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One of the smallest islands of the Cyclades and relatively rural outside the capital it nevertheless has the highest population since it’s the legal and administrative center of the entire archipelago It’s also the ferry hub of the northern islands and home to Ermoupoli and its beaches never get as crowded as those of the neighboring islands has great eateries and showcases the best of everyday Greek life If you want to add Syros to your Greek islands itinerary but since Syros isn't as heavily touristed as some other Cyclades destinations you'll likely still find a nice spot on the beach to spread your towel Late spring and early autumn also offer pleasant weather making it an enjoyable time to explore the island Another excellent time to visit is during the off-season. Many hospitality businesses remain open, particularly in the lively main town of Ermoupoli. Unlike places like Mykonos or Santorini businesses here aren't as strictly seasonal and the ferries operate year-round since Syros serves as a major ferry hub for the Cyclades Temperatures can drop to as low as 12 degrees (53F) in January and February but the days will generally be bright at this time of year you can take part in the vibrant celebrations for Apokries (Greek Carnival) You'll need at least a night or two here While many visitors often treat it as a brief stopover in their Cyclades itinerary Syros has enough to offer to warrant a bit more time Allocate one day to explore Ermoupoli and perhaps another day to delve into the island's historical sites and beautiful beaches and Sky Express flies from Athens to Syros Island National Airport in about 35 minutes As the island group’s capital, Syros theoretically has fair to good year-round ferry links with all the Cyclades islands and to Piraeus (Athens) on the mainland. High-season services to Ermoupoli include Piraeus, Kythnos, Naxos, Mykonos and Tinos. In general, frequencies and routes expand drastically in high season and can diminish to a couple of times a week in winter. Always check ahead (on a site like Openseas) and reserve a ticket in high season Buses loop from Ermoupoli bus station beside the ferry quay and buses run in both directions (at least three daily There are also regular minibusses to Ano Syros from the waterfront end of El Vanizelou Street You can hire cars and scooters at agencies such as Vassilikos on the Ermoupoli waterfront The capital's streets and many pedestrian precincts are busy by day and also at night when the air of purpose gives way to enjoyment Strolling lanes shaded by canopies of bougainvillea and lined with markets bars and more is one of Syros' great pleasures Running between the harbor and the square, Chiou is lined with shops selling local food products, including the island's excellent cheeses. Stop in for house-roasted coffee at the book-lined Corner Cafe. For sweets on the go, local legend Sykoutris Turkish Delights is an old-time maker of the Cycladic favorite. Django Gelato is simply superb The owner will recommend what's on offer and made from fruits in season (the fleetingly available fresh fig is sublime) For dinner, you can't go wrong at Cantina Analogue, a high-ceilinged restaurant with a bohemian interior that offers creative takes on taverna fare. In an upscale secluded Ermoupoli courtyard, you'll find Avant Garden; a stylish spot with a creative Greek menu of locally-sourced food After being badly bombed during WWII, it’s a wonder anything survived in this stately 1820s Orthodox church – which made the discovery of a signed icon painted by El Greco even more extraordinary The work dates from the 1560s before the artist left his native Crete to become a leading light of the Spanish Renaissance It’s now proudly displayed in the porch of the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Syros comprises a series of hills and valleys that fold down to small bays and beaches is a sandy beach in a horseshoe bay with a small strip of bars and tavernas a smattering of white-and-blue-trim Cycladic buildings some good tavernas and a cute little white church on the headland Finikas sits on a large bay with a marina at one end and a narrow strip of pebbles and sand It’s more built up than most of the others South of the headland is tiny but popular Agathopes Beach Another 10-minute walk south brings you to Komito The south-coast town of Megas Gialos has a couple of beaches hard up against the main road though the waterfront and tavernas get packed with families in high season This great square is perhaps the finest urban space in the Cyclades Once situated immediately upon the seashore today it sits well inland and is dominated by the dignified neoclassical town hall Flanked by palm trees and lined along all sides with cafes and bars the square and accompanying statue are named for Hydriot naval hero Andreas Miaoulis Proudly capping the medieval hilltop settlement of Ano Syros this pretty cathedral is the mother church of the Cyclades’ significant Roman Catholic minority Call in to admire the pastel-hued interior and star-fretted barrel roof and enjoy the view of the medieval town below Don’t miss the drive along the mountainous spine of Syros to the northern village of San Michalis, a small hamlet of stone houses and vineyards with spectacular views of unspoilt valleys and nearby islands on either side. Walk the rock path to St Michael's Catholic Church. Then, stop for excellent Syran food and grand views at timber-framed Plakostroto. It serves the renowned local cheese plus wood-fire-grilled meats. As a result of the commercial activities on the island, there are plenty of hotels and restaurants, but the prices are lower than on the more touristically oriented islands. hostel room: €14 - €20 per dorm bed per night in high season basic hotel room for two: €100 - €120 per night in high season self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): €80 - €120 per night in high season public transport ticket: €1.50 - €1.60 one way on bus (children under 5 travel for free) coffee: 50c for an espresso, €3.20 for a latte/cappuccino casual lunch: €3 - €5 for a gyros at a market To investigate this glowing accolade, The Telegraph dispatched its correspondent, Heidi Fuller-Love, to uncover what makes this stately mansion settlement so welcoming to visitors. What she found was a blend of tradition, charm, and an authentic love for strangers that has set Ermoupoli apart Others pointed to the harmonious coexistence of the island’s Orthodox and Catholic populations while Elena Papaguna from the Mayor’s office credited the town’s stunning neoclassical architecture and cultural heritage “You can have fun here for less money,” Papaguna added “you can get a kebab or an ice cream and sit for hours watching the crowds.” A Scotsman who now runs an organic winery on the island shared an intriguing tidbit with Fuller-Love “Ousyra,” translates to “happy place.” Fuller-Love couldn’t help but wonder if the island’s friendliness is simply a case of “nominal determinism.” it is clear that Ermoupoli’s secret lies in its authentic warmth making it a beacon of hospitality not only in Europe but around the world “How is it possible that humans have landed on the moon but a machine hasn’t been invented to carry our groceries up the stairs?” comments a middle-aged woman from Ano Syros known locally as an “Anosyriani.” She is standing with her husband under a canopy They are taking a break before climbing the whitewashed Calvary to their home Or is it that we have to go all the way to Ermoupoli to buy our daily necessities?” he responds stoically We were walking the labyrinthine streets of Ano Syros with Iosif Stefanou urban planner and professor at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) this place was teeming with children and shops; it was self-sufficient it’s dead,” he says about the windswept hill where the first – Catholic – residential nucleus was formed in the 13th century long before Ermoupoli came into being in the 19th century Stefanou has been early concerned with protecting the traditional Cycladic architecture of his birthplace He was the key figure in ensuring that relevant state decrees were issued from the 1970s as he emphasizes: “Establishing rules early on was something that – at least back then – didn’t sit well with my compatriots they wanted to do as they pleased with their building projects My father would come around every so often saying I go to the coffee shop and get into fights because they tell me “It’s your son’s fault!” Explain it to me at least so I can understand.’ He died with this grievance While we maintained the medieval settlement of Ano Syros architecturally at a relatively good level the community of its people is now threatened,” he says A mother would hear her neighbor’s baby crying and would run there first Now most houses are closed for most of the year because they’ve been bought by foreigners or Athenians most of them respected and saved the houses Many of the locals think about easy profit which is why only bars have sprung up recently They don’t understand they’re cutting the branch they’re sitting on They see Mykonos on the horizon and envy it but they don’t learn from its current state,” Stefanou adds I wonder about the legendary rembetiko musician Markos Vamvakaris and if he were to walk around his birthplace today The working-class tavernas serving retsina wine have turned into cocktail bars every time I feel pessimistic on this three-day trip around unseen Syros Like our next appointment with 15 kids with bouzoukis and guitars They are waiting for us a bit further down the white alleys They are students at the Great School of Markos founded in 2017 on the initiative of composer and conductor Stavros Xarchakos and other enlightened individuals “We are fighting tooth and nail to keep rembetiko folk and Byzantine traditions alive,” Aristos Vamvakousis a professional bouzouki virtuoso who teaches there The school in Ermoupoli has 100 registered students 40 of whom are learning music while the rest are studying visual arts and freehand drawing Syros won’t become just a tourist destination and groups of people who fight to provide variety and stimuli during the months outside the summer season is that new musicians are graduating from the school who love music but have no place to play on Syros And it’s not just that the rembetiko venues have closed you can hardly find a taverna to eat in,” says Vamvakousis “The reason is that catering businesses are now owned – after the Covid pandemic – by non-locals who don’t care about keeping the shops open during the difficult months the situation isn’t better; you have to search to find a horiatiki [Greek salad] or a meatball The new restaurants for big wallets are unaffordable for us you could have a meal for 17 euros per person in a small taverna and the owner would be in the kitchen all day long What would a businessman prefer between the two but we nostalgically long for the Syros that existed five years ago,” says Vamvakousis Next to him sits 54-year-old Lefteris Zannes He’s a real estate agent who had lived in Athens and returned to his homeland “We have quite a few permanent residents from abroad and from Athens who have blended well with the island It’s a safe place; we leave the keys in the door and the 20,000 residents keep the place alive all seasons which is its ‘armor’ because it attracts more discerning people and not just those who want a holiday home there’s been a change happening across the Cyclades that What’s happening here is what happened on Paros where my clients want to sell their properties and find something on Syros because it’s still quieter here Once there were only a few Airbnb listings on our island; now firefighters and students can’t find a place to stay,” says Zannes I try to make sure that those who buy houses are good cases,” he replies It is indeed true that some parts of Syros have been extensively developed as we discover while traveling to the island’s old fishing village is the owner and chef at the restaurant Allou Yialou She arrives exhausted from the preparations for opening not only this restaurant but also the Mykonos-style ONO concept venue in Agathopes Fournistaki entered the catering industry young as her aunt had a renowned taverna in the then-virgin neighboring bay of Delfini: “I grew up there in the summers Shipowners and alternative types with backpacks sat side by side even a low-wage customer wants to feel like a king on vacation he wants an establishment that is refined in flavors and style To be financially viable during the months we are open They ask me why I don’t put stuffed vegetables on the menu But if I charged 18 euros [for stuffed vegetables] The customer seeking luxury leads the dance keeping a taverna like it was in the 80s with 2024 prices?” The situation is very different in the alley in Ermoupoli where the women’s cooperative of Ano Syros There you find affordable prices for soutzoukakia The cooperative started in 1999 and has provided financial independence to many Anosyrianes who lovingly prepare homemade meals that become in-demand within hours the battle between cod and ceviche is raging with the latter making a strong comeback on all fronts Its dominance is a link in an economic chain Wealthy individuals came and bought and restored the mansions that were collapsing and beautiful villas in the countryside were saved But they will want to go out and eat in expensive restaurants bring their friends to stay in luxury hotels the island will soon be unaffordable for them Syros has the antidote to overtourism because its economy doesn’t rely solely on visitors It houses all the state services as the capital of the prefecture with many public servants founded in 1861 – one of the oldest Greek enterprises The shipyard passed through the hands of renowned families like the Goulandrises who even established a production line for the Enfield 8000 it has been operating under Greek-American ONEX ownership the operations are exclusively repair-based which inevitably includes sandblasting the ships’ hulls the residents have been divided: On one side are the approximately 400 regular employees and their families who staunchly support the shipyard and on the other is a dynamic group of citizens who founded the Syros Environmental Quality Observatory demanding that while the shipyard operates it should eliminate its environmental footprint The company’s management has filed lawsuits against the association you’ll think there’s a giant dentist in the sky drilling and balconies and boats are daily covered in dust that is definitely not harmless and we all breathe it,” a local resident says the former harbor master turned company executive “We understand the concerns of a portion of the local community,” he begins “All our operations are state-licensed and follow protocols; there is specialized equipment for measuring pollutants and the levels have never exceeded the limits,” he adds mentioning that the ownership has an investment plan that will transform the image of the shipbuilding industry in the country The goal is to eliminate the environmental footprint constructions in the land area are also planned Syros remained standing even during the pandemic and tough times because it had the Neorion which today can employ up to 600 workers depending on the needs,” he emphasizes an Athenian veterinarian who has lived on Syros for 14 years is one of the founding members of the observatory: “We experienced unpleasant situations during the trials nothing has been done to reduce the burden that affects the quality of life and the particles spread over a large radius We are a small island with a vulnerable ecosystem that must be protected as a priority for everyone,” says the man who changed the image of stray animals on the island An active citizen sensitive on many fronts placed well-maintained feeders for cats in parts of Ermoupoli and the settlements he has shaped many animal-friendly consciences from a young age He is a professional with a social mission countless hours caring for animals voluntarily and money from his own pocket to support volunteer efforts he also provides his veterinary services on Tinos: “The situation there has spiraled out of control in terms of cost Plots that once cost a few thousand euros have skyrocketed to hundreds of thousands Syros is still holding on because it does not have such natural beauty; it has a vibrant city even in winter with many people If we do not take care of the future with a plan In the loukoumi production workshop of Ntina Sykoutri in Ermoupoli the photo of the owner embracing the poet and lyricist Manos Eleftheriou stands out: “I miss him He was the guardian angel of the island’s letters and history He knew how to honor those who upheld tradition The humble little loukoumi encapsulates the connection with lost homelands and sweetens all occasions in Syros: engagements Once it was the only sweet treat we could all have Because I grew up here at the port among the poor working people many come who want to show us that they can pay But this is not a good recipe because it puts residents in the mindset of easy enrichment guided us through the family shipyard where his father crafted dozens of tserniki but his most significant contribution in recent years is making models of traditional vessels on a 1:10 scale: “At the rate at which they break them and I felt the need to construct these so that people one day know what the wooden boats were like Once they brought one of my father’s to be destroyed here outside only to see an excavator destroy what you made has been transformed into a museum thanks to a decade-long effort by a young local He always had a passion for collecting old things and in 2013 he entered the building through a hole in the wall as the threads were still on the knitting machines He persuaded the owners to rent it to him at a low cost and turned it into a refined museum about the history of the textile industry in Syros “My challenge was to make it experiential and sustainable to discover the island’s history with activities that include a large part of the community and combine education and the charm of the experience,” says Stavrakopoulos who at 40 is the youngest museum creator in Greece he plans excursions to the island’s countryside We cross the threshold of such a house in Parakopi where the aristocratic lady