Help us choose which Cyclades + itinerary (late Sep/early Oct)

To manage your time most effectively it makes the best sense for you to pick another island besides Santorini that has an airport so you can fly back to Athens for your last days (yes, save Athens for the end). You would need to find one that's easily reached from Santorini by ferry on the day you anticipate changing islands. Those include Milos, Naxos and Paros. You can experiment with ferry connections here: www.gtlp.gr

I think it is better to pick your islands based on what interests you, not whether it has an airport. Two weeks is enough time that a few hours on a ferry won't inconvenience. Treat it as part of the island holiday.

Save Athens for end: good plan.

Weather ought to be OK.

Better question than what I (or anyone else) prefers is: what are relative merits of islands? Why'd you pick the ones on your list? Sifnos is very good for exploring on foot along traditional kalderimi. As recently as late 80s they were still used rather than roads. Sifnos also as a good number of typically cycladic architecture villages, and many chapels, churches, and monasteries. Several sandy beaches as well. Amorgos is similar but 'less' on most counts .. still a good choice for those reasons. The issue for both will be ferry connections, assuming you want to combine with Santorini. Purely a matter of logistics (see previous ferry link). You may or may not need to go via another island.

Milos seems to get points for beaches and lower tourist volume, but I wouldn't rate it over other islands on anything else. Kimolos, even less so. It is certainly less visited, and might suit someone looking for isolation.

Hi bthdth,

Good question. I guess we're just trying to escape the tourist trail and these islands have come to our attention as ones that have been suggested by other forum posters.

We are certainly not looking for isolation on this trip, but visiting less visited islands don't bother us. We want to interact with locals, see nice villages, take some trips around the islands we're visiting to find some restaurants, nice beaches that aren't on a resort & see interesting sights that might be on the island.

Perhaps Kimolos is too secluded?

You say that Amorgos is similar to Sifnos but "less on most counts"... what do you mean by this?

Any thoughts, based on this recent post of mine?

Less=fewer

Fewer nice villages to explore, fewer old trails (but north village,Aegiali, to center is pleasantly remote and more dramatic scenery), fewer beach options. But not less in terms of overall quality.

Kimolos has too little to offer, given your overall interests.

Hi princesultan

Travelling same weeks as you, in and out of Athens with hopes for some island visits.

Appreciate it if you could share your plan/tips?

Thanks

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