The 14 Best Beaches in Ios that You’ll Love for a Romantic Stay In 2024

Save to Find It Later!

Are you looking for the best beaches in Ios? You’re in the right place! Having visited Greece and Ios Island several times, the island has become Eric and I’s favourite Greek Island for a romantic vacation in Europe. The main reason for that is that the island offers some seriously gorgeous beaches and cheaper luxury accommodations!

In this post, we will share with you our top beaches in Ios along with Ios beaches photos so you can really see which one you prefer!

In the following sections, you’ll find:

• Why Ios is a great destination for couples
• Our budget to visit Ios and the listed beaches
• The best secluded and romantic Ios Greece beaches
• The best Ios swimming beaches
• The best organised beaches on Ios Island
• and more!

***Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the fact that we only recommend products, stays, activities and attractions we are satisfied with and all opinions expressed here are our own.

We are Eric (Canadian) and Marie (French), the part-time travellers behind Be Right Back and @berightbackdating. From idyllic beaches to adventurous road trips, we focus on romantic travel in Europe and beyond. We also help people travel as they want without breaking the bank by sharing our budget travel tips.

Are Ios Island and its beaches, a good travel destination for couples?

As a couple, we absolutely love Ios Island. It is one of our favourite Greek Islands but only under certain conditions which we have set out in this section. Note that locals in Ios are super nice which is one of the reasons we also love the island. Locals will say Yassas (Hello) to you all the time. You can check out how to say hello in Greek and other languages here.

With the stunning landscapes, chill atmosphere, guaranteed blue sky and lower budget, Ios is one of the best destinations for couples in Europe. Just look at the below photos to get an idea of what to expect! Don’t forget use one of our romantic Greece quotes to caption your couple photos on Instagram!

Romantic things to do in Ios

Although Ios Island is quite a small Greek island (probably one of the smallest), it isn’t short of romantic things to do for couples! Of course, going to the beach is the top thing to do on Ios Island. The best beaches on Ios are the perfect mix of turquoise clear waters, thin golden sand, and amazing island views. They are perfect for couples who wish to relax in remote and quiet areas. Whether you want to read a book, go nude, snorkel together or enjoy some water sports, you’ll find the perfect beaches on Ios Island. Besides going to the beach, Ios actually hides some amazing visits! Highlights include Homer’s Tomb, Ios Chora and Skarkos archeological site. 

Best times to visit Ios Greece best beaches for couples

Without a doubt, September and early October are the best times of the year to visit Ios for couples. Ios Island is actually known as a party island, which, from what we have heard, is even crazier than well-known Mykonos! The months of June, July and August are crazy months on the island, packed with college students and party animals. Everything that we tend to run away from as much as possible! However, in September and October, all college students are back to school meaning the island become super quiet, to the point that you can have some beaches to yourself (more on that below). This is, in our experience, the best time to visit the island and the best beaches in Ios. During September and October, you’ll feel like you have the island all to yourself! When sharing photos, don’t forget to use or captions about being alone when traveling or one of our 700 captions about being at peace!

Romantic stays near Ios best beaches

Out of all the Greek Islands we have visited, Ios has got to be the ones with the most amazing romantic stays that are the most affordable as well. Visiting in September, we have been able to stay at these gorgeous suites and this stunning private pool suite for more than half the price of other islands. If you’re travelling with a budget, Ios is definitely to be considered for romantic luxury stays!

The weather to go to the best beaches in Ios Greece

In September and October, the weather on Ios remains very similar to summer weather. Going to Ios at that time of the year, you should expect temperatures between 23°C and 34°C, with days filled with sun. 

Budget to visit Ios beaches for couples

As you know, we haven’t won the lottery yet (we probably wouldn’t tell you anyways but just so you know lol) so we travel with a budget. To clarify, we don’t travel for cheap (we don’t stay in hostels, we sometimes stay at luxury accommodations, we eat at restaurants, etc) but we travel with a defined budget that we plan in advance, meaning we’re not just throwing money out the window without a plan.

With that in mind, Ios Island is, from our experience, an amazing value destination for couples! Let’s see how much you should expect to spend on Ios for different expense categories.

