Gavrio is the port of Andros, the harbour town on the sheltered north-west coast where the ferries from Rafina dock and almost every visitor first sets foot on the island. A working port rather than a beauty spot, it is the practical gateway to Andros, with tavernas along the waterfront. Some of the island’s best beaches close by and easy links to the resorts and villages beyond.
This guide covers what Gavrio is, the beaches around it, the ancient tower and watersports nearby, whether to stay here, and how to travel on from the port. Read it beside the guide to how to get to Andros for the full ferry and transport picture.
What is Gavrio in Andros?
Gavrio is the main port of Andros, a harbour town on the north-west coast where the ferries from Rafina arrive.
Gavrio sits on the sheltered north-west coast of Andros and is the island’s only active ferry port, the point where the boats from Rafina near Athens tie up. It grew from a quiet fishing village into a functional port town. Today its harbour front carries the ferry offices, tavernas, cafes and shops that serve arriving and departing travellers.
The town itself is workaday rather than picturesque, without a beach of its own in the centre, so most visitors move straight on to Batsi or Chora. Even so, Gavrio has an easy, everyday charm, a line of fishing boats and waterfront tavernas, and it is the hub for the north of the island and its beaches.
Why do most visitors arrive at Gavrio?
Andros has no airport, so every visitor arrives by sea, and Gavrio is the island’s only ferry port.
And because Gavrio is its sole active port, the town is the arrival point for nearly everyone who visits the island. The ferries run from Rafina on the mainland, a short drive from Athens and its airport. Taking roughly two hours on the fast services and a little longer on the conventional ones.
This makes Gavrio the natural starting point of a trip, even for those staying elsewhere. The ferry timetable shapes the rhythm of the port, which comes alive on arrivals and quietens between boats. The town’s car hire. Taxis and buses are all geared to moving visitors on to their bases across the island.
What beaches are near Gavrio?
The best beaches near Gavrio are Agios Petros, the largest on Andros with almost a kilometre of golden sand, and Chryssi Ammos to the south. Fellos lies a short drive north, and the west-coast bays run on towards Batsi.
Some of the finest sands on Andros lie a short drive away. Agios Petros, between Gavrio and Batsi, is the largest beach on the island, almost a kilometre of yellow sand with clear, calm water and a beach bar, popular with families. Nearby Chryssi Ammos, the Golden Sand, is another organised favourite.
North of the port, Fellos is a long sandy beach with a small beach bar and a taverna, quieter and more open, while further along the coast the crystal water of Apothikes rewards those who seek it out. The whole sheltered west coast, running south towards Batsi, is lined with accessible sands, as the guide to Andros beaches sets out.
What is there to do in Gavrio?
Around Gavrio you can visit the ancient Agios Petros tower, an impressive Hellenistic round tower inland from the port, enjoy watersports at nearby Kipri beach, and eat fresh seafood at the harbour tavernas before exploring the northern beaches and villages.
The standout sight near Gavrio is the tower of Agios Petros, a tall, well-preserved Hellenistic round tower of dressed stone standing inland from the port. One of the finest ancient monuments on the island and an easy trip from the harbour. A marked footpath also links the port with the Agios Petros beach through the countryside.
For active visitors, the watersports centre at Kipri beach, between Gavrio and Batsi, offers windsurfing, wing foil, water ski and wakeboard lessons in the sheltered bay. Back in town, the harbour tavernas serve fresh fish by the water, and the port is the launching point for excursions to the wild beaches and villages of the north.
Is Gavrio a good place to stay?
Gavrio suits travellers who want easy ferry access and quick reach to the northern beaches, with hotels, rooms and a campsite in and around the town.
Gavrio offers a range of places to stay. From budget rooms and a campsite to comfortable hotels. Its position is handy for early or late ferries and for reaching the fine beaches to the north and south. For a stay built around convenience and the west-coast sands, the port and its surroundings work well.
That said, the town itself has no central beach and less charm than the resort of Batsi seven kilometres south. Which draws most holidaymakers with its sandy bay and animated seafront. Many visitors pass through Gavrio and base themselves in Batsi instead, using the port only for arrivals and departures.
How do you get around Andros from Gavrio?
From Gavrio, buses run to Batsi and the capital Chora times a day in summer, timed to the ferries, and taxis wait at the port.
Gavrio is the transport hub of Andros. Local buses leave the port for Batsi, seven kilometres south. On to the capital Chora, roughly thirty-five kilometres east. Several times a day through the summer, timed broadly to the ferry arrivals, and taxis wait at the quay for the same trips.
With its beaches and villages spread far apart and buses infrequent, most visitors collect a hire car or scooter at Gavrio to explore freely. The port’s rental offices make this easy on arrival, and independent transport is the practical way to see the whole of Andros, as the guide to getting to Andros explains.
When is the best time to visit Gavrio?
Late May to September is best for the beaches around Gavrio, with warm seas and full ferry schedules. July and August are busiest at the port, while June and September bring warm weather, thinner crowds and easier travel.
The port and its beaches are at their best through the warm months of late spring to early autumn, when the sea is comfortable for swimming and the ferries run at their fullest frequency. July and August are the peak, when Gavrio is busiest with arrivals and the west-coast sands of Agios Petros and Chryssi Ammos fill with visitors.
The shoulder weeks of June and September bring warm, settled weather with fewer crowds and a calmer port, an easier time to arrive and to enjoy the beaches. For the island-wide picture of seasons, weather and ferries, see the guide to the best time to visit Andros.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gavrio worth staying in?
Gavrio is worth staying in for travellers who value easy ferry access and quick reach to the northern beaches of Andros. With hotels, rooms and a campsite in and around the port. It has no central beach and less charm than the resort of Batsi seven kilometres south, however. Most holidaymakers pass through Gavrio and base themselves in Batsi or Chora, using the port mainly for arrivals and departures.
How far is Gavrio from Batsi and Chora?
Gavrio lies about seven kilometres north of the resort of Batsi. A drive of around ten minutes along the coast road. Roughly thirty-five kilometres from the capital Chora on the east coast, about forty minutes by road. Buses connect the port with both times a day in summer, timed broadly to the ferry arrivals, and taxis also wait at the quay.
Which beach is closest to Gavrio?
The largest and most popular beach near Gavrio is Agios Petros, between the port and Batsi. With almost a kilometre of golden sand, clear calm water and a beach bar, ideal for families. Chryssi Ammos, the Golden Sand, lies close by to the south. Fellos is a quieter long sandy beach a short drive north of the port, so several good beaches sit within minutes of Gavrio.