Andros is the greenest of the Cyclades, an island of springs and running water rare in the dry Aegean, and its waterfalls are among its most distinctive sights. The best known are the Pythara falls near the village of Apoikia, a shaded gorge of plane trees. Pools and cascades that comes alive after the spring … Read more
The food of Andros is richer and greener than that of the average Cycladic island. Drawn from a fertile interior of springs, terraces, olive groves and grazing land rather than bare rock. The island’s shipping wealth and its running water gave it a distinctive table, built on the hearty fourtalia omelette. Tangy local cheeses, cured … Read more
Korthi, or Ormos Korthiou, is a relaxed bayside village on the south-east coast of Andros, set around a wide sandy bay far from the busier resorts of the west. Quiet, traditional and open to the summer wind, it has a long beach, a laid-back waterfront. The island’s best windsurfing and the iconic rock of Tis … Read more
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 … Read more
The villages of Andros are the heart of the greenest island in the Cyclades, strung through terraced valleys and along a long, indented coast. Spring water runs from marble lion heads. Grand captains’ mansions climb wooded slopes. Old stone footpaths link one settlement to the next through a landscape of plane trees and running streams … Read more
The Tourlitis lighthouse is the emblem of Andros, a slender white tower that rises from a lone rock pinnacle in the open sea below the medieval castle of Chora. It holds a distinction shared by no other lighthouse in Europe. Standing on a wave-cut stone stack rather than on land or a harbour wall. It … Read more
Andros has one of the longest and most indented coastlines in the Cyclades, and most of its finest beaches, sea caves and coves are cut off from every road. Boat trips are the way to reach them. In summer a small fleet of RIBs, caiques and private cruisers runs from the west-coast harbours to the … Read more
Batsi is the main resort of Andros, a former fishing village on the sheltered west coast that has grown into the island’s liveliest base without losing its harbour charm. Whitewashed houses tumble down to a curving bay where fishing boats share the water with small excursion craft. A long golden beach runs right through the … Read more
Andros has a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and mild. Wet winters. As the greenest of the Cyclades it stays cooler and more comfortable than its bare neighbours, and the meltemi wind blows across it through the summer. When you visit decides whether you find quiet green trails and flowing waterfalls, warm beaches and … Read more
Andros is a large island, and where you base yourself shapes the whole trip. The main choice is between Batsi, the lively west-coast resort with the best beaches and the easiest walkable base. Chora. The elegant capital on the east coast with the island’s culture but a quieter, less beach-focused stay. Gavrio, the port, and … Read more