Where to stay in the Cyclades: the 7 areas to know in 2026
In the Cyclades you don't choose a neighbourhood, you choose an island. Santorini for the caldera, Mykonos for the parties, Naxos and Paros for beaches and villages, Milos for its volcanic coastline, the Small Cyclades for the quiet. Two or three islands a week, no more.
A family studio with a kitchenette goes for $79* for two in June, a hotel with a pool runs from $157 to $300* in July, and a suite facing the caldera costs well beyond that. Seven areas, from the busiest to the wildest.
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One base or several?
Allow at least three nights per island: every change costs you half a day in port and at sea.
- A week: Two islands: Paros or Naxos, then Santorini to finish, with its airport.
- Ten days: Three islands: Milos, Sifnos or Folegandros, then Santorini.
- Two weeks: Four islands: Mykonos, Naxos, Koufonisia or Amorgos, then Santorini.
How much driving between two bases?
By ferry, depending on the boat: the fast ones are twice as quick, but they get rough in strong wind.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Le Pirée → Paros | 2 h 45 to 4 h | depending on the boat |
| Le Pirée → Naxos | 3 h 15 to 7 h | depending on the boat |
| Rafina → Mykonos | 2 h 15 to 4 h 30 | depending on the boat |
| Paros → Naxos | under an hour | neighbouring islands |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in the Cyclades
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Santorini Oia and Fira on the caldera, Kamari and Perissa on the beach side
for the caldera and the sunsets
On the caldera side, in Oia, Imerovigli or Fira, hotels cling to the cliff and every terrace looks out over the volcano: the finest views, and the highest prices in the archipelago. On the east side, the black sand beaches of Kamari and Perissa have far cheaper rooms, twenty minutes by bus from the caldera.
To enjoy it, avoid the months of July and August at all costs.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Canaves Oia Suites Luxury
Suites carved into the cliff at Oia, facing the caldera, with an infinity pool.
Aegean Plaza Hotel Mid-range
Fifty metres from the black sand beach of Kamari, set around a pool.
Roula Villa Studios & Apartments Budget
Family studios with a kitchen in Perissa, a few minutes from the beach and fifty metres from the bus.
Pros
- A view of the caldera from your room
- Beaches and gentle prices around Kamari and Perissa
Cons
- The highest prices in the Cyclades on the caldera
- Huge crowds from June to September
Mykonos Chora and the southern beaches
for parties, beaches and Delos
Mykonos comes alive at night: the bars of Little Venice and the beach clubs in the south, all summer long. In Chora, white lanes lead down to the old port, where the boats leave for Delos. Beaches such as Platis Gialos are more family-friendly. After the Santorini caldera, it is the most expensive island.
For clubbers, Mykonos is a must-see in July and August. For everyone else, avoid that time of year.
Where to stay in this area
Cavo Tagoo Mykonos Luxury
An infinity pool with an aquarium bar above Chora, and sea-view rooms.
Argo Hotel Mid-range
A hundred metres from Platis Gialos beach, with every room overlooking the pool.
Lefteris Budget
A small family-run hotel in a pedestrian lane of Chora, three hundred metres from the old port.
Pros
- The liveliest nightlife in the archipelago
- Delos half an hour away by boat
Cons
- Very high prices in summer
- Noisy in July and August
Naxos Chora, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna
for sandy beaches and mountain villages
The largest of the Cyclades, and the most varied. At the harbour, the Portara guards the entrance to Chora; to the south, the sandy beaches of Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna stretch for kilometres. Inland you'll find marble villages and Mount Zas. An ideal island for families, at reasonable prices.
Where to stay in this area
Nissaki Beach Hotel Luxury
A 5-star hotel on Agios Georgios beach, within walking distance of Chora.
Kavos Hotel Naxos Mid-range
Above Agios Prokopios, with a panoramic pool and family rooms.
Asterias Studios Budget
Studios with a kitchenette two minutes from Agia Anna beach.
Pros
- Long sandy beaches that are easy with children
- Mountain villages and gentle prices
Cons
- A car comes in handy for the interior
- Less charm than the smaller islands
Paros and Antiparos Parikia, Naoussa, Antiparos
for a central base, between buzz and calm
In the middle of the archipelago, Paros is the best hub: most ferries call at Parikia. In the north, the fishing port of Naoussa livens up in the evening. Just opposite, Antiparos is quieter, a few minutes away by car ferry.
