Amorgos Things to Do

Built on the edge of a cliff, the Monastery of Hozoviotissa dates back to the 11th century and is one of the most impressive sights on the island of Amorgos due to its location.
The windows of the monastery offer amazing views of the cerulean waters of the Aegean and the surrounding scenery.
The friendly monks who live there will make sure you enjoy your visit by serving you some of the finest local raki liquor and a traditional sweet called loukoumi while showing you around the monastery and its flowery garden.
The combination of the monks' hospitality, the breathtaking beauty of the landscape and the cozy atmosphere inside the monastery will make the entire experience an unforgettable one. Make sure you drop by during the entrance hours (Monday to Sunday: 8:30 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 19:00) and respect the dress code.

Mouros Beach is certainly a spectacular place! It is a small pebble beach with transparent azure waters, located right below some imposing cliffs.
Next to the beach, three naturally formed caves wait for you to swim around and explore the hidden mysteries among the unique rock formations.
Mouros Beach is the perfect spot for a swim on a hot summer day. The jumping spots on the rocks above the caves will be appreciated by both young and older visitors!

Chora is the capital of the island of Amorgos. The medieval village is one of the most beautiful settlements in the Cyclades thanks to its picturesque alleys, little white houses, old churches and the impressive 13th-century Venetian castle, the "Kastro". Up there, the castle offers a magnificent view as a reward to anyone willing to climb numerous stairs that lead to the top. Being the biggest village on the island, Chora is a vivid place with an easy-going atmosphere and little shops, restaurants, rooms-to-let and bars just around any corner, that you can discover by walking through its paved alleys. Some of its loveliest cafeterias are located in the main square, Plateia Loza, beneath the refreshing shadow of enormous trees. Another must-see in Chora is the Gavras Tower and Museum, where you can admire the Venetian building's outstanding architecture and have a look at some interesting archeological findings that reveal secrets about the island's ancient past. In addition to this, next time you're in Chora, don’t forget to visit the old windmills nearby for a marvelous view of the sunset.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Amorgos, check out our selection of hotels and other accommodations. The Aegialis Hotel & Spa is one of the most comfortable hotels on the island, with a magnificent view over the sea, mountains and bay that can be seen from the hotel's pool. The hotel offers lots of facilities including a restaurant, bar, spa and organized activities.
Another excellent choice is the Aliori Art Caves Hotel. This hotel's stone-made building is nicely decorated and many comforts and organized sports activities are offered. We also recommend Pano Gitonia, a lovely set of studios and apartments with unique architecture and white, blue and brown decoration elements that match the natural landscape. The view from the studios' little terraces is absolutely breathtaking! If you’re looking for a small and quiet hotel with all kinds of comforts available, consider Vorina Ktismata. This is a luxurious hotel with whitewashed walls, surrounded by pristine nature.

Apospero restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Amorgos. Its seafood delicacies will satisfy the most demanding palates, as they are made with fresh ingredients, imagination and love. The restaurant offers unique dishes that are based on traditional local recipes with a modern touch added to spice things up. No matter what your preferences are, you will certainly enjoy Apospero’s fine dishes and its lovely, inviting atmosphere. The seafood risotto and the carpaccio are some of the tastiest options.

Located near Hozoviotissa monastery, Agia Anna is one of the most famous beaches in Amorgos. It attracts numerous visitors each day, not only because of its azure and crystal-clear waters and wild beauty but also because the little whitewashed chapel on top of the hill was used as a filming location for the movie "The Big Blue", which made the island a popular destination for travelers from all around the world. On the right side of Agia Anna beach you will find the pebbled beach Sirma where you can swim between huge rocks and Kampi, a slightly bigger and non-organized rocky beach.

The huge shipwreck near Kalotaritissa Beach is another praised attraction because of the "The Big Blue" movie. The commercial ship Olympia has been sunk there since February of 1980 but it hasn’t been forgotten as it attracts many visitors who want to admire this extraordinary symbol of decadence. The shipwreck is one of the most well-known and photographed places in Amorgos. After visiting it, we recommend a stopover at the golden beach of Kalotaritissa, the sand of which shines beneath the warm summer sunlight. The beach also offers a few comforts, including sunshades, sunbeds and a canteen, in case you get hungry or thirsty.

It is often said that in order to truly enjoy a travel destination, it is necessary to get to know the locals and share experiences with them. This is the reason we highly recommend taking part in a panigiri, an annual local religious celebration. The biggest summer festivals are the Feast Day of Agia Paraskevi (July 25th-26th) and the one taking place each year on August 15th, a national holiday on the occasion of the Assumption of Mary. Both of these events are an excellent option for anyone interested in getting to know the local way of having fun and dancing to the tunes of traditional music. Are you having second thoughts? Keep in mind that one of the reasons why these feasts are so popular is the free delicious food and local wine to your heart’s desire!

