The Cyclades of Greece - Hellas

Cyclades is a group of 56 islands, its most important ones beingAmorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos,Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos,Syros, Tinos, Folegandros, as well as the “Minor Cyclades” comprisingDonousa, Irakleia, Koufonisia and Schinoussa.

Nature did art creating these islands from the minimal "painted" Myconos to the moonlike beaches of Milos !!!

Because the islands are set up in a circle around Delos the islands are named Cyclades, Kyklos is the Greek word for circle.

Bare rocky islands decorated with brightly white villages high on hills above the blue sea and fringed with the terrific beaches. The Islands' attractions are worth the large number of their visitors, especially in summer.

Each island allocates its own charms. By plane or by ferry the approach is very easy and amusing.

The beautiful Greek Cyclades


View Κυκλάδες in a larger map

Read about the most beautiful Greek Islands of Cyclades

Tinos

The  Island of Tinos in the  Northern Cyclades


Tinos is the third largest island of the Cyclades after Andros  and Naxos. It belongs to the northern Cyclades and is situated  southeast of Andros and northwest of Mykonos. It has an area of 197 square kilometres and 9,701 inhabitants.
The islands' name is prehellenic and was corrrelated with the phoeonix  TANNOTI ( snake) , it was also called Ofioosa ( full of snakes ) which  was alleged to have exterminated the  patron saint  Poseidon.

Sikinos

The island of Sikinos in the Southern Cyclades



Sikinos is situated between Ios and Folegandros.  It is one of the smallest islands in the Cyclades with an area of 41 sq kms and maintains its traditional colour.

Hora, the main town, is built on the edge of a precipitous cliff edge in the northeastern part of the island.  It consists of two settlements, Kastro and Horio, both as beautiful and charming as each other.  On the southeastern face of the cliff is the port of Sikinos.

Shinoussa

The Island of Shinoussa in the Western Cyclades

Shinoussa , a small island covering 9.5 square kms, belongs to the group of the small Cyclades.  It is situated south of Naxos and northeast of Iraklia.  It has a population of just 206 inhabitants.

There is a regular boat service and the journey from Piraeus to Mersini (the port of the island) takes 7 to 9 hours, depending on the type of boat.  The intercycladic line connects Syros with Shinoussa every Monday and takes approximately 9 hours, or from Naxos on a daily basis.