Amorgos Things to Do & See

Built on the edge of a cliff, the Hozoviotissa monastery dates back to the 11th century and it is one of the most impressive sights in the island Amorgos due to its location.The windows of the monastery offers some amazing views on the blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the surrounding natural wilderness. The friendly monks who live there will make sure you enjoy your visit by serving you some of the finest local “raki” liquor and a traditional sweet called “loukoumi” while showing you around the monastery and its flowery garden. The combination of the monks' hospitality, the breath-taking beauty of the landscape and the cozy atmosphere inside the monastery will make the entire experience an unforgettable one. Make sure you drop by during the entrance hours (Monday to Sunday: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm) and respect the dressing code.

Mouros beach is certainly a spectacular place! It is a small pebble beach, located right below some quite imposing cliffs and the sea waters around it have a distinctive transparent blue color.
Next to the beach there are three naturally formed caves that wait for you to swim around and explore the hidden mysteries among the strange rock formations. Mouros beach is definitely the perfect spot for a swim during a hot summer day and the jumping spots on the rocks above the caves will be appreciated by both young and older visitors.

Chora is the capital of the island of Amorgos. The medieval village is one of the most beautiful settlements in Cyclades thanks to its picturesque alleys, little white houses, old churches and the impressive 13th century Venetian castle, the "Kastro". Up there, the castle offers a magnificent view as reward to anyone willing to climb numerous stairs that lead to the top. Being the biggest village of the island, Chora is always a vivid place with an easy-going atmosphere and little shops, restaurants, rooms-to-let and bars just around any corner, that you will discover while walking through its paved alleys. Some of its loveliest cafeterias are located in the village's main square, Plateia Loza, beneath the refreshing shadow of enormous eucalyptus trees. Another must-see in Chora is the Gavras Tower and museum, where you can admire the Venetian building's outstanding architecture and have a look upon some interesting archeological findings that reveal secrets about the island's ancient past. In addition to this, next time you're in Chora, don’t forget to visit the old windmills nearby for a marvelous view into the sunset.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Amorgos, check out our selected collection of hotels and other accommodation places. The Aegialis Hotel & Spa is one of the most comfortable hotels on the island, with a magnificent view over the sea, mountains and bay that can be seen from the hotel's pool. The hotel offers lots of facilities including a restaurant, bar, spa and organized activities.
Another excellent choice is the hotel Aliori Art Caves. This hotel's stone-made building is nicely decorated and many comforts and organized sport activities are offered.
We also recommend Pano Gitonia, a lovely set of Studios & Apartments with a unique architecture and white/blue/brown decoration that matches the natural landscape. The view from the studio’s little terrace is absolutely breath-taking!
If you’re looking for a small and quiet hotel with all kinds of comforts available, consider Vorina Ktismata. This is a luxurious hotel with whitewashed walls, surrounded by unspoilt nature.

Apospero restaurant is one of the best places to eat in the island. Its seafood delicacies will satisfy the most demanding foodie, as they are made with fresh ingredients, imagination and love. The restaurant offers unique dishes that are based on traditional local recipes with a modern touch added to spice things up. No matter what your preferences are, you will certainly enjoy Apospero’s fine dishes and its lovely, inviting atmosphere. The seafood risotto and the carpaccio are some of the most delicious options available.

Located near Hozoviotissa monastery, Agia Anna is one of the most famous beaches in Amorgos. It attracts numerous visitors each day, not only because of its azure and crystal-clear waters and wild beauty but also because the little whitewashed chapel on top of the hill was used as a filming location for the movie "The Big Blue", that made the island a popular destination of travellers from all around the world. On the right side of Agia Anna beach you will find the pebbled beach Sirma where you can swim between huge rocks and Kampi, a slightly bigger and non-organized rocky beach which is not an ideal place for small children but definitely worth a visit.

Another location we found out about and loved thanks to "The Big Blue", is the huge rusty shipwreck near Kalotaritissa beach. The commercial ship “Olympia” has stood there abandoned ever since February of 1980 but it hasn’t been forgotten as it still attracts many visitors who enjoy this extraordinary symbol of decadence. The shipwreck is one of the most well known and most photographed places in Amorgos. After visiting it, we recommend a stopover at the golden beach of Kalotaritissa, the sand of which shines beneath the warm summer sunlight. The beach also offers a few comforts, including sunshades, sunbeds and a canteen, in case you get hungry or thirsty.

