My wife and I will be traveling to Crete and Santorini at the beginning of April. On our way back to Piraeus we'd like to stop at one more island. We're looking for a reasonably authentic Greek cultural experience, as well as plenty to see and do. We're considering Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, or Syros for two nights. I know that Mykonos is quite overrun with high-end tourists during the high season. But is this also true during April? Would Paros, Naxos, or Syros be better to visit?
1
kaungchiau
I have never been to Paros and Syros, so won't be able tro comment on that.
Hellenic Seaways runs a Flying Cat from Crete to the Cyclades, though I am not so sure whether it will run in April. Every island has a different character. Naxos is quite green and has some beautiful landscape. Mykonos is busy and is quite expensive.
Do bear in mind that Syros and Mykonos are on the North Cyclades line and the other islands are on the Central Cyclades line. I think in the low season, it's a matter of catching the first available ferry and be flexible with your plan.
2
grecophile
I'd go for Syros as its capital, Ermoupolis, is a beautiful town which is authentically Greek. Otherwise, go for Naxos for the reasons given by #1 and is easier to get to.
3
neckervd
Naxos and Paros are probably on the route of the catamaran from Iraklio, which will run again in April. The timetables are not yet published. See later under www.gtp.gr. In the worst case, you would have to change the boat in Santorini.
Naxos and Paros are both "typically Greek" with cubic white houses, some windmills, a lot of small white churches, a blue Sea and a lot of (in April still green and flowering) landscape.
Syros is completely different, rather like a small continental town and not touristy at all (even not in high season).
Naxos is somewhat less touristy than Paros and a little better for hiking.
Mykonos is a must when you want to visit the historic places on Delos Island.
4
dianab1
I also agree with Syros and Naxos, and considering you only have 2 days, suggest Syros over Naxos, which is more compact and as grecophile states, Ermoupolis is indeed very impressive, not to mention Vaporia and Ano Syros, all in reasonable walking distance. If you're lucky, you might catch a performance at the Theatre Apollon, a historic theatre, and exact imitation of Ls Scala Milano.
6
coreybyrnes
for a combination of authentic greek living and places/things to see i'd highly recommend paros
7
ijuliano
Mykonos will be overcrowded from Greeks from the 19h until the end of April due to the Greek Easter (April 27th) (many Greek celebrities, of any range, want to show up in Mykonos during those days) and if you walk up and down Matogianeika the whole day, there are many possibilities to see your self picturing in the celebrity column of some Greek TV Magazine, walking by coincidence behind or next to a "Greek Celebrity". To my opinion try Naxos.
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