Here's some interesting information on each of the islands you will be visiting on your trip.
Mykonos
Population: 11,000
Mykonos is a traditional village known for its Cycladic architecture. The island is steeped in history and culture, covered in churches with red roofs and dotted with windmills. It's no wonder with the beautiful blue skies and sea, it has been named the 'the jewel' of the Aegean Sea.
Orientation:
Mykonos Town or Chora is situated on the west side of the Island. The centre of the town is closed for most of the day allowing you to stroll peacefully. The town is strewn with cafes and restaurants, the best of which can be found in Little Venice.
Sight & Activities:
Summer crowds consume the island's capital, shuffling through snaking streets of chic boutiques and blinding white walls with balconies of cascading flowers. Little Venice, where the sea laps up to the edge of the buildings and Mykonos' famous hilltop row of windmills should be included in a stroll.
The most popular beaches are Platys Gialos, the often nude Paradise Beach and mainly gay Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia beaches.
Paros
Population: 12,850
The Greek Paros is more open and laid-back than Mykonos. It is an attractive island with good swimming beaches and terraced hills that build up to Mt. Profitis Ilias (770m). It is famous for its pure white marble from which the Venus de Milo was sculpted.
Orientation:
The main town and port is Parikia, on the west coast. Agora, also known as Market Street, is Parikia's main commercial thoroughfare. It runs from Plateia Mavrogenous, the main square (opposite the ferry terminal).
Information:
Santorineos Travel (2284 024 245) On the waterfront, it also provides tourist information.
Memphis.net (2284 022 878); €4 per hour; 9am-midnight) Opposite the ferry quay, to the left.
Sights & Activities:
There are sealed roads the whole way round the island. En route, you can visit villages, such as Naoussa, Marpissa and Aliki, or swim at Logaras, Pounda and Golden Beach (Hrysi Akti). Golden Beach is also a popular windsurfing spot.
Parikia's church, Panagia Ekatontapyliani, (Our Lady of the Hundred Gates; 2284 021 243; 7.30am-9.30pm) is known throughout Greece for its beautiful, ornate interior.
Less than 2km from Paros, the island of Antiparos has fantastic beaches.
Santorini
Population: 13,400
Stunning Santorini, officially known as Thira, is surely the most spectacular of the Greek Islands. Around 1450 BC, the volcanic heart of the island exploded and sank, leaving an extraordinary landscape. Visitors can't help but gaze at the startling sight of the submerged caldera almost encircled by sheer cliffs.
Orientation:
The capital, Fira, perches on top of the caldera on the west coast, and the port of Athinios is 10km away by road. The bus station and taxi station are located just south of Fira's main square, Plateia Theotokopoulou.
Information:
Dakoutros Travel (2286 022 958; www.dakoutrostravel.gr; 8:30am-10pm) Opposite the taxi station.
Lava Internet Café (2286 025 551; €1.50 per 15min) Just up from the square.
Post office - one block south of the taxi station.
Santosun Travel (2286 081 456; santosun@otenet.gr). On the main street of Perissa, on the southeast coast. Also has Internet access.
Fira - The shameless commercialism of Fira has not quite reduced its dramatic aura. The Museum of Prehistoric Thira (2286 023 217; admission €3; 8.30am-3pm Tue-Sun) has wonderful displays of artefacts, predominantly from ancient Akrotiri. It's two blocks south of the main square. Just behind the Catholic Cathedral, the Megaron Gyzi Museum (2286 022 244; admission €3; 10.30am-1.30pm & 5pm-8pm Mon-Sat, 10.30am-4.30pm Sun), houses local memorabilia, including photographs of Fira before and after the 1956 earthquake.
Around the island:
Santorini's beaches have black volcanic sand and they sizzle in the sun. It's a strange feeling to walk over black sand then onto smooth lava when going for a dip. Perissa and Kamari in particular are popular.
At the north of the island, the flawless village of Oia (pronounced ee-ah), famed for its postcard sunsets, is less hectic than Fira. It's possible to walk from Fira in about three hours along the top of the caldera.
You can clamber around on volcanic lava on Nea Kameni, then swim into warm springs in the sea at Palia Kameni as a day excursion.
Ios
Population: 1,850
Ios has a deserved reputation as a party island, with sunbathing all day and drinking all night. The island has three population centres, all close together on the west coast: the port (Ormos), the capital, Hora (also known as 'the village'), 2km inland and up from the port, and Milopotas, the beach 2km down from the Hora. The village has an intrinsic charm with its labyrinth of white-walled streets, and it's very easy to get lost, even if you haven't had one too many.
Information:
The bus stop in Ormos is straight ahead from the ferry quay. The bus trundles regularly up to the village. There is no tourist office, but Acteon Travel (2286 091 343; www.acteon.gr) has four offices in Ormos, the village and Milopotas. Internet access costs around €4 an hour, and is scattered among hotels, cafés, bars and Acteon Travel.
