A Syros boat trip is a day on the water out of Kini or Finikas to the roadless coves of Apano Meria, the carved sailors’ prayers of Grammata bay and the sheltered southern beaches, with a barbecue on board, priced from 60 euros a head. Plan the rest of the trip with Greece Tours.
This page covers the trip: what it costs, the route, the northern bays, Grammata, the day cruise, the boat-and-hike, kayaking, private and self-drive boats and how to book.
What does a Syros boat trip cost?
From 60 to 95 euros a head for a full-day shared cruise with a barbecue lunch on board, 45 to 70 for the half-day boat-and-hike to the hidden beaches, 50 to 80 for a sea kayak tour, 450 to 1,200 for a private boat, and 150 to 300 a day for a licence-free rental.
The shared price covers the boat, the skipper, the food, water and soft drinks. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Wine and beer are poured with the barbecue on the day cruises. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
Private charters price by the vessel and the hours rather than by the head. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
Self-drive rentals add 40 to 80 euros of fuel for a run up the west coast. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Children go half price on the shared departures and free under five. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
Transfers from Ermoupoli are included on some listings and named where they are.
Where does a Syros boat trip go?
North up the west coast from Kini or Finikas to the roadless bays of Apano Meria, Grammata, Aetos, Lia and Varvarousa, or south and east around Finikas, Vari and Azolimnos, with three or four swim stops in coves a car cannot reach.
Syros is 22 kilometres long and the north third of it has almost no paved road. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
The west coast faces the sunset and is sheltered from the summer north wind in its southern half. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
North-coast routes run only on calm days because the meltemi closes that shore. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
South-coast routes are the fallback when the wind is up. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
Skippers choose the side of the island on the morning of the trip. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Private boats add a crossing to the islet of Gyaros on long calm days.
Why is Apano Meria reached by boat?
Apano Meria is the empty northern third of Syros, a terraced upland of dry-stone walls, chapels and goat paths with a handful of houses, where the coves at the foot of the cliffs are hours away on foot and minutes away by sea.
The area was farmed by the Catholic villagers of Ano Syros for centuries. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
A single dirt road reaches the plateau and stops well above the shore. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Walkers descend to the bays on paths that take one to two hours each way. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
The coves have no tavernas, no umbrellas and no parking. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
Boats anchor off them and passengers swim ashore. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
That emptiness is exactly what the north-coast cruises sell.
What is Grammata bay?
A deep, sheltered cove on the north-west coast whose granite walls carry more than 100 carved inscriptions left by sailors sheltering from storms from the Hellenistic period through the Byzantine era, most of them prayers for a safe passage.
Grammata means letters, and the name comes straight from the carvings. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
The oldest inscriptions date to the fourth century BC. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
Christian crosses and ship names were added through the early Byzantine centuries. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Ancient ships waited out the north wind here before rounding the cape. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
The rock is soft enough to carve and the bay is calm enough to anchor in. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
The boat trips anchor inside and point the carvings out from the water.
What are Aetos, Lia and Varvarousa?
Three coves on the north-west shore of Apano Meria: Aetos with a pebble beach below a steep valley, Lia with a sand strip and clear shallows, and Varvarousa on the north-east side with the calmest water when the wind swings west.
Each is a 90-minute walk from the nearest road. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
Lia has the best sand of the three and is the usual swim stop. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
Aetos is named after the eagles that nest on the cliff above it. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
Varvarousa is reached from the east coast on a different route. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
None of them has a building on the shore. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
The boat-and-hike tour walks down to one and sails back from it.
What is Kyra Panagia bay?
A cove on the north-east coast named after the white chapel on the rocks above it, with a pebble beach, deep blue water and a view across to Tinos, reached by boat or by a long walk from the end of the Apano Meria road.
The chapel holds a festival on 15 August when villagers walk down. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Megas Lakkos is the larger bay beside it with a sand and pebble shore. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
Tinos sits eight nautical miles away across the strait. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
The east side of the north holds calm water when the wind blows from the west. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Boats reach it in 90 minutes from Ermoupoli. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
It is the most photographed chapel on the island’s coast.
