21 Best Syros Beaches in Greece You Won’t Want to Miss
If you’re hoping to find the best Syros beaches, you’re in the right place.
Beaches on Syros Island are abundant and beautiful and hold something special for everyone who visits. There are fantastic shallow water beaches for families with young kids, beaches for water sports, beaches with gorgeous sunsets, beaches with full food & drink service, and beaches with more of a party vibe.
If the diversity of beaches on Syros island has you ready to explore, rest assured that you’re going to love what’s here. You can even visit multiple beaches in Syros on the same day!
So, if the crystal-clear waters of Syros beaches are calling your name, read on as we guide you to the best this island has to offer.
21 Best Syros Beaches in Greece
All the beaches below are easily accessible via taxi, rental car, or bus.
Asteria Beach, Waves Beach, and Ermoupoli Swim Basin can also be reached via walking from Ermoupoli city center. Waves Beach and the Swim Basin are along the port, while Asteria will be a little hike up a hill and then down many stairs.
1. Asteria Beach
This is a great option for staying in the city and enjoying a swim. It is also known as Agios Nikolaos. While it is not a sandy beach, it is one of the best places to go for a swim near the capital of Ermoupoli, if you prefer to stay close to the city.
The scenery is picturesque, and instead of sand, there are a few piers with ladders from which you can swim. The waters are crystal clear – bring your snorkel and goggles if you have them but if not, you’ll still enjoy seeing to the bottom. It really is that clear!
The restaurant CIEL (open during summer/early Fall) offers sunbeds (at a price of approximately Euro 30-40) and food. There is also a public pier with permanent straw-like umbrellas just before you get to CIEL.
The umbrellas here at the public piers are first come first serve and offer a little shade and a spot to put your stuff. The locals hang out here often and year-round. We swam from these piers through November, although by November the water definitely gets colder!
2. Waves Beach
This will show on Google Maps as Waves Beach and is located an easy stroll down the waterfront in Ermoupoli. Depending on the tides, there can be a tiny bit of rocky beach, where the kids enjoy finding sea glass and rocks.
If you have water shoes, this would be a place you would get use out of them. If not, walk gingerly.
Depending on the weather, it can be very calm here or can get a little rough. Hence the name, Waves Beach – there are definitely times when the waves come in strong.
Be aware of a passing ferry in the far distance. Moments later, the waves can churn up. The locals will most likely warn you to use caution!
3. Ermoupoli Swim Basin
If you continue past Waves Beach and past Cyclades Municipal Art Gallery, you will find a swim basin before continuing to walk out toward the end of the pier. This is a great spot to jump in and go for a quick swim. It is usually calmer here, even if it is rough at Waves Beach and Asteria.
At times ferries will dock in this area and locals may fish here. Obviously, stay clear of both. Otherwise, it’s the perfect spot to cool off.
Tip: While Syros is a very safe town and not one where you have to watch your back continuously for pickpockets, just make sure you don’t leave your valuables out of the water while you go for a swim. This area just tends to have a few more people hanging out for no apparent reason!
4. Galissas Beach
My favorite family-friendly beach in Syros! If you stay at the Dolphin Hotel (a very family-friendly fun hotel with a waterslide the kids love), you’ll be right at Galissas Beach.
This Syros beach is one of my favorites for the long stretch of sandy coastline with shallow gorgeous waters and plenty of restaurants to choose from. They have sunbeds for rent during high season, and it’s a perfect spot for children to play!
There is a restaurant that we ate at on Galissas Beach that was quite good. It was called aVentoura. In my opinion, much better and healthier, fresher options than the food at Dolphin Hotel. The fresh produce in Greece is incredible, so staying someplace with good food is not to be underrated!
Tip: We highly recommend staying at the Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort if you’re looking for a great hotel near Galissas Beach.
5. Kini Beach
Another really great beach in Syros. During high season, there are sunbeds to rent and restaurants along the town, directly across from the beach. Many of the sunbeds have food service as well, making it ultimately convenient.
The waters are shallows and usually calm (although never discount what a windy day can do, even at the calmest beaches).
You can also catch some nice sunsets from this beach.