Milopotas Beach has everything a resort beach can ask for and isolated Manganari on the south coast has four sandy crescent beaches.
Ios has daily ferry connections to Piraeus (€18.80), and there are frequent hydrofoils and ferries to the major Cycladic islands. There are buses every 20 minutes between the port, the village and Milopotas Beach until early morning, and two to three per day to Manganari Beach.
Simply put, the islands are amazing! From culture to cocktails, boat trips to bar crawls the islands have it all, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our Guide’s favourites to get you in the mood for all this hedonistic paradise has to offer – get ready for the time of your life!
Greek Highlights
Partying at Paradise Beach, Mykonos:
For a sheer slice of hedonism look no further than the parties of Paradise Beach - nothing is taboo, no-one is shy, and everyone is having an amazing time. The party kicks off in the early afternoon as the thumping tunes spill out on to the golden sands of Paradise Beach and the drinks start flowing, so come as you are, do what you like, and remember - the only rule here is to make sure you get your party on…
Plate Smashing dinner and Boat Cruise, Paros:
What at first seems the sleepiest of the islands actually plays host to two of the best optional excursions ever (if we do say so ourselves):
Plate Smashing dinner:
Head down with your Guide to a local beach-front restaurant to sample delicious traditional local cuisine, then make like the fun loving, vibrant Greeks and let loose with some plate smashing. A local tradition said to release the inner spirit of passion and joy, it’s a seriously good time, and a definite must for your time on the islands.
Boat Cruise:
Next – the day trip to end all day trips, the optional Paros Boat cruise! Think crystal clear turquoise waters, golden sands, bright sunshine, the soft sea breeze, swim stops, top tunes, snorkelling, a (super delicious) beach bbq, wine and soft drinks left on deck for your drinking pleasure…this trip has it all, is the best way to see lovely Paros at its best, and is a total 100% must do – you won’t regret it, guaranteed.
Bucket list Bus tour, Santorini:
From ancient monasteries to local wine and cheese; amazing red and black sand beaches to the historic Akrotiri, the bucket list bus tour is the best way to see all that stunning Santorini has to offer. Spend the day exploring the most beautiful of all the Greek Islands, then in the evening head with us to Oia, the crowning jewel of all of Santorini’s many gorgeous villages and the perfect place to witness one of the islands most famous attractions – Sunset. Flaming oranges to dusky purples, midnight blues to hot fuschia pink, the sun drenches the sky in colour and sets framing the gorgeous white and blue domed churches and buildings of the village before sinking in to the indigo sea below. Truly stunning; add in a picnic with local food and wine and the experience of watching nature in all its glory with fellow travellers and locals alike, and you’ll see why this always features is our Greek Highlights – totally mesmerising.
Club Crawl, Ios:
From sunset to sunrise, the Ios Club Crawl is unreal!! Bucket loads of booze, awesome tunes, a maze of wicked bars and clubs, a load of lovely peeps and your awesome trip mates – without doubt one of the best club crawls ever, nights out don't get better than this!
From Moussaka to Mythos there’s some awesome food on the islands, and for a true taste of Greece you could do worse than try some of the taste bud tantalising treats on offer.
Saganaki – deliciously oozy fried cheese served with a squeeze of lemon – also available with mussels and shrimps for a seafood twist
Moussaka – the best known of all Greek meat dishes - a bit like a lasagne without the pasta, minced lamb, aubergine, tomato and secret sauce combine as a great stomach liner for those nights out on the town.
Kleftiko - slow cooked lamb flavoured with garlic and lemon – a total taste sensation.
Souvlaki kebabs – skewers of delicious meat served with pita bread, potatoes, rice or all on their own – super delicious (try them on the Paros Boat cruise for true local cuisine beach bbq style…)
Greek Salads – the ultimate in freshness and true Greek flavour – lovely local feta cheese, crunchy green peppers, ripe tomatoes, onions and olives – very nutritious and immensely delicious.
Tzatiki – cool, creamy and refreshing, as delicious piled high on bread as it is smothered on a sizzling kebab, this yogurt and cucumber dressing goes with everything and is simply gorgeous.
Chilled frappes – the best way to drink coffee, frappes are a local speciality and the perfect way to relax whilst doing a spot of people watching in one of the many island cafes.
Ice cold Mythos and Alpha beer - perfect on those balmy summer nights.
Last but not least, the ultimate in snacks (and the best meal ever on a budget…) Giros! - A Greek institution, available in chicken, lamb or pork, the meat is wrapped in flat bread along with fresh tomato, onion, tzatiki and...chips! Ranging in price from €1.50 - €3 and the perfect lunch time, snack time, post-clubbing treat, we dare you not to get addicted…