156 Best Sights in The Cyclades, Greece

Chalki itself is a pretty town, known for its neoclassical houses in shades of pink, yellow, and gray, which are oddly juxtaposed with the plain but stately 17th-century Frangopoulos Tower. Like other towers erected by the Venetians on the island, it was primarily used in its heyday for defense purposes.

Ftelia is famous for its winds, which attract windsurfers who love to test out the turquoise waters. The beach's smooth sand is mostly free of sun beds or umbrellas, so when you approach it, all you’ll see is a wide-open stretch of yellow sand—if the wind isn’t blowing it all about. There is a good beach club built into the rocks at the far left-hand side. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: windsurfing.

Competing with Kini for the most magical sunset, the long curve of sand and clear coastline of water at Galissas is a local favorite. It's also won the coveted EU Blue Flag award for being one of the cleanest in Europe. As one of the island's largest beaches, it's well organized with beach umbrella and chair rentals available in peak season. When the island winds roar, windsurfers show up. There's a separate area for nudists. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: nudists; swimming; windsurfing.

One of the oldest vineyards, this winery has been exporting its distinguished produce since the days when mules carted wine-filled goatskins to the port in Fira. Tastings in the atmospheric old storage and pressing rooms include Voudomato, a native dry rosé, and Nykteri, a sophisticated white from the island's indigenous Assyrtiko grapes—the name means "working the night away," because the grapes have traditionally been harvested at night to avoid damage from the heat.

Golden Beach (or Chrysi Akti in Greek) is a series of tree-fringed sandy beaches that are well organized and in close proximity to an array of taverns, restaurants, and cafés. The area is famous for its water-sports activities and several centers are based here offering diving excursions and kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons. The Windsurfing World Cup has held events here. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; water sports; windsurfing.

The Greek Orthodox cathedral was built in 1789 on the site of a church called Zoodochos Pigis (Life-giving Source). The cathedral was built from the materials of ancient temples: the solid granite pillars are said to be from the ruins of Delos. Amid the gold and the carved wood, there is a vividly colored iconostasis painted by a well-known iconographer of the Cretan school, Dimitrios Valvis, and the Gospel Book is believed to be a gift from Catherine the Great of Russia.

Northeast of the palaestras is the Gymnasium, a square courtyard nearly 131 feet long on each side. Scratched into the rock are early graffiti of the local boys names and the girls they ogled. The long, narrow structure farther northeast is the stadium, the site of the athletic events of the Delian Games. East of the stadium site, by the seashore, are the remains of a synagogue built by Phoenician Jews in the 2nd century BC.

Suitably housed in refurbished factories that helped establish the island's wealth and industrial supremacy in the 19th century, the Industrial Museum walks you through the commercial district's rise and fall. The three buildings once belonged to Katsimantis Paint, the Aneroussis Lead Factory, and the Kornilakis Tannery. A tour gives insight into how employees worked, who they worked for, and how their collective skills made Syros a bustling harbor and key European trading zone, all contributing to the island's prosperity and influence on Greece as a fledgling nation. Vintage photographs, various tools, and an exhibit of two-dozen large machines that were used until the mid-20th century also give insight into a thriving industrial center that once was.

The beach, located right at the foot of the little fishing village of Isternia Bay, is actually two beaches—one a pebbled area and one a sandy cove—but both are known for their peaceful seclusion, although two tavernas and a café are nearby. You can also take some time out to visit the inland village of Isternia about 5 km (3 miles) away. Whether you're lying on the beach or having a meal by the sea, you can look forward to enjoying one of the nicest sunset views in Tinos. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; swimming.

