Cyclades Sightseeing

The islands of Cyclades are the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. With their distinctive architecture and relaxing atmosphere, they attract millions of tourists every summer. Most of them choose to hop from one island to the other for their holidays in order to see as much as they can from these wonderful places. But even if they stay in one single island, they will certainly find many places to explore. Things to see & do in the Cyclades are many and ideal for all preferences, either you are looking for beaches or for archaeological sites.

Things to see in the Cyclades

The Cyclades is an archipelago composed of many islands. The Cyclades have a long history of thousands of years. They have been inhabited from Ancient times and have been conquered by many civilizations.
Discover the best beaches and villages but also the best things to see: the volcano of Santorini, Delos in Mykonos, Akrotiri Minoan site in Santorini, the temple of Demeter in Naxos and more.
Discover the things to see in some islands of the Cyclades:

Island hopping to Cyclades islands

Island hopping is the best way to see the unique islands of Cyclades. As each island is different, getting from one island to the other is a great way to discover them. The most usual combination in the Cyclades is island hopping from Mykonos to Santorini, the two most popular Greek holiday destinations.

Another popular combination is island hopping from Mykonos to Paros and Naxos, as these three islands are only a short ferry ride away. The islands of the western Cyclades, such as Milos, Sifnos, and Serifos, are also convenient to visit at once because ferries run regularly between them.

Popular tours in the Cyclades

Tours and excursions in the Cyclades are many. Very popular is the boat tour to Delos island, an uninhabited place that serves as an open archaeological site. This island was considered the sacred island of god Apollo in ancient times, as God was born there according to the myth. This is why a large sanctuary to Apollo had been constructed there and Delos became an important religious center. Tours to Delos depart from the old port of Mykonos from May through September. Occasionally, they also depart from other islands, like Paros and Naxos.

Other famous tours take place in Santorini, the top holiday destination in Greece. The boat tour to the volcano of Santorini is the most popular, departing daily from the old port of Fira. Some of these volcano tours continue to the hot springs, the island of Thirassia and the picturesque village of Oia, where they arrive at sunset time. Bus tours also run in Santorini, covering places from Minoan Akrotiri and the Red Beach till the monastery on top of Mount Prophet Elias and the archaeological site of Ancient Thera.

Activities

Excursions in the Cyclades can be combined with activities and sports. A very popular activity in the Cyclades is diving because of the reefs, the uninhabited islets and the old shipwrecks at the bottom of the Aegean Sea. In fact, there are many diving centers in the Cyclades islands that offer courses and organize diving trips.

Windsurfing and kite surfing are also two popular sports, especially in the islands of Paros, Naxos, and Mykonos. Very good surfing spots in the Cyclades are Mikri Vigla Beach in Naxos and New Golden Beach in Paros. Every island also offers chances for various organized activities. For example, horse riding can be practiced in Mykonos and Naxos and in fact particularly popular are the sunset riding and beach riding tours.