 Italiano |  Nederlands |
Here further below the general description of the Cyclades and click here for a small introduction and hotels to the other Cycladic islands of Sifnos, Milos, Donoussa, Koufonissi, Serifos, Sikinos, Astypalea, Kea, Kythnos.
 |  |  |
| The Cyclades (Greek: Κυκλάδες) is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and an administrative prefecture of Greece. it contains some 2,200 islands, islets and rocks; just 33 islands are inhabited. The name refers to the islands around (κυκλάς) the sacred island of Delos. The Cyclades comprise about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kímolos, Kythnos, Melos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Folegandros, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tenos, and Thera or Santorini. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited. Ermoupolis, on Syros, is the chief town and administrative center of the prefecture. The islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous terrain, with the exception of two volcanic islands, Milos and Santorini (Thera). The climate is generally dry and mild, but with the exception of Naxos the soil is not very fertile: agricultural produce includes wine, fruit, wheat, olive oil, and tobacco. Cooler temperatures are in higher elevations and mainly do not receive wintry weather. All of the roads in the island complex are secondary or provincial. For most islands you will find a short description, photos of beautiful sites and beaches, plus our recommendations for hotels & self- catering studios and apartments for a comfortable and enjoyable holiday. We will help you book immediately the right property for you.
By plane Regular (mostly daily) flights from Athens to Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini are operated by Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines. Syros is also served by Olympic Air from Athens twice weekly. In high season there are also less frequent flights from Rhodes and Crete (Heraklion) by other smaller airlines. Mykonos, Paros, Santorini and Naxos can also be reached from other European airports or by helicopter. By ferry From the Greek mainland ferries and highspeed catamaran services run daily from Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Ferrys operate to all the islands in the Cyclades, some of the larger islands also have a highspeed catamaran service. Ferry trips are four to five hours to the closest islands (Kythnos, Syros, Tinos, Mykonos and Sifnos) and from eight to ten hours to the furthest (Santorini) depending on the number of stops. The highspeeds take half the time but cost twice as much. If you are arriving at the airport of Athens you are often better off taking a ferry from Rafina than traveling to Athens and get a ferry from Piraeus. A lot of boat services stop working by end of October and resume by April.
Get around Travel by ferry. They are safe, regular, cheap and fun. The biggest ferry hub within the Cyclades is in Paros which has links to many islands. Be prepared that travelling by ferry can be tedious in high season when ferries are really crowded. Usually there are two types of ferries: The ordinary ones and the speedboats (hydrofoils, which are much more expensive). Also, ferries may be cancelled due to sea and weather conditions so don't leave on the last ferry before your flight, especially if it is windy. Seas are calmer at night, so the late evening and early morning ferries are the most likely to operate. Tickets for ferries can be usually bought from travel agencies which are located around the local port. If you visit the Cyclades for the very first time go for Santorini, Mykonos and Naxos (or Paros). If you want to get rid of the crowds go for the smaller islands such as Folegandros or Amorgos. Island hopping this is very popular within the Cyclades. If you have more than one week, this might be be an option for you since ferry schedules are excellent and every island has its own charm. |
MYKONOS ACCOMMODATION CENTER
Enoplon Dynameon No 10 (upper floor)
(end Matoyianni Street : main street)
Postal Address: P.O.Box 58 - 84600 Mykonos - GREECE
Tel: +30-2289023160 or 2289023408 or 2289028160. Fax: 2289024137.
E-mail : cyclades@mykonos-accommodation.com
Last update September 1st. 2010