Small Cyclades

Small Cyclades (Μικρές Κυκλάδες), also known as Little Cyclades is a group of small islands in the central Aegean Sea in Greece.

Understand
  • Small Cyclades are located between Naxos, Ios and Amorgos. The Small Cyclades group consists of 32 small islands, 4 of which are inhabited, and numerous rocky islets. Tiny, calm, with Cycladic architecture, great food, golden beaches and turquoise waters - paradise. They have been governed from Naxos since 1994.

Climate
  • Mild Mediterranean, typical of Cyclades islands with summer north winds (called meltemia in Greek) which mitigate the heat.

Islands
  • Donoussa - Area: 13,75 km - Population: 163
  • Ano Koufonisi - Area: 3,5 km - Population: 366
  • Kato Koufonisi - Area: 4,3 km - Population: 2
  • Keros - Area: 15 km - Population: None
  • Schinoussa - Area: 8,51 km - Population: 206
  • Iraklia - Area: 17,79 km - Population: 151

Get in
  • By ferry from Athens (Piraeus port): During the summer there is a daily service from Piraeus to the islands of Small Cyclades by ferry. It takes 6 - 8 hours, depending on which island you want to visit. During the winter the service runs twice a week.
  • By ferry from Naxos: “Skopelitis”, the legendary ferry, runs daily during the whole year round and connects Amorgos and Naxos with Eastern Small Cyclades.
  • By ferry from the rest of Cyclades: The ferry: “Panagia Tinou” provides weekly connections with eastern Cyclades. Every Monday it sets sail from Syros, via Paros and Naxos and heads for the island of Donoussa, Amorgos (Egiali and Katapola), Koufonissia, Schinoussa, Iraklia and then returns via Naxos and Paros to Syros.
  • By air: None of these islands is large enough to have an airport. If you would rather get closer to Small Cyclades islands by air, you can get a flight to Naxos, Syros or Paros. Also you can get to all the islands by helicopter.

Get around

These islands are small enough to get around on foot. It is possible to take your car on some of the ferries, or to rent one on the islands, but this is not necessary for most visitors. On Koufonisi there is a boat taxi service that takes beachgoers to and from some of the beaches for €2.50 per person.

Drink

Bottled water is recommended. It is available for around €2.50 for a pack of 6 x 1.5L bottles. Please recycle.

Sleep

There is plenty of accommodation available on these islands. This includes hotels and family-run homestays.

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