Syros – have you heard of it? Probably not! But I bet you’ve heard of its’ ‘more famous’ sisters – Mykonos and Santorini. All these islands are in the Cyclades region – famous for its sunsets and white-washed houses. Syros is, in fact, the capital of this cluster of islands. And I’m here to tell you why Syros should be added to your Greece itinerary.
Syros is one of the first stops on the ferry from Athens to Santorini. It’s one of the least-visited islands in this region, and so is a pleasant change from the more crowded Greek islands. Syros is the epitome of Greek island life. So here are a few things to do in Syros that will make you add this hidden gem to your bucket list.
Is Syros worth seeing?
YES, Syros is 100% worth seeing! It’s not overcrowded with tourists – it’s one of the least-visited islands in the Cyclades region of Greece. But that’s not to say it isn’t beautiful, it was one of the prettiest islands we’ve ever visited.
Plus, the population of Syros is just under 25,000 people, so you’ll get a true sense of small Greek island daily life here! Syros was, in fact, one of our favorite stops on our one month trip through Greece.
P.S. Another big favorite of ours was the super-unique Meteora on mainland Greece.
💡If you love the ease that a guided, multi-day tour offers (and you love cooking), then this 7-day Culinary Vacation on Syros will be right up your street! It includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a listed 19th-century mansion and cooking classes with a local chef! You’ll also get to go foraging, visit local markets as part of the tour. Priced at €1,800 it’s great value, considering it includes accommodation and meals.
BEST Things to Do in Syros
1. Explore the island’s biggest town Ermoupoli
Ermoupoli is the administrative capital of the Cyclades. It is filled with narrow, cobbled streets, white-washed houses, and everywhere you look, gorgeous sparkling blue water (enticing you to jump in). I did jump in when I got too hot, by the way!
Whilst Paul climbed up to Ano Syros, I went swimming off the pier in the Vaporia Quarter. Afterward, we had lunch at Taverna To Petrino, which is located down a narrow, colorful lane. My lunch order in Greece is always a frappe and a gyro.
One of the best ways to see Ermoupoli is on a guided walking tour with a local, like this 2-hour tour, which takes you to the city’s top-rated attractions like the Theater of Apollo, the church of Agios Nikolaos, and the Virgin of El Greco. The best thing is that your guide is a history teacher, so you’re sure to learn a lot about the history of the island from him. It’s priced at just €26 per person.
As you read, we opted to do a self-guided walking tour of Ermoupoli and we were able to take our time and see all the sights. It was such a memorable day!
Some of my favorite places to visit in Ermoupoli include Vaporia, a cute neighborhood that’s sprinkled with luxurious mansions in the neoclassical style. It’s also home to the Church of Agios Nikolaos, which is oh-so-photogenic with its blue dome.
We also loved learning about the history of Syros at the Archaeological Museum.
A truly unique and excellently rated thing to do from Ermoupoli is this Cooking Class, which takes place in a stunning villa on the outskirts of the city. Throughout your time, you’ll learn all the aspects of cooking Greek cuisine. You’ll get to visit a local market and learn how to forage for wild herbs and much more! Prices start from €130 per person.
Related Read: Check out the absolute BEST things to do in Santorini in the summer!
2. Have a beach day at gorgeous Galissas beach
We stayed a couple of steps from the gorgeous Galissas beach – easily the nicest beach on the island. Galissas is a sleepy beach town, with several outdoor restaurants lining the promenade and the sea crashing behind. Fresh seafood is the order of the day here.
Every morning I got up early and walked the beach – that’s the sign of a special place when I’m up early on vacation. I didn’t want to miss out on any time here. For a quieter beach experience, try Armeos Beach. Follow the pathway from Galissas Beach to get here.
3. Climb up to Agia Pakou church for sunset
Every single night, we bought some beers from one of the little corner shops in Galissas and climbed up to this gorgeous white church on the hill. The actual name of the church is the Chapel of Santa Paku. Then, we sat on the wall and watched the sun sink into the ocean for what seemed like hours.
The climb to the church will take just 5-10 minutes, and my tip is to get here at least 30 minutes before sunset to nab a seat on the wall.
4. Eat all of the fresh Greek food
Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines, and the island of Syros specializes in fresh seafood. You will find a lot of octopus and calamari on the menus here. Some standout dishes native to Syros include marathopita (fennel pie) and lachanodolma (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice)
Some restaurants we recommend in Syros –
- In Ermoupoli – Taverna To Petrino for impeccably prepared dishes, excellent service, and a lovely outdoor seating area
- In Galissas – Savvas for fresh seafood and friendly service and Iliovasilema for great greek cuisine and a lovely view.
5. Stroll around Anos Syros
In stark contrast to the more bustling Ermoupoli is the pretty and quiet Ano Syros – a 20-minute walk uphill from Ermoupoli. It’s a former Venetian settlement and is known for its narrow, winding streets and whitewashed buildings. One of the only catholic churches on the island can be found here – the Cathedral of San Georgio which stands tall at Anos Syros’ highest point. Be sure to climb to the cathedral for a view of the sparkling Aegean Sea below.
Grab a coffee at one of the lovely Cafes in the Piatsa before heading back down to Ermoupoli.
Related Read: Check out my detailed guide to spending one day in Santorini!