Psimeni raki is nothing other than the most well-known alcoholic beverage of Amorgos. Raki is made according to old, traditional recipes and you can find it on many other Greek islands. However, the psimeni (baked) version with honey and cinnamon and its unique aroma has been a unique privilege of Amorgos ever since ancient times. It can be consumed on its own or with food, as an aperitif or digestif. It is served as a treat to guests and it has also been a quite popular, traditional home remedy used to treat sore throats or help stay warm during cold winter days.
Note: Don't forget to bring some bottles of psimeni raki back to your friends!

Having over 15 hiking paths in total, Amorgos is a great destination for anyone who enjoys long walks in nature. Find the route that suits you the most among a plethora of routes of various durations and levels of difficulty. All paths are well-preserved, although they have been around for many years, long before cars appeared the island and made transportation easier for both locals and visitors. The most popular route is the one connecting Chora and Aegialis.

Tholaria is a small traditional settlement in the region of Aegialis. It was built only 182 meters above the sea and is surrounded by typical Cycladic nature, including bushes, flowers, herbs and rocks. With all its whitewashed houses, lovely terraces and painted alleys, the village is an example of traditional Cycladic architecture. Among other small traditional tavernas and cafes, you will find the oldest cafe on the island, Horeftis (The Dancer). One of the main sights to visit in this village is the church of Agioi Anargyroi. Despite its small size, Tholaria attracts many visitors as it offers the opportunity to get to know the local culture and life better.

Aegiali Beach is located right next to the village of Aegiali, which is probably the most popular spot on the island among tourists due to its port and rich nightlife. The beach is one of the largest ones in Amorgos; it is an extensive bay, entirely covered with golden sand and waters that are calm and light blue. Several trees offer natural shade and protection from the burning sun. Not very far away from the beach and the village lie the ruins of the Acropolis of Ancient Aegiali, including remnants of ancient epigraphs, sculptures that date back to the Archaic Period and Roman tombs, as well as the ancient settlement of Asfontilitis, an archeological site with great historical significance where some pretty impressive petroglyphs are located.

Nikouria is a small uninhabited island that can only be accessed by boat. There are three unspoiled beaches on the islet in total; all of them have clear, sparkly water and a few spots that are ideal for anyone who wants to dive or fish. In order to go there you will have to take one of the regular hourly boats from Agios Pavlos. The short trip to Nikouria is expected to last about 10 minutes. Make sure you carry your own water, food and any other necessities!

Amorgos is a great choice if you love exploring remote areas and enjoying the peace and serenity of pristine beaches. Maltezi is a sandy beach located in the bay of Katapola and can be accessed by boat from Katapola port. The best option is to have a beach tour by boat so you can visit Maltezi and other inaccessible beaches with turquoise waters such as Plakes. Another good option if you’re looking for a remote swimming spot is Levrossos, in the area of Aegialis - a rather small beach, usually preferred by nudists. The big rocks around the beach offer natural protection from the wind whenever the weather conditions are not so great. Last but not least, Agios Pavlos is a unique beach located on the northern side of the island that can be accessed by car. It is a sand-and-shingle beach with clear blue waters and touristic amenities, including a traditional restaurant. Agios Pavlos is also the starting point for organized boat tours to the Nikouria Iislet.

Jazzmin cafe-bar is one of the most popular meeting points on the island. You can either go there to enjoy an evening cocktail at its terrace while watching the sun dipping into the sea or try out its coffee and breakfast first thing in the morning. Jazz and other smooth music tunes create a relaxing atmosphere that will make you have a great time and enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape.

The main port of the island is located at Katapola. This is a small, traditional village with friendly locals that will welcome you to the island. Make sure you stroll around the village, try out the local cuisine and have a drink at one of its bars. If you loved "The Big Blue" as much as we did, Le Grand Bleu cafe-bar located at Xilokeratidi village is a must-see! There, you can watch the film and listen to its soundtrack every day while being so close to some of its best filming locations!

If you are into sports and want to try something new and adventurous, then a scuba diving session might be the best option. In the seabed of Amorgos, you may find ancient shipwrecks and an interesting underwater world that is full of life, including various kinds of fish. The beach of Agios Pavlos is one of the most popular diving spots on the island, where you can explore the bottom of the sea and the depths of an underwater cave, covered with natural reefs of colorful sponges.

Located on one of the picturesque alleys of Chora, right next to a little whitewashed chapel, Kallisto is the island’s most famous pastry shop and one of the most photogenic spots in Chora. When you have a sweet tooth, grab the chance to enjoy the wide variety of local delicacies, including but not limited to homemade sweets, ice cream and pies.

Don’t forget about self-care while you’re on vacation! If you need a relaxing activity, we recommend having a massage session or participating in one of the drop-in classes that combine yoga and meditation.