Evangelia Dounia awaits us whose late husband Leon was a descendant of the great Koulouris business family “In this 12-acre garden with pebble mosaics we have had the most beautiful dinners and receptions with people who came from Athens and couldn’t believe that the island had such grandeur took care to preserve all the old furniture even if the finances were not as flourishing as in the past I hope my children and grandchildren have this dedication because I understand how difficult it is today with maintenance costs having skyrocketed,” she says We drink our coffee in old porcelain cups with elegant silver spoons We talk about the Syros definition of luxury: waking up in a high-ceilinged bedroom and hearing the wind in the trees The words by writer Nikos Dimou come to mind about those first settlers who created Ermoupoli from nothing: They were like aliens Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Ermoupolis was a historically significant port town on the island of Syros in the Cyclades A dreamy vacation in Greece is, without a doubt, more sought-after than ever. The Mediterranean destination has already surpassed prepandemic visitor numbers. In 2023, the country of 11 million received over 32.7 million international arrivals compared to 31.3 million in 2019 Credit ratings agency Fitch expects this figure to reach 34.5 million in 2024 While most visitors tend to make a beeline for antiquity-rich Athens That’s not to say you shouldn’t visit this much-loved trio There are simply better ways to go about it I’d recommend avoiding the peak summer crush You won’t enjoy sweating your way between ancient sites in the city or jostling for elbow room to capture a photo of Santorini’s famed sunsets it’s worth giving these destinations a breather You’ll have a better time and everyone who makes up the tourism industry from hoteliers to restaurant staff and shopkeepers planning a trip during shoulder seasons translates to a longer season This results in additional income for hospitality industry employees and the small and medium-size businesses that constitute the bulk of Greece’s tourism sector countless island and mainland destinations see fewer visitors and need vital tourist dollars including foodie favorite Lesvos and stunning Thassos in the lesser-visited North Aegean as well as the mountain villages of Epirus in northwestern Greece You’ll discover somewhere new and simultaneously boost the local economy Here’s how to enjoy everything great about Greece without the crowds Tickets to Athens’s Acropolis Museum are five euros cheaper in the off-season But once you’ve had your fill of the center’s cultural attractions venture to lively neighborhoods a short walk or underground Attiko Metro ride away and you’re likely to see few gather your crew for a game of volleyball on the sand the twinkle of super-yacht lights illuminate the natural harbor dotted with upscale fish restaurants and café-bars with its imposing marble columns and numerous sculptures While Athens has seen its fair share of Michelin debuts in recent years, one newcomer is quietly crafting culinary miracles in the shade of the Parthenon. Makris Athens’s low-profile chef Petros Dimas who has worked alongside the U.K.’s Jason Atherton this dining spot deserves a place in the gourmet galaxy It’s situated close to pedestrianized Adrianou Street which links several ancient sites and heaves with visitors between April and October but stepping inside feels like a secret serene escape The menu looks to the Ionian island of Corfu for inspiration Dimas doesn’t shy away from bold flavors or criticism “I want diners to say ‘I like it’ or ‘I don’t’,” he says “I like to play around with acidity and intensity and push them to their limits.” He uses Greek ingredients almost exclusively sourcing produce from his father’s farm in ancient Corinth and piquant olive oil from ancient Olympia book the private dining room; its glass floor reveals ancient finds Greece has no shortage of stunning beaches and they haven’t all been Instagrammed to death Santorini is a must-see and Mykonos is always big fun but there are plenty of islands worth exploring beyond these Hellenic poster children While Milos has soared in popularity in recent years thanks mostly to Sarakiniko whose moon-like landscape and deep blue waters make for an irresistible Insta-backdrop Santorini’s Cycladic sister is considerably less busy Some of my most beloved beaches are on Milos among them secluded Gerondas in the southwest part of the island Mina Agnos, cofounder and president of luxury Greek travel experts Travelive, recommends staying at Melian Boutique Hotel and Spa, a favorite among her clients, or Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel or RIB to visit the Kleftiko and Sykia sea caves and nearby Poliegos islet where you can swim in ultramarine waters,” she says Agnos recommends Opsidianos in the port town of Adamas for a wide variety of handmade jewelry and Milos Sand Gallery in the atmospheric hilltop capital Plaka for its fascinating sand exhibits and one-of-a-kind memorabilia Understated Syros couldn’t be more different than outlandish Mykonos. But if you’re looking to live the slow island life and appreciate history, walk this way. Immerse yourself in the 19th-century grandeur of Syros’s capital Ermoupolis, whose stately town hall is a work of art. Wander among graceful neoclassical sea captains’ mansions in the aristocratic Vaporia neighborhood, where the Apollon Theater hosts the International Festival of the Aegean in July and opera productions such as Donizetti’s Don Pasquale You’lll eat well on lesser-known Zakynthos From Tinos to Zakynthos and Kefalonia to Sifnos chefs raise the bar of Greek island cuisine by preserving long-held family traditions and reimagining local recipes The Ionian island of Zakynthos is best known for its picture-perfect Shipwreck Beach, which remains closed to the public following a landslide. But it’s also a food lover’s dream come true. Rubys Sakis Kandilas, CEO of Explore Zakynthos and a licensed tour guide which he says is one of the island’s oldest and best fish restaurants situated on the azure bay of the same name moor up at the floating pier and prepare for a feast of locally caught ranging from red mullet and common dentex to goldblotch grouper you’ll find vintage family-run tavernas that operate on generators They’re not hooked up to the power grid because they are located within a marine park “They bake bread in a wood-fired oven and serve it with olive oil of their own production I also love the traditional Zakynthian dish rabbit stifado with ladotiri cheese,” Kandilas says Kefalonia is known for hearty homestyle meat pies and family-run taverna Makis AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC officiated at the Great Vespers which took place at the magnificent and historic Holy Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Ermoupolis and was joined by the Holy Clergy of Syros in the presence of Cycladic Parliamentarians Mr the newly elected Mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis the Commander of the 6th Coast Guard District the Commander of the Merchant Marine Academy the Commanders of the Naval Base in Syros and the National Guard Battalion of Ermoupolis who remained throughout the Feast Day Service referring to one of the phrases of the Dismissal Hymn of Saint Nicholas “You acquired treasure in heaven for being poor” because poverty is not the lack of money but the emptying and giving of ourselves to our fellow man while wealth is the gifts and virtues of each person an inalienable wealth that follows man beyond the grave and made him a glorious and well-known Saint throughout the entire world and these virtues he invites us to acquire so that we can radiate the light and love of Christ in society!” Metropolitan Dorotheos congratulated the present Students of the Merchant Marine Academy of Syros for their presence their kindness and culture and encouraged them in difficult times which they will face on the bridges of their ships and their lives to always turn their thoughts and prayers to Saint Nicholas to seek his help and to be sure that he will be with them on the same “watch” He also thanked and congratulated the Priests of the Church Archimandrite Benedict Fragogiannis and Father Loukas Vassalos and helpers for the preparation of the Feast Day celebrations as well as the Regional Television Station “Syros TV1” The position of Master of Ceremonies was successfully performed by the Hierarchical Vicar of Syros A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated yesterday morning at the historic and magnificent Cathedral of St with the liturgical participation of the Vicars of Syros Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Mr and high-profile figures from the political world of the island and Greece Metropolitan Dorotheos II referred to a wholesome human whose main characteristic is peace; peace with God He stressed that Saint Nicholas was a model of a wholesome man The saint managed to overcome his human weaknesses and passions and to rise with the wings of faith and love from the “prison” of his inner fears and worries towards the sky Just like the mythical character Daedalus flew high from his prison with his wax wings urging the attendees to approach their individual wholesomeness with faith a solemn procession of the holy icon and the sacred fragment from the relics of Saint Nicholas was held It was carried on the shoulders of students of the Merchant Marine Academy of Syros and men of the Coast Guard accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved on October 4th the canonization of Eldress Sophia Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled by air to Antalya the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelVacationing Solo? Travelers Voted These 4 European Cities Most WelcomingByRebecca Ann Hughes Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 06:00am ESTShareSaveCommentTo avoid the common pitfalls of feeling lonely or intimidated when traveling by yourself More some of Europe's most welcoming cities to your itinerary Solo travel is becoming ever more popular in 2024 and the right destination can make a vacation alone become the experience of a lifetime Europe is the ideal place to try out a journey on your own thanks to safe and reliable rail networks walkable town centers and plenty of group accommodation where you can make friends To avoid the common pitfalls of feeling lonely or intimidated when traveling by yourself try adding some of Europe's most welcoming cities to your itinerary accommodation booking platform Booking.com uses millions of verified customer reviews to establish a ranking of the friendliest places in the world Here are the four European cities that made the top ten for 2024 and why you should visit this year Ermoupoli is Europe’s most welcoming city according to Booking.com and the second in the world Ermoupoli is visually refreshing if you’ve been island hopping around the Cyclades Instead of the conventional palette of white and blue you’ll find a Venetian-influenced old town of elegant neoclassical palaces painted in pretty pastel hues At the heart of the city is the marble-clad Miaouli Square with Ermoupoli’s grand town hall replete with a 15-meter staircase the plaza is the core of the community with buzzy cafes and bars in the shade of palm trees where you’re sure to make a friend or two the city has a “friendly disposition deeply ingrained in its population” and is “recognized for its consistently excellent service and hospitality.” Solo travelers can feel safe renting a car to explore other pocket-sized villages on the island or idyllic beaches visitors can hop ferries to Piraeus and Rafina in eastern Attica Tinos and Folegandros and North Aegean islands such as Chios kitesurfing and windsurfing hotspot thanks to its location on the Atlantic Ocean so if you’re a solo traveler into watersports you’ll find a friendly and international community to welcome you here You can also join the crowds taking a leisurely cycle along the waterfront or down the River Lima The city of Viana do Castelo in northern Portugal came in third place on Booking.com’s ranking the city known as the Princess of Lima blends architectural grandeur The historic center is a fusion of Renaissance The winding streets always seem to lead you back to the Praça da República In this square you can admire the rustic 16th-century Misericórdia building and fountain as well as the Gothic Paços do Concelho (Town Hall) Take a funicular up to the majestic Santa Luzia Sanctuary—an iconic structure whose neo-Gothic splendor dominates the city skyline The city also has a notable maritime history which can be explored through attractions such as the Shipyard Museum and the Gil Eannes Grindelwald lies in the heart of the Swiss Alps at over 3,300 feet above sea level. Uzès is a dreamy town of honey-hued stone houses with pale blue shutters and leafy squares with fountains in France’s southern Provence region. The pedestrianised old town streets are lined with the 16th-century residences of merchants who made their wealth with textiles. The town’s iconic attractions include the idiosyncratic cylindrical Romanesque ‘Window Tower’ and the storybook-like Duchy Palace. Uzès is a dreamy town of honey-hued stone houses with pale blue shutters and leafy squares with ... More fountains in France’s southern Provence region. The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site With a farm-to-fork food scene, faded starlet of a main port and sleepy coves for boat adventures, it’s a wonder Syros isn’t on the mainstream map of Greek islands. Lucy Thackray discovers its low-key charms We sprinkle handfuls of fragrant rose petals over the white linen tablecloth Kostas adding a stalk or two of savoury scented oregano here and there The shade from the pergola above dapples the tablescape of aromatic flora and linen napkins as a rosé is sloshed enthusiastically into glinting glasses we turn to look at green-gold grapevines backdropped by the Mediterranean sea The faint sizzle of roasting pork dances over from a barbecue facing the elements as huge bowls of salads and hunks of salted It was dubbed thus by our hosts at Hotel Aristide a new boutique hideaway of just nine suites on the underrated As we were some of the first guests through the door they had offered our party a tour of the hotel’s kitchen farm followed by “a picnic” – an offer that never could have conjured the idyllic Run by a family of women – two sisters and their mother – it’s a passion project that was inspired when one sister spotted a beautiful but crumbling neoclassical mansion on the waterfront above Ermoupoli and a focus on things being local and sustainable swanky catering and expert cocktails – which I got in spades – but quickly discovered the hotel’s real USP: hooking up its guests with unique low-key encounters with the island’s residents Our hilltop feast had been prepared by Kostas Prekas, a foodie entrepreneur with a beautiful garden in San Michalis and a locally loved deli on Ermoupoli’s seafront We tasted wines from the island itself as well as elsewhere in Greece – Santorini and outside Athens – sheep’s cheese from local meadows and herbs and vegetables nourished by nearby soil I couldn’t understand why Syros wasn’t more visible in the brochures vision boards and Instagram feeds of Greek island fans The “Cinderella of the Cyclades” is oft skipped over by island-hoppers and destination holidaymakers alike I’d been to most of the top 10 Greek holiday destinations There are some reasons for this: its neighbours with highly developed luxury hotel and party scenes that draw Greece lovers from around the globe But Syros is only a half-hour ferry ride away from Mykonos fed by several UK flights a day – it’s also connected to Athens’ Piraeus port by ferry (taking between two and four hours Squeezed between its hedonistic beach-hol sisters tumbling down the hillside to a broad natural harbour that made this speck a centre of international trade in the mid-19th century The money from that trade gave the island’s port a ravishing neoclassical makeover that remains beautiful dove grey and pistachio green cry out for you to adopt them Many moneyed visitors have been snapping up waterfront homes here in recent years restoring them to their former glory and preserving their unique period character Set over two hills – the “Catholic hill” and the “Orthodox hill” – Ermoupoli is a real delight to potter around I trail my sunhat and a beach towel down the bleached concrete steps blue-domed Orthodox cathedral (as neatly “iced” as a fondant fancy) and past overgrown pines and fluttering laundry but there is a selection of flat stretches of waterfront on the rocks the Mediterranean has not warmed up at this point in the year – but soon find myself cooled to the core weaving a gentle breaststroke beneath pastel Lego-stacks of sleepy villas and Venetian architecture above glimmering jade – you can see any hazards or sea urchins before you leap in it’s the interiors here that put on a show: huge slabs of Greek marble (each room is named after a different type) six-foot potted ferns and striking contemporary art at every turn The best bit is sitting in the tree-shaded garden where a waterfall trickles a tune down one wall as you peruse a breakfast menu of tart yoghurt fresh fruit and more unusual Cyclades specialities – omelettes studded with fennel sausage As we quickly find on jaunts to smaller bays and pretty villages late autumn – not only are its unspoiled hills and walking trails to tiny villages and remote churches better in a cooler climate where workers and business owners decamp back to Athens or Thessaloniki like clockwork come October Coming in a cooler month, you can pick up tips on hiking routes from hosts such as Oana and family, or pour money into the local economy with a taxi or boat ride around the island. We travel to the sleepy bay of Kini, backed by a handful of charming waterfront tavernas, to hitch a ride with Syros Adventures Skimming around the northwest coast of the island past ancient piles of rock and miles of unspoiled coastline captain Nikos and guide Yannis are visibly delighted to have guests to show around Following two summers of limited pandemic tourism from outside the country as evidenced by the full-sized bottles of ouzo and Syros wine produced as if from nowhere They show us secret bays only accessed on foot or by a quick swim from a boat: Marmari simple coves with no sign of a sun lounger or beach bar the myths and legends spun by Yannis become ever more colourful Meanwhile, there are even local foodie encounters to soak up those holiday bevvies. The Aristide team hooks us up with a cooking class with Elisa Mavropoulou We assume we’re headed for a glossy test kitchen but instead find ourselves stirring and slicing in Elisa’s home under a head-spinning array of spice pots and dried herbs Elisa teaches us the secrets of proper taramasalata (no it should not be candyfloss pink); how grilled octopus is best served with cold cooked potatoes tomatoes and sea-salty samphire; the beauty of a simple parsely and garlic salad; and about the life-prolonging magic of the mountain greens found here on Syros It feels as much storytelling workshop and cultural exchange as a good old-fashioned cook-along we toast a packed island adventure with a multi-course served on the glamorous rooftop at Aristide We recline in thick-cushioned chairs in the island breeze Just that day I’d learnt about how one of my favourite ingredients are grown – seeing them emerging from the island’s rock face I’m enjoying these native buds in cocktail form italicus and brine creation that blows every dirty martini I’ve had previously out of the water but then I’d never thought much about the curiosities of the Cyclades beyond Santorini It’s possible to travel to Athens from the UK by train and ferry and catch a ferry to Patras from there before taking a bus or train on to Athens make the same journey hopping on the ferry at Venice instead Syros is accessible from Athens’ Piraeus port by ferry from where you can catch a fast ferry to Syros A stay at Hotel Aristide costs from €240 (£206) per night, including breakfast and return transfers in Syros. Excursions booked through the hotel cost from €35 per person. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_travel/in_europe/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"higher res syros.jpg","description":"Ermoupoli, the main port of Syros island","caption":"Ermoupoli, the main port of Syros island is having a moment","description":"With a farm-to-fork food scene faded starlet of a main port and sleepy coves for boat adventures it’s a wonder Syros isn’t on the mainstream map of Greek islands Lucy Thackray discovers its low-key charms cosmopolitan beaches and buildings that bear witness to the existence of a great civilization A Cycladic island that doesn’t resemble the rest here you’ll find luxurious two-storey mansions and instead of the small white-washed churches stately grand temples Syros may be in the Cyclades but it’s a league of its own Forget the small white trademark houses of the Cyclades and the small bright-white churches; here you’ll find tall two-storey mansions with blooming verandas and public buildings designed by the best architects A stroll around Ermoupolis will show you how magical the atmosphere the town’s impressive architecture creates is Start from the Miaouli Square and the Town Hall the most aristocratic neighbourhood on the island Stop at the exceptionally beautiful church of Agios Nikolaos the beach Asteria is just five minutes away and the Roman Catholic St George’s cathedral imposing guard of the island’s Catholic population Ermoupolis was an important port in the 19th and 20th century and the related history of the area can be explored in the old harbour as well as in the Industrial Museum whose exhibits include the legendary Enfield 8000 the first electric car to be produced in Greece Syros’ grandeur isn’t all concentrated in Ermoupolis Posidonia and Chroussa will also enchant you with their majestic mansions and both settlements are worth visiting sit in a shaded little café and order ice water and a traditional loukoumi (Turkish delight) from Syros Hotel Ploes: A boutique hotel housed in a restored mansion right by the sea, with a unique atmosphere and decoration. The rooms are comfortable, beautifully designed, and have views of the sea or of the town. The café’s balcony has an amazing view and there’s a cute little stone pier with sunbeds below. (2 Apollonos str, Ermoupolis 2281079360, www.hotelploes.com) Olala Brazzera Hotel: Within reach of Foinikas beach with comfortable rooms with simple décor Some of the rooms include a fully equipped kitchen (Foinikas Emily Hotel: eleven well-kept rooms, bright and fresh. They come with a mini fridge and the essentials to make coffee or tea, while at breakfast you’ll be offered homemade marmalades. The beach is steps away and is accessible to wheel-chair users (Achladi, Vari, 2281061400, www.hotelemily.gr). Anemos and Almyra: at a quiet location away from the crowds and very close to the beach. The rooms are orderly, spacious, and all have a fully equipped kitchenette (Delfini, 2281088893, www.anemos-almyra.gr). San Michali: a lovely veranda overlooking the sea, with Greek cuisine that includes dishes with international influences. Seafood, pasta, and meat both fresh and dry aged (16 Agiou Dimitriou str, Vaporia, 6976581656). Allou Gialou: the menu is mostly dominated by seafood, but you’ll also find a few casserole dishes. A very pretty veranda on the sea from where you can enjoy the sunset. (Kini beach, 2281071196). Dyo Tzitzikia st’ Armirikia: also on Kini beach, with fresh seafood and fish. They have tables on the beach in the shade of the tamarisk trees (Kini beach, 2281071151). To Limani: a typical fish tavern that specialises in open-fire grilled fish and seafood mezze (60 Ethnikis Antistaseos str, Ermoupolis, 2281085809). Plakostroto: traditional, both in style and flavours, tavern. Pork with fennel, lamb shank casserole, and other Cycladic recipes comprise the menu (Σαν Μιχάλη, 6973980248). Local products: San Michali (cheese), petrota (soft cheese) Syros sausage, louza (traditional air-dried pork, marinated in red wine and spices), loukoumia (Turkish delight), pastelaries (dried figs with walnuts), halvadopita (nougat pie), aetopita (a pie made with fish and vegetables). If you want to learn the long history of this island all you have to do is visit the most important and representative spots that show the culture and civilization of the island. Ermoupolis Town Hall: perhaps the most impressive town hall in the whole of Greece. It was built in 1876 under the supervision of Ernst Ziller and it cost around 1.300.000 drachmas. Its architecture combines three distinct styles, Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian (Miaoulis sq. Ermoupolis). Archaelogical Museum of Ermoupolis: its collection includes findings from the Prehistoric up to the Byzantine period. It was founded in 1834 and is one of the oldest museums in the country. It is housed in the impressive Town Hall, but has its own entrance (Miaouli square, Ermoupolis, 2281088487). Markos Vamvakaris Exhibition: it tells the story of the great ‘rebetis’ (rebetiko is the Greek urban popular song, especially of the poorest, that thrived in the late 19th century up to the 1950s) through his personal belongings and through a rich photographic collection (3 Ag. Sevastianou str, Ano Syros, 2281360914). Kastri & Chalandriani archaeological sites: a prehistoric settlement from the end of the Early Cycladic Period II that covers a 3,5 – 5-acre area. In the same location there is also a cemetery with about 600 tombs, and also various findings that prove how advanced pottery, stonemasonry and metallurgy were. The area is connected with the ancient Acropolis of Chalandriani, which is worth visiting, by a challenging path. Industrial Museum of Ermoupolis: Syros was a developed industrial centre in the 19th and 20th century and this long history has been preserved in the museum housed in 4 industrial buildings of the era (11 Georgiou Papandreou str, Ermoupolis, 2281084762). Apollo Theatre: designed by the Italian architect Pietro Sampo, its architecture has been influenced by four Italian theatres: the Scala di Milano, San Carlo in Naples, the academic theatre Castelfranco and Teatro della Pergola in Florence. It’s the island’s pride and joy, with good reason (Varkada sq. Ermoupolis, 2281085192). Saint George Cathedral: on the hill of Ano Syros, it was built in 1200 and is quite imposing. The complex includes the church, the bell tower, the baptistery, the sacristy, the hospitality room, the building of the Historical Archive and the Episcopal Palace. Agios Nikolaos Church: in the neighbourhood of Vaporia , the patron saint of Ermoupolis, and the most majestic church on the island, with huge marble bell towers and gates, archaic motifs, Corinthian style columns, and an impressive marble altar created by the sculptor G. Vitalis. Many donors, mostly Greek expats in Russia and shipowners from Chios living on the island, contributed to its construction. The south beaches are cosmopolitan, with umbrellas and sunbeds, and easily accessible like those of Vari, Azolimnos and Foinikas, while the beaches on the northern side or Apano Meria offer privacy – some are totally secluded – like Grammata, Gria Spilia, Aetos, Vervarousa, Lia etc. You get there by water or on trails. Foinikas: The marina that is right next to the beach gives it a cosmopolitan air. With umbrellas and sunbeds, easily accessible, and with taverns nearby. It’s ideal for fishing and speargun fishing. Galissas: one of the largest beaches on the island with lovely golden sand and nice waters. There are umbrellas and sunbeds, and there are also water sports facilities. Kini: a nice sandy beach with shallow waters, umbrellas and sunbeds, and the most beautiful sunset on the island. The local beach bars play loud music, and it mostly attracts young people and families. There are many options for coffee and food. Azolimnos: just 5 kms from Ermoupolis, it’s where the locals go for a quick dip. It’s a serviced beach with beautiful waters and there are taverns in the surrounding area. Agios Nikolaos – Asteria: not exactly a beach, more like a cement pier in Vaporia, but it’s popular because it is an easy, ideal solution for those who don’t want to leave Ermoupolis. There are sunbeds and you can have a coffee there. Achladi: the ideal choice for families with small children. Great waters, serviced, with water sports options, while it’s also good for scuba diving. Agathopes: a large, beautiful beach and one of the most popular on the island. Its shallow waters make it ideal for small children. There are taverns and cafés on the street there. In the spring, monachus monachus seals appear on the beach. Varvarousa: a beautiful beach ideal for total calm and relaxation. It’s accessible by boat from Kini or a private boat, and also via a path that starts at Delfini beach and takes about half an hour to complete. Aetos: amazing isolated beach with stunning waters that can be reached by boat or on foot. Gria Spilia: perhaps the most beautiful beach on the island with amazing crystalline waters and a small copse of trees at the back that offer shade. Accessible by water or on foot. Armeos: a lovely pebbled beach in a beautiful landscape, very popular among the nudist community. Next to the beach Galissa, connected with a path. In Syros the activities available range from water sports to hiking, and from horseback riding to wine & cheese pairing. explore the island’s nature on horseback If you have a boat license you can rent a boat on Kini beach or visiting the small islands Didimi and Strogilo A stroll around Ermoupolis is a must: the beautiful mansions marble balconies and cobbled streets make the island’s capital a big sight worth seeing Especially the area between the Town Hall and the Vaporia neighbourhood with medieval elements and amphitheatrical view of the Aegean sea Chroussa: this picturesque village surrounded by green in the south of the island with the Catholic and Orthodox churches and the grand mansions from past eras is truly beautiful Hartiana also you will travel back in time While for the gourmands there’s also the option of wine tasting and wine & cheese pairing organised by Syros Wine Trails With a friendly disposition deeply ingrained in its population Syros offers a charming alternative to the bustling tourist crowds surprised the world by securing the second spot on the prestigious list recognized for its consistently excellent service and hospitality Ermoupoli was once the commercial and industrial heart of Greece serving as the nation’s most important shipping centre in the 19th century visitors can delve into this rich past at the fascinating Industrial Museum and workshops reminiscent of its thriving past Ermoupoli boasts stunning neoclassical architecture considered one of Greece’s most impressive and explore public squares and houses adorned with intricate details History buffs will also find a haven in the Archaeological Museum housed within the Town Hall Religious landmarks like the Church of Metamorphosis Sotiros and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Kimisis Theotokou) add to the cultural and spiritual tapestry Don’t miss the Mnimeío Ethnikís Antístasis a poignant reminder of Greece’s resilience during World War II While Ermoupoli itself doesn’t have a beach Convenient public buses whisk you away to picturesque shores like Galissas where you can soak up the Aegean sun and turquoise waters Syros beckons with charming villages like Galissas boasting ancient ruins on the Agia Pakous hill Foodies will find their haven in Kini’s seafood haven while history buffs can unearth the past in Chalandriani’s archaeological sites ditch the crowds and embark on an unforgettable journey to Syros and explore the island’s hidden treasures waiting to be unveiled From enchanting seaside towns to mountain retreats the destinations on the list have been chosen for their exceptional hospitality as evidenced by more than 309 million valid reviews from Booking.com travellers In this year’s list of the ten most hospitable cities in the world The beautiful neoclassical and impressive buildings created in 1864 by the Italian architect Pietro Sambo and a miniature of the Milan Staircase the mansions on the wave in the aristocratic Vaporia district the church of the patron saint Agios Nikolaos with the characteristic blue dome and the other beautiful Orthodox and Catholic churches make Ermoupoli look like an open-air museum It should be noted that destinations are ranked by the total number of Traveler Review Award 2024 recipients The award is drawn from more than 309 million verified reviews and recognises businesses consistently providing excellent service and hospitality the most significant number of awardees came from Italy Germany (86,910) and the United Kingdom (74,754) Here are the lists of the most welcoming destinations in the world according to this year’s Booking.com awards The ten most welcoming cities in the world: READ MORE: Karpathos among the best destinations in Europe for 2024 – What the international press is writing SyrosPeeling little Ermoupolis is the capital of the Cyclades this town was partly constructed by Venetians which means it has an Italianate feel: piazzas of marble grand villas and more dusky-pink buildings jutting into the Aegean than those in classic white and blue It's about a mile and a half away from the old capital Horio and the fortress has a brilliant view all the way to the Carpathian Sea Classic white-washed Cycladic houses rise across the little hill the port was built on and peek over the sea a huge doorway to the ancient temple of Apollo which was built around 522 BC but never finished Legend has it if you stand at the doorway and make a wish you can harness the god's energy and make your wish come true IrakliaThe tiny Cycladic isle of Iraklia pokes out of the sea between Naxos and Ios most tourists don’t make it over – and so they miss out on Agios Georgios Most of the homes of the 150-strong population face the Aegean and there are a handful of seafront restaurants and bars which overlook caster-sugar-fine sand and bobbing boats IrakliaSmaller still than neighbouring Agios Georgios Panagia is a traditional town set at the foot of Papas Hill this village surrounded by farming land was Iraklia’s largest settlement its distance from the sea offering relative protection from pirates Stone-built houses still have their traditional baking ovens in the courtyards It was built by the Venetians in the 13th century on a rocky hill and the narrow cobblestone streets mean it can only be explored on foot On rooftops and terraces across the cluster of villages clever bars and interesting restaurants have sprung up yet at the heart of the action is O Drakakis an old-school café that’s been drawing locals since the 19th century there are the ruins of an old citadel and a walking route that stretches along the coast towards the village of Chrysopigi with 500 steps that spread across the scrubby cliffs to nearby village Chorio Milos, Greece: secret Greek island of the summer MilosThe capital is made up of a maze-like cluster of polished cobbled alleys Bougainvillaea climbs up the whitewashed stone walls of tavernas and cafés The only village – the eponymous Kastellorizo – is made up of a pastel swell of houses that rise from the sea Where to stay in Kastellorizo, Greece SantoriniIt's the most classic of all the classic Greek towns Santorini's cliff-hugging Oia is the sweetest spot on the island The white-washed buildings are scattered with blue dome churches and secret lanes lead off the busy main thoroughfares to uninterrupted views of the sea Evenings get busy with those seeking Santorini's famous sunsets – visit early to get the town to yourself with a clutch of friendly cafés for courgette croquettes and cocktails MykonosVenetian buildings cling to the waterfront of party island Mkyonos’s main cobblestone town white-on-white shops and restaurants lean over the water Mykonos' best restaurants, beaches, villas and bars The best Greek island hotels Why you should visit Santorini in winter The best films set in the Greek islands with vast neoclassical villas overhanging the Aegean and a church blue as agapanthus full of icons so heavy it’s as though the saints are staggering triumphantly through lava flows of molten Russian silver Everywhere on this island’s 32 square miles exist remnants of a fervent history Carved into its boulders are salutations made by ancient Greek sailors one chapel wedged into a cave was built by a fisherman