The Cyclades

The Cyclades are what many people think of when they imagine the Greek islands. They are the archetypal picture-postcard view of dazzling white houses, deep blue skies and seas, windmills, and pretty churches with pale blue domes. But it is only in the Cyclades group of islands where you get all these features together, and even here not every island has them, though they are certainly among the most appealing islands in the Aegean. 

Thira on Santorini

If you see a photograph of the Greek islands in the press there is a strong chance that it will have been taken on one of the Cyclades. This is the archetypal picture of a Greek island in many people’s minds, and the way Greece likes to promote itself both overseas and at home. It will show a jumble of dazzlingly white houses set higgledy-piggledy against a hillside, with somewhere a blue-domed church, and with an ink-blue sky behind. It doesn’t reflect the look of all the island groups, but it is certainly what the Cyclades look like for most of the summer and is likely to be your first glimpse if you arrive by boat.

The name Cyclades comes from kyklos, a circle, and a glance at the map will indicate part of the reason for this, but the other factor was that roughly in the centre of this circle was the sacred island of Dilos. The Cyclades are probably the most significant group of islands from a historical point of view, as during the years 3000-1000 BC they produced the Cycladic civilisation which was one of the most cultured in Greece and is the only Greek civilisation to have its own museum dedicated to it in Athens. It produced art work that has had a lasting impact on the world.

Mykonos

Naxos is the largest island and is more truly in the geographical centre of the group along with its neighbour, Paros, and despite them being at the hub of the transport network in the Cyclades, neither has been spoilt by tourism. The same cannot be said of nearby Ios and Mykonos, which both almost sink under the weight of incoming fun-seekers in summer. It is easy to get away from all that, though, if you wish, as there are some 24 inhabited islands in the Cyclades, some of them with very small populations and totally unaffected by the mass of visitors elsewhere.

Kimolos

The administrative capital of the Cyclades is Syros, another island you are sure to visit if you travel around the group, and this too is not as affected by tourism as you might think, given its status. However, if only visiting one island in the group most travellers stop off at Santorini (Thira), whose volcanic crater and black sand beaches are a contrasting but equally potent picture of the Cyclades.

Syros in GreeceSyros

But there are quieter islands too, usually because it takes slightly longer to get to them. These include Kythnos, Serifos, Kimolos, Schinoussa and Iraklia, where you can really get away from it all. To find out what there is to do on each of the islands, where to stay and where to eat, click on the links below. 

  • Amorgos
  • Anafi
  • Andros
  • Antiparos
  • Delos
  • Folegandros
  • Ios
  • Kea
  • Kimolos
  • Kythnos
  • Milos
  • Mykonos
  • Naxos
  • Paros
  • Santorini
  • Serifos
  • Sifnos
  • Sikinos
  • Syros
  • Tinos

    • Some other Cyclades pages

    • How to Get from Mykonos to Santorini

      You can get from Mykonos to Santorini, and of course from Santorini to Mykonos, by ferry, by plane (sort-of) or even by helicopter.

    • Tinos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece

      The island of Tinos in the Cyclades has several daily ferry connections from Rafina on the Greek mainland and is most famous for the Feast of the Assumption.

    • Things to Do on Mykonos

      There are plenty of things to do on Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands, such as nightlife, beaches, churches and visiting the ancient site of Delos.

    • Syros

      Syros is in the Cyclades islands, with Ermoupoli as its main town and some good beaches, described here on the Greece Travel Secrets website.

    • Sikinos

      Surrounded by bigger and better-known Cyclades islands such as Ios, Naxos and Santorini, Sikinos is a delightfully untouristy island.

    • Sifnos

      Sifnos is one of the smaller islands in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea.

    • Serifos

      Serifos is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, a rugged and mountainous island with a small population.

    • Schinoussa and Iraklia Travel Guide

      This is the first travel guide to Schinoussa and Iraklia, two tiny islands in the Cyclades, published by Real Greek Experiences.

    • Paros in the Cyclades Islands in Greece

      The island of Paros in the Cyclades is famous for its marble, and on this page you can also see information about flights and ferries to Paros.