6. Agathopes Beach
This beach has beautiful golden sand and shallow waters. It is located in a protected little cove, making it one of the best kid-friendly beaches in Syros. Agathopes Beach is also where Ono Concept Restaurant is located, probably one of the most popular beach bar restaurants in Syros.
The Ono Concept restaurant has sunbeds for rent. Note that the umbrellas are ones that don’t really provide great shade, as they are more aesthetically pleasing and less useful for sun protection.
However, we just hung some towels over the umbrellas to provide more shade. You will find a full menu of food and a full bar here.
The restaurant and sunbeds are open through September. It is one of the more crowded party beaches during high season, especially in the late afternoons on the weekends.
I would advise going to Agathopes Beach in the morning or early afternoon to avoid the crowds during high season. However, this is still not your Mykonos party scene, but as close as it gets on in Syros.
Other Beautiful Syros Beaches
Aside from the top beaches we have highlighted, Syros is full of many others. Here’s a look at other beautiful beaches on Syros island to check out.
7. Santorini Beach – small, shallow water beach near Vari and Azolimnos
8. Aetos Beach – small, golden sand beach in the northwest of Syros, away from tourist crowds
9. Achladi Beach – excellent kid-friendly beach between Vari and Mega Gialos
10. Ampela Beach – sheltered and secluded golden sand beach 1 km from Mega Gialos
11. Azolimnos Beach – 5 km from Ermoupolis, equipped with sunbeds, piers and restaurants
12. Delfini Beach – one of Syros’ largest beaches, 1 km from Kini on the far northwest coast
13. Armeos Beach – secluded beach near Galissas beach, may require climbing rocks to get to (as it is more secluded, it has become a more popular nudist beach)
14. Fabrika Beach – close to Azolimnos beach and some tourism, located 2 km from Vari in the southeast of Syros
15. Fetouri Beach – small sandy beach near Poseidonia, equipped with lounge chairs and umbrellas
16. Posidonia Beach – small sandy beach in the south of Syros, equipped with umbrellas
17. Finikas Beach – beach in a small fishing bay close to hotels and restaurants in the town of Finikas
18. Kokkina Beach – unofficial, narrow and secluded beach 1.5 km from Finikas Beach, with a mix of sand and pebbles
19. Komito Beach – beautiful golden sand beach in the southwest of Syros, 1 km from Posidonia
20. Lia Beach – rock beach in the northwest of Syros, primarily accessible by boat from Kini
21. Grammata Beach – quiet and completely secluded beach in the northwest of Syros, featuring ancient inscriptions on rocks
Syros Beaches Map
We’ve highlighted our top six Beaches on Syros island, and included many others so you can easily find a beach near you.
Best Beaches Near Ermoupolis Syros
There are actually some fantastic beaches to go for a swim within walking distance of the port of Ermoupolis, Syros. This can be very convenient if you staying in Syros or if you are walking around Syros on a hot day and want to take a quick dip in the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean (technically the Aegean Sea, which is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea).
Many days, we would enjoy a delicious Greek meal in Syros and then go for a quick dip in the sea!
Here’s a look at the best beaches in Syros near Ermoupolis, that you can walk to from anywhere in the city:
📍Asteria Beach
Asteria Beach, aka Agios Nikolaos, is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. This is a perfect place to enjoy views of Syros, swim in the crystal clear waters, and stay close to Ermoupoli.
While Asteria Beach is not a sandy beach, I promise it is a spot you will remember for the views and beautiful water. Instead of sand, there are a few cement piers with ladders to swim from.
Walking Directions to Asteria Beach
To get to Asteria Beach, you can also type in CIEL into Google Maps. (CIEL is a restaurant at this swimming spot that has food and sunbeds during high season.) From the port, continue past the town square uphill.
You will pass Apollon Theater and then continue on past the magnificent church of Saint Nicolas. (You can’t miss this church with the iconic blue dome and bright yellow exterior.)
If you are facing the front of the church, stay to the right, following the road until you reach an overlook of the water in the back of the church towards the right. Follow the many stairs down toward the water and you will see people lounging and swimming.