This long stretch of picturesque beach with a line of shady trees is known for the water-sports and windsurfing crowds it attracts. The back road has an array of hotels, rooms-for-rent, tavernas, and beach bars, as well as a well-known windsurfing school and water-sports rental shop. A small dock to the left side of the beach houses a tavern, beach bar, and a diving center office that leads excursions out to nearby uninhabited islands. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Mykonos’s characteristic rocky hills surround Kalo Livadi’s long sandy beach, at the edge of the island valley from which it got its name, meaning "good valley.” Families head here to spend the day playing with their kids in the shallow waters and take a break at one of the many restaurants surrounding the beach. In summer the beach is divided into several areas that feature various styles of sun beds and umbrellas for rent. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Santorini's most popular beach, one of several excellent stretches of sand on the southern end of the island, manages to maintain its beauty despite an onslaught of sunseekers. The black sands are backed by dramatic cliffs, including the one topped by Ancient Thira. A steep path from one end of the beach leads up to the ruins, past a refreshing and very welcome natural spring, but most beachgoers don't venture beyond their umbrella-shaded loungers or the long line of beach bars and tavernas. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Sandy, long, and unorganized, Kaminia sits to the north of Paroikía Bay. Beachgoers seeking more solitude can head here, even though it’s right next to the popular Krios Beach. See if you can find the cave of Archilochos, which is a small opening on the rock along the coast. The famous Ancient Greek poet was said to visit the cave for inspiration and wrote poetry there. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Although close to the popular beach destinations, Kastraki Beach has kept its tranquil, quiet, and low-key status in place. The long, sandy stretch of beach is essentially a continuation of Mikri Vigla but attracts those who prefer the experience of undeveloped and untouched Greek island beaches. Several designated areas are popular with nudists. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; swimming; walking.

You won't miss the gates of the castle. The south gate is called the Paraporti (side gate), but it's more interesting to enter through the northern gate, or Trani (strong), via Apollonos Street. Note the vertical incision in the gate's marble column—it is the Venetian yard against which drapers measured the bolts of cloth they brought to the noblewomen. Step through the Trani into the citadel and enter another age, where sedate Venetian houses still stand around silent courtyards, their exteriors emblazoned with coats of arms and bedecked with flowers. Half are still owned by the original families; romantic Greeks and foreigners have bought up the rest.

The entire citadel was built in 1207 by Marco Sanudo, a Venetian who, three years after the fall of Constantinople, landed on Naxos as part of the Fourth Crusade. When in 1210 Venice refused to grant him independent status, Sanudo switched allegiance to the Latin emperor in Constantinople, becoming duke of the archipelago. Under the Byzantines, "archipelago" had meant "chief sea," but after Sanudo and his successors, it came to mean "group of islands," that is, the Cyclades. For three centuries Naxos was held by Venetian families, who resisted pirate attacks, introduced Roman Catholicism, and later rebuilt the castle in its present form. In 1564 Naxos came under Turkish rule but, even then, the Venetians ran the island, while the Turks only collected taxes. The rust-color Glezos tower was home to the last dukes; it displays the coat of arms: a pen and sword crossed under a crown.

Above the village of Sangri, you can make out the ruins of Kastro Apilarou, the castle vanquished by the Italian conquerer, Marco Sanudo. The castle was the defensive stronghold for the region and held out for two months, but locals today still say its a bit of a mystery about who the Apilarou family really was before Sanudo came and took over. If you do make the tough climb to view it up close, you'll be greeted with a fantastic view of the Naxian plains.

If you're looking for the best sunset on the island, head where the locals head—Kini. The beach, long and sandy, features a little picturesque port that's flanked by a line of shady trees and the lovely little whitewashed village it gets its name from. It's big enough to accommodate all beach-going types including families, strolling couples, and water-sports lovers. The selection of taverns, restaurants, and cafés are plentiful and if you need a beach umbrella and chair rental, show up early during peak season. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; sunset; walking.

Just 3 km (2 miles) west of Tinos Town, Kionia Beach remains one of the island's most visited beaches. It has both pebbles and sand, but the long stretch of sand dominates, and a section of it fronts the archaeological site of the Sanctuary of Poseidon. Kionia's beachfront road is lined with cafés, tavernas, rooms for rent, and the Tinos Beach Hotel, which are all within walking distance of the beach. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent during the summer. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

The beach, which is noted for its anfractuous rock formations, is also considered to be one of Paros's best, attracting its share of crowds to the small, sandy cove. The granite formations create shallow pools of water popular with the kids. It's within walking distance of two tavernas that overlook the region. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent from a seasonal café. Head to the top of nearby Koukounaries Hill to view the remains of an ancient site. You can get there by car, and there is designated parking for the beach. A water-taxi crosses the bay to Kolymbithres from Naousa. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: swimming.

