Andros

Introducing Andros

Big, beautiful Andros is a mere two hours by ferry from mainland Rafina and is a rewarding escape for those who want a less-tourist-logged Cycladic world. It’s the most northerly island of the Cyclades and is the second largest after Naxos.

Satisfyingly remote in places, Andros boasts neoclassical mansions and Venetian tower-houses that contrast with the rough unpainted stonework of farm buildings and patterned dovecotes. Handsome stone walls, made up of a unique pattern of irregular slabs and smaller stones, lock the sometimes friable hill slopes in place. A network of footpaths, many of them stepped and cobbled, are also maintained, and the island has a fascinating archaeological and cultural heritage.

Andros has several beaches, many of them in out-of-the way locations. There are three main settlements: the unpretentious port of Gavrio, the cheerful resort of Batsi and the handsome main town of Hora, known also as Andros.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009