Ios has deservedly gained a reputation as one of Greece’s top party islands, but allow us to show you that it is much more than that!
Findings have shown that the history of Ios starts from Prehistoric times. The island was originally inhabited by Careans, Pelageans, Achaeans, and Phoenicians and in 1050 BC, the Ionians settled down. Various suppositions have been made about the origin of the name Ios, but the most predominant and credible of all is that the island took its name from the Ionians.
During the day, Ios is the ultimate Greek island paradise; complete with tiny whitewashed houses, narrow cobblestone alleys, picturesque clifftop villages and mesmerizing golden beaches. However, when the sun goes down, the bars and restaurants of the island come alive!
Ios has deservedly gained a reputation as one of Greece’s top party islands, thanks to its world-famous nightlife; but allow us to show you that Ios is much more than that!
Located at the end of Mylopotas beach, in Ios, Drakos fish taverna opened for the first time in 1963 and offers a wide variety of tasty seafood dishes, which you can enjoy by the sea.
Chora is picture-perfect Greece as its best, with a medieval castle and whitewashed houses set around squares draped in bougainvillea. Tavernas spill onto streets, locals play backgammon in traditional bars, and mesmerising views of the Aegean surround you.
Mylopotas Beach is the most popular beach on Ios, and one of the best in the Greek Islands. Mylopotas is a Blue Flag beach, meaning that its beautiful golden sand and crystal clear water stretch for more than 1km.
With a breath-taking setting that boasts contemporary furnishings and finishes atop the restaurant’s grand modern architecture, Pathos lounge is a great place to relax with a drink in hand. This idyllic and stylish lounge offers wide Aegean views, spectacular sunsets and is the perfect place to spend your evening under the stars.
The most popular beach on the island, Mylopotas is an organized bay just a short walk from the port town of Chora. This Blue Flag beach features beach bars, tavernas, guest houses, and water sports. With crystal clear water and golden sand, Mylopotas beach is a must-see destination when visiting Ios.
One of the most popular things to do in Ios is to explore the island by ATV. Some of the roads in Ios are dirt, making an ATV the best way to see these parts of the island. Traffic on Ios is limited to the Chora and the roads to the main beaches, so you won’t have to worry about sharing the road with too many cars.
Hidden coves and caves make for beautiful photos, especially because they are usually empty and boast some of the clearest water in Greece. Manganari Beach is off-the-beaten-path and is a great place for swimming around small caves and cliff jumping.
‘Tsimetia‘ or as the residents of Ios call it, stuffed zucchini flowers, is an inspired example of frugal homemaking where nothing goes to waste. An exquisite treat made with the freshest zucchini flowers this dish requires a gentle touch. The filling is customarily made with rice, plenty of onions, dill, parsley, and spearmint. The end result is a magnificently caramelized, aromatic vegetarian dish, with a delicate sweetness adding to the zucchini flavor.
Odysseas Elytis Amphitheatre is located at the top of the hill of Chora in Ios behind the whitewashed windmills that stand there. Though the amphitheater is made of marble in the ancient Greek style, it was constructed relatively recently as compared to other architectural wonders of Ios. It is a colossal structure and can hold up to 1100 people at any given time.
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