I think it goes without saying at this point that many travelers go to Greece to see Santorini and Mykonos. I wouldn’t ever discourage anyone from visiting either of these beautiful places, and Santorini in particular is such a special place to see. The first time we went to Greece was in 2015 and, although crowded, it sounds like we had slightly beat out the influencer era. Now I hear stories and read blogs constantly about the overcrowding of Santorini and Mykonos and it can sound very overwhelming.
When we decided to return to Greece in 2021, I knew I wanted to look for something a little bit different. I spent countless hours Googling islands and reading blogs, and the honest truth is I don’t think you could go to a place in Greece that you wouldn’t like. There were a few reasons I chose Andros and Syros and I am thrilled that I did.
Andros
Where to Stay
When we got on the ferry from Athens to Andros, the ticket checker on the ferry seemed shocked. They checked our documents and then double checked them, and called a friend over and said “look, Americans!” We didn’t know what exactly to make of this at first, but in the end we think they were quite excited to have Americans coming to the island of Andros. We got to Andros and hopped straight into a taxi to Batsi Bay.
We were blown away as soon as we arrived. We stayed at Mare Vista Hotel. We had a private terrace that overlooked the bay, it was such a lovely place to sit out and relax. Our room was clean and comfortable. It was a short 6-7 minute walk into the town, which was picture perfect. The pool was very nice and we spent time relaxing there, reading, and swimming some laps in the mornings. Breakfast here was very nice also and we enjoyed eating outside in the sunshine each morning.
Batsi was exactly what you’d want out of a Greek island. It was quiet and quaint, with adorable alleyways, beautiful flowers everywhere, cute shops and food stops to pop in and out of, a beautiful calm beach to hang out on, and friendly, welcoming people.
Where to Eat
Stamatis Taverna: In all of our travels we have almost never eaten at the same place twice. No matter how much we love a meal we are always wanting to try new things and new experiences each time. This time… in Batsi… we ate at the same place TWICE! It was incredible! The view was unmatched and the food was out of this world. The first night we went, I am fairly certain it was the best lamb shank I have ever had in my life. It fell right off the bone, had incredible flavor, and I could have eaten it every day for months on end. I was so obsessed with it that I can honestly tell you I do not even know what my husband had for dinner that night! And I remember EVERYTHING. The second time we went, I had calamari which was also very memorable, but the lamb shank was the star of the show. I would go back to Andros just to sit on the beautiful bay and have that meal.
Oti Kalo: We did manage to have one dinner outside of Stamatis Tavern and it was at Oti Kalo. This place is right next door to Stamatis and shares the stunning views of the bay and the sunset. It was another amazing dinner and a great place to switch it up if you have more than one night!
How to Get Around
The four wheeler was an excellent way to explore more of Andros. A car would be a great option as well, as things can be quite spread out on this island. We just love the four wheeler for the adventure feel and the freedom it provides. We used Dinos Rent a Bike here and it was super easy and professional. We were able to pick up our quads right on the bay and return them when we were finished. The quad got us everywhere we wanted to go easily. We rode to many different beaches and tried out lots of different spots. We also took a “day trip” of sorts to the main town of Andros, the Chora. This was about a 45 minute ride on the quad. It would be a faster journey in a car. It was another great spot to check out. The town was beautiful and we explored, had a nice octopus lunch, and walked around on the beach. We even saw swans swimming in the ocean, which I can honestly say I’ve never seen before!
Beaches on Andros
Here is a brief list and description of the beaches we were able to visit during our stay. There are SO many and we definitely wish we spent more time on Andros.
Colona Beach : This beach was one of my favorites. From this beach you have an incredible view looking back at Batsi Bay. There is a small shack selling snacks and drinks and a few chairs and umbrellas for laying around. It had a very relaxed vibe, the bar was playing some nice music, and it just felt like a perfect and comfortable place to chill out. If you’re staying in Batsi you can also walk here, which is a plus.
Batsi Main Beach: This beach is right at the town, you can’t miss it. You can lounge on a chair and enjoy the day. The water is shallow and calm here and it would be a great place for kids to hang out. You can also grab lunch easily nearby which always makes a beach a nice place to be. If you’re staying in Batsi this is also a great place to watch the sunset.