Luxury stays

From our experience, there is no doubt that Ios offers the best value for luxury stays in the Greek Islands! Having visited Ios several times, we have stayed at both these stunning cliffs suites with private pools and these brand new suites with private pools. The price in September is about half the price as any other island and you get stunning accommodations that are way quieter and more enjoyable! For each, we paid about €300 a night though some nights were around €280. In Mykonos or Santorini, you would need to budget around €500/€600 for something that’s not even close in quality! We must also add that the staff at both these properties were amazing and some of the kindest people we’ve met. At that price, a delicious breakfast was included for both, with essentially, unlimited homemade food! We ordered large breakfasts and snacked on it all day to save on lunch!

Beautiful stays

One of our favourite stays on the island is this stunning boutique hotel. They offer a range of rooms from studios to stunning rooms with hot tubs. We have stayed twice at this beautiful hotel and loved it. It is managed by Dimitris and his family and they are the nicest people around! For 4 nights, we paid €378, with a delicious breakfast included. Our room had a large terrace with pool and town views, a mini fridge and amazing decor. 

Food

Food in Ios can be extremely cheap. Portions are also super big so it’s great value if you like to eat out. Gyros cost around €3,50 per person and eating at the restaurant for a sit-down dinner costs between €20 to €35 for two people. Of course, you can always make it cheaper!

Transportation

Ios does not have an airport so you will need to take the ferry to reach the island. A ferry ticket in September costs around €90 per person from Athens, sometimes less if you don’t take one of the fast ferries. Ios actually has quite a practical location as it is right near Santorini. You can get there with just 30 minutes of ferry and that costs less than taking the ferry from Athens! As you’ll go through Athens, you might as well spend a couple of days in the city. You can check what to do in Athens in the fall here.

On the island, you will need to rent a car, an ATV or a scooter to get around and reach Ios beaches Greece offers. You should expect to spend about €200 for 4 days for a rental car. Gas will cost between €10 and €20 for a car

Best beaches Ios Greece offers

Contrary to certain beaches in Italy, Ios Island best beaches are completely free to access. Beaches in Ios are stunning and make the perfect spot for some natural couple photos! You’ll want to check out our short caption ideas for couple photos so you can share on social media!

Other activities

Most activities on Ios Island such as visiting Chora, or Homer’s Tomb are free. Other activities such as visiting the Skarkos archeological site are quite cheap, expect about €4 per person. 

As you can see, Ios Island is, on top of its amazing beaches, a stunning budget destination!

Where to stay to enjoy Ios Island beaches

As mentioned above, we recommend, from experience the following hotels in Ios:

• this stunning budget-friendly hotel with a pool and options to have a room with a hot tub
• these beautiful suites with private pools
• these brand new cliff side suites with private pools and outdoor showers

Definitely use one of our top couple travel captions when sharing photos at these idyllic stays!

Activities to do at the best Ios Beaches

If you haven’t noticed yet, we are big fans of Ios Island. We also love that though small, the island offers opportunities to see the underwater world of Ios in a different way than just snorkelling with a mask! 

For example, you can take a Shipwreck Scuba Diving tour which will take you scuba diving at a shipwreck. The experience last about 1.5 hours and will leave you with incredible memories. You can check availabilities here.  

If you’re interested in learning more about the coast of Ios, then you can go explore reefs and canyons on another scuba diving tour. You’ll see lots of different fish and will be accompanied the whole time. The experience lasts for two hours and is a great way to try something new with your partner! You can check availabilities here.    

Finally, if you prefer to stay above water, you can hop on a tour that will take you to a range of beautiful beaches in Ios, including some that are only accessible by boat. You can check availabilities here.  

Secret beaches in Ios: The best beaches in Ios for couples

One of the reasons why we are so fond of Ios Island is due to its mesmerising secluded and wild beaches. Both times we have visited the island were in September and we loved that the beaches were super quiet. We were able to find beaches where we were completely alone, and some where only a couple other people were present. In this section, we are sharing with you our favourite secluded Ios best beaches.