Which south-coast beaches does the boat reach?
Finikas and Posidonia on the south-west, Agathopes with its islet, Komito’s sand below the hills, Vari bay on the south-east, and Azolimnos close to Ermoupoli, all sheltered from the north wind that closes the other shore.
The south coast is where the island’s villas and summer houses sit. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
Agathopes has a small islet reachable by swimming. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Komito is the only south beach without a road running to the sand. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
Vari bay has a fishing harbour and tavernas on the water. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
These beaches have roads, so the boat adds the view and the coves between them. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
South routes run on the days the north is closed.
What is Kini and its sunset?
A fishing village on the west coast with a sandy bay, a small harbour and tavernas on the beach, known across the Cyclades for its sunset over the open Aegean, and the departure point for most of the island’s boat trips.
The harbour takes the day boats, the kayaks and the fishing caiques. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
The bay faces due west and the sun drops into the sea behind no island. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Evening boats leave Kini two hours before sunset. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
Tavernas on the sand fill for the sunset from July onwards. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
Buses run from Ermoupoli to Kini in 20 minutes. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
A sunset run from here is the island’s standard evening on the water.
What is Galissas?
The largest west-coast bay, a sand beach in a horseshoe of hills with a village, rooms and tavernas behind it, the chapel of Agia Pakou on the headland, and the naturist cove of Armeos over the ridge.
Galissas has the most sheltered anchorage on the west coast. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
The bay is shallow and warm and suits families on a swim stop. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
Agios Stefanos chapel is cut into the cliff at the north end of the bay. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
Boats round the headland to reach the Armeos and Lotos coves. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
Galissas is 20 minutes from Ermoupoli by road. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
West-coast cruises pass it on the way north or stop on the way back.
What does the barbecue day cruise include?
Seven to eight hours around the west and north coasts with three or four swim stops, a barbecue of grilled meat, fish and salads cooked on board, wine, beer and soft drinks, snorkelling masks and the skipper’s commentary on the coast.
Lunch is grilled at anchor in a sheltered cove. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
Vegetarian plates are prepared when the booking says so. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
Groups cap at twelve to thirty depending on the boat. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Departures leave Kini or Finikas between 09:30 and 10:30. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
The return lands back in the late afternoon. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
This is the product most visitors mean by a Syros boat trip.
What is the boat-and-hike tour?
A half-day product that walks down a goat path from the Apano Meria plateau to one of the northern coves, swims, and returns by boat along the coast, combining two hours on foot with an hour on the water.
The walk is downhill on rough stone paths and takes 60 to 90 minutes. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
A guide leads the hike and names the chapels and terraces on the way. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
The boat meets the group in the cove at an arranged time. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
Walking shoes are essential and sandals fail on the path. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Groups cap at eight to twelve. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
It is the only way to see the north from both the land and the sea in one morning.
What is sea kayaking on Syros?
A guided three to four hour paddle along the west or south coast in stable sit-on-top kayaks, stopping at caves and small coves for snorkelling, suited to beginners and run from Kini, Galissas or Vari.
No experience is needed and the guide covers the paddling technique first. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Double kayaks suit couples and parents with a child. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
Routes change with the wind and stay in sheltered water. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
Snacks, water and dry bags are included. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
Groups cap at eight to ten with one guide. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Kayaks reach rock arches and caves the motor boats cannot enter.
Where do Syros boat trips leave from?
Kini harbour on the west coast for most day cruises, kayaks and sunset runs, Finikas marina on the south-west for sailing yachts and private charters, Ermoupoli port for the larger boats, and Vari for the south-east routes.
Kini and Finikas are 20 minutes from Ermoupoli by bus or taxi. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
Finikas marina holds the island’s charter fleet of sailing yachts. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Ermoupoli departures suit visitors staying in the capital. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
Buses from Ermoupoli run a circular route through the west-coast villages. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
Parking at Kini fills by mid-morning in August.
