Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hóra and around
HÓRA
(also called Íos Town) is a
twenty-minute walk up behind Yialós
port, and is one of the more accessible
picturesque towns in the Cyclades,
filled with meandering arcaded lanes
and whitewashed chapels. Still, it gets
pretty raunchy when the younger
crowd moves in for the high season,
and the laddish logos and inscriptions
available on T-shirts and at tattoo
parlours clash with its superior
aspirations. The main road divides it
naturally into two parts: the old town
climbing the hillside to the left as you
arrive, and the newer development to
the right. The
archeological museum
(Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm; free), in the
yellow town hall, is part of an attempt
to attract a more diverse range of
visitors to the island. It contains some
interesting finds from ancient
Skárkos
,
a few kilometres inland from Yialós.
Yialós
- with its surprisingly peaceful and uncrowded beach - isn't in the same league
as Hóra above, but it provides a refreshing, breezy escape from the hot, noisy capital.
Alternatively there's the popular
Mylopótas
,
the site of a magnificent beach, lots of
water activity outlets and surprisingly little nightlife.
ÍOS
0
2
kilometres
Plakotós
“Homer's”
Tomb
Vouní
(417m)
Ayía Theodhóti
Paleókastro
6
Psáthi
Yialós
Plákes
Koumbára
HÓRA
Megálo Vouní
(704m)
Mylopótas
Valmás
Kolitsáni
Kálamos
Klíma
N
Manganári
Santoríni & Anáfi
Crete
ACTIVITIES
HÓRA AND AROUND
Meltemi Watersports
T
693 21 53 912,
W
meltemi
watersports.com.
Outlets on Mylopótas and Manganári
beaches,
wakeboarding lessons. They also hire out canoes, pedaloes,
snorkelling equipment and sailboats.
offering
waterskiing,
windsurfing
and
ACCOMMODATION
HÓRA
Ì
Francesco's
T
22860 91223,
W
francescos.net.
An
excellent hostel made up mostly with super-clean doubles
(€40) and relatively few dorm beds. With free pickups and
wi-fi, a bar, a pool and jacuzzi plus spectacular views over
the port, it
ofe
rs the best value for money on the island.
May-Sept.
€17
Lofos
new quarter
T
22860 91481.
Right up from the
archeological site, this family-owned, shaded room
complex, with simple but well-furnished rooms, is very
convenient for access both to the bus stop and Hóra's
nightlife opposite. Best of a
ll, fo
r something so close to the
action, it's quiet. May-Oct.
€40
Lofos Village
new quarter
T
22860 92481,
E
lofosvillagehotel@yahoo.com.
A luxurious set of
modern villas further up the hill with panoramic views over
Hóra from its common swimming pool. Currency exchange,
free port transfers, jacuzzi and p
arki
ng are some of the
many facilities on offer. May-Oct.
€80
YIALÓS
Brothers' Hotel
T
22860 91508,
W
brothershotel
.com.
A relaxed family-friendly option set far back from the
beach with spacious rooms, studios and a pool; it is
co-managed by a Geordie lady who has made h
er Sh
irley
Valentine dream come true. Free wi-fi. April-Oct.
€70
Galini Rooms
T
22860 91115,
W
galini-ios.com.
A
good, quiet choice, in a rural setting just over 200m down
the lane by the centre of the beach; relaxing in the well-
tended large gar
den
is as big a delight as lying on the
beach. April-Oct.
€70
Golden Sun
T
22860 91110,
W
www.iosgoldensun
.com.
Family-owned hotel about 300m up the road to
Hóra with meticulously clean, brightly painted rooms
offering nice views over the bay and large, well thought-
out c
omm
on areas around a swimming pool. Mid-May to
Sept.
€60
Yialós Beach
T
22860 91421,
W
yialosbeach.gr.
Stylish
hotel, just behind the hospital, offering smart doubles and