6. Take it easy in Kini
Another favorite spot of mine on Syros is the quaint fishing village of Kini which is conveniently just over a 10-minute drive from Ermoupoli. The beach here is one of the prettiest in all of Syros, with its golden sand and bright blue water. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen.
As such, it’s one of the most-visited beaches on the island.
We spent a full day in Kini relaxing on the beach, swimming in the warm water, and eating delicious seafood at one of the many sea-facing tavernas.
7. Go hiking!
Hiking is a super-popular thing to do on Syros, thanks to several breathtaking trails that range in difficulty. The first hike we undertook during our time on the island was the 2.9 km trail from Kini to Delfini Beach. It’s a relatively easy trail but is quite a narrow path and you may be scrambling over rocks in some sections.
Another great coastal hiking trail is the Varvarousa Beach trail, which starts at Delfini Beach. It’s 2.4 km long and can be quite challenging in sections.
There are also several great trails from Kampos (the most northern village) – some take you over the remote countryside and others lead to hidden beaches like Marmari and Lia.
8. Spend a day relaxing on Vari Beach
As you can tell, it’s all about the stunning beaches on Syros. And last on this list of things to do in Syros is Vari Beach – another popular tourist spot on the southeast of the island. Here, you’ll find a small, sandy beach with super-clear water. The beach is backed by several restaurants and Cafes. A big plus is the shallow water, which is ideal for young kids.
These are the best-rated tours on Syros –
The best places to stay on Syros Island
As mentioned, we stayed at the sleepy beach town of Galissas. More specifically at the bright and modern Hotel Remvi. Gorgeously decorated and airy rooms featuring a fantastically large balcony. A lovely pool to dive into after a hot day of exploring. Also worth noting is the excellent breakfast and the very reasonably priced beers at the bar. Here’s a list of other awesome accommodation in Syros –
- Apollonion Palace in Ermoupoli for luxurious rooms and direct sea access. Price from €90 per night
- Aktaion in Ermoupoli for beautiful neoclassical rooms right in the heart of the town. Price from €80 per night
- Aegean Paradiso in Azolimnos is just steps from the beach with a lovely outdoor swimming pool. Price from €60 per night
How do you get to Syros, Greece?
Syros is well-connected with Athens and other Aegean islands. The ferry to Syros from the main port of Athens – Piraeus port, is daily and the trip takes about 3 hours.
There is also a small airport on Syros, just 3km from Ermopoli. Direct flights operate from Athens with Aegean Air and Olympic Air. The flight takes approximately 40 minutes.
How many days do I need in Syros?
I recommend spending 5-7 days in Syros. We spent 5 days in Syros, and it was the perfect amount of time for us, as it meant we had some chill-out days on the beach in Galissas (where we stayed) and it also enabled us to go on day trips to the capital city Ermoupoli as well as visit other awesome beach towns like Kini and Vari Beach.
What is the best month to visit Syros?
May and June are the best months to visit Syros – as you’re guaranteed good weather, but it also means it won’t be too crowded as schools in Europe don’t break up until July. The weather in May in Syros averages 22 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit), and in June, you’re looking at an average daily temperature of 26 Celsius (79 Fahrenheit).
It also doesn’t get dark until 8:30/9 pm in June – which means more daylight hours for exploring!
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We have loads of other European content including how to spend 3 days in Santorini; the best things to do in Alicante Spain; 5 unique things to do in Cinque Terre Italy; Istanbul Travel Guide and much more!
Booking Your Trip Soon? These are my go-to booking sites!
Below you will find a list of the sites we always use when booking our trips. By booking via the below links you can support my writing at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much!
1. Flights
I use Cheapoair to find the best flights. It allows you to compare and book flights on over 500 airlines from across the globe.
2. Hotels
I use Booking.com for all of our hotel stays. And if we’re traveling on a budget, I like to use Hostelworld to book a hostel.
3. Renting a Car
We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
4. Tours
I use Viator or Get Your Guide to book any guided tours we plan on doing. I find Viator particularly good for the USA, Canada & New Zealand, and Get Your Guide is great for Europe.
5. Travel Sim Card
An eSIM is a great idea if you’re coming to a place for more than a week. As that way, you won’t need to change your number or remove the physical SIM from your phone. They are so handy and cheap, too. Obviously make sure your phone is compatible with an eSIM first. We always use Saily for our eSIM’s.
6. Airport Pick-Ups
Instead of cabs, we book with welcome pickup to get from the airport to our hotel. Why did we do that? The drivers from Welcome Pickups are English speaking and you’ll pay a flat rate. So, you know exactly how much you’re paying before hopping in.
7. Travel Insurance
This is how we find the best travel insurance for our trip, it’s a search engine for travel insurance companies so you can find the best travel insurance for your trip. On their site, you can compare the plans side by side so you can get the best insurance for your particular trip! As I always say, no trip is the same so your travel insurance shouldn’t be too!
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Last Updated on August 11, 2025 by snaphappytravel
3 thoughts on “A First-Timers Guide to the Best Things to Do in Syros”
Finally a post about Syros! As Greek I am sick of all the posts regarding Santorini and Mykono ONLY; yes these are beautiful islands but there are so many equally stunning ones!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Such a beautiful place! I’d love to visit someday 🙂
Syros looks amazing, I’d love to go island hopping one day! Greek food is delicious!