The meeting point is named on the ticket with the boat’s name.
How long does a Syros boat trip last?
Seven to eight hours on the barbecue day cruise, three to four on the boat-and-hike and the kayak tours, two to three on the sunset run, and a full day or longer on a private charter that adds Gyaros or Tinos.
Swim stops use 45 to 60 minutes each on the day cruises. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
The north-coast run takes 90 minutes of sailing each way. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
Half-day products leave in the morning and return by lunch. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Sunset boats leave two hours before the light goes. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
Private charters run for whatever the party books.
Weather shortens or reroutes the day far more than it cancels it.
What boats run a Syros boat trip?
Traditional wooden caiques for 20 to 40 on the day cruises, sailing yachts of 12 to 15 metres for up to ten on the charters, fast RIBs for the private coast runs, and sit-on-top kayaks for the paddling tours.
Caiques carry shade, a toilet, a grill and a swim ladder. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
Sailing yachts from Finikas take the long crossings under canvas. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
RIBs reach the north coast in half the time and bounce more doing it. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Every licensed boat carries life jackets in all sizes. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
Boat names and capacities are on the listings before booking.
The caique is the steadiest and suits families best.
Is a private Syros boat trip worth it?
For a party of four or more, yes: 450 to 1,200 euros buys the whole boat for a half or full day, a route set by the guests, an early start into the north-coast coves before the day boats, and lunch where the party chooses.
RIBs take up to eight and cover the whole coast in a morning. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Sailing yachts take up to ten and turn the day into a sail. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
Skippers add Gyaros, the Grammata inscriptions and the caves on request. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
Lunch can be a cool box on board or a taverna landing at Kini. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
Parties of eight split it close to the shared per-head price.
August charters book a week ahead.
Can you rent a boat without a licence?
Yes: 30-horsepower boats for four to six people rent from Kini, Finikas and Vari at 150 to 300 euros a day plus fuel, with a briefing, a chart of the permitted area and a phone line to the operator.
The engine limit is what keeps these boats licence-free under Greek rules. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Renters stay on the sheltered side of the island the operator marks. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
A deposit of 200 to 500 euros is held against damage. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
The north coast is off-limits to rentals on most operators because of the wind. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Wind above force 5 closes the rentals for the day.
Self-driving suits a group that wants the south coves without a timetable.
What is the snorkelling like?
Clear water over rock, sand and seagrass with visibility to 20 metres on calm days, bream, wrasse, parrotfish and octopus on the reefs, and the best sites along the uninhabited north-west shore.
The north coast sees little boat traffic and the fish show it. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
Posidonia seagrass beds grow off the southern bays. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
Sea temperature runs 23 to 26 degrees from late June to September. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
Masks are supplied on the day boats and fins are not. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
Kayak tours stop at caves where the snorkelling is best.
Monk seals are reported along the northern cliffs a few times each summer.
What is Gyaros?
An uninhabited island ten nautical miles north-west of Syros, used as a prison camp for political prisoners from 1947 to 1974, now a marine protected area holding one of the largest monk seal colonies in the Mediterranean.
The prison buildings still stand on the shore and are protected as a memorial. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
Landing on Gyaros requires a permit and is not part of any regular trip. The Syros boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
The protected zone around it restricts fishing and anchoring. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
Private charters sail past it on long calm days. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
Its cliffs are visible from the north coast of Syros.
The seal colony is the reason the waters around it are closed.
Are there fishing trips?
Yes: three to four hour trips on a traditional caique from Kini or Vari with a local fisherman, line fishing and the catch grilled on board, run as a morning or a sunset departure for four to eight people.
Rods, bait and instruction are supplied and no licence is needed. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
Bream, scorpion fish and small reef fish are the usual catch. Guests meet it in the first Syros boat trip hour.