Paros is the ideal spot to use as a starting point for a sailing trip in the Cyclades.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Parilio Luxury
A 5-star hotel near Naoussa, with a spa and pool, an eighteen-minute walk from Kolymbithres beach.
Pandrossos Hotel Mid-range
Forty-six rooms above Parikia, some with a sea view, and a pool.
Korali Hotel Budget
A small, simple hotel on Antiparos, a short walk from Psaraliki beach.
Pros
- The best ferry connections in the archipelago
- Lively evenings in Naoussa, peace and quiet on Antiparos
Cons
- Strong wind on the north coast in July and August
- Naoussa is expensive in high season
Milos and Kimolos Adamas, Plaka, Pollonia
for the volcanic coastline and the coves
Milos has the most astonishing landscapes in the archipelago: the white rocks of Sarakiniko, the cliffs of Kleftiko, a cove around every bend. The port of Adamas is the most practical base, Plaka the prettiest, Pollonia the quietest, facing the island of Kimolos.
Even if Plaka remains the preferred spot to stay, this is also a great central hub for crisscrossing the island (especially by bus)!
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel Luxury
A boutique hotel on a cliff in Pollonia, with an infinity pool and a sea view.
Santa Maria Village Resort & Spa Mid-range
Three hundred and fifty metres from a sandy beach near Adamas, with a pool and views over the Aegean.
Hotel Delfini Budget
A family-run hotel fifty metres from Lagada beach, a few minutes from the port of Adamas.
Pros
- A unique coastline of white rocks and sea caves
- Fewer crowds than on Santorini or Mykonos
Cons
- A car or a boat helps for reaching the coves
- No direct international flights
The Small Cyclades and Amorgos Koufonisia, Amorgos, Schinoussa, Donoussa
for peace, coves and hiking
Between Naxos and Amorgos lie small islands with hardly any cars: Koufonisia and its white sand beaches, Schinoussa, Iraklia, Donoussa. Further east, Amorgos raises its cliffs and its monastery clinging to the rock, with footpaths from one village to the next. A small ferry, the Express Skopelitis, links them to Naxos all year round.
Where to stay in this area
Vigla Hotel Luxury
Twenty-four rooms in the village of Tholaria, on Amorgos, with a pool and a view over Aegiali bay.
Atlantida Hotel Mid-range
Fifty metres from Megali Ammos beach on Koufonisia, rooms with a sea-view balcony.
Pension Sofia Amorgos-Katapola Budget
A family guesthouse in Katapola, the port of Amorgos, with a garden full of flowers.
Pros
- Peace and quiet, and coves you can walk to
- Hiking trails on Amorgos
Cons
- Few boats out of season
- Few hotels, quickly full in August
Sifnos, Folegandros and Ios The western and southern islands
for hiking, food and hilltop villages
Sifnos is the island for hiking and food, with its white villages in the centre and its potters. Folegandros perches its Chora on the edge of a two-hundred-metre cliff. Ios, further south, draws a young crowd with its nightlife and the long beach of Mylopotas.
For lodging, prioritize Apollonia or Artemonas, in the center of the island.
Where to stay in this area
ANEMI Folegandros Luxury
A 5-star hotel near the port of Karavostasis on Folegandros, with a pool and restaurant.
Niriedes Hotel Mid-range
Above the bay of Platis Gialos on Sifnos, every room with a sea view and a kitchenette.
Hotel Petradi Budget
Five hundred metres from Mylopotas beach on Ios, with a pool facing the sea.
Pros
- Authentic, less visited islands
- Hiking and food on Sifnos
Cons
- Less frequent connections than in the centre
- Ios is very noisy in summer
Our tips for booking the right place
- Book ferries and rooms together: In July and August the boats fill up just like the hotels, especially around 15 August. Book both on the same day, and keep a spare night before your flight: the meltemi wind sometimes cancels crossings.
- Check opening dates: Most hotels open from April or May to October. Outside that period, Naxos and Paros, which have more year-round residents, keep a few places open.
- The tourist tax comes on top of the room: From April to October, a tax of $2.30 to $17* per room per night, depending on the hotel's category, is paid on the spot. Build it into your budget.
- The Santorini caldera if your budget is tight: Kamari and Perissa give you the same island for much less.
- Mykonos or Ios in August if you are looking for peace and quiet.
- A small island in November or March: hotels closed and boats few and far between.
FAQ: where to stay in the Cyclades
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Our city guides in the Cyclades
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