This quaint, gorgeous island is a part of the Greek islands—known as the place to party. In reality, Ios is far more low-key and affordable than its highly rated counterparts, Mykonos and Santorini. A 45-minute ferry ride from the busy Santorini will bring you ashore to the most peaceful scenery Ios has to offer.
Not only is Ios great for its party scene, but the white sandy beaches and turquoise sea will leave you mesmerized for days. The sunsets are unbeatable. You can easily find a great view of the whole town from the top of the hill with the old church on it.
Like anywhere else in Greece, people are generally more laid back and here to enjoy a nice vacation. This has a great effect on the overall atmosphere. Ios is unique in the sense, that everyone kind of knows each other, so there’s a sense of familiarity and warm welcome from the locals.
You can meet locals simply by taking a taxi ride (which won’t cost you more than 6 euros), eating at a restaurant, or partaking in the numerous types of water sports and boat excursions Ios has. I always recommend searching up local activities to do.
Where to Stay
I had an unbeatable experience of hospitality at Francesco’s. The family that runs it does a phenomenal job of taking care of everyone, almost as if we were their own family. Francesco’s is a hostel with a hotel’s quality.
Everyone has their own rooms and washrooms, and the gorgeous white corridors and views of the beach and town, from the cafe, I can never get tired of it.
The best part about my stay was definitely the community. Every night the crew would meet together by the bar, have a couple of drinks and games, before heading out collectively to a fun evening. As you walk out from hostel, you’ll find a number of shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. The clubs are open seven days a week, and it’s small but with right group of people by your side, it’s always a good time. So much that people go out multiple nights in a row to the same bumping places.
Everything you need is bound together by those tight corridors. The best way to describe it is a complex of fun. If you need groceries or need to see a doctor, there’s one across the whole complex. The beach is a 5-minute drive or a 10-minute bus ride from the hostel.
Activities to do In Ios
Boat excursions
Ios is home to some beautiful beaches, some are private in which you can only access by boat. If you want to see neighboring islands, snorkel in caves, and suntan on beaches with nobody— I recommend booking a boat experience through Airbnb. There are plenty of options for any budget and length of time. I booked a 4-hour boat tour to visit these islands for $60 CAD.
Spend time on the beach
The nicest activity you could probably do in Ios honestly won’t cost you much. Grab some friends or a book and head down to the main beach. You can rent an umbrella and bed for $5 euros. This includes full service! You can order unique cocktails, pitchers of sangria, and snacks straight from your seat. Go for a dip to cool off, because even at the end of September, the beaches are sizzling.
Go out for a night of dancing
For relatively cheap, you can get the party started in Ios. Unlike Santorini, where a cocktail might cost you 20 euros, Ios has bars that give out drinks for 1 euro and clubs that have two for 1 deal. Be warned, a hangover is most likely guaranteed.
There are usually one or two bars that are the busiest, I recommend following the crowd, and making friends while you’re bar hopping. The one I went to for two nights in a row, had a dive bar atmosphere, with basically the entire bar converting into the dancefloor. They played all the classics and even had sprinkle shower shows during some of the drops (although don’t quote me on the sprinkles, it might have been smoke for all I remember).
You can also get ‘slap shots’, where you can pay 5 euros for yourself or a friend to get a shot and a mighty paint slap on your face. This might answer your question if you’re ever wandering the corridors at night and observe a trail of people with colorful hand slap marks on their faces
Best Grub in Ios
For the size of the complex, there is a surprising amount of variety in restaurant options. Most of these open at night keep in mind. My favorite remains on the first and last night, we had a proper sit-down meal at a restaurant that served home-style, Mediterranean-inspired dishes. It’s on the heartier side, but definitely fantastic in terms of service and quality. We had grilled fish with a side of pilaf and greek salad, as well as a creamy chicken dish with potatoes.
At Thai Smile, you can taste some of the most delicious pad thai.
Conclusion
Ios will always have a special place in my heart. The kindness of the people, the stunning beaches, and the sense of peace will transport you to Neverland. It feels like the kind of dream you don’t want to wake up from.
Secret Prose 
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