The skipper cooks the fish with bread, salad and wine. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
Prices run 55 to 90 euros a head. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
Families book it as a shorter alternative to the full-day cruise.
Some trips pull a net set the night before.
When is the best season for a Syros boat trip?
June and September for warm water and calmer north-coast days, July and August for daily departures with the meltemi closing the north on windy days, and May and October on a reduced timetable.
The meltemi blows from the north through July and August. Syros boat trip skippers prepare for it.
The south and west coasts stay sheltered when the north is closed. That is the Syros boat trip advantage over the road.
Sea temperature holds 23 to 26 degrees into October. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
August weekends fill the boats with Athenian visitors. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Wind cancellations are refunded or moved to another day.
Booking two to four days ahead covers high summer.
Is a Syros boat trip good for families?
Yes on the caique day cruise: shade, a toilet, a barbecue lunch, a swim ladder and sheltered southern coves. Under fives travel free and the kayak tour takes children from about eight in a double kayak.
Life jackets in children’s sizes are on every licensed boat. A Syros boat trip settles this at boarding.
The south-coast bays are shallow and calm. A Syros boat trip carries the masks for it.
The boat-and-hike product is too long a walk for small children. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
RIBs bounce and the caiques do not. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
Private boats let a family cut a stop and swim longer.
Galissas and Agathopes are the swim stops that suit children.
What do you bring on a Syros boat trip?
Swimsuit, towel, sun cream, a hat, water shoes for the pebble and rock entries, a layer for the return leg, walking shoes for the boat-and-hike, and cash for any taverna landing.
The northern coves are pebble and rock with no facilities at all. The Syros boat trip route is set by it.
Shade covers part of the deck on the caiques and none on the RIBs. The Syros boat trip season turns on this.
Card payment works on the larger operators. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
Dry bags keep phones safe on the kayaks and RIBs. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
Masks are supplied and fins are not.
Crews name anything else at confirmation.
What are the common Syros boat trip mistakes?
Expecting the north coast on a meltemi day, booking a RIB with small children, skipping the Grammata inscriptions on a private charter, and arriving at Kini in August with nowhere to park.
The north closes when the wind blows and skippers switch coasts. Skippers raise it early on a Syros boat trip.
RIBs are fast and hard on small backs. A Syros boat trip is booked around it.
The carvings at Grammata are the one thing the boat trip shows that nothing else does. The Syros boat trip price reflects it.
Kini’s parking fills by mid-morning in high summer. The Syros boat trip listing states it plainly.
The fifth is walking the boat-and-hike in sandals.
Taking the bus to Kini solves the parking.
How do you book a Syros boat trip?
Book two to four days ahead in July and August and a day ahead through the rest of the season. Shared caiques cap at twenty to forty, kayak and hike tours cap at eight to twelve, and private charters need a week in August.
Operators confirm the harbour, the boat and the route by message. It decides which Syros boat trip suits the party.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead is standard on the platform listings. Every Syros boat trip is routed around this.
Dietary needs go on the booking for the barbecue cruises. A Syros boat trip fills first on that count.
Ages go on the booking so the crew can plan the life jackets. This is what a Syros boat trip delivers.
Wind reroutes are called on the morning of the trip.
The land side of the island sits at Syros walking tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Syros boat trip cost?
From 60 to 95 euros a head for a full-day shared cruise with a barbecue lunch, 45 to 70 for the boat-and-hike half day, 50 to 80 for sea kayaking, 450 to 1,200 for a private boat and 150 to 300 a day for a licence-free rental.
What are the Grammata inscriptions?
More than 100 carvings cut into the granite walls of Grammata bay on the north-west coast by sailors sheltering from storms, from the fourth century BC into the Byzantine era, most of them prayers for a safe voyage. The boats anchor inside to see them.
Can the boat reach the north coast every day?
No. The meltemi blows from the north through July and August and closes that shore on windy days. Skippers switch to the sheltered west and south coasts, which is why the route is set on the morning.