The location of Syros
The wonderful Syros can be found in the northern part of the Cyclades archipelago. It is fairly far away from the surrounding islands; its closest neighbour is Tinos to the southeast.
The history of Syros
The island of Syros was inhabited as early as prehistoric times. A lot of findings from 3000 BC have been preserved; they indicate the presence of Cycladic culture in the area. The island was even mentioned by Homer in his work, referred to as “Syrie”. The first permanent residents were Phoenicians who settled on certain islands of the Cyclades. Later, the island was under the dominion of different groups for longer or shorter periods, such as the Persians, the Romans, The Franks, and the Turkish. During the Greek revolutionary war in 1821, the Greeks took over the island. During World War II, it was occupied by the Germans and suffered vast damages. Today, the island is developing constantly mainly thanks to tourism.
The climate of Syros
Similarly to the other members of the archipelago, Syros also has a Mediterranean climate. The average temperature is 28° Celsius in July. The temperature of the Aegean Sea is above 20° Celsius in the summer. The warmest period is between July and August with a water temperature of 23-24° Celsius. The island is completely surrounded by the open sea from all directions. As a result, the air is refreshed by the Meltemi in the summer and by the Sirocco in the winter.
The main sights to see on the island of Syros
There are many sights to see on the island of Syros; most of these are located in Ermoupolis, which operates as a port town. Upon arrival at the port, we will find ourselves immediately in the middle of the Vaporia quarter. Back in the day, rich boat owners and merchants lived in this Venetian-styled quarter, which is located right next to the sea. Today, you can find hotels and restaurants in many of the houses. Saint Nicholas Church can also be found in this quarter. There are many similar churches and chapels commemorating different saints here. The Neoclassical Town Hall, located on Miaouli Square, is worth visiting as well. Syros Island used to be famous for shipbuilding – the Industrial Museum, established in three industrial buildings, is a tribute to this profession. The Archaeological Museum exhibits items that have been collected from ancient times to the present day.
Outside the town, you can even see some archaeological excavations. If you walk up to the village of Ano Syros on the hill, you can admire the beautiful view of the island.
The gastronomy of Syros
Like almost all other Greek islands, Syros also has some local specialties. The Zozefinos and the Tyrosyra are two famous cheesemakers; you can see their products in the local stores and restaurants. Their famous confection called loukoumi is known as “Turkish delight” outside Greece.
Beaches in Syros
Azolimnos Beach
The tiny beach belongs to the village of Azolimnos, located 4 kilometres to the southeast of Ermoupolis. There are snack bars and lounges on the beach. If you would like to explore the underwater world, you can choose from local businesses specialising in scuba-diving.
Megas Gialos beach
The family-friendly Megas Gialos offers a beautiful sandy beach, trees providing shade and slowly-deepening water. There are restaurants and bars on the beach. You can find an ideal spot for your boat, too, directly next to the beach in a tiny marina.
Possidonia beach
Posidonia is particularly popular among tourists; they offer everything you may need. They have snack bars and loungers for their guests. There is also a wonderful view of the two islands nearby from the fine sandy beach.
Komito beach
This separated shore segment can be found on the southwestern side of Syros. The sandy beach is surrounded by olive and cypress trees. Besides some sunshades, there is no sign of human activity on these parts. There are no bars or shops nearby either, so you should bring your own food and drinks. Still, it is a nice and peaceful beach with no crowds.
Rent a boat in Syros
You can reach all members of the Cyclades archipelago’s northern and central parts from Syros. It doesn’t matter which direction you choose, from here you can get to the nearby islands easily. In the following section, we will provide you with a list of the most important ports in the area.
Apollonia Marina, Naxos
It is a larger marina on the northeast coast of Naxos, in the town of the same name. It can accommodate boats up to 60 metres in length and a draft of 4 metres. The marina offers basic services. There are also some restaurants and bars. Information about sailing in Naxos, or rent a boat in Naxos
Ayios Nikólaos Marina, Kea
It is an important port on the island of Kea, close to beautiful golden beaches and excellent fishing spots. It can accommodate 255 yachts at the same time, with a maximum length of 50 metres. The water depth of the port is up to 8 metres.
Mérikha Marina, Kithnos
This tiny marina can accommodate about 30 yachts up to 60 meters long and has a water depth of 8 meters. Local hotels, restaurants, and lively nightlife areas are in the immediate vicinity.
Ermoupolis Marina, Siros
Yachts up to 60 metres long can moor in the main marina of the tiny island of Siros. The water depth here is 9 metres. There are plenty of services available, including boat service and refuelling. Information about sailing in Syros.
Paroikia Marina, Paros
The most popular marina is in Paros. It can accommodate yachts up to 60 metres. They also offer refuelling, boat service and electricity. The city’s sights, the best hotels and apartments, as well as great taverns and bars, await visitors near the marina. The depth of the marina is 3.5 metres. Information about sailing in Paros, or Paros rent a boat
Tinos Marina, Tinos
This medium-sized marina locates in Tinos, a city of the same name as the island. The marina, which is 5.5 metres deep, can be moored by yachts up to 60 metres long, for which it offers many services. From here you can easily reach all the sights and beaches of the island.
Mykonos Marina, Mykonos
On the island of Mykonos, in the marina of the city with the same name as the island yachts up to 40 metres long can berth. 30 ships can anchor at the same time. The water depth is 4.5 metres. In addition to restaurants, hotels, car rentals, and other services, there is also a boat service. Information about sailing in Mykonos, or Mykonos yacht rental
The island of Syros welcomes visitors with a beautiful capital offering dozens of sights, as well as some tiny villages to explore. It is also an ideal starting point when exploring the islands nearby. Regardless of which direction you choose from here, you can definitely expect an easy peaceful trip. Choose Syros as the starting point for your boat trip, and you will have the experience of a lifetime! Find yacht routes in Cyclades or choose another yacht charter in Cyclades.
More information about Syros
The climate diagrams are based on 30 years of hourly weather model simulations. They give good indications of typical climate patterns and expected conditions (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and wind). The “mean daily maximum” (solid red line) shows the maximum temperature of an average day for every month for Syros. Likewise, the “mean daily minimum” (solid blue line) shows the average minimum temperature.
The wind rose for Syros shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction. The diagram for Syros shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed.
Rent a boat in Syros, and cruise around Syros
Day 1. Ermoupolis (Syros) – Tinos 22, 05 km (13, 70 mi), Day 2. Tinos – Gavrio (Androsz) 55, 38 km (34, 41 mi), Day 3. Gavrio (Androsz) – Kea 45, 60 km (28, 33 mi), Day 4. Kea – Kithnos 37, 99 km (23, 60 mi), Day 5. Kithnos – Parikia (Paros) 84, 99 km (52, 81 mi), Day 6. Parikia (Paros) – Mykonos 47, 04 km (29, 23 mi), Day 7. Mykonos – Delos – Ermoupolis (Syros) 41, 08 km (25, 53 mi).
Day 1. Ermoupolis (Syros) – Tinos 22, 05 km (13, 70 mi), Day 2. Tinos – Mykonos 17, 04 km (10, 59 mi), Day 3. Mykonos – Naxos 41, 18 km (25, 59 mi), Day 4. Naxos – Parikia (Paros) 29, 26 km (18, 18 mi), Day 5. Parikia (Paros) – Kithnos 84, 68 km (52, 62 mi), Day 6. Kithnos – Kea 36, 71 km (22, 81 mi), Day 7. Kea – Sounion – Kalamaki-Alimos Marina (Athen) 69, 06 km (42, 91 mi).
Read more about sailing in Syros
