Welcome to BuyAssociation.co.uk

Greece: The Cyclades Islands

Overview

Nearest Airports – Mykonos and Santorini (international), Naxos and Paros (domestic).

The Cyclades (pop. 113,000), a group of 56 islands (of which 24 are inhabited), are one of the most popular locations for holiday homes in Greece. Their name derives from the circle they form around the island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and once the centre of religion and commerce in the central Mediterranean. The islands form a disparate group and are mostly different in character, yet small and close enough to allow easy ‘island hopping’. They all share the characteristic Greek whitewashed houses, blue domed churches and the warm hospitality of the inhabitants.

The Cyclades enjoy mild winters, although they experience strong winds virtually all year round. The summer meltémi can sometimes disrupt ferry schedules, although it reduces the heat, and in winter strong north winds often make ferry travel impossible. Rainfall can be scarce and water shortages are commonplace.

Communications with mainland Greece and between the islands is mainly by ferry, where Paros is the main port of call for most inter-island services. During the summer there are frequent ferry services linking the islands, although services are severely curtailed in winter and can be suspended altogether when the weather is bad. Six islands have airports, although only two, Mykonos and Santorini, cater for international flights (charter only). Bus services are provided on most islands, although the quality of buses and frequency of services varies considerably, and the inaccessibility of some areas means private transport is often essential.

There’s a good choice of resale and new property on the islands, particularly Mykonos, Naxos and Paros. Small village houses can be bought from €60,000, farmhouses requiring restoration from €70,000, restored farmhouses from €160,000 and new maisonettes (100m2) from €170,000. Land typically costs from €18 to €50 per m2 depending on the location. Typical Cyclades windmill properties are also available, e.g. €300,000 for windmill, house and an 8,000m2 plot.

The most popular islands include the following:

Ios (pop. 1,800) is especially popular with the younger generation and has a reputation as the ‘party capital’ of the Cyclades, although there’s more to the island than nightclubs and bars. Ios is attempting to attract more upmarket tourism and boasts several excellent beaches and the supposed site of Homer’s tomb. Ios is quiet out of season.

Mykonos (pop. 9,360) receives around a million visitors a year, who come to enjoy a hedonistic lifestyle, and is the most expensive of all the Greek islands. Its capital, Mykonos Town, is one of the most attractive, with ‘sugar-cube’ architecture and numerous churches and shrines, although it’s extremely busy and commercial with a lively nightlife. Beaches are generally excellent and resort areas are concentrated on the south side – the north side is windy and therefore less developed. Property is expensive here, but there’s good rental potential.

Naxos (pop. 18,100) is the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades and is largely self-sufficient. It’s also the most scenic of the islands and has their highest mountain, Mount Zas, and excellent beaches.

Paros (pop. 12,800) is the third-largest of the Clyclades islands and the hub of its ferry services. Its main resorts include Naoussa and Parikia, with excellent beaches and a hectic nightlife. Paros attracts many foreign homebuyers, particularly the British.

Santorini (pop. 13,400), the most spectacular of all Greek islands, is a partly submerged volcanic crater thought to be the legendary city of Atlantis. It’s an important port of call for cruise ships and is famous for its black sand beaches and capital Fira, situated on top of a steep cliff reached via 500 steps cut into it. Property here is very expensive.

Tinos (pop. 8,500), with its charming traditional villages and famous ‘lacework’ dovecotes, is the Greek Lourdes with its church of Panayia Evangelistria and its miraculous icon attracting thousands of Greek Orthodox pilgrims each year. Tinos offers excellent hiking.

Syros (pop. 16,800), the most densely populated of the Cyclades Islands, also contains its administrative centre, the attractive town of Ermoúpolis. Syros, Andros, Kéa and Kythnos are popular with Athenians for weekend breaks and summer holidays.

The islands of Anafi, Folégandros, Milos and Sikinos are barely populated and practically untouched by tourism, and therefore good places to experience the ‘real’ Greece.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd Edition, Joanna Styles.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on buying a home in Greece can be found in “Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd edition, by Joanna Styles.

For extensive information about buying a property in Greece, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net

More pages

Page 1: Overview

www.holidaylettings.co.uk online advertising for home owners abroad

Discounted Airport Parking - available across the UK

Calculate how much you can earn - rent out your holiday home here

Find your perfect holiday home - over 250,000 homes worldwide to chose from