Ios Island, Greece

A Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea, Ios lies halfway between Naxos and Santorini. A hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides, Ios shines for its amazing beaches, shimmering waters, and picturesque clifftop villages with narrow alleyways. Assessable by ferry or yacht, Ios is within hand’s reach of several Greek islands, including Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, and Crete. Ancient sites, museums, windmills, and churches dot the island, most notably the whitewashed church of Panagia Gremiotissa above Chora, the tomb of the Greek poet Homer in Plakoto, and the early Bronze Age settlement of Sharkos. The Archaeological Museum of Ios, displaying findings unearthed on the island, is housed in the Amiradakio Hall, located in the center of Chora.