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The Cyclades represent what the world considers a Greek island.
Most of them are barren rocks, ravaged by the sun and the winds, dotted with whitewashed one-story houses and thousands of small churches, and surrounded by crystal-clear blue waters. The group of 17 islands is named after the Greek word for "circle" (cyclos) because they look as if they circle around Delos.
The island of Delos, just off the coast of Mykonos, was one of ancient Greece's sacred sites, with its own oracle, on a par with Delphi. The Athenians, always shrewd politicians and masters of symbolism, founded the Athenian Alliance, after the final defeat of the Persians in 479 BC, and installed its treasure on Delos, to make the condition of an annual fee in return for security more palatable to their "allies". Of course, later, when Athens decided to build the Acropolis and the Alliance treasure was used to pay for the construction, Pericles notified the peeved Allies that their security was Athens' obligation, therefore how the city used the Alliance funds was none of their (i.e. the Allies') business...
The islands, and especially Mykonos, became a tourism destination in the 1930s, when trendy Athenian society, including shipping magnates and artists, "discovered" their unspoilt landscapes and incredible beaches. In the 1950s the interest was revived, and the 1960s put Mykonos and Santorini on the international jet set circuit. Today, most of the Cyclades are developed tourist magnets and they attract millions of visitors every summer.
The Cyclades have everything. The cosmopolitan luxury of Mykonos. The natural wonder that is the Santorini volcano. The elegant and peaceful landscapes of Naxos, Syros, Tinos, and Sifnos that are favored mainly by families. The rugged and wild beauties of Milos and Serifos. The hip party scenes of Paros and Ios. The apocryphal wilderness of Amorgos.
The islands are all close together and near Athens. Their proximity makes them ideal for an island hopping vacation; it is never more than an hour by boat from one to the next and connections are very frequent during the summer months. Furthermore, the new, fast catamaran boats that run from Pireaus and Rafina make the trip to the relatively distant Mykonos and Santorini a short 2 and 4 hours, respectively, compared to more than twice as long a few years ago.
The Highlights
Mykonos in early July and, especially, in September.
Amorgos, Andros, Milos, and Sifnos, for unforgettable sights. Unreservedly.
Naxos, Andros, Paros, Syros, and Tinos, for families.
Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, and Ios in August for partying.
We Recommend
Watch the sunset from Santorini's Ia or Imerovigli at least twice.
Swim at the beaches in Milos.
In Mykonos, go to Lia, Agrari, Super Paradise, and Agios Ioannis. Have drinks at Caprice or at Vagelio's, next door during sunset.
Visit the Monastery in Amorgos.
Tour the churches of Syros and Tinos.
Visit the annual exhibition at the Goulandris Museum of Modern Art in Andros.
We Do Not Recommend
Mykonos in August.
Tinos around the national religious holiday of August 15.
Milos without reserving accommodations, especially in August.
The country code for Greece is 0030 (from the US and Canada: 01130).
Tourist Info Office
The tourist info offices are usually run by the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) and are located at the harbor or near the police station of each island's capital town.
Police Station
There are police stations in every major and secondary town, usually at the central square or on main street. For emergencies, dial 100.
Hospital
There are hospitals in the larger islands and medical centers in the smaller ones. For emergencies there is helicopter service, operated by the National Health System, that transfers patients to major medical centers.
Pharmacy
Every island has pharmacies. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 2 pm. During off hours ask the front desk of your hotel for assistance.
Foreign Press Outlet
In the larger, tourist islands, there are foreign press newstands everywhere. In the smaller islands, foreign press is handled by the general press agency that is usually located near the center of the capital town.
Internet Cafe
These days there seem to be Internet cafes everywhere, and certainly in all major towns and some secondary ones. Many travel agencies offer Internet access, and not only to their clients.
Car Rental
All hotel front desks and all travel agencies will arrange for a car rental to be delivered to you, and will provide information on available options. Most of the international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, etc) operate on the larger islands.
Bank
The larger islands, like Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Santorini have many banks. All the small islands feature at least one branch of a major Greek bank, like Narional, Alpha, and Commercial. They handle all major transactions, such as money transfers, cash advances on credit cards, and money wires. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-2pm and Friday 8 am-2.30 pm. ATMs are ubiquitous, including the lobbies of many major hotels, in the larger islands.
