharp rocks and caves that look like they have been taken out of some tale. ... Explore Milos Island

Mykonos (Island) Mykonos Windmills Welcome to Mykonos of the incredible light, of the myriad of beaches of sand, stone, raucus and quiet, to the whitewashed houses and tiny lanes, to tiny chapels and churches here, there and everywhere, to a chic ambience amid simplicity, to bars and clubs and meeting new friends, to tolerance, freedom and individuality!Welcome to Mykonos!The most cosmopolitan destination in all of Greece, Mykonos  ... Explore Mykonos Island

Naxos (Island) Naxos Portara Temple Welcome to Naxos!The largest, most fertile, and most self-sufficient of the Cycladic Islands, Naxos is a joy to explore, chiefly because there is such a large variety of things to see and so many wonderful impressions to be left with at the end of your journey. It has magnificent sandy beaches, steep mountains, fertile valleys, and some wonderful archaeological monuments and remnants recording its fascinating history. ... Explore Naxos Island

Paros (Island) Paros, Naoussa Welcome to the windsurfer's paradise, of the valley of the Jersey Tiger moths; of golden sandy secluded beaches with crystal clear blue water; of tiny fishing harbors; of the legendary Ekatontapyliani Church (Our Lady of the One Hundred Gates), of vibrant nightlife; of the cosmopolitan atmosphere, of the translucent Parian marble, the raw material for masterpieces like The Venus de Milo and Praxiteles' Hermes; of the Myths and of the Legends. ... Explore Paros Island

Santorini (Island) Santorini Sunset Welcome to Santorini of the volcano; to the island of breathtaking views of the Caldera; of the best Aegean sunsets; of the houses built atop one another; of Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli facing the volcanic islands of Mikri and Megali Kammeni; with beautiful hotels and places to stay that overlook the archipelago, with some breathtaking views, where all of the other Cycladic Islands are proudly scattered. ... Explore Santorini Island

Schinoussa (Island) Sxoinoussa Welcome to Schinoussa!This island is part of the “Lesser” Cyclades, called that due to limited ferry service and very small populations. They offer an alternative to mass tourism, plush resorts, and throbbing nightlife. However, they are being discovered of late, so you can expect to find some crowds (given their small size!) during the high summer months of July and August. ... Explore Schinoussa Island

Serifos (Island) Serifos Livadi Village Welcome to Serifos!When seeing Serifos from afar, one could not be more reminded of a large rock growing in the middle of the sea. Practically circular and fairly mountainous and rocky, it does have a few small fertile valleys that are farmed by the locals. Historically, the island was primarily noted for its iron and copper mines, long since closed. ... Explore Serifos Island

Sifnos (Island) Sifnos Church Welcome to Sifnos!The island of Sifnos is a unique destination in the Aegean Sea. It is one of the six islands of the Western Cyclades, and it is situated between the islands of Serifos and Milos. ... Explore Sifnos Island

Sikinos (Island) Sikinos Welcome to Sikinos!Once you disembark, you cannot help but notice it: people here look you directly to the eyes, and with a smile! You are treated as a guest, not as a potential source of income. ... Explore Sikinos Island

Syros (Island) Syros Cycladic Idol Welcome to Syros!The capital of the island, Ermoupolis, still remains as the administrative center of the Cycladic Islands, as well as their court of jurisdiction. Today it is a busy city bustling with activity; full of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, and with a busy harbor handling ferry traffic from all over the Cycladic Islands. ... Explore Syros Island

Tinos (Island) Tinos Peristereonas - Tinos Dovecote Welcome to Tinos of the nature, of the simplicity of the life, of the gentle curve of its hills, of its enduring villages and friendly villagers, of miraculous icons, of its wealth of natural beauty, of its shadows and light, of its artistic wealth of painters, sculptors and their works, of its dovecotes and doves, monuments to history one and all!Welcome to Tinos!If you're looking for mass tourism and crowded beaches,  ... Explore Tinos Island

• The Aegean Sea - Prehistoric Era
• The Aegean Sea - Historical Era

• Tinos: Hidden Treasures
• Tinos Landscapes and Wildlife
• Churches and Religious Culture on Tinos
• Tinos: The Art of Dovecotes
• Tinos Marble Art
• Delos House of the Dolphins
• Tinos: 12 Dovecotes
• A Summer Escape to the Big Blue

Amorgos	Andros The Tower at Aghios Petros	Antiparos town	Delos Terrace of the Lions
Folegandros	Ios Town	Kea the Monastery and the beach of Kastriani	Kythnos port
Milos Panagia Tourliani	Mykonos Mascots Considering a Swim	Naxos Harbor	Paros Temple of Goddess Dimitra
Santorini Beautiful View	Serifos Town Hall	Sifnos Mountain View	Tinos Peristereonas - Tinos Dovecote
Syros Night view	Donousa Beach	Iraklia Beach	Koufonissia