Ios
Greece
Backpacking Ios
Information on Ios, sights to see, nightlife, activities and more.
Ios is one of the best party islands in the Mediterranean sea during the summer, it thrives on a wild party atmosphere, similar to spring break parties except Ios takes day drinking to another level. However, it also offers beautiful scenery and magnificent views. Ios looks like a typical port village, with cafes and restaurants around the square. But once the sun goes down, this quiet port and the typical looking village parties all night long. The innocent little white houses open their doors to become discos, bars, clubs, boutiques, snack bars, cafes, restaurants and anything you need to keep the party going. There are many different beaches on Ios with Mylopotas beach being the most popular. Many of the beaches are secluded so if you want you can have the beach to yourself. You probably won’t find much time secluded though as you will find yourself partying and having a good time with all the backpackers. One way to describe Ios is magical as everyone that travels here finds themselves falling in love with the island.
Must See
Chill on Mylopotas Beach - As Ios most popular beach, Mylopotas white sand lasts for miles and is lined with cabanas, bars, and restaurants. Most people are still hungover in the morning but come out about 1pm so if you arrive by then, you can get a nice spot.
Chill on Magganari Beach - known as the most beautiful beach on the island with shallow, crystal clear water. Head to Maganari Beach for some relaxtion. The beach is gorgeous and sheltered from wind, making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. You can take the bus here from the main town.
Must Do
Rent an ATV and Explore the Island - A popular activity on Ios and a great way to explore the island at your own pace! Some of the roads in Ios are dirt and this is the best way to see these parts of the island.
Take a Boat Tour - many beaches are only accessible by boat on Ios. The captains will take you to the best beaches depending on the weather for the day and some have bbq’s where you can enjoy Greek food.
Nightlife
Ios has some of the craziest nightlife on the Greek islands. It is a summer party island where days are spent hungover chilling on the beach and nights spent partying and eating cheap street food. A backpackers dream if you want to party! There is a really fun pub crawl where you can meet people from all over the world and plenty of bars and clubs right on the beach. If you’re backpacking through the Greek islands and looking to party, don’t miss Ios.
Get started now on planning your backpacking trip with personalized recommendations from our advisors. Your plan will include: accommodation options, food/nightlife recommendations, tours or attractions to see with recommendations for best operators, 24/7 assistance with bookings, answers to any questions and more.