Paralia Paleopolis Beach: This one is a hike! You have to park way up on a hillside and trek down to the beach. It definitely was a TRIP getting down to this area. But we were rewarded by being the literal only people there. We really enjoyed hanging out on the rocks and watching the sea and having some snacks. Having the area all to ourselves was a bonus. Climbing back out was another story! We honestly wanted to hop right back in the water by the time we made it to the top!
Fellos Beach: This one was pretty chill and easy to get to with the quad. There wasn’t much going on here, which made it feel very relaxed.
Neimporio Beach: This beach is right near the Chora (Main Village) and is not the most beautiful one we visited but has a lot of things going on. There were plenty of places to eat, you could explore the town nearby, there were a couple beach bars and stalls to rent umbrellas and seats. Overall it seemed pretty popular and was a nice and easy place to spend an afternoon.
Overall, Andros is a great place to visit. We didn’t get to stay nearly as long as we’d have liked. One place that was a great resource for me in planning, and would be for you as well if you’re planning to go beyond our itinerary is Andros Secrets. Their website and blog are so helpful and full of information for your trip! We highly recommend checking it out if you need help planning.
If you’re looking for tours on Andros Island you can find a few options here: Andros Tours
Syros
We traveled to Syros by ferry from Andros. When the ferry began to pull up you could see how impressive it all looks! Syros was different than Andros in that it was larger and much more developed, people live year round on this island. Syros’ port area was absolutely bustling and it even had a square that many groups were spending time in, it felt very European. We stayed in an Airbnb right off the square with a beautiful rooftop view of the town. One of the most special things about Syros was that it had a very local feel. We enjoyed sitting in the square each night and just people watching the evening away.
How to Get Around
One of the great things about Syros was that even if you didn’t have a car or quad, you could do many activities on foot. If you were staying in the main town, you could walk to the different concrete “beaches”, you could eat at wonderful places, you could walk along the port, you could take a long walk up to Ano Syros and explore. We could do many things without having to hop on the quad at all!
However, riding a quad in Greece is one of our favorite things to do. Therefore, we couldn’t resist some quad exploring here too. We used Moto Rent George for our quad hire and it was so easy. He dropped the quad off to us right at the port and let us leave it later for him to retrieve. We again took the quad to some amazing beaches. We also did a hike that I had read a lot about. The hike was to Agios Stefanos Cave-Church, and it was a fun one! You can only reach this cave by hiking to it or by boat. The hike didn’t take more than an hour and we did it in sneakers and bathing suits. The views were really beautiful the whole way and the church built into the cave is definitely worth seeing! We really enjoyed this hike experience.
Syros Wine Trails Tour
Another big highlight of this trip was our tour with Syros Wine Trails. They were a new company when we arrived and we were some of their first clients. I think I am actually their first review on trip advisor! The first stop was for cheese, which always makes me happy. We got to see how the cheese was produced on the island and we got to try a variety of cheeses that were all very impressive. The second stop was at a family run vineyard. We got to try their wonderful wines and enjoy some charcuterie with a fantastic view of their vineyards. The third stop was at a gorgeous mansion in Syros and we had dinner in the garden. We got to try so many different specialties and again to taste so many wonderful wines. The experience was wonderful over all, and I know that they run many different custom tours. I would highly recommend this experience if you are visiting Syros.
Ano Syros
Something else we really enjoyed was taking a walk (or ride) up to Ano Syros. We took a walk and in the heat of summer, it felt like a hike! But I am thankful that we walked and took in all the adorable streets, alleyways, stairways, and sights on our way up. It was all worth seeing. The town is picture perfect everywhere you look and the views are glorious from the top. You can look down over all of Syros while sipping a cocktail or having a snack. If you are into that sort of thing (which I am) Syros is a great workout! Each morning I ran up all the steps as high as I could and ran around a bit before coming back down!
This island was so special and different from other places we’ve been in Greece. I would highly recommend a visit here and staying for a few days. There is plenty to do and see on Syros Island.
If you’re looking for tours on Syros, Island there are a few options here: Syros Tours
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