Note that the beaches on this list are secluded and not organised. We highly recommend bringing food and lots of water with you as there usually isn’t any facilities around. We would also recommend bringing an umbrella as there is usually little shade on Ios best beaches. You can sometimes borrow one from your hotel or alternatively, you can easily buy one for about €10 at a local market. 

1. Kolitsani Beach, one of the dreamiest beaches in Ios

The reason why we love Kolitsani Beach is because it is both super easily accessible and gorgeous. The beach is located right off the main town about 5 minutes from the town’s windmills. Located at the bottom of the cliffs, the beach offers thin golden sand and stunning clear waters. This is a perfect beach to either relax on the sand, swim or snorkel. This shark free beach is protected on both sides which makes it a great pick on a windy day. This is one of Marie’s favourite beaches (she does have a hard time picking winners these days!). 

What to know: Kolitsani Beach is a nude beach so just be aware of that before heading down there!

How to get there: If you wanted to, you could head to Kolitsani Beach on foot, especially if you are staying in Ios Chora. The beach is about a 20 minute walk from the top of Ios Chora which is perfect if you don’t feel like renting a car. Otherwise, you can drive through the town and follow the sign for “Kolitsani Beach”. The road is paved and will take you to a pull out that is the parking lot. You can safely leave your car there and start your descend. From the carpark, it takes about 10 minutes to walk down with bags, a cooler and going slow. Make sure you follow the white arrows down and you’ll soon be there. You can easily go down in flip-flops. 

2. Tris Klisies, one of the best hidden beaches in Ios 

Tris Klisies is a beach we discovered during our second time in Ios. It was recommended to us by a local and when that happens, we usually know we’re up for something good! The beach is located on the South east coast at the bottom of a rocky path. It is one of the most secluded beaches in Ios and is absolutely fantastic! When we visited, we were one of the three couples on the beach, it felt like a different world!

The beach itself is really nice with thick sand and transparent waters. It is surrounded by tall cliffs on each side which protect it from the wind as well. On the left of Tris Klisies, there is a pathway taking you to a small strand a bit further. Though this sounds like an interesting idea, note that that small strand was in the shade quite early in the afternoon while we had sun until a lot later. 

What to know: The beach is known also for being regularly visited by a group of local goats which are so cute. During your time at the beach, you’ll know they are around by the sound of their bells. We got to see them come down and go to the next strand, it was cute! The only downside to that is that there are little poops at the bottom of the water so we would say that the beach isn’t the most romantic snorkelling spot. Other than that, it’s great for swimming, exploring the areas around the beach, and relaxing with beautiful views!

How to get there: The road to Tris Klisies is fully paved. The drive is really easy and quite beautiful as it takes you along the coast up and down the mountains. You can also turn the day into a beach hopping day if you’d like! Once you get close to the beach, you will see a small church with a small carpark. You can leave your car here and start your descend. At the beginning of the path, you will see a wrecked car. This is the path to follow down. The path down is rocky but if you go slow, it’s easily doable. It took us about 15 minutes to walk down and surprisingly 10 minutes to come up!

3. Loretzaina Beach, one of the most accessible secluded beaches in Ios

Loretzaina Beach, also known as “Loretzena Beach”, is located up north of the Ios Chora on the West coast of the island. The beach is a small cove at the bottom of a paved road. It was left completely natural so it’s one of the most authentic beaches on the island. With thin golden sand and turquoise waters, the beach is also protected on each side by the natural cliffs surrounding it. The beach is great for both swimming and snorkeling. Every time we have come to this beach, it was just us and another couple. This is a great beach to spend a quiet afternoon!

How to get there: From Ios Chora, head north towards the beach. The road is fully paved all the way to the beach. You can park right near the beach. The journey takes about 15 minutes from Ios Chora. 

4. Kalamos Beach, one of the most stunning remote beaches in Ios

Kalamos Beach is a stunning long strand of sand that is pretty remote and quiet. Tourists usually avoid coming here as it’s pretty far and can be a bit less accessible. But, there is very little that stops us and we’re so glad we went to Kalamos Beach. The beach is gorgeous with beautiful waters and landscape. As it’s a long strand, you can go for walks, but snorkelling here is also quite a gem as the waters are very clear. The cherry on top is how peaceful it is! Quite the romantic beach!