saved by a giant octopus Fragile lilies bloom through sand the colour of iron On the road to San Michalis, north SyrosJenny ZarinsOn 19th-century British Admiralty maps, the letters SYROS appear bigger than GREECE Under French protection during the revolutionary war Syros welcomed merchant refugees from other isles and prospered with a bustling commercial shipyard and a population of 30,000 it is definitively a working island – independent Outdoor seating at villa Syros GK in FinikasJenny ZarinsI ask Antonis At a café on the corner of Miaouli square in the seaside capital of Ermoupoli he dissolves a white lozenge of sugar into cardamom coffee The 8am heat flickers brightly across his hands slowly swings a bag of breakfast cakes past immense palm trees towards storefronts piled with cherries and broom-cupboard-sized paper shops Antonis reminds me that there are worse things than being a Greek island simply not like any other and wholly ignored by mass tourism of the time that Greta Garbo came to visit his family and over its low glissando he remembers the way his well-to-do parents worried about what to say to the reclusive star Precisely which glasses to use for the wine Queen Victoria loved the loukoumi from here – a Turkish delight perfected in the 1700s when Syros was under the patronage of Sultan Abdul Hamid a batch flavoured lightly with rose would be dispatched to Buckingham Palace is talked of with something approaching pity as though it were some absurdly dolled-up relative Its few miles are snug on the page – the island is shaped like the UK in miniature – but the roads here can be steep and sharp clamouring with in-leaning grasses and purple flowers masking sheer drops I’ve never heard so many songbirds on the thermals Strange and unlikely butterflies that look like crumpled wads of newsprint bash into the windscreen as my car fills with dandelion spores through the open windows The crofted stone fields all around are in full beauty butter-coloured flowers blurring in great pillowy masses and sparrow hawks circling fat grouse which have black Zorro-like bands across their eyes and give an unusual call Stone building in ErmoupoliJenny ZarinsSeen from the sea spiked cliffs in ochre and beetle-blue basalt As I toil past after dawn one day on a little boat beaches appear in a striking mercury shimmer – the sand is a metallic grey (although the cove at Agathopes is golden) Some are as small as a Hyde Park bandstand Several can only be reached by boat or foot On the shore I can see yawning children making dens in mounds of dried seaweed forced out of tents early as the heat begins to descend the morning already so pink-flamingo-flaring it’s like being woken with a shout The fishing village of Kini is the prettiest rocking with tens of little vessels dedicated to St George the houses along the front strung with bikinis and beatniky signs for rooms to let Restaurants such as Allou Yialou prepare lunches of fish roasted in rosemary that taste sap-green drugging fragrance that seems to seep into the sunlight as men play board games and scooters whine down the pine-needle-carpeted sea road Olive tree at villa Syros IKJenny ZarinsDimitra Kolotoura, with her amber, almond-shaped eyes and fingers heavy with her grandmother’s onyx rings, has spent most of her life between Syros and Athens Her fashion label Zeus & Dione uses silk embroidered on Crete and Argos truly lustrous folkloric dresses constructed with the fine formality of Doric columns When we meet one late afternoon for a drink in Ermoupoli I tell her that I’m staying in a grand old merchant’s villa around the corner hovering right above the sea where the harbour sweeps towards the public lido that’s the place where we had my daughter’s christening party so cracked and old – you could see through them down to the water.’ It’s a very common phrase here Antonis is always saying it: ‘that’s the place that was built by my great-great-grandfather for his daughter’; ‘Oh Everyone seems to have a connection to each building each paint-peeled door with its knocker moulded into the shape of a refined lady’s wrist On Dimitra’s wrist is a torque shaped like the Golden Fleece that Honor Blackman might have worn playing Hera observing from Mount Olympus the deep foolishness of humans in Jason and the Argonauts Public beach at Agios Nikolaos in ErmoupoliJenny ZarinsA few doors down crammed with 78s of Donizetti and photographs of old dignitaries and legless dressing tables garlanded by tin flowers its tables overhung with bougainvillaea that blazes so scarlet the whole scene looks like a coral reef The restaurants along here are the best in town: Ousyra where the handsome chef with grill marks along his brown arms listens to Portishead while staff reverently watch him plate up snow-white anchovies and salads of wild berries as though he were a heart surgeon Kouzina – for island wine that tastes of chamomile and strawberry Jar – cocktails created from ouzo and rose water Django Gelato – where obsessive Konstantinos makes ice cream flavoured with star anise and hibiscus that sells out in 30 minutes flat Field near Ano SyrosJenny ZarinsOne Sunday a north-west wind gets up and all is very clear and blue where the islanders fled to escape Saracen pirates in 1208 building a fortified settlement on a conic hill with stones brought back from the fields Coiling cobbled alleys and stairways twist and lead nowhere seeing out the millennia buffeted by the mistral but keep thinking I can hear sandalled feet slapping just beyond – the church-like acoustics of the place make everything feel like a remembered dream I catch something wonderful and pause to take it in the distinct twang of a bouzouki so melodic it’s as if Angel Romero were playing flamenco Sticking my head through the half-open shutter of a taverna I find a crowd eating stuffed vine leaves and shreds of crusty bread Old men with their fingers laced tap booted feet smiling and showing the odd gold-capped tooth Ravishing youngmen shake great heads of black curls and raise more glasses of ouzo and raki their girlfriends rolling cigarettes and leaning woozily against their shoulders everybody swaying to a Twenties ballad that goes something like ‘I will come and wake you Pool at villa Syros GK in FinikasJenny ZarinsIt’s as if the room and town and island have been plucked out of the everyday temporal continuum and held for a while entirely in a photograph I stand there in a stupid bliss of finding myself in precisely the right place at the right time as everyone sings with tightly closed eyes seemingly to someone beloved but long lost on a distant hill the stone acres around are swooped over by skylarks and in the field that falls sheer to a drop at the end of the road come little goats with clanking bells jumping behind their shepherd from rock to rock under a sunset as vivid as a fantasy of poppies Painted doorway in ErmoupoliJenny ZarinsWhere to stay in SyrosSitting room at villa Syros CMNJenny ZarinsSYROS CMNA fully restored art-crammed 19th-century merchant’s mansion sitting on its own promontory with a dock and a deck dramatically overhanging the water the building blooms into a dreamlike yellow when illuminated in the evenings making it visible from a distance if you’re walking the coastal road through Vaporia Rooms brim with soft beds and the silver sea is just beyond the windows Price: From about £17,240 per weekSleeps: 10Telephone: +44 20 8422 4885Website: fivestargreece.com View from villa Syros GK in FinikasJenny ZarinsSYROS GK & SYROS IKThese two immaculately modernist sister properties are positioned like sentinels on a vertiginous cli above Finikas where a bakery sells cakes dripping in honey They were built by best-friend owners as a rapturous tribute to the ocean and distant islands Smooth and perfect as a nut – from its wooden garden door to its open-air cinema – IK has a saltwater pool you can roll into directly from the bedrooms a terrace slung with crocheted Tarzan ropes and the constant presence of perky birds bright as candied sweets Price: From about £7,920 per week eachSleeps: GK sleeps 10; IK sleeps 8-12Telephone: +44 20 8422 4885Website: fivestargreece.com Whitewashed houses in Ano SyrosJenny ZarinsSYROS ARThe owner of this immense jasmine-spreading house talks about her father sitting in the gardens in his dotage ‘like a buddha it has a seawater pool that stretches into the distance two private beaches and 60 acres lined with oleander and cedar There’s also a cli to observe the August meteor showers But the real lure is what cook Tereza puts on guests’ plates: rustic stews of beans and lamb; inky purple olives; feta baked until it’s a winey The best food in the Cyclades might just be served on this blossom-filled terrace Price: From about £16,660 per weekSleeps: 18Telephone: +44 20 8422 4885Website: fivestargreece.com British Airways flies from Heathrow to Athens ba.com There are domestic flights from there to Syros as well as ferry services that take two to three hours Island-hopping in the Cyclades Santorini, Folegandros and Syros: Island-hopping in the CycladesGallery16 SlidesBy Condé Nast TravellerView SlideshowThe 7 most romantic Greek islands The 7 best Greek islands for honeymoonsGallery10 SlidesBy Rachel HowardView Slideshow12 of the prettiest villages in Greece The city’s somewhat faded beauty, such as the old shipyard to one side of the harbour, is a product of the island’s prosperous industrial past. Ermoupoli was built by refugees from the 1821 Greek revolution against Turkish rule. They named it Hermoupoulis after Hermes, the god of Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Andros and Tinos – so whether you’re dining at a taverna in the capital Ermoupoli or a French bistro in Poseidonia Syros in Greece has managed to stay traditional and authentic while some of the islands surrounding it have become major tourist destinations All of this is reflected in its landscape and in its eateries Restaurants on Syros have a laid-back atmosphere and offer local wines and quality Greek cuisine But among all this tradition and nostalgia there are also a few surprises that prove Syros is forward-thinking meaning eating out on the island gives you the best of both worlds this self-styled beach bar is an open-plan The restaurant also has a well-stocked bar but if you’re ordering seafood go for a bottle of cool the location is perfect and the staff are genuinely happy to see you © Dr Wine Don’t be fooled by the name of this Ermoupoli establishment but aside from the incredible wine selection and the knowledgeable staff who live and breathe wine this is also a restaurant with some quality dishes on the menu there’s a view of the sea and the restaurant has a very modern feel to it Don’t worry if you don’t like wine – the food is enough to draw you in and there is also a good selection of beers © Milan Gonda / Alamy Stock Photo The parade seating you see outside this restaurant in central Ermoupoli often puts people off This is a no-frills restaurant that only has tables with cheap tablecloths clustered out in the pedestrian area because the place is so popular the portions are ample and it tastes of homeliness and comfort © Mazi The “secret garden” element to this restaurant tucked down an alleyway near Ermoupoli’s Miaoulis Square Foliage is draped along the arches and ceiling of this characterful restaurant and outside the tables and chairs are of the same high restaurant standard as the inside The menu is interesting and many of the dishes feature contrasting flavours even if you think it doesn’t sound right on paper Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy which is down a narrow street in the island’s capital share your dish with someone else in your party The atmosphere is easy-going and the staff can’t do enough for you If you have a food intolerance or you’re vegan All diets are catered for with the same level of attention © Perroquet Tranquille When you want a change from Greek food head to Perroquet Tranquille in Poseidonia for some French cuisine This bistro is unusual and brings a little corner of Provence to the Greek island Start your day off with a French breakfast try the charcuteries for lunch and enjoy a relaxing dinner of Mediterranean French cuisine It’s also a great opportunity to try out some good French wines This intimate French bistro is an unusual find on a Greek island Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelFive Underrated Mediterranean Islands For The Off-The-Beaten-Path TravelerByJared Ranahan Jared Ranahan is a reporter who covers travel and ecotourism.Follow AuthorJan 31 09:40am ESTShareSaveCommentThis article is more than 4 years old.The Croatian island of Mljet is renowned for its verdant forests and limestone bluffs Famed for its warm climate and spectacular natural beauty the Mediterranean Sea has no shortage of incredible destinations from the shores of Morocco to the coast of Lebanon a wealth of other destinations throughout the sea remain largely unexplored For those seeking an exclusive escape without facing massive crowds of tourists these five idyllic isles are ideal destinations The capital of Syros—known as Ermoupoli—was founded in the 1820s during the Greek War of .. Though often overshadowed by neighboring Mykonos the Greek island of Syros is a true gem of the Cyclades providing visitors with gorgeous architecture Visitors can stroll down the charming cobblestone streets of Ermoupoli and sample sugary loukomi before heading to the Archaeological Museum of Syros a fascinating collection housed in the island’s stately city hall Those seeking out a picturesque beach perfectly fit for sunbathing should head to the southern reaches of the island where Komito Beach and many other idyllic options can be found Tabarca was once home to the Mediterranean monk seal though Spain's population has since gone .. Located right off of the coast of Alicante Province this tiny isle is typically outshined by the world-famous resort destinations of Mallorca and Ibiza when it comes to Spanish island tourism After a short twenty minute boat ride from the port town of Santa Pola visitors are free to roam Tabarca’s tiny downtown and dine on fresh caldero tabarquino a local seafood stew served alongside rice and potatoes For those wishing to explore the open ocean Tabarca is a top diving and snorkeling destination that offers ample opportunity to spot native fish cephalopods and even loggerhead sea turtles exiled Sempronius Gracchus to the Kerkennah Islands as .. More punishment for his involvement in an extramarital affair A popular vacation spot for mainland Tunisians these idyllic islands served as a prominent base for the Roman Empire thousands of years ago leaving behind a treasure trove of crumbling ruins to be explored today be sure to pay a visit to the Heritage Museum for some insight into the rich culture and unique fishing traditions upheld by the modern residents of Kerkennah make the journey west to the Borj el Hissar a historic fort that was first constructed almost one thousand years ago when the island was officially designated to Turkey The Turkish Riviera is packed with a massive array of fascinating historic attractions coming equipped with its own sunken city tucked just beneath the surface of the sea Destroyed around 200 CE after a series of earthquakes the ruined houses and shipyards are some of the major attractions to be found surrounding Kekova with many tourists arriving by boat to gaze down at the once-bustling community head up to nearby Simena Kalesi on the mainland a Byzantine-era fortress that offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape The island of Saint Mary's on Mljet is home to a 12th-century monastery complex complete with its .. An idyllic island found off the coast of Dalmatia Mljet is renowned throughout the nation for its pristine national park founded back in 1960 Equipped with two stunning saltwater lakes the preserve is a popular destination for swimming while its many walking trails attract hikers and bikers all throughout the warmer months For those less inclined to exploring the great outdoors the tiny town of Polače is rife with historic ruins to explore including the Rimska Palača an ancient and surprisingly well-preserved palace built during the age of the Roman Empire Synolakis: A Tide Gauge Will Be Installed in Santorini – What He Says About the Possibility of a Major Earthquake A tide gauge will be installed next week in Santorini by Professor of Natural Disasters following the Prime Minister’s visit to the island Synolakis emphasized that tide gauges contribute to “targeted warnings” and overall safety adding that such a device should have been in place 20–30 years ago Regarding the possibility of a magnitude 6 earthquake he noted that he cannot provide precise numbers as seismic predictions are continuously revised he clarified that “this does not mean something like the 1956 earthquake will happen,” referring to the 7.5-magnitude Amorgos earthquake More than 8,900 earthquakes have been recorded in the Santorini–Amorgos area from January 26 to February 4 according to an urgent report issued by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) The report highlights that while seismic activity remains significant the overall frequency of earthquakes is showing a relative decline This trend is observed using both traditional methods and artificial intelligence-based analysis The SEAJETS group will cover the housing expenses of the medical staff in Santorini During today’s meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Santorini and in light of the recent seismic activity in the area the head of strategic planning and development at SEAJETS announced that the group will cover the housing expenses for the island’s medical staff for the current period and for the remainder of the year Another seismic tremor above 4 on the Richter scale has occurred in the broader area that has been affected by seismic activity in Santorini in recent days According to the revised data from the Geodynamic Institute with the epicenter located 21 kilometers south-southwest of Amorgos The earthquake took place at 17:16 on Friday The Mayors of the Cyclades Request Instructions from the Relevant Ministries Regarding School Operations Until February 14 In a letter to the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and the Minister of Education the Mayors of the Cyclades requested instructions for