Cyclades Islands

The most famous island group    in the Aegean Sea or to be more precise -the Archipelago of the Cyclades- comprises some of the most beautiful islands in the world! Gorgeous sandy beaches, architecture in white and blue, traditional lifestyle, folk music, wonderful food, renowned wines, warm, hospitable people and barren landscapes with isolated chapels turn a trip to the Cyclades into a lifetime experience. The Cyclades include about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Folegandros, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Thira or Santoríni. There are also many smaller islands (the Lesser Cyclades) including Donousa, Eschati, Gyaros, Irakleia, Koufonisia, Makronisos, Rineia, and Schoinousa. The name "Cyclades" refers to the islands forming a circle ("circular islands") around the sacred island of Delos. Most of the smaller and some larger islands are uninhabited. Ermoupoli on Syros is the chief town (capital) and administrative center of the prefecture. The islands, each with its own character, are peaks of a submerged mountainous terrain, with the exception of two volcanic, Milos and Santorini. Access to the Cyclades is either by plane or ferry. Some islands have international airports with direct flights (eg Santorini, Paros, Mykonos) and other regional with flights mostly from Athens,Thessaloniki or Crete. Ferries leave mostly from Pireus, Lavrio or Rafina ports, but also from Crete. Many travellers would like to visit more than one islands, now as « ferry hopping ». Ferries do link clusters of islands but be advised that moving from one cluster to another is day-consuming and depending on ferry schedules you may need to overnight at stopping points to catch your next boat early next day, hence do not plan it on a tight time schedule. Otherwise, it is an inspiring trip you should make to get to know the unique