Mykonos, Santorini and Ios form the tourist heart of the islands, each fulfilling the Greek island dream with their own unique selling points. Some reports have suggested these first two islands will always be busy, so head beyond these (there are 56 in the group), and even beyond Naxos, Paros and Milos – three lovely but popular islands – and choose somewhere less well-known. Folegandros, to the south, once remote behind its tall cliffs, is becoming increasingly trendy, whereas nearby Sikinos, with its tiny population of under 300, is still little visited.
The northern Cyclades are within easy reach of Athens and normally get plenty of Greek tourists, so will be struggling. Kea, with its oak forest, and Kythnos, with its hot springs, are both quiet. Andros is one of the largest Cyclades, with a varied, rugged landscape. Meanwhile, peaceful Serifos, Tinos with its pilgrimage site, remote Anafi, and Amorgos, immortalised in the film The Big Blue, all have something special to offer.
Getting there and deals
There are airports on some of the bigger islands (Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Syros and Milos) with flights direct or via Athens. Easyjet flies direct in summer to Mykonos and Santorini from the UK. The islands are all linked by ferries to each other and to mainland Greece. For more details of how to get there, the best places to stay and the best tavernas, see our online guide at gu.com/p/4vgpt.
A four-suite, adults-only hideaway in Kini, on Syros, Pino di Loto (i-escape.com), has a seven-night stay in summer from £496pp (was £620pp).
Kostantakis Residence (apartments from €100 a night until the end of August, kostantakis.gr) is a complex of six bungalows, two studios and a suite set in a farm overlooking the beach in Pollonia, a fishing village on Milos.
At the Verina Astra boutique hotel (from €100 B&B, verinahotelsifnos.com) on Sifnos, there’s 15% off all online or phone bookings for July-September. Or, on Andros, Aegea Blue Cycladic Resort (secretescapes.com) is a four-star bolthole near Zorgos beach, with suites down from £147 a night to just £65 B&B, including a dinner.
Alternatively, packages include a seven-night yacht holiday with skipper with Incrediblue (020 3695 0409, incrediblue.com), for four people in two cabins for £446pp leaving 18 July from Heraklion, taking in the Cyclades.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com
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