the operation of schools until February 14 as recommended by the two Committees (the Permanent Scientific Committee for Seismic Risk Assessment and Reduction of Seismic Hazard and the Permanent Scientific Committee for Monitoring the Hellenic Volcanic Arc of OASP) By decision of the Mayors of the islands of the Cyclades region almost all schools were closed during the same period due to the strong and noticeable tremors caused by the ongoing seismic activity Considering that: a) the authority of the Mayors cannot exceed the limit of three (3) days b) the seismic activity continues and has intensified combined with the adverse weather conditions affecting the Cyclades islands in recent days and c) both the educational community and parents’ associations are concerned we kindly request that you inform us whether we are allowed to make a decision to further suspend the operation of schools in our region with special attention to the students in the 3rd grade of Lyceum who will soon take national exams,” the announcement states Papazachos: Even a Stronger Tremor Would Now Have Relatively Limited Impact Professor of Geophysics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki provided an update on the geological phenomena in the Santorini region at the conclusion of a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and local authorities the seismic sequence has continued over the past four days with the same intensity experts are now “more optimistic” as the specific section of the fault which has become clearer due to denser monitoring appears to be “filling in.” This means the likelihood of a stronger tremor is steadily decreasing making such a scenario increasingly improbable He also highlighted that new seismographs are being installed in Nea Kameni with another device set to be placed in Gavrilos in the afternoon and one more in Thirasia the following day “We are dealing with three key factors regarding the sequence itself: despite appearing to subside at times The sequence has a unique mechanism driven by underground fluids causing bursts of clustered seismic activity all tremors occurred between 3:00 and 5:30 a.m. making it difficult for those present to sleep This is how things are likely to unfold in the coming period we are growing increasingly optimistic as the fault segment in question is showing more defined characteristics reducing the probability of a stronger earthquake,” Papazachos stated given the current epicenter and the fault’s characteristics even a more powerful tremor would now have relatively limited consequences for the island “The scenarios we have analyzed do not indicate any significant risk,” he reassured while also cautioning that “nature is unpredictable and surprises cannot be entirely ruled out.” we do not rely on intuition—we rely on evidence I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible,” he underlined referring to the newly installed seismographs along with colleagues from various research centers are working to improve monitoring in order to provide more reliable information I personally believe that in the coming days we will continue to operate under relatively conservative scenarios our expert committee consists of multiple specialists and as Aristotle’s principle of moderation suggests That is why national scientific committees issue measured and well-founded assessments I fully agree that the public should not be influenced by rumors,” he stressed he reassured residents that “nothing dramatic has changed we seem to be moving slightly in a positive direction but the situation will not resolve overnight conditions will continue to improve.” Funding of 3 million euros for an escape gate in southern Santorini announced by Mitsotakis During a meeting with Santorini’s local authorities the Prime Minister made a special mention of the infrastructure issues that need to be addressed both in the short and long term He announced an initial funding of 3 million euros—”we will proceed through the Ministry of National Defense for faster implementation”—to construct an escape gate in the southern part of the island Prime Minister prepares to depart the island Mitsotakis: Our Duty Is to Protect Santorini’s Reputation During a meeting with local authorities in Santorini “I am here to make it absolutely clear that the state stands by you A serious government must prepare for the worst-case scenario while hoping for the best and it is our duty to protect its reputation There needs to be a balance—we must be present and proactive rather than allowing doomsday scenarios to spread.” the Prime Minister announced a meeting next week particularly those related to preventing landslides on the slopes of the Caldera Earthquake now: 4.1 Richter with epicenter north of Anafi The Prime Minister reiterated his recommendation for calm and wished that the island would return to normalcy soon.According to reports Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the authorities of Santorini that he would put them in contact with the relevant ministries to discuss support measures He also acknowledged that there are infrastructure issues such as the problem in the Caldera due to landslides and stated that projects would be undertaken “Our priority is the safety of the residents and tourists,” the Prime Minister reportedly said Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated firefighters and EMS responders for their presence on Santorini The Prime Minister visited the mobile operational center of the Fire Department Photographic snapshots from the Prime Minister’s visit to Santorini The arrival of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Santorini is expected in a short while Accompanying him will be the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection The recordings on the seismograph in Anydros during the night According to the Geodynamic Institute’s automatic solution the epicenter was located 22 km south of Amorgos Director of Research at the Geodynamic Institute believes the ongoing seismic activity in Santorini is likely part of a seismic swarm rather than a precursor to a major earthquake “I think we are close to de-escalation it is more likely that we will continue seeing magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes rather than a larger event there is no movement toward Amorgos,” Ganas stated in an interview with OPEN TV “If we sum up the released energy over the past few days We’ve recorded 989 tremors from Friday until today and their combined energy corresponds to a 6.0-magnitude quake The president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) regarding the 5.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the island He emphasized that this tremor cannot be considered the main event “The 5.2-magnitude earthquake cannot be classified as the main one because the difference in magnitude is too small compared to other quakes in the sequence this is a positive development because it allows more energy to be released within the ongoing seismic activity which has been particularly intense since it began on Saturday,” Lekkas stated following a joint decision by local authorities “Due to the ongoing and intense seismic activity recorded in the Anydro sea area between Santorini and Amorgos to extend the closure of schools until Friday This decision is based on a careful assessment of the latest seismic data and in accordance with the Civil Protection guidelines,” the official statement reads The announcement clarifies that the closure is not due to concerns about the structural integrity of school buildings but is instead a preventive measure aimed at protecting students and avoiding overcrowding in case of a stronger earthquake The decision follows yesterday’s 5.2-magnitude quake southwest of Amorgos Professor of Natural Disasters Kostas Synolakis discussed the seismic activity around Santorini and the potential tsunami risk during an appearance on Mega’s Live News Having participated in yesterday’s emergency meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Synolakis outlined three possible scenarios for the region’s seismic activity: “We are not done with the volcano yet – it is sending us warning signals,” Synolakis cautioned Santorini residents are taking protective measures amid ongoing earthquakes placing large sandbags across from Monolithos Beach where an electric power company is located The move aims to safeguard the facility against a potential tsunami Not even earthquakes can stop real estate in Santorini’s Caldera – 150 sq.m remains at high levels despite the challenges posed by seismic activity and the skyrocketing construction costs which once operated as a restaurant under the name “Kolonaki” and is now on the market for €900,000 its current dilapidated state is far from resembling a restaurant with a view of the Caldera—instead it looks more like a ruin or shack than a functional dining space More than 7,700 earthquakes have been recorded in the Santorini-Amorgos zone between January 26 and February 4 according to an urgent announcement from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) The distribution of earthquake epicenters on February 4 was similar to that of February 3 with the majority of tremors occurring near Anydros The report warns that beyond the seismic risk the Santorini region in particular faces an increased likelihood of secondary geological hazards Amid continuous seismic tremors and a mass exodus of residents and tourists from the island animal shelter workers in Santorini are fighting their own battle to protect stray and abandoned animals cases of animal abandonment have already been observed They urge people not to leave behind their pets and call for public support in adopting displaced animals “Our shelter houses over 70 stray dogs and we are working to find them permanent homes We also care for more than 32 equines—retired horses and ducks,” said Christina Kaloudi from the Santorini Animal Welfare Association (SAWA) The Municipality of Thira declared a state of emergency The Municipality of Thira has been declared in a state of emergency by the decision of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection “By decision of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection the Municipality of Thira is declaring a state of emergency to address the urgent needs and manage the consequences arising from the seismic activity that has been occurring recently in the above area This declaration will be in effect from February 1st and will last for one month until March 1st,” the statement says New earthquake of 4 Richter A new seismic tremor of 4 Richter occurred at 13:30 with its epicenter 22 km southwest of Arkessini Kostas Papazachos: The 6.0 Richter Scenario Is Still on the Table this isn’t just a scientific issue—it’s also a human The scenario of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake cannot be ruled out there were suspicions about longer fault lengths which could have produced quakes in the 6.0 to 6.5 range as they would have had significantly worse consequences A 6.5-magnitude earthquake releases multiple times the energy of a 6.0 no—I don’t think we can dismiss the possibility of a 6.0 at all.” “It’s well known that earthquakes can cause an increase in hydrothermal activity at volcanoes was abandoned by its inhabitants in the 4th century due to intense phenomena of this kind occurring on the island volcanoes show increased activity in their hydrothermal fields But that’s one thing—an eruption is something entirely different there is no scenario where an earthquake triggers a volcanic eruption let’s put aside these Hollywood-style doomsday scenarios about a massive earthquake We’ve had plenty of quakes between 4.0 and 5.0 and we’re likely to continue seeing more of the same in the coming period.” The Two Scenarios Agreed Upon by the Seismic and Volcanic Risk Committees spoke about the two scenarios that scientists from the seismic and volcanic risk committees are converging on “Either we will continue experiencing similar tremors for several days or we will have a stronger earthquake.” Lekkas also explained that “whatever energy remains to be released will come from a section south of the Anydros fault that has not yet ruptured.” He further noted that “during the first committee meeting that estimate was revised to a maximum of 6.0.” the director of research at the Geodynamic Institute told Action24 that “the 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night injected new energy into the fault,” estimating that the seismic activity could continue for another one to two weeks A 4.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in the sea area off the coast of Amorgos “The seismic activity in Santorini continues at a particularly intense pace,” emphasized Professor of Seismology and Natural Disasters Efthymios Lekkas on SKAI radio He noted that the responsible authorities are prepared for all scenarios even the extreme one that talks about a 6-magnitude earthquake “The extreme scenario has very small chances and may cause damage to old poorly maintained houses and possibly landslides in the Caldera area,” Mr updating that the scientific committees will meet on Saturday morning to propose to the government the measures that will take effect from the following week “There are 3 scenarios at the moment The first is for us to stay at these magnitudes for a few more days or weeks The second is for us to have a larger earthquake of around 5.5 magnitude which would relieve the situation and not cause any problems on the island The third and extreme scenario is for an earthquake close to 6 magnitudes poorly maintained houses and possibly landslides in the Caldera area.” Gerasimos Papadopoulos: The 5.2 magnitude confirms that we are in a pre-seismic sequence A new strong earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 07:51 with its epicenter in the sea area north-northeast of Anafi Seismic activity continued through the night from Wednesday to Thursday in the sea area between Amorgos and Santorini According to data released by the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens six additional “minor” tremors were recorded (4.4 and 4.2 on the Richter scale) between 04:00 and 05:30 they occurred in reverse chronological order at 05:23 and 04:02 in the sea area between Amorgos and Santorini seismographs detected a “minor” earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale in the sea area west-southwest of Anafi three “minor” tremors—two of magnitude 4.1 and one of magnitude 4.0—were recorded at 01:16 according to data from the Geodynamic Institute the strongest tremor recorded so far in this ongoing unusual seismic sequence occurred in the sea area south of Amorgos again according to the Geodynamic Institute Seismologists noted earlier this week that no earthquake has been identified as the main event the nighttime earthquakes also caused disturbance on other islands which exceeded 4.0 Richter in magnitude and lasted for a significant duration forcing many to jump out of their beds in terror The Municipality of Syros – Ermoupolis has decided to suspend the operation of primary and secondary schools due to seismic activity between Thira and Amorgos Professor of Geophysics and Seismology Kostas Papazachos provided a slightly more optimistic assessment of the seismic activity in Santorini compared to previous days “We are not yet in a position to fully reassure people that the worst is over today we have a clearer picture of where the earthquakes are occurring It seems that the affected area is smaller,” he stated on Action 24 Local authorities have decided to suspend the operation of primary and secondary schools in the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades on Thursday due to ongoing seismic activity in Santorini It is also reminded that schools in the Municipality of Thira will remain closed until Friday Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) released a preliminary assessment report on the recent earthquakes in the Aegean Sea stating that seismic tremors could potentially trigger volcanic activity This is the second time AFAD has issued a statement on the earthquake sequence in the Aegean now warning that “volcanic activation is possible.” “If volcanic activity occurs in the region our country could be affected by phenomena such as the transport of fine volcanic ash particles pyroclastic flows due to the height and collapse of the volcanic column and even a tsunami triggered by an eruption or an earthquake,” the statement read AFAD also noted that a similar period of intense seismic activity was observed in the region for 14 months between 2011 and 2012 but it did not result in volcanic activity The statement concluded by emphasizing that seismic and tsunami risks in the Aegean are being closely monitored where the Aegean stretches out like an endless blue canvas Rodrigo and Leslie from Chile enjoyed a glass of wine their glasses shimmering in the sunset light they appeared completely at peace—despite the sheer drop of Santorini’s rugged cliffs just a few meters away Having arrived on the island only two days ago nothing seems to faze them—not even the recent seismic activity that has unsettled other visitors the Seismological Network of the National Observatory of Athens recorded a 4.0-magnitude earthquake The epicenter was located 13 kilometers south-southwest of Arkesini with its epicenter 15 kilometers south of Arkesini and a focal depth of 11.9 kilometers Otherworldly Scenes in Santorini: Empty Alleyways and Shuttered Shops more than 9,500 people departed via sea routes according to an announcement from the Ministry of Shipping and only a few people can be seen in open space Seismic tremors persist relentlessly in the broader Santorini island region continuously triggering landslides and raising concerns among authorities and experts where large rock sections have broken away Special crews have placed warning tapes and signs in several locations across the island The Interdisciplinary Risk and Crisis Management Committee of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) has issued an emergency announcement regarding seismic activity in the Santorini-Amorgos zone Seismic activity intensified between February 2 and the early hours of February 5 the total number of earthquakes has surpassed 6,400 with over 4,800 quakes above magnitude 1.0 and over 800 above 2.5 The number of M≥2.5 