Once famous for its bustling nightlife and crowds of young people flocking to the island every year to party till they drop, Ios has managed to broaden its possibilities over the years. Today Ios smoothly blends joyful days on the beach with lively evening entertainment, along with more chilled-out options for those seeking a relaxing holiday.

 In the main town, Chora, you’ll find buildings of typical Cycladic architecture: winding alleys lined with bars, cafes, and tavernas serving not only Greek but also international cuisines. Chora also boasts a plethora of souvenir and jewelry outlets for some shopping.

Another highlight of Ios are the clean and superb beaches: top-notch Mylopotas beach features the majority of luxury hotels. Once you consider the infamous Ios campground, wild Maganari beach, and the long stretch of soft sand that is Ayia Theodhoti, it’s easy to see that Ios has it all. The island is also extremely popular to snorkelers thanks to its rich seabed, and the diverse landscape makes Ios ideal for hiking though trails nestled in dramatic surroundings.

What to See

Palaiokastro Castle
This Byzantine castle used to be an observation point for the locals to watch over the seaway from Istanbul to Crete. Today visitors can admire the castle’s walls, as well as a historical church dedicated to Virgin Mary. The view from its hilltop location is magnificent as you can even see the many neighboring islands.

Windmills 
The traditional windmills adorn the northwestern part of Chora. Some of them have been restored and are available to visit.

Archaeological Museum of Ios 
The museum displays archaeological exhibits from prehistoricSkarkos settlement, most of which are in excellent condition, as well as ancient Roman relics.

Where to Swim 

The island boasts more than 30 beaches, everything from secluded coves to pebbled shores – and the water is always crystal clear. The most famous is Mylopotas, a wide stretch of sand 2km long (approx. 1.25 miles) with sun beds and parasols for rental. Beach bars and water sports are also available for some extra fun. For more soft sand you can visit Koumpara, Gialos and Ayia Theodoti beaches. Nudists (!) can swim at Kolitsani beach and folks looking for convenient amenities should try Maganari. Other beaches, such as Klima and Pikri Nero are only accessible by sea.

What to Eat

When it comes to food, Ios is mainly famous for its cheese, which is traditionally produced in local dairies. Visitors will find a selection of cheese types, such as skotyri (a spicy aromatic cheese) and xino (a white cream cheese), as well as the more common types of hard yellow cheeses – kefalotyri and graviera. Exceptional fava beans, oregano, and capers are also typical products of Ios. You shouldn’t leave the island without tasting tsimetia (zucchini flowers filled with rice) and mermitzeli (a type of homemade Greek pasta). Though any local meat paired with homemade pasta will do your belly right!

Zoe Mouchritsa lives in Athens and specializes in finding the best and brightest things to do in this lively city and throughout Greece. After completing a B.A. in Applied Informatics and Multimedia in beautiful Crete, she jumped full time into blogging and is now editor for WhiteAndBlue.gr. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt, Zoe!

The post A Guide to Charming Ios Island, Greece appeared first on Of Revolt.

Chasing away winter with a dream of holidays in the Greek islands? Look no further than Corfu. One of my favorite islands, but not just mine – it’s known as the Queen of the Ionian Sea and here’s why I love it. Whether you’re looking for golden sand beaches surrounded by lush greenery and turquoise waters to revel in, or seeking a place where you can wander around cobbled streets, drink amazing cocktails in spectacular seaside bars, or to simply satisfy the history buff in you, Corfu has all that in spades.

Agios Stefanos is a quiet holiday resort, on the cape of Kefali, 35km (approx. 21 miles) away from Corfu town. It offers magnificent views to the Diapontian islands and an outstanding beach with beautiful shallow waters. The meaning of Agios in English is Saint, so the resort is also known as San Stefanos. Overall, it’s a good choice for couples because it is just drenched in romance, but it’s also really safe for kids and the beach is well known for catering to swimmers of all abilities.

Although originally a fishing village, built around a church and right on the old harbor, Agios Stefanos offers family friendly accommodation, such as Delfino Blu, and a wide selection of restaurants and beach bars, such as The Mango. This holiday haven will amaze every visitor thanks to its unique beaches with shallow waters. On the shore of Agios Stefanos you’ll find children playing and parents relaxing. In the evening visitors can enjoy traditional dining overlooking the idyllic sunset. Remember to have a traditional homemade breakfast of homemade pastries and rich Greek coffee served at Kohili restaurant. Afterwards the harbour is right there, so you can hop straight onto a boat and get close to the Diapontian Islands.

But really, everything in Agios Stefanos is a lead up to the most glorious sunset I’ve ever seen. Everyone, I repeat, everyone should see it at least once in their lifetimes. Watching from the shore in a cafe or taverna, or simply sitting on the beach, seeing the sun drop into the ocean while the sky  drifts from blue to red, is truly a magical event.

In fact, most of the village (and its visitors) waits for it. Everyone wants to freeze time and savor the atmosphere for a little while. In the summer evenings, everyone takes their seats – lots of people opt for a romantic dinner during this incredible sunset. While the sun gradually sets and the sky turns orange, then red, then pink, the whole atmosphere totally transforms. People get excited to see which color will appear next! The sun slowly dives into the sea and photographers take dozens of pictures – every second counts. Finally, the sun sets and everyone applauds. 

Zoe Mouchritsa lives in Athens and specializes in finding the best and brightest things to do in this lively city and throughout Greece. After completing a B.A. in Applied Informatics and Multimedia in beautiful Crete, she jumped full time into blogging and is now editor for WhiteAndBlue.gr. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt, Zoe!

The post Enjoying Sunset in Agios Stefanos, Corfu appeared first on Of Revolt.