Best for Culture and off-season cachet
Syros is my favorite Greek island. I’ve tried to pick a favourite, but I keep returning to it. Why? I don’t know. I think it’s something to do with how authentically real it is, as well as its clashing-but-cohabiting mix of cultures. Everything works. The capital of the CycladesErmoupoli’s main town is the administrative hub of the group. It might sound boring and not relevant to your next Greek vacation, but this is why the island has such a strong impression.
Syros is less concerned with tourism than some other Greek islands. Instead, it offers a glimpse of island life in Greece away from stereotypes. The island is also large. The buildings here—a mix of Cycladic, Venetian, and Neoclassical architecture—are bigger than most, standing tall and proud along Ermoupoli’s coastline: there’s the imposing blue-domed but orange-fronted church of Agios Nikolaos; the impressive City Hall of Hermoupolis, built under the supervision of Ernst Ziller and with a 50-foot-high entrance staircase to rival that of any European capital; and the 19th-century Apollon Theater, designed as a replica of MilanLa Scala. Ano Syros towers behind them, nearly 900 steps higher than Ermoupoli. Reward yourself with a dinner at Hygge with views of the main town. Taxis can be arranged to drop you at the front door if you do not want to hike.
There’s also the cultural scene. Syros offers a lot of events all year round. The Syros Jazz Festival, which takes place in September and the International Music Festival, from October 21st to 24th, are just two of the many festivals taking place on the island. The beaches here don’t live up to those on its Cycladic neighbors, but Galissas, Delfini, and Agathopes are worth visiting for a few hours in the sun—and locals love Vaporia’s concrete slab, overhanging the sea and overlooking some of Greece’s finest Neoclassical mansions, for a quick dip. —K.S.
Accommodation in Syros
