Andros - Cyclades (Greece)

Andros is the northernmost island of the Cyclades, the second largest in the group (380 km2/147mi2). This beautiful Cyclades island is two hours by boat from Rafina (near Athens), the distance from the port of Rafina is 57 kilometers.

Andros is a mountainous island with steep sides, impressive gorges, beautiful sandy beaches, busy villages and three large valleys planted with vines, olive groves and many other trees. The capital of Andros is Chora (Andros town), situated in the southeast of the island. It consists of the second most important harbor of the island. Here there is a combination of Cycladic architecture style with the Neoclassical style. It is a very striking town, with neoclassical mansions, Cycladic houses, narrow alleys and picturesque squares. When in Andros town you should definitely visit the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

Throughout the year popular events and festivities are held on the island. These festivities are related to the Orthodox religion of the inhabitants and the sea. Most of the families on Andros are religious and have someone who earns his living as sailor. On Andros, wine is prized. There is a legend regarding wine on Andros. In ancient time the God of wine Dionysos was honored and during the festivities, and wine, instead of water, flowed from a local spring!

Andros is an island with good tourist amenities for the visitors, and is often chosen for its natural beauties, its historical monuments, its superb beaches and its medicinal springs.

Sights and tips Andros Island

• The beautiful castle of Aghios Petros in Gavrio.
• The church Panagia Palatiani built in the 13th century within walls.
• The church of Aghios Michail (1158 A.D.).
• Messaria, the Monastery of Aghios Nikolaos (from the 18th century).
• The church of Taxiarchis built in the 12th century.
• The St. Nicholas monastery at Apikia (this is also the site of the Sariza mineral spring).
• The Papachrantou Monastery at Falika.
• The monastery of Zoodochoe Pigis  (14th century) at the top of the hill Kapsorachi located at an altitude of 300 meters (about 1000 ft).
• The Nautical Museum with a rich collection of ship models, photographs and ship instruments.
• Archeological museum of Andros with finds from the Geometric, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
• Museum of Modern Art with works by the sculptor Michalis Tombros.
• The ruins of the ancient city at Paleopoli.

Beaches of Andros

If you love swimming then you should definitely visit Paraporti, Batsi, Vitali and Gavrio. Bay Fellos has a very nice sandy beach.  In the north you will find Batsi, the most touristic town on the island, whose fame is partly the result of the famous sandy beach located here.
 

Festivities Andros

On August 15th there is the festival of Panagia (Holy Mother) in Andros Town. On July 17, the national feast of Agia Marina in Apikia is held. On August 6, the popular festival of Sotiras in Varsaria takes place.
 

Accessibility information island Andros

Andros is connected by ferry with the ports of Rafina, Mykonos, Syros and Tinos.

Η Άνδρος είναι νήσος στο Αιγαίο πέλαγος, νοτιοανατολικά της Εύβοιας. Είναι το βορειότερο νησί των Κυκλάδων και το δεύτερο μεγαλύτερο σε έκταση, μετά τη Νάξο. Εκτείνεται από βορειοδυτικά προς τα νοτιοανατολικά, καταλαμβάνοντας έκταση 381 τ. χλμ. Έχει πληθυσμό 8.826 κατοίκων,σύμφωνα με την απογραφή του 2021. Πρωτεύουσα του νησιού είναι η Άνδρος ή Χώρα, ενώ το λιμάνι του είναι το Γαύριο.

Η Άνδρος συνδέεται με την ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα ακτοπλοϊκώς μέσω της Ραφήνας, απέχοντας από το λιμάνι 36 ναυτικά μίλια.