Islands from Piraeus · Greek Islands
Syros
The elegant capital of the Cyclades
About Syros
A working, lived-in island with a grand neoclassical capital, a marble town hall, a miniature opera house, a medieval Catholic town on the hill, sandy beaches and the sweetest loukoumi in Greece.
The back story
Syros has two towns on two hills, and two histories. Ano Syros, the medieval town on the higher hill, was founded by Catholic islanders in the Venetian era, and the island’s Catholic community lived under French protection during Ottoman times.
During the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s, refugees from Chios, Psara and other islands fled to Syros and founded a new town by the harbour, Ermoupoli, the city of Hermes, god of trade. It grew with astonishing speed into the busiest port in Greece, a centre of shipping, shipbuilding, banking and industry, and its merchants filled it with neoclassical mansions, churches and public buildings. Ermoupoli is still the administrative capital of the Cyclades.
Ermoupoli is still the administrative capital of the Cyclades.
Ermoupoli
The heart of town is Miaoulis Square, a vast marble square dominated by the town hall designed by the architect Ernst Ziller and completed in the late 19th century. Nearby, the Apollo Theatre, opened in 1864, is a jewel of a small opera house modelled on the great Italian theatres, and still stages concerts and a summer festival. Stroll through the Vaporia quarter, where captains’ mansions stand above the sea, and swim from the rocks right in town.
Ano Syros
Climb the steps or take a taxi up to Ano Syros, a maze of white medieval lanes around the Catholic cathedral of St George, with wonderful views over Ermoupoli and the neighbouring islands. It was the birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, one of the great musicians of rebetiko, the Greek urban blues, and there is a small museum in his honour.
Beaches and sweets
The beaches are on the south and west coasts: Galissas, Kini, where the sunsets are famous, Vari and Finikas, all easy to reach by bus. Before you leave, buy loukoumi and halvadopita, the island’s famous sweets, from the shops by the harbour.
Getting there
Syros has a small airport with flights from Athens of about 35 minutes. It is one of the quickest Cyclades to reach by sea: high-speed ferries from Piraeus take about two hours and conventional ferries about three and a half to four. Syros has year-round connections, and is easily combined with Tinos, Mykonos and Paros.
Why it's on our list
- Ermoupoli’s neoclassical mansions
- The Apollo Theatre and the town hall
- Ano Syros and its rebetiko heritage
- Quick to reach from Piraeus
Syros at a glance
Ferry times are typical and change with the season, the boat and the number of stops; check current timetables with the ferry companies or Ferryhopper before you travel.
Getting there · 4
High-speed ferry from Piraeus: about 2 hours, Conventional ferry: about 3.5 to 4 hours, Ferries all year, Airport: yes, small, flights from Athens about 35 minutes
Highlights · 4
Miaoulis Square and the town hall, Apollo Theatre, Ano Syros, Kini sunsets and loukoumi
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Syros before you go.