📍Waves Beach
Waves Beach is located down the waterfront walkway, just to the right of Hermes Hotel. The rocky beach can be nonexistent depending on the tides, but you can swim as long as the waves aren’t really rough that day.
You can also swim from a little cement area with a ladder. Just beware of some large rocks when you are kicking around! On a calm day, it really is a wonderful place to swim.
📍Ermoupoli Swim Basin
Ermoupoli Swim Basin is also a nice option for a quick dip on a hot day. Continue out past Waves Beach towards the pier, past Nisaki Hotel & Suites. It is listed on Google Maps as Ermoupoli Swim Basin, so it should be easy to find.
The water is protected in the basin, so usually calmer. There are only a couple of trees near a few benches in the area that provide a little shade.
The Best Sandy Beaches in Syros
Galissas Beach is the perfect sandy beach with a long stretch of shallow water, making it ideal for families with young kids. You will have options to rent sunbeds for some shade and there are restaurants on the beach for food and drink options.
Agathopes Beach is another popular beach for golden sand and shallow waters, this beach may best be known for the Ono Concept Restaurant (open during the high season through September). During high season, the beach can get crowded with more of a party vibe.
Which Syros Beach is Best for Watersports?
Just north of Voulgari Beach is Syros Windsurfing School. During the summer months, this is a perfect place to try to windsurf, paddleboard (SUP), or kayak.
We definitely recommend trying windsurfing here or improving your windsurfing skills. The instructors are really nice and they make learning windsurfing for kids and adults very fun. Plus, they provide all the equipment.
There are a couple of trees on the beach that provide a little shade. Usually, Syros Windsurfing School sets up a little tent as well for shade. We drove a rental car there and parked right across the street.
What is the Water Temperature of Syros Beaches?
The sea is clear and fresh in Syros! During the summer through September, you’ll find warm seas. It is refreshing enough for a hot day!
Surprisingly, October is also a nice month to swim, especially during warmer days. While each week that passes the sea gets noticeably cooler, it is a cool that feels good for the soul.
I swam through November without a wetsuit, but by the end of November, the water turns quite cold. While I called it my “cold plunge,” the truth is, the sea was warmer than a true cold plunge.
While during late November I was a bit numb when coming out of the water, I felt fantastic and would highly recommend swimming whenever the seas are calm! The kids opted for wetsuits by November.
How to Get to Syros Beaches?
If your journey starts from Athens, you’ll want to check out our post on how to travel to Syros from Athens. Once you’re on the island, you can start with the beaches within walking distance in Ermoupoli.
From there, we highly recommend renting a car in Syros. Renting a car allows you more flexibility to drive between beaches and it’s easy enough to drive in Syros. However, you can also hire a taxi to take you to the beaches.
You can pick up a taxi at Ermoupoli town square at the taxi stand, which is more like a spot where the taxis line up. Or you can call the local taxi numbers and prearrange a pickup time and location.
Just make sure you arrange for your taxi to return to pick you up at a set time so that you aren’t stranded at the beach. The taxis tend to be very reliable in Syros.
FAQs
Does Syros have good beaches?
Syros has gorgeous beaches, most of which are easily accessible. The added benefit is that the island of Syros isn’t as touristy as some of its famous neighboring Greek islands.
We loved how clear the water in the beaches around Syros. We’ve travelled to some beautiful beach destinations around the world and it’s not always the case that the water is clean, refreshing and clear like in Syros.
Does Syros have sandy beaches?
Yes! In fact, Syros has many quintessential sandy beaches. The two beaches of Galissas Beach and Agathopes Beach are also really great for kids because of their shallow stretches of typically calm waters.
Conclusion: Best Beaches in Syros
There are many options for great places to swim in Syros. This little island has sandy beaches, in-town swims, great places to snorkel, shallow waters for kids, and popular beaches with all the amenities. There are truly beaches on Syros for every type of traveler!
If you are looking for an island that isn’t as touristy as some of its famous neighbors, an island with lots to do and easy to get around, definitely check out Syros. As a full-time traveling and worldschooling family of five, we found this island was the perfect vibe for everything we wanted to experience while in Greece.
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