Discovering the Cyclades from Mykonos

To the north-west of Mykonos, the massive silhouette of Tinos is almost always visible, as the two islands are so close to each other (15min to 35min crossing). In mythology, Tinos was the island of Aeolus, the god of wind, which says a lot about the island's climatic conditions!

Tinos is so close, yet so far, so far away from the atmosphere of Mykonos: it's hard to find two such stark opposites! Tinos is a very religious island, in a way comparable to the Greek version of Lourdes. In Chora, the island's capital and main port, an important sanctuary, the church of Panagia Evangelístria, contains a very holy icon of the Virgin, revered throughout Greece. It is the subject of constant processions, with pilgrims, often elderly, crossing the town on their knees to reach the sanctuary!

If you stay for more than a day, Tinos is also known for its beautiful Cycladic villages, still preserved from too many tourists. A must-see!

Arriving in Syros from Mykonos is always a surprise: as the administrative capital of the Cyclades, the port of Ermoupoli has the feel of a busy town, with shipyards, cranes, cargo ships and heavy ferry traffic.

Don't be put off, and take a curious stroll through Ermoupoli's maze of narrow streets, which are surprisingly dense and extensive: the neo-classical architecture is in stark contrast to that of the Cyclades, as in Miaouli Square, where you'll feel like you're in another archipelago!

The day trip to Ermoupoli is easy (30min to 1h30 crossing time), with several daily connections from Mykonos. But to explore the rest of Syros, you'll need to linger longer.

Naxos is the largest, highest and most densely populated of the Cyclades. Here, life and economic activity are sustained all year round, thanks to its marble quarries, agriculture and livestock farming. Produce is local to Naxos, and it's a rare sight in the Cyclades to come across herds of cows!

Very lively in summer and close to Mykonos (40min to 1h15 crossing), Naxos retains a truly typical Greek atmosphere. In Chora, you can admire the Venetian Kastro, lose yourself in the Cycladic lanes, wander around the port and take a photo at sunset at the Gate of Apollo, facing Delos.

Elsewhere, the island is well worth a few days' visit for its heavenly sandy beaches, traditional villages, gastronomy and hiking, including the not-to-be-missed ascent of Mount Zeus, the highest peak in the Cyclades at 1,000m!

Paros is establishing itself as a fashionable destination in the Cyclades, known for its chic and festive atmosphere, such as the Naoussa marina where the jet set meets up in summer. Enough to overshadow Mykonos?

The style is still very different, and Paros also stands out for its large size and the richness of its historical and natural heritage. Parikia, the island's port and capital, is a good example of this: nestling in the heart of a magnificent bay, very active in the evening, it is also home to one of the most remarkable monuments in the Cyclades, the Byzantine basilica of Panagia Ekatontapiliani.

Given the nightlife on Paros, it's well worth spending even just one night there, thanks to the frequent connections (45min to 1h crossing time) with Mykonos in season.

In the Cyclades, only one island can rival the popularity of Mykonos: Santorini, a volcanic island whose caldera offers a landscape of unique beauty. It would be a shame to miss out!

Although not in sight, Santorini is very easy to reach from Mykonos (2h to 3h crossing) with several daily connections in season. Ideally, you should stay at least one night, or even longer, to take in the white cliffside villages of Fira and Oia and take plenty of photos of the incredible scenery.

Santorini is also served by an airport, so why not arrive in Mykonos and depart from Santorini (and vice versa)?