How to get there: Kalamos is located in the South East of the island. It is not the most easily accessible beach on the island so bear with me. From Ios Chora, the journey takes about 40 minutes according to Google Maps. In reality, it takes a bit longer as you have to go down a dirt road that’s not really well maintained. Once you reach Calilo hotel, hop on the dirt road and drive slow. The road goes down quite steeply so ensure that you are going slow to be safe. The dirt road has some potholes and rocks so go slow as well. We went to Kalamos with a tiny car that was also quite low (We like to call it a yogurt pot) and were completely fine driving on it. Once you get near the beach, you’ll be able to park pretty much on the beach. 

5. The No Name Beach, a hidden beach Greece offers on Ios

On the North coast of the island, we found a small cove that remains unnamed. We’re thinking that that’s a strategy from locals to keep it secret haha. This small beach offers sand and is a great spot for snorkeling. Though the beach is sandy, the bottom of the water is pretty rocky so we would recommend bringing some watersheds to be comfortable. The rocky underwater scene allows the water to be super clear. Marie saw lots of colourful fish in there and even found a hermit crab!

The beach is surrounded by wild trees and bushes and no inhabitation which allows it to be super quiet! When we visited, it was just us for the whole day! That was our Greece private beach!

How to get there: You will need to drive in direction to Homer’s Tomb. At Homer’s Tomb, before the carpark, take a left that goes down to the coast. From there, the road turns into a dirt road. It’s pretty decently maintained but we would still recommend driving slow especially if your car is low. Follow the path and you’ll come across a small pull out. You can park there and then follow the path to the beach for about 5 minutes. 

6. Tripiti Beach Ios, one of the beaches in Ios only accessible by boat

Trinity Beach is known as one of the most hidden of Ios Island beaches for the only reason that it is not accessible by land. The beach is known for having great thin sand and beautiful turquoise and clear waters. To be honest, though it is a beautiful secluded beach, other beaches like Kolitsani are just as beautiful and more easily accessible (cheaper too in that case).

How to get there: You will need to either get on a boat tour that stops at Trinity Beach or rent a boat from Mylopotas beach. You can find boat tours that stop at Tripiti Beach from Ios Port. 

7. Agia Theodoti Beach, a gorgeous sand beach in Ios

Theodoti Beach was also one of our favourite beaches on Ios Island. When we arrived, we saw this long strand of sand with absolutely gorgeous turquoise waters and it was both peaceful and stunning. The long strand goes from one cliff to the other and offers endless options for laying down your towel. We noticed that the beach had sunbeds but it was pretty limited so we wouldn’t really classify the beach as organised. Most of the beach was wild. 

The water here is great for snorkelling with shallow waters for a while and patches of rocky landscapes here and there. 

What to know: When on Agia Theodoti Beach, you can see the island of Iraklia right across the sea!

How to get there: The road to Theodoti Beach is fully paved and the beach is easily accessible. You’ll have to head to the East coast of the island and just follow the GPS or map to the beach. You can park right on the beach. 

Organized beaches in Ios

8. Gialos Beach Ios, one of the best Ios beaches in town

Gialos Beach, also known as “Yialos Beach” is located just a few minutes from the port and is one of the cutest town beaches on Ios. With bars and restaurants all around, the beach also offers sunbeds and umbrellas. The beach is made of sand and the clear waters make it a great spot for swimming. From the beach, you’ll have stunning views on the town of Ios Chora.

How to get there: The beach being located at the bottom of the town and just a few minutes from the port, it is easily accessible by foot or car. There is a carpark right next to it as well. The beach also has a path and a ramp for wheelchairs to go in the water.

9. Koumbara Beach ios

Koumbara Beach is probably the best beach in Ios to party during the summer. In September, the complex here fully closes down and leaves a quiet and peaceful beach behind. There are still a couple of places to get food and drinks right by it. 

The beach is made of sand and quite picturesque at that time of the year. The water isn’t the clearest though so it’s not superb to snorkel but is fine to swim. 

How to get there: Koumbara is only a few minutes from the town and easily accessible through the road. 