    • Naxos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece

      The island of Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades and on this page you can see information about flights and ferries to Naxos.

    • Mykonos

      Mykonos in the Cyclades islands in Greece has cheap and luxury hotel accommodation, car rental, ferries from Athens, Santorini, Crete and other Greek islands.

    • Milos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece

      The island of Milos in the Cyclades in Greece is noted for its museums and beaches, and read about flights and ferries to Milos.

    • Kythnos

      Kythnos is a small island in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, with easy access from Athens and popular with Athenians on summer weekends.

    • Kimolos

      Kimolos is in the Cyclades islands of Greece, close to Milos.

    • Kea

      Kea is in the Cyclades group of Greek islands and this page from Greece Travel Secrets shows how to get there by ferry and what to do when you've arrived.

    • Ios in the Cyclades Islands of Greece

      The island of Ios in the Cyclades group of islands in Greece is noted for its nightlife in summer, as well as its beaches, churches and the grave of Homer.

    • Folegandros

      Travel information from Greece Travel Secrets about Folegandros in the southern Cyclades, close to Sikinos, with flight and ferry information.

    • Delos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece

      The island of Delos in the Cyclades islands is a unique archaeological site, taking up the whole island, and a popular day trip from nearby Mykonos.

    • Best Time to Visit Mykonos

      The best time to visit Mykonos depends on if you want crowds or quiet, heat or cooler temperatures, all of which affect when is the best time to visit Mykonos.

    • Antiparos

      Travel information about Antiparos near Paros in the Cyclades Islands of Greece from the Greece Travel Secrets website.

    Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

    Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

    1. Click on the HTML link code below.
    2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

    Latest Posts

    RSS

    1. Nobel Foundation Returns Mycenaean Gold Ring to Greece

      An ancient gold ring dating back to Mycenaean times was recently returned to Greece by Sweden’s Nobel Foundation, according to an announcement of the Greek Culture Ministry. The Mycenaean signet ring…

      Read More

    2. Greece’s Kastellorizo to Host 1st Rock Solid Trail Race in June

      Kastellorizo, one of Greece’s smallest islands located in the Dodecanese, is getting ready to host the 1st Rock Solid island trail race, scheduled to take place during June 11-12.

      Read More

    3. EU: Greece Among Winners of Natura 2000 Awards for Nature Protection

      Greece is among the six winners of the 2022 edition of the Natura 2000 Awards, an event that recognises conservation success stories across the EU and raises awareness on the Natura 2000 protected are…

      Read More

    4. Greece Takes First Step to Create Museum of Underwater Antiquities in Piraeus

      The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has handed over under a concession deal a 1934 silo on the port of Piraeus and the surrounding space to the Greek Culture Ministry so that it may be converted into a M…

      Read More

    5. Hydra Travel Writing Classic

      Peel Me a Lotus by Charmian Clift is a Hydra travel writing classic, describing her family’s life on this tiny Greek island near Athens in the 1950s.

      Read More

    6. The Churches of Thessaloniki

      The churches of Thessaloniki are remarkable and include UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, Byzantine masterpieces, and a church dating from the 5th century.

      Read More

    7. Blue Flag: Greece 2nd in the World for its Clean Beaches

      Greece’s beaches are among the world’s cleanest with the region of Halkidiki and the island of Rhodes in the lead this year, according to the 2022 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches, marinas and…

      Read More

    8. Lipsi Municipality Says No to Sunbeds on Island’s Beaches

      The Municipality of Lipsi is saying “no” to sunbeds on the island’s beaches and is encouraging travelers to enjoy eco-conscious summer holidays this year in order to live authentic experiences. “We ar…

      Read More

    9. Ioannina to Launch Food Council to Define its Gastronomic Identity

      The Municipality of Ioannina, the capital of the Region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, has launched action to associate the city’s gastronomy with the destination’s brand-name and identity. “Adding t…

      Read More

    10. Athens National Garden Refurbishment is Underway

      The Athens Municipality recently completed the first phase of a 4.2-million-euro refurbishment project aiming to upgrade the National Garden, one of the Greek capital’s landmark sites. The refurbished…

      Read More