It is often said that in order to truly enjoy a travel destination, it is necessary to get to know the local residents and share some experiences with them. This is the reason why we highly recommend taking part in a "panigyri", a local annual religious celebration. The biggest summer festivals of Amorgos are the Feast Day of Agia Paraskevi (25-26 of July) and the one taking place each year on August 15th, a national holiday on the occasion of the Assumption of Mary. Both of these events are an excellent option for anyone interested in getting to know the local way of having fun and dancing to the tunes of traditional music. Are you having second thoughts? Keep in mind that one of the reasons why these feasts are so popular is the free delicious food and local wine to your heart’s desire!

We are talking about nothing other than the most well-known alcoholic drink of Amorgos. Raki is made according to old, traditional recipes and it can also be found at many other Greek islands but the "psimeni" version with honey and cinnamon and its unique aroma has been a unique privilege of Amorgos ever since ancient times. It can be consumed on its own or with food, as an aperitif or dessert, served as a treat to guests and it has also been a quite popular, traditional home-remedy that can be used to treat sore throats or help stay warm during cold winter days.
Note: Don't forget to bring some bottles back to your friends

Tholaria is a small traditional settlement in the region of Aegialis. It was built only 182 meters above the sea and it is surrounded by typical Cycladic nature, including bushes, flowers, herbs and rocks. With all its whitewashed houses, lovely terraces and painted alleys, the village is an example of traditional Cycladic architecture. Among other small traditional tavernas and cafes, you will find the oldest cafe on the island, "Horeftis" (The Dancer). One of the main sights to see in this village is the church of Agioi Anargyroi. Despite its small size, Tholaria attracts many visitors as it offers the opportunity to get to know the local culture and life better.

Aegiali beach is located right next to Aegiali village, which is probably the most popular spot on the island among tourists due to its rich nightlife and the port. The beach is one of the largest ones in Amorgos. We are talking about an extensive bay, entirely covered with golden sand and waters that are calm and light blue. There are several trees which offer natural shade and protection from the burning sun. Not very far away from the beach and the village you will find the ruins of the acropolis of Ancient Aegiali, including remnants of ancient epigraphs, sculptures that date back to the Archaic Period and Roman tombs, as well as the ancient settlement of Asfontilitis, an archeological site with great historical significance where some pretty impressive petroglyphs are located.

Nikouria is a small uninhabited island that can only be accessed by boat. There are three unspoilt beaches on the islet in total; all of them have clear, sparkly water and a few spots that are ideal for anyone who wants to dive or fish. In order to go there you will have to take one of the regular hourly boats from Agios Pavlos and the short trip to Nikouria is expected to only last about 10 minutes. Make sure you carry your own water, food and any other necessities.

Amorgos is a great choice if you love exploring remote areas and enjoy the peace and serenity of unspoilt beaches, away from overcrowded areas. Maltezi is a sandy beach located in the bay of Katapola and can be accessed by boat from Katapola port. The best option is to have a beach tour by boat so you can visit Maltezi and other inaccessible beaches with turquoise waters such as Plakes. Another good option if you’re looking for a remote swimming spot is Levressos, in the area of Aegialis, a rather small beach, usually preferred by nudists. The big rocks around the beach offer natural protection from the wind whenever the weather conditions are not-so-great. Last but not least, Agios Pavlos is a unique beach located on the northern side of the island that can be accessed by car. It is a "sand and shingle" beach with clear blue waters and touristic amenities, including a traditional restaurant. Agios Pavlos is also the starting point for organized boat tours to Nikouria islet.

Jazzmin cafe-bar is one of the most popular meeting points on the island. You can either go there to enjoy an evening cocktail at its terrace while watching the sun dipping into the sea or try out its coffee and breakfast first thing in the morning. Jazz and other smooth music tunes create a relaxing atmosphere that will make you have a great time and enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape.

The main port of the island is located at Katapola so your ferry will most likely arrive here. This is a small, traditional village with friendly locals that will welcome you to the island. Make sure you stroll around the village, try out the local cuisine and have a drink at one of its bars. If you loved The Big Blue as much as we did, Le Grand Bleu cafe-bar located nearby, at Xilokeratidi village is a must-see for sure! In there, you can watch the film and listen to its soundtrack every day while being so close to some of its best filming locations!

If you are into sports and want to try something new and adventurous, then a scuba diving session might be the best option. In the seabed of Amorgos you may find ancient shipwrecks and an interesting underwater world that is full of life, including various kinds of fish. The beach of Agios Pavlos has one of the most popular diving spots on the island, where you can explore the bottom of the sea and the depths of an underwater cave, covered with natural reefs of colorful sponges.

Having over 15 hiking paths in total, Amorgos is a great destination for anyone who enjoys long walks in nature. Find the route that suits you the most among a collection of routes of various durations and levels of difficulty. All these paths are well-preserved, although they have been around for many years, long before cars entered the island and made transportation easier for both locals and visitors. The most