Greece, Things to do

6 things to do while visiting the Cyclades Islands in Greece

RiA
30 August, 2024
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If the Cyclades islands are on your bucket list and you’ve decided which island (or islands) you’re going to visit, here’s 6 things to do while visiting the Cyclades Islands in Greece.

Book a boat tour

One of the 6 things to do while visiting the Cyclades islands in Greece, is to go on a boat tour. It’s a great way to see the other side of your chosen island from a different but also a chance to visit another nearby island as well. There are likely some areas on the island that are not accessible by car or public transport so spending time on a secluded beach or visiting an ancient ruin by boat may be the only way.

You can book boat trips in advance before your trip or sometimes even a day or two before when you’re on the island. Some excursions will either be half or full day with a number offering evening boat tours for sunset views.

I decided to book a boat tour while in Santorini. Read about my boat tour in Santorini as I made my way to Oia for the sunset.

Go on a walking tour

If you want to make sure you see as many sights as possible, try a walking tour. These are great as you’ll have a local guide show you around all the main tourist sights.

They may even add in a few local hot spots or hidden gems which is an added bonus. I’ve used GetYourGuide and Expedia for booking walking tours but you can also try Freetour.com.

Hike

If you like walking, why not try a hike. Depending on the type of hike you go on or trail, you could get some amazing views. There are many places to go hiking around each Cyclades island.

It doesn’t even need to be a big hike either. When I was in Santorini, I visited Ancient Thera and saw quite a few people hiking up.

Ancient Thera

Ancient Thera is located on Mesa Vouno hill in Santorini. It takes about 45 to 50 minutes to hike up Ancient Thera from Persia and you’ll get to see the ruins as well as the amazing view below.

Dine out by the sea

There’s nothing like having a meal by the sea. In Greece, especially on the islands you’ll find a number of restaurants down by the port or harbour. Many of the restaurants will serve up fish freshly caught the same day.

If you’re planning to go out for dinner, just remember it can be quite windy that close to the waters edge, so you may want a light jacket or cardigan if it’s later on in the evening.

Rent a car to see more

While public transport is great for getting around the local areas, if you drive you should rent a car.

Being able to go further afield and also at your own leisure is great. Depending on where I’m going, how long I’m staying and how much I want to see, I try to hire a car for two to three days. It gives you more freedom and you’re not restricted to Island timetables or busy buses.

ATV or quad bike

If you’ve never rented a car abroad before, read my post on 10 tips for car hire abroad for the first time.

Another way to get around at your own pace, is to rent an ATV or quad bike as they’re also known. I’ve also hired an ATV while Island hopping the Cyclades in Santorini, Milos and Paros. Here’s 5 things you should lookout for with ATV rentals.

Visit another beautiful island

When you’re staying in the Cyclades it’s really easy to visit another one that’s close by.

You can go by ferry and book tickets at times that suit you or you can also see if there’s any scheduled tours. There will be tour companies offering day trips to other nearby islands.

Another adventure

If you have time, I’d suggest doing this and you’ll get another adventure. If you really want time to explore another island, you could always book an overnight stay.

You could even do some Island hopping around the Cyclades like I did. It was an amazing experience.