Close to Paroikía, this sandy beach is a popular summer destination. Cliffs jut into the sand line, parting the coastline and providing protection from the summer island winds. From under a rented umbrella you can watch the boats and ferries slowly sail into the harbor. If you need to take a break, there's a selection of nearby tavernas. To get here, you can hike the half-hour-long cliff-top trail, take a small boat from the harbor, or drive to the nearby parking area. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

A boat from Naousa regularly heads to Lageri, a long beach known for its fine sand, dunes, and calm, quiet atmosphere. These are just a few of the reasons it attracts its share of nudists, who prefer the less crowded Paros beaches. It's also accessible via a small footpath from the main road. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; walking.

Take a peek into Lena's House, an annex of the local Folk Museum, and experience an accurate restoration of a middle-class Mykonos house from the 19th century. The name refers to its last inhabitant, Lena Skrivanou.

By Mykonos standards, Lia Beach is considered tranquil and quiet, perhaps because it’s one of the farthest organized beaches from Mykonos Town. You can drive to the beach or get off at the last stop on the Mykonos Town boat that brings people to the beaches. Rows of beach chairs and umbrellas line the pebble and sand beach, which is surrounded on both sides by a rocky coastline and the typical bare yet beautiful hills of the island. Divers and snorkelers head here to explore the turquoise waters. Once you're set up, see if you can spot Naxos and Paros in the distance. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

Considered the closest authentic Parian beach near Paroikía, Livadia is the first wide bay north of the harbor that's comprised of a series of smaller, white-sand beaches. Some areas are organized with beach chair and umbrella rentals while others are untouched by tourism, and only trees provide shade. Just a 10-minute walk from the town and harbor and near campgrounds, it can get crowded. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Just around the bend from Piso Livadi is the long stretch of yellow sand known as Logaras Beach. A few tavernas are nearby, and in the distance the little whitewashed church of Ayios Georgios Thalassites, or St. George of the Sea, stands where it has since the 13th century. This quiet beach has chairs and umbrellas available for rent in the summer season. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

Small, quiet, and secluded, this sand-and-pebble beach is flanked by shady tamarisk trees. There are no amenities here, but it's within walking distance of the well-organized and popular Kini beach and Kini Village where everything can be found. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude.

Start a tour of Mykonos Town (Hora) on the main square, Manto Mavrogenous Square (sometimes called Taxi Square). Pride of place goes to a bust of Manto Mavrogenous, the island heroine, atop a pedestal. In the 1821 War of Independence the Mykonians, known for their seafaring skills, volunteered an armada of 24 ships, and in 1822, when the Ottomans landed a force on the island, Manto and her soldiers forced them back to their ships. After independence, a scandalous love affair caused the heroine's exile to Paros, where she died. An aristocratic beauty who becomes a great revolutionary war leader and then dies for love may seem straight out of Hollywood, but it is all true.

Marcello's famously cool waters attract Parians on the hottest summer days. You can spend the entire day eating, drinking, swimming, or watching the calm water lap against this long, sandy stretch of coastline, as the beach is well equipped with beach bars and cafés, tavernas, and umbrellaed lounge-chair rentals. Next to Krios Beach, it's accessible by car, boat, or a 40-minute hike from Paroikía. Amenities: food and drink, parking (free). Best for: swimming; walking.

The main shopping street, Matoyanni, is lined with jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, chic cafés, and candy shops. Owing to the many cruise ships that disgorge thousands of shoppers daily in season—some unload 3,000 jostling tourists—the rents here rival 5th Avenue's, and the more-interesting shops have skedaddled to less-prominent side streets.