earthquakes has been increasing daily and 437 tremors between January 26 and February 3.On February 2 followed by seven on February 3 and nine on February 4 The largest earthquake recorded was M4.6 on February 2 while February 3 and 4 saw tremors reaching M4.9-5.0.In the early hours of February 5 Seismic Cluster or Foreshock Sequence?The seismic activity appears to be a seismic swarm as no single earthquake stands out as the main event.There are two possible scenarios:1️⃣ The swarm may gradually decrease in intensity and continue for months similar to the Thiva seismic swarm.2️⃣ The swarm could trigger a major rupture in a large fault While the tremors are occurring within the active South Aegean volcanic arc they are not directly linked to any known volcanic center the activity seems to have activated a normal fault system in the Anydros basin Experts are intensifying monitoring efforts with teams from the Seismology and Geophysics Labs of EKPA traveling to Ios and Santorini to install new seismographs and conduct ground deformation measurements The Ministry of Digital Governance has announced the launch of mysafetyplan.gov.gr a new digital platform designed to provide guidance and real-time information to citizens in the event of earthquakes and other natural disasters The platform was developed in collaboration with the National Observatory of Athens The Online Map of Safe Areas is designed to ensure: special attention has been given to ensuring uninterrupted telecommunications The mysafetyplan.gov.gr platform is part of a broader government strategy for disaster prevention and improved communication between authorities and citizens can save lives and minimize the impact of natural disasters Two tourists from Tokyo decided to leave the island earlier than planned due to the continuous tremors and explain their reasons to Protothema arrived on the island yesterday for a short getaway but the relentless seismic activity made them rethink their plans Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and 4.1 struck off Amorgos within five minutes (14:09 and 14:14) The epicenter was located southwest of Arkesini A meeting is currently underway at the Thira Town Hall between the Regional Governor of South Aegean As part of the precautionary measures being implemented on the island due to increased seismic activity a municipal team has placed warning tapes in certain areas of Oia to restrict access Similar measures have been taken at Skaros in Imerovigli the Municipality of Thira has issued an official announcement urging local hotel associations and all active tourist accommodations to immediately inform their guests about avoiding hazardous areas of the island (e.g. Skaros) due to the heightened seismic activity in recent days Visitors are also advised to fully comply with the guidelines issued by the municipality’s Civil Protection Department two specialized teams of structural engineers from the Technical Chamber of Greece in collaboration with the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization have begun intensive inspections of school buildings in the area today Mitsotakis: Civil Protection must become a culture “We conducted a large-scale drill in Crete—Civil Protection must become a culture so that society can handle such crises effectively I conclude with a message to our islanders: stay calm and know that assessments of the phenomenon will be made daily.” Mitsotakis: We are slightly more optimistic today the Prime Minister emphasized the methodical work of Greek scientists in analyzing the situation in Santorini over the past few days “It is the result of decades of meticulous work,” he said “We are dealing with three phenomena: the activity at Kameni which is not new; the consistent activity at the underwater Kolumbo volcano which we have been monitoring for years; and the third and most concerning Kikilias: We are obligated to prepare our scenarios The Minister of Civil Protection referred to the scenarios the state has developed to address the phenomenon between Santorini and Amorgos highlighting that a ferry is stationed in the area he expressed his gratitude to the Fire Department and the Armed Forces for their efforts Two earthquakes of 4.7 and 4.8 magnitude struck Amorgos within two minutes The seismic history of the area was presented by Evi Nomikou professor at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens she provided maps to explain how the Santorini Caldera behaves and what is happening in the underwater area between Santorini and Amorgos Papazachos: Residents will continue to feel tremors in the coming period “Residents will continue to feel tremors in the coming period The situation seems to be heading toward a better scenario regarding seismic activity.” presented maps and graphs showcasing the current seismic activity comparing data from the periods 2011–2012 and 2024–2025 Papanikolaou: The Maximum Earthquake Expected in Santorini Is 6.0 Richter Speaking about the ongoing seismic activity around Santorini in recent days Emeritus Professor of Geology and former president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) “We do not expect any impact on the three islands of Amorgos where residents feel the tremors much more intensely The orientation of the faults is such that the shaking is amplified for them yet Santorini suffered massive destruction The fault’s direction funneled the seismic energy toward the island the current situation is in no way comparable to what happened back then,” Papanikolaou emphasized 120 Million Tons of Water Affected by Seismic Activity Initial estimates from the National Technical University of Athens indicate that water turbidity in the hydrothermal field at a depth of 500 meters—extending up to the first 100 meters—has increased by 25% likely due to intense activity and sediment stirring Water temperatures previously recorded only near the hydrothermal vents at 500 meters depth were also detected at 400 meters on Sunday Tselentis Insists: A 5-Richter Quake Doesn’t Release the Fault’s Energy Seismologist Akis Tselentis offered a different assessment regarding the course of earthquakes in Santorini on Wednesday afternoon He argued that a 5.0-magnitude earthquake or multiple 4.0-magnitude tremors are not enough to release the fault’s energy “the phenomenon is ongoing with foreshock characteristics.” “MySaFeTyPlan” – The New Platform with Shelters for Earthquakes the MySaFeTyPlan application from the Ministry of Digital Governance is available to internet users The platform indicates open spaces across the country where residents can find a safe shelter in case of natural disasters Due to the high risk posed by continuous seismic tremors authorities have cordoned off certain alleyways on the island with tape the Mayor of Thira’s Announcement on Seismic Activity Nikos Zorzos’ statements will take place at the island’s town hall 59-Year-Old Arrested in Santorini for Attempting to Break Into a Bus with an Axe A 59-year-old foreign national was arrested yesterday afternoon by officers of the Thira Police Department The suspect faces charges of attempted theft and illegal residence in the country with a case file being compiled against him the 59-year-old attempted to break into a bus forcing him to flee before completing the act Kostopoulos: We could see magma rising in the event of a 6.0 to 7.0 magnitude earthquake Seismic activity in the Aegean remains relentless with tremors occurring one after another in recent hours A fresh 4.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Amorgos on Wednesday morning the meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias along with professors Lekkas and Papazachos who is conducting measurements on volcanic activity broader measures are expected to be announced while the overall situation regarding the operation of schools and public services will also be assessed as the current restrictions are set to expire on Friday A 4.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 10:00 PM by the seismological network of the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens Local municipal authorities have decided to suspend school operations on several Cycladic islands due to the ongoing seismic activity in Santorini will remain closed in the municipalities of Mykonos schools in Patmos and Leros will also be closed on Wednesday The morning routes of Blue Star 1 to the Cyclades on Wednesday have been canceled due to severe weather conditions Services will resume once weather conditions improve The Athens Municipality has mobilized to support Cyclades residents affected by the intense seismic activity in their region the municipality has opened the Agios Pavlos Friendship Club (Mamouri 22 & Dymis) to provide shelter for those forced to evacuate their homes The facility will remain open as long as needed Residents in need can call the Athens Municipality’s 24-hour helpline at 1595 for more information before arriving The Municipality of Athens has mobilized in support of Cyclades residents following the intense seismic activity in the region the municipality has immediately opened the Agios Pavlos Friendship Club (Mamouri 22 & Dymis) to provide shelter for individuals forced to evacuate their homes The facility will remain open for as long as necessary Residents seeking assistance are encouraged to contact the 24-hour Athens Municipality helpline at 1595 for more information and guidance before arriving at the Friendship Club located about 20 kilometers from the epicenter of the ongoing seismic activity remain composed despite their concerns over the continuous rumbling the island did not suffer significant damage Thousands of people have left Santorini following the relentless seismic activity on and around the island most of those departing are seasonal workers many are leaving with their belongings and pets Emeritus Professor of Geology Dimitris Papanikolaou has warned about the potential dangers facing buildings in Santorini in the event of a strong earthquake Oia is particularly vulnerable as it is closer to the epicenters of the seismic tremors while the southern part of the island sits on more compact and cohesive limestone and marble This means the impact of an earthquake would vary with the greatest risk being for homes that boast breathtaking views but are also perched on unstable slopes along the Caldera.” “No matter how well these homes have been built they still rest on an unstable foundation at the edge of the Caldera A 5.5 or 6.0 magnitude earthquake could dislodge parts of the rock formations We already saw this with a 4.5 magnitude quake which caused rockfalls and soil displacement along Santorini’s cliffs properly constructed buildings are not likely to suffer damage,” Papanikolaou told MEGA Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Vroutsis has recommended the suspension of all sports activities on the islands of Santorini following guidance from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection due to continued seismic activity in the region In a letter addressed to all sports federations Vroutsis specifically urged the suspension of games and training “Considering the announcements from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection regarding the increased seismic activity in the sea area between Santorini and Amorgos and the preventive measures already in place we strongly advise sports federations and clubs to suspend their activities (training Similar precautionary measures should also be considered for other Cycladic islands.” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to visit the Civil Protection headquarters at 1:00 PM on Wednesday (Feb 5) to receive an update on the ongoing situation in Santorini Following a recommendation from Minister Vasilis Kikilias and Evi Nomikou—will present their assessment of the seismic activity The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement afterward All schools in Leros will remain closed from Wednesday the operation of all educational institutions This decision was made with the safety of our students in mind due to the ongoing seismic tremors along the Santorini-Amorgos fault line,” the announcement states and it’s exhausting to live like this for days,” say residents and workers in Leros In the waiting lounge at Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) tourists preparing to fly to Santorini express mixed feelings about the situation says that earthquakes are nothing new for her but acknowledges the unease caused by the continuous tremors in Greece local passengers discuss the relentless seismic activity and the low it doesn’t make it any less terrifying,” they say Walking through the narrow streets of Fira the scene is reminiscent of pandemic times—only a handful of open shops checking for updates on the earthquake sequence I sleep in my yard now—better in my car than waking up in my bed in fear,” says one local resident who has lived and worked on the island for almost a decade You barely sleep two or three hours.” This period of the year usually marks the beginning of preparations for the upcoming tourist season Many business owners and workers have already arrived on the island to set up for March Matthaios wonders whether this seismic crisis will affect tourism and whether authorities have the proper equipment to monitor the situation I don’t know if they have the right tools to evaluate what’s happening,” he adds Sitting in a private van near the exit of Fira Fragoulis hold shopping bags filled with fresh greens They usually spend summers on Thirasia and winters in Santorini “I lived through the 1956 earthquake in a cave house in Thirasia,” Mr Coast Guard officers begin organizing vehicles for departure on the Blue Star 1 ferry I hope everything turns out okay,” he says a magnitude 5 earthquake—the strongest yet—strikes the island This is what we’ve been feeling nonstop,” exclaims Flora Karamolegkou explains her decision to leave:“Even though I work here and my daughter was worried about me getting trapped it’s more frightening than being in mainland Greece where quakes happen far away the Blue Star 1 departs for Piraeus with 1,150 passengers—locals and workers some of whom have spent their entire lives on the island The Municipality of Thira has issued a public advisory urging hotel associations and hospitality providers to inform tourists about the ongoing seismic activity on Santorini accommodation owners are asked to warn visitors to avoid dangerous locations a popular but hazardous spot for photography the municipality has released safety instructions for tourists in light of the recent earthquake swarm including information on designated evacuation zones in case of a major quake The Thira Civil Protection Office has designated and marked evacuation areas across Santorini: more than 11,000 people have left Santorini due to concerns over seismic activity Significant unrest has also been reported on Amorgos where continued seismic tremors have caused concern among locals The strongest earthquake since Saturday’s onset struck at 5.0 magnitude on Tuesday afternoon with an epicenter south-southwest of Arkesini and a depth of 13.2 km prompting many residents to leave their homes Reports indicate that people have moved to the mountains sleeping in cars and higher-altitude areas to avoid potential aftershocks (source: CycladesLive.gr) Authorities continue to monitor the situation as seismic activity persists across the region “The 5.0-Magnitude Earthquake Is Too Small to Be the Main One in Santorini,” Says Efthymios Lekkas Professor of Geology and Natural Disaster Management spoke about the ongoing seismic activity between Santorini and Amorgos the 5.0-magnitude earthquake that struck on Tuesday afternoon and was felt even in Attica is too small to be considered the main event “A 5.0 earthquake is too small to be the main one I would have preferred a 5.5-magnitude quake that wouldn’t cause significant impact Such an event might indicate the main earthquake and mark the beginning of the seismic activity’s decline,” Lekkas told MEGA He further explained that the variations in seismic activity since it began three days ago are minimal when frequency increases and then decreases but there haven’t been major changes The only notable difference was today’s 5.0 earthquake,” he noted NKUA: Over 2,500 earthquakes from June to February 1st—More than 1,200 in just three days The seismic activity in the region is being monitored by the Seismology Laboratory of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) which stated in an announcement that from June 2024 to February 1 with 1,200 of them happening within just three days a total of 43 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher were recorded The largest quakes occurred on February 3 at 14:17:41 and February 4 at 04:46:07 The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens through the Seismology Laboratory of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment is monitoring in real time the evolution of seismic activity in the volcanic complex of Santorini microseismic activity began to appear within the Santorini Caldera This marks the first significant microseismic activity inside the Caldera since the 2011–2012 period the NKUA Seismology Laboratory has maintained permanent seismological stations on Santorini since 2011 the area around the Kolumbo submarine volcano has consistently exhibited higher seismic activity over time Microseismic epicenters in Santorini were primarily located around Nea Kameni and the broader Imerovigli–Fira area following the “Kameni Line” in a northeast–southwest direction microseismic activity was also observed east of Kolumbo advanced machine-learning methods detected more than 1,200 earthquakes in the Santorini–Kolumbo region The largest one occurred on January 25 at 08:57:25 (Greece time) near the southeastern shores of Thirasia a new cluster of earthquakes emerged east of the Kolumbo volcano over 1,300 earthquakes had been identified using machine-learning techniques marking an unusually high rate of seismic activity particularly for earthquakes larger than 4.0 in magnitude The seismic activity has since spread to the area around the islet of Anydros According to NKUA’s daily analysis of seismic data a total of 43 earthquakes of 4.0 magnitude or greater were recorded The two largest events occurred on February 3 at 14:17:41 and February 4 at 04:46:07 part