10. Manganari Beach

Manganari Beach (ios) is located at the very south of the island. It is a long strand of sand with blue waters. It is organised with sunbeds where you can rent two sunbeds and one umbrella for about €10 (free after 5pm). There are also cafes, beach bars, showers and toilets on site. 

The beach is great for snorkelling and swimming. The water is also quite shallow for a few meters so it’s nice to just chill. It’s known as one of the most beautiful beaches on Ios and even get visited by goats once in a while!

How to get there: You’ll have to follow the road to the south of the island and you can park next to the beach. During the summer, the bus from Ios Chora can also take you to Manganari Beach. 

11. Mylopotas Beach, the best beach in Ios for water sports

Mylopotas Beach is a long strand of sand located in the town of Ios Chora. It is surrounded by cafés, hotels and more. Mylopotas is especially great if you don’t want to drive around or if you are into watersports. From windsurfing to paddling, you can find a range of fun water activities at Mylopotas beach. From Mylopotas Beach, you can also take a boat to head to Tripiti Beach. 

How to get there: Mylopotas Beach is located in the south of Ios Chora and is easily accessible by the road. 

12. Psathi Beach

Psathi Beach is a long strand of sand with blue waters and a bit of rocks similar to Agia Theodoti or Kalamos Beach. The beach actually is split in two parts and remains quite wild though a bit organised with sunbeds. The beach is popular with windsurfers so we would recommend heading here on calm days!

How to get there: You’ll have to follow the road to the East Coast to reach Psathi Beach which is located between Kalamos Beach and Theodoti Beach.

Rocky beaches in Ios

13. Valmas Beach

Valmas Beach is a small beach located near Ios port. It is mainly rocky so it doesn’t get very busy as it can be difficult to swim there. If you like to snorkel, you will love Valmas Beach. Due to its rocky landscape, the water remains super clear and you can easily spot fish. It’s also a good spot to take underwater photos as the water won’t get blurry due to the absence of sand. 

How to get there: The beach is easily accessible through the road. From the Port, head into the town. Once at the Archeological Museum of Ios, take a right down in the direction of Alma Bar. The road takes you to the beach. 

14. Never Bay Ios, one of the best Ios beaches for cliff jumping

Never Bay is located in the very south of Ios Island past Manganari Beach. Though it is often referred to as a beach, it is essentially just a rocky area surrounded by tall cliffs. The main activities at Never Bay include cliff jumping, and snorkeling. Because the whole area is rocky underwater, it leaves you with insane clear waters where you can easily spot a lot of fish. 

When going to Never Bay, we would recommend bringing lots of food and water as there are no facilities anywhere close by. We would also recommend bringing watershoes. As it is not the most easily accessible area of the island, plan to stay at least 4 hours to make the trip worth it!

How to get there: To reach Never Bay, you will need to drive for about 30 minutes on a dirt road that goes down pretty steep cliffs. To do so, you will need either an ATV or a car. Note that most cars are not insured for the parts under the car when driving on dirt roads. 

Beaches in Ios Q&As

Are Ios beaches good?

Yes, Ios beaches are amazing with turquoise transparent waters, thin golden sand, crazy views on the sea and stunning mountainous backdrops!

Where can I snorkel in Ios?

Our favourite spots to snorkel at Ios best beaches include Loretzaina Beach and Kalamos beach. The water is super clear and turquoise and you will see lots of fish, including flat fish!

Is Ios Island worth visiting?

Absolutely. Ios Island is a stunning mountainous island with a lot of beautiful turquoise water beaches, historical visits and a beautiful authentic town. You can also see a lot of beautiful sunsets on Ios. 

Is Ios just a party island?

No, Ios is not just a party island. Ios is a crazy party island during the months of June, July and August. Talking with locals, we have also heard that May can be quite busy as well. That said, September and October are super quiet and still benefit from summer weather. This is the best time for couples to visit.

How many beaches in Ios?

There are probably over 20 beaches in Ios, and though some can be easily accessed, a number of them require driving on badly maintained dirt roads.

Any questions? Then drop them in the comments or on insta and we will get back to you asap.