of the Unified National Seismograph Network (UNSN) in which the NKUA Seismology Laboratory participates is being further strengthened with new instruments both on Santorini and surrounding islands As part of a multi-parameter monitoring approach for Santorini’s volcanic region particular attention is being given to ground deformation studies and their correlation with seismic activity the NKUA Geophysics Laboratory has maintained a permanent GNSS/GPS geodetic station in Imerovigli (station SANT) while a non-permanent GPS network has been periodically remeasured at 21 locations across Thira Daily data processing from the SANT station has revealed changes in the region’s kinematic behavior since August 2024 horizontal ground velocity vectors reflected the region’s broader tectonic motion (southeast relative to ITRF2014) with the horizontal vector rotating to an east-northeast direction and simultaneous uplift occurring at a rate comparable to that of 2011–2012 A new remeasurement of the GPS network will be conducted to improve spatial analysis of ground movement and accurately map deformation across the Thira–Thirasia area with a focus on its connection to the two volcanic centers: Nea Kameni and Kolumbo The pattern of seismic activity between Santorini and Amorgos—characterized by an increasing number of earthquakes of 4.0 magnitude or greater—may exhibit characteristics of an earthquake swarm (a series of similar-sized quakes) it cannot be ruled out that this activity could be part of a foreshock sequence in collaboration with relevant authorities as well as other Greek institutes and universities continues to closely monitor the phenomenon analyzing real-time seismic station data using innovative analytical tools A new earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was recorded 22 km south-southwest of Arkesini just minutes before the 3.7 Richter tremor Hatzimarkos: There Is No Wave of Tourist Cancellations Between 5,000 and 6,000 people have left Santorini estimates the Governor of the South Aegean Hatzimarkos stated that the recent seismic activity in the Cyclades is an extremely rare phenomenon and one of the most challenging seismic sequences they have encountered in their careers Hatzimarkos emphasized that the top priority at the moment is the protection and safety of residents as well as ensuring that the state apparatus is on high alert our team working on tourism is closely monitoring developments on that front as well because economic trends always play a crucial role in shaping the quality of life in any place or country there has been absolutely no wave of cancellations There is no indication whatsoever of any negative impact on tourism we conduct a thorough scan across all online booking platforms as well as through organized tour operators with contracts on the island the balance was actually positive—meaning that bookings have increased rather than decreased,” he said The governor reassured that continuous meetings are being held with all parties involved in the response efforts at a precautionary level he clarified that there is no evacuation plan in place “There are officially approved plans with designated names These are operational plans—Talos 2 and Enceladus 2—which include preparatory stages Neither of these plans includes evacuation nor could Enceladus 2 involve an evacuation because that would imply predicting an earthquake in advance And predicting earthquakes is simply not possible,” Mr Zelilidis (Professor of Geology): I Believe the Rising Magma Is Causing the Earthquakes The ongoing seismic sequence in the Cyclades is linked to volcanic activity according to Professor of Geology at the University of Patras Explaining the geological process in detail Professor Zelilidis stated:“As Africa subducts beneath Europe along an arc that runs south of Crete This process creates a corresponding arc—the volcanic arc—that extends from Methana to Milos it is well known that these volcanoes are active but we consider the volcanic arc to be active the other volcanoes could also be reactivated.” New video from yesterday’s landslides at Vlychada Beach in Santorini New landslide after seismic tremor in Firostefani Deputy Minister of Shipping: No Increase in Ferry Ticket Prices “There are preparatory measures that are implemented when such a phenomenon occurs and all services have declared their readiness in case of an incident Everyone is prepared,” stated Deputy Minister of Shipping Stefanos Gikas on ERTNews denying allegations of ferry ticket price hikes due to increased demand There has been no increase in ferry ticket prices Not a single cent has been added to ticket prices Speaking to journalists Giorgos Siadimas and Stella Papamichail he emphasized that there is direct communication with ferry companies and the Passenger Shipping Companies Association to arrange additional routes Regarding the operational plans in place (Talos Enceladus) for responding to a potential seismic event he stated that “there is a list of larger passenger ships that will be activated if evacuation is required,” though he hopes it won’t come to that the state is here to assist.” He also noted that current attention is focused on Santorini while stressing that preparedness extends across all of the Cyclades as well as the Dodecanese Four earthquakes of 4 Richter and above in 15 minutes Four earthquakes measuring 4 Richter and above were recorded within 15 minutes on Amorgos The strongest one had a magnitude of 4.6 Richter Tselentis: The most likely scenario is that the main earthquake will occur soon Four earthquakes over 4 Richter in one hour Papazachos: The seismic sequence indicates the arrival of a stronger tremor described the seismic sequence between Santorini and Amorgos as “difficult.” It is unprecedented for the conditions in Greece “Unprecedented because there is no main earthquake.” the seismic sequence indicates the arrival of a stronger tremor From Santorini to AthensAegean informs that on Monday it operated a total of 9 flights from Santorini to Athens transporting a total of 1,294 passengers from the island to Athens with a total seating capacity of over 1,400 seats there are still available seats on at least 2 of today’s emergency flights from Santorini to Athens approximately 2,500-2,700 passengers will have been transferred from Santorini to Athens the airplanes are arriving in Santorini with very few passengers while the flights from Santorini are departing full The fares for the seats offered on all the additional emergency flights operated yesterday and today range between 55-65 euros (including VAT and 22 euros in airport taxes from Santorini to Athens) additional emergency flights will be added for Wednesday ?AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris https://t.co/bzQ3nQxe9T pic.twitter.com/Pix9NmOgIl Approximately 9,000 people have left Santorini – Scenes from the port chaos prevailed at the island’s port as many families waited to board the ferry to Piraeus The ships Kissamos and Blue Star Paros operated emergency routes over 9,000 people—both residents and tourists—have left the island The scene at Santorini’s port at dawn was striking with dozens of families preparing to board the scheduled ferry Six earthquakes in 50′ this morning in Amorgos and AnafiSix earthquakes occurred between 6:15 and 7:05 in the morning in Amorgos and Anafi Three New Earthquakes Follow the 4.6 Magnitude Quake in Amorgos Shortly after the 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Amorgos at 19:44 three more tremors were recorded in the wider area within 20 minutes followed by a 2.7 magnitude quake at 20:09 and another 3.4 magnitude tremor two minutes later Erdogan: Earthquakes in Greece Highlight the Importance of State Readiness Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also commented on the intense seismic activity in Greece in recent days referencing the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria two years ago to emphasize the importance of proper preparedness Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: Yunanistan tarafındaki sarsıntılar hem yaptığımız çalışmaların değerini hem de depreme hazırlığın ülkemiz için bir beka meselesi olduğunu hatırlatmaktadır. pic.twitter.com/Ve5tLYedXe Earthquake of 4.5 Magnitude off the Coast of Karapathos A 4.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 19:44 approximately 63 kilometers west-northwest of Olympos according to the automatic solution from the Geodynamic Institute “Seismic activity remains intense today with several significant tremors ranging between 4.0 and 5.0 in magnitude These are earthquakes that are strongly felt by the island’s residents and this activity is now shifting northeastward closer to Amorgos,” stated Efthymios Lekkas president of the Greek Organization for Earthquake Planning and Protection (OASP) “It appears that faults are being activated but they are not related to the fault responsible for the 1956 major earthquake That particular fault released a vast amount of energy back then and would take thousands of years to recharge enough to produce another large earthquake what we are seeing now is the activation of smaller faults to the northwest of the Amorgos fault,” he added He further emphasized:“The fact that the activity is shifting toward Amorgos is a positive factor Santorini is particularly vulnerable compared to Amorgos Amorgos consists mostly of rocky formations If these epicenters were closer to Santorini as the island has completely different geological and structural characteristics.” “Another positive aspect—something we analyzed in the Committee—is that this current seismic activity has no connection whatsoever with the ongoing seismo-volcanic processes in the Caldera or the Kolumbo submarine volcano Blue Star Patmos to Arrive in Santorini at 5:30 AM from Kastelorizo Panoramic Images Show Long Car Queues Heading to Santorini’s Port Continuous Monitoring of the Kolumbo Submarine Volcano Near SantoriniScientists are closely observing Nea Kameni and the Kolumbo underwater volcano amidst the recent surge in seismic activity in the region “We are closely monitoring the ongoing seismic activity in Santorini and we are in contact with relevant authorities and scientists,” emphasized SYRIZA’s sector heads they stated:“The mobilization and reinforcement of the state mechanism at all levels are critical and urgent We urge citizens to remain calm and follow the authorities’ instructions Once the phenomenon subsides—hopefully soon—we will discuss in detail prevention measures According to a post by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center Santorini has experienced a significant increase in seismic activity since January 28 Since January 28th, the island of Santorini has experienced a significant increase in seismic activity. More than 555 earthquakes with magnitudes up to 5 have been recorded. These earthquakes are concentrated about 25 kilometers northeast of Santorini. pic.twitter.com/DZXH0QVpkw These earthquakes are concentrated approximately 25 kilometers northeast of Santorini,” the center reported accompanied by a graph illustrating the seismic events We Won’t See an Earthquake Like the One in 1956 “The seismic activity currently developing near Amorgos will last from a few days to weeks It takes thousands of years for the fault to fully recharge It will not produce large-magnitude earthquakes We may see magnitudes above 5 on the Richter scale but there is no need for panic—we will not experience an earthquake like the one in 1956,” emphasized the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) he acknowledged the risk but assured that it would be small Due to the increased seismic activity in the offshore area of Anydros the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) convened another joint meeting today at noon The meeting brought together the two scientific committees: the Permanent Scientific Committee for Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation and the Permanent Scientific Committee for Monitoring the Hellenic Volcanic Arc The meeting took place at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection with the participation of Minister Vasilis Kikilias Secretary-General for Civil Protection Vasilis Papageorgiou and representatives of the Fire Department leadership After thoroughly analyzing all available data the committees unanimously concluded that: The committees will meet again on Wednesday, February 5, at 08:00. For further information on earthquake protection measures, citizens can visit the websites of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (www.oasp.gr) and the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr) No member of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN) has increased ferry ticket prices due to the increased traffic at the port of Santorini which has been caused by ongoing seismic activity in a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) emphasized that in response to the intense seismic activity on the island of Santorini the ferry companies that are members of the Association are supporting the residents by facilitating transportation He also stressed that no member of the association has made any changes to ticket fares A new 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 13:52 offshore Amorgos according to the revised report from the Geodynamic Institute Vassilis Kikilias highlighted the full preparedness of the state mechanism to monitor the intense seismic activity in Santorini while speaking in the Greek Parliament The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection emphasized that all measures taken so far “are preventive.” He further stated “I have been reserved in my statements regarding ministry matters that involve crises and all relevant agencies have done everything necessary on the ground The earthquake risk assessment committee convenes daily We trust the scientists closely monitoring the prolonged seismic activity the emergency number 112 was activated for Santorini and nearby islands due to minor landslides We will continue to observe how the phenomenon evolves All measures taken so far are preventive.” The relevant ministries are investigating complaints about increased airfare prices from Santorini according to Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Vassilis Oikonomou “If there is profiteering and some are trying to exploit the situation (i.e. increased demand due to seismic activity) to gain excessive profits beyond what is legally allowed they should be careful,” Oikonomou stated “We will coordinate with the Ministry of Development (responsible for price regulation) to restrict or completely eliminate such tendencies and behaviors.” and cables transported by HEDNO (Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator) trucks have arrived in Santorini to ensure the authorities are prepared to supply electricity to the island in case of a blackout Local authorities remain in constant communication with experts while seismologists closely monitor activity in the area SKY Express has responded to the current situation in Santorini by adding two emergency flights today and two more tomorrow to and from the island facilitating the movement of residents and visitors Regularly scheduled flights to and from Santorini continue as planned A new 4.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 15:05 offshore Amorgos ATTICA GROUP has scheduled an emergency ferry route to Santorini using the passenger-vehicle ferry Kissamos which normally operates on the Heraklion–Piraeus route it will make a detour to Santorini’s port The ferry departs from Heraklion at 21:00 and is expected to arrive in Santorini at 01:00 AM on Tuesday Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos reiterated in a social media post that the earthquakes occurring between Santorini and Amorgos are of tectonic origin “One of the scientific proofs comes from the fault mechanisms of the strongest earthquakes All but one indicate an identical rupture direction (NE-SW) precisely matching the direction of the main active fault in the region,” he explained New landslide in the bay of Athinios in Santorini Synolakis: One possible scenario is that the seismic activity originates from a volcano “There are three different possibilities Professor of Natural Disasters at the Technical University of Crete and academician His remarks came in response to the dozens of new seismic tremors recorded overnight in the underwater area between Santorini and Amorgos “One possibility is that a fault has been activated something similar to the fault that caused the major earthquake of 1956—essentially a continuation of that fault That earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.5 I don’t think anyone expects it to be that strong The second scenario is that the volcanic system within Santorini’s caldera has been activated The third scenario involves an underwater volcano called Kolumbo which is located slightly north of Santorini about 5 to 8 kilometers from its northern tip That is where the underwater Kolumbo volcano is situated These are the three scenarios and their potential consequences which are currently under examination in the area.” The meeting of the Earthquake Risk Assessment and Monitoring Committees of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc with the presence of Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection The meeting is discussing the increased seismic activity in the marine area between Santorini and Amorgos The first warned the residents of Santorini about the risk of landslides emphasizing that access is prohibited to the areas of Ammoudi The second message warned of prolonged seismic activity in the broader area of Ios Video and photos of landslides in Athinios Bay Mitsotakis: We are managing an intense phenomenon – Islanders should remain calm Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the seismic activity occurring in the Santorini region when asked about it upon his arrival at the European Council Summit in Brussels “We are dealing with a very intense geological phenomenon I want to ask the islanders to remain calm and to follow the instructions of Civil Protection,” the prime minister said “I have requested the relevant ministry to provide a scientific presentation on the phenomenon in the coming days so that everyone understands what we are facing.” Panic in the Alleyways After the 112 Alert Panic broke out in the alleyways of Santorini following the 112 emergency alert announcing restricted access to three areas Both locals and tourists rushed out of their homes in terror as soon as they received the message they said they were not used to receiving alerts from 112 Santorini Engineers Recommend Halting Construction Work on the Island The Association of Engineers of the Thira Province has issued a statement recommending the suspension of all construction work across the province for as long as the increased seismic activity persists the recent earthquake activity further heightens the already elevated risk in all construction sites and in similar settings poses a serious danger to workers during an earthquake they strongly advise halting such activities at this time Skordilis: We don’t know if we are at the peak of seismic activity The intense seismic activity observed in Santorini over the past few days is extremely serious said Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki He noted that the activity has occurred in an area where earthquakes exceeding 7.0 Richter have taken place in the past with a notable example being the 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Amorgos on July 9 Speaking to the radio station of the Athens-Macedonian News Agency “Praktoreio 104.9 FM,” Skordilis pointed out that public concern is understandable as hundreds of tremors have been recorded in the region over the last 48 hours “It seems that a seismic fault has been activated capable of producing an earthquake above 6.0 Richter The activity has been persistent and intense for two days but what is concerning is that the affected area is large and has a history of strong earthquakes,” the professor explained seismologists cannot yet rule out an adverse development or confirm that one of the tremors recorded so far is the main earthquake We are seeing seismic activation in a relatively large area with a problematic history and we do not know how it will evolve,” he stated Skordilis clarified that the seismic sequence is not related to the island’s volcano though he did not rule out the possibility of a tsunami if a strong earthquake occurs “The seismic sequence is not connected to the volcano We are dealing with tectonic earthquakes occurring along a known active fault There is no indication or evidence linking the two if a submarine earthquake above 6.0 Richter occurs Let’s not forget that the last earthquake on this fault in 1956 had a magnitude of 7.3 and caused a massive tsunami,” he concluded The phenomenon is continuing with greater intensity The authorities need to take more measures and STOP BROADCASTING PUBLICLY that they have sent tents (allegedly for the EMAK rescue team to stay in) Nowhere in the world are such actions made public because they create panic among the people They are blowing this serious issue out of proportion (perhaps to cover up something else that recently sparked nationwide outrage?) These claims don’t hold up if we consider the scale and history of the faults involved I decided not to follow the endless cycle of media sensationalism (despite the countless invitations I received from the press but I can’t stand watching every unqualified individual expressing personal opinions just to get their one minute of fame There are responsible institutions that should be consulted through their official representatives EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED BY THE EXPERIENCED SEISMIC AND VOLCANIC HAZARD COMMITTEE which consists of internationally renowned and highly experienced scientists Regarding whether this activity is linked to the volcano When magma rises and increases stress on fault zones Did you read what foreign seismologists said yesterday volcanoes are active—no matter how much some people would like them to be asleep… Director of the Geodynamic Institute: 20 earthquakes over 4 Richter on Santorini Karastathis mentioned on SKAI shortly after 10 AM 550 earthquakes have been recorded and analyzed over the past 10 days Ganas: Measures are being taken for all possible scenarios – No need for panic “Either we will have a swarm of earthquakes meaning magnitudes of around 4.5 to 4.7 at most or we will have a larger seismic event that could trigger a tsunami and possibly a volcanic eruption So we are preparing for these scenarios,” said Thanas Ganas Director of Research at the Geodynamic Institute of Athens He participated in yesterday’s meeting under the Prime Minister “We still don’t know how this sequence will evolve off the coast of Santorini and between the island of Santorini and Anydros so we need to wait and see how the phenomenon develops,” noted Mr he emphasized that readiness for the worst-case scenario is necessary all efforts from the government and scientists are focused on preparing the state to handle a worst-case scenario which includes the activation of the volcano Two earthquakes of magnitudes 4 and 4.3 occurred within six minutes in Anafi and Amorgos we hear a buzzing sound and then an earthquake,” says the Deputy Mayor of Anafi the Deputy Mayor of the island spoke about the difficult times they are going through in Anafi following the continuous earthquakes that have raised concerns among experts He described that “we hear a buzzing sound and then shaking; every 5-10 minutes there was a two-hour period where we heard buzzing every 1-2 minutes,” he added “We are staying calm,” adding that “we have better rock formations than Santorini.” Mayor of Thira (Santorini): Terror and panic are not good advisorsTerror and panic are not good advisors 18 earthquakes above 4 Richter in the last 24 hours in Santorini Director of the Geodynamic Institute: The sequence of earthquakes is moving away from Santorini Regarding the seismic activity in the Cyclades “The sequence continues with unabated intensity We had one earthquake in the evening and one in the morning The sequence is moving away from the island of Santorini towards the northeast the likelihood of significant damage from anything decreases the concern regarding the effects of the earthquakes on Santorini is diminishing.” Ten seismic tremors have been recorded in the past hour in the underwater area between Santorini and Amorgos with the strongest measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale Departing by Ships and Planes from Santorini Passenger traffic on ferries is increasing after the 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Santorini at 7:30 PM on Sunday The Blue Star CHIOS is carrying 1,100 passengers and will head to Piraeus in the early morning hours The majority of passengers are of Albanian descent Workers and hotel staff have already left the island Many of those fleeing Santorini fear a potential tsunami Earthquakes of 4.0 and 3.8 Magnitude Strike Off Amorgos After Midnight A 4.0-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded 22 minutes after midnight on Sunday off the coast of Amorgos According to the Automatic Solution of the Geodynamic Institute the epicenter of the tremor was located 24 km south-southwest of Arkesini a 3.8-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale had struck the same area Residents Fear Ongoing Seismic Activity – “I Chose to Sleep in My Car Tonight as Santorini lies in a highly earthquake-prone region and residents are always mindful of the island’s volcanic nature “I chose to sleep in my car tonight because I’m scared—the tremors are quite strong,” a local resident told protothema.gr Schools to Remain Closed on Monday in Santorini and Naxos will remain closed on Monday following a decision by the islands’ mayors as a precautionary measure due to increased seismic activity in the Cyclades The decision applies to all educational institutions across the islands Schools closed in AntiparosSchools in Antiparos are closing due to the ongoing seismic activity in the surrounding area “Due to the increased seismic activity in the maritime area between Thira and Amorgos all levels of schools in Antiparos will be closed tomorrow New earthquake of 3.8 magnitudeA new earthquake of 3.8 magnitude struck Santorini at 10:14 PM the earthquake’s focal depth is estimated to be 12.9 kilometers with its epicenter located 27 kilometers north-northwest of Anafi Chaos outside central travel agencyA massive crowd has gathered outside a central travel agency on the island at 9:30 PM desperate citizens scramble to secure tickets Airline tickets are selling out – One-way tickets are priced at 200 eurosA commotion has broken out among the residents of Santorini who are trying by any means to leave the island only a few seats remain for tomorrow on Aegean and Sky Express flights Long queues have formed outside the travel agencies in Santorini The meeting at the Maximos Mansion has concludedA statement from the Minister of Citizen Protection is expected regarding the intense seismic activity in the Cyclades The message being sent from the Maximos Mansion is that all involved authorities are on alert and prepared A meeting is currently underway at Maximos Mansion to address the recent seismic activity in Santorini includes Minister of Civil Protection Vasilis Kikilias President of the Earthquake Planning & Protection Organization (OASP) Efthymios Lekkas Professor of Geophysics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Kostas Papazachos and Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Dimitris Choupis Also present at the meeting are Athanasios Ganas Director of Research at the Athens Geodynamic Institute and Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Vangelis Tournas Many Santorini Residents Rush to Travel Agencies to Leave the Island It appears that many residents are planning to leave Santorini following the intense seismic activity that has been occurring on the island numerous residents are rushing to travel agencies to secure ferry tickets in order to leave the island A new strong earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale struck with an epicenter 22 km south-southwest of Arkesini 24-hour sailing ban for fishing boats in Santorini Local Civil Protection authorities in municipalities near the epicenter of the seismic activity are updating emergency response plans to keep the public informed Skordilis: The area is capable of producing an earthquake above 6.0 Richter The area where the earthquakes are occurring is capable of producing a quake greater than 6.0 on the Richter scale stated Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki “We are not reassured—quite the opposite,” he said reminding that the region has a long history of seismic activity with the most notable example being the 1956 earthquake which exceeded 7.0 on the Richter scale and caused extensive damage and a tsunami “The affected area is large enough to justify the occurrence of a stronger earthquake emphasizing the need for precautionary measures the phenomenon is not easing with the multiple tremors they indicate that the region is in a state of excitation the seismology professor stressed that the earthquakes are unrelated to the volcano He explained that the mechanisms triggering an earthquake in a volcanic system are entirely different Continuous seismic activity – Three earthquakes in six minutes Intense seismic activity continues in Santorini with three earthquakes over 3.0 on the Richter scale occurring within just six minutes a 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck at 18:58 according to the automatic readings of the Geodynamic Institute Turkish Professor Warns: Three out of the four signs of a volcanic eruption have occurred in Santorini has spoken out about the seismic activity taking place in Santorini in recent days and the concerns raised about the island’s volcano the following signs indicate a volcanic eruption: Three of these signs have been recorded in Santorini Santorini has experienced volcanic eruptions in the 16th century and in 1600 BC Similar geophysical signs are also observed in Turkey The first tents have been set up in open spaces in Santorini Instructions from the Municipality of Amorgos in Case of Earthquake and Tsunami The Municipality of Amorgos has issued new guidelines for residents providing information on the measures taken in the event of a strong earthquake or tsunami Following our previous updates and in accordance with Decision No 1/2025 of the Local Coordination Body for Civil Protection of the Municipality of Amorgos as well as today’s meeting at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection regarding the increased seismic activity in the Amorgos-Santorini area: Attached: Today’s press release from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Preparations Underway in the Armed Forces for Santorini The Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff the outcome of the meeting will determine the type of support the Armed Forces will provide moving forward United Kingdom: Travel Advisory for Seismic Activity in Greece The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory regarding seismic activity in Greece As stated in the advisory: “The Greek Ministry of Civil Protection has issued guidance for Santorini (Thira) and Amorgos following increased seismic activity in the area while citizens are advised to avoid large gatherings in enclosed spaces and to stay away from the ports of Ammoudi and the Old Port (Paleos Limenos) in the Fira area.” Lekkas On-Site Inspection: What He Says About the Earthquakes – Recommendations for Citizens Authorities remain on high alert as intense seismic activity continues in the Cyclades Professor of Disaster Management at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) arrived in Santorini on Sunday afternoon to conduct an on-site inspection of the area Citizens are advised not to stay in old buildings to avoid approaching the coastline in case of a strong tremor and to follow the instructions of the authorities Instructions to Boat Owners to Stay on Alert The intense seismic activity recorded in Santorini in recent days along with the extension of precautionary measures to the neighboring islands of Amorgos local port authorities have notified boat owners to remain prepared in case an evacuation of Santorini becomes necessary Over 380 Earthquakes Recorded Between Santorini and Amorgos Since January 24 More than 380 earthquakes have been recorded in the marine area of Anydros Director of the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens “The region experiencing seismic activity has significant tectonic structures there has been a considerable increase in seismicity 85 have exceeded a magnitude of 3,” Karastathis stated He also noted that in the past 24 hours alone 10 earthquakes over magnitude 4 have occurred “This data compels us to remain cautious We cannot provide reassurances at this stage The Geodynamic Institute is closely monitoring the phenomenon analyzing all aspects of the sequence,” he added two additional seismic stations will be installed tomorrow on the nearby islands of Amorgos and Anafi The Institute has increased staff shifts and is analyzing data multiple times daily Karastathis clarified that the earthquakes are of purely tectonic origin While earlier concerns linked the activity to volcanic unrest due to microseismicity detected within the Santorini Caldera the ongoing seismic events between Amorgos and Santorini are strictly tectonic When asked about a possible connection to the 1956 Amorgos earthquake Karastathis cautioned against making such comparisons “Linking this activity to past earthquakes is risky as historical seismic data lacks the precision needed for such correlations Even the depth of the 1956 earthquake remains debated—whether it was shallow or deep.” Karastathis emphasized that the Ministry of Civil Protection responded swiftly “From the first hours of this seismic activity the Minister and top officials have been receiving continuous updates Daily reports outline both the evolving seismic situation and the necessary protective measures for the public.” Kostas Papazachos Explains Why Pools in the Caldera Are Being Emptied Kostas Papazachos spoke to protothema.gr about the ongoing seismic activity and explained why pools in the Santorini Caldera are being emptied “The seismic activity continues with the same intensity with many earthquakes around 4-4.5 magnitude and it seems that the precautionary measures will remain in place due to the ongoing situation We are working to improve the monitoring center a seismograph will be installed on Anydros and additional stations will be set up in Anafi and Amorgos to provide more accurate data and the Greek authorities alike,” Papazachos stated Regarding the possibility of a larger earthquake he said: “Speculation like this exists in every seismic sequence People should ignore rumors and rely only on official announcements but they should not be taken seriously as they are not real news Explaining the decision to empty pools in the Caldera Papazachos said: “It’s simply a precautionary measure due to strong ground oscillations during significant earthquakes which could add stress to the slopes and cause failures Large bodies of water have their own natural oscillation which could become a risk factor during a seismic event this measure is being taken proactively to prevent potential problems.” Fire Department on High Alert – All Actions Taken Due to the increased seismic activity in the marine area of Anydros the Fire Department has undertaken the following actions: Scenario of a 6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Considered by Scientists The worst-case scenario being examined by scientists is an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 the seismic activity in the area is both volcanic and tectonic linked to the active fault stretching from Amorgos to the Christiana islets Current calculations indicate that an earthquake should not exceed 6.0 in magnitude with a low probability of causing widespread damage “Newer buildings constructed according to the current anti-seismic regulations will not face serious issues A 6.0-magnitude earthquake is not expected to have catastrophic consequences,” Mr Although the phenomenon is being closely monitored scientists reassure the public that there is no immediate risk of volcanic activity “The Santorini volcano is in a mild state of unrest while Kolumbo is considered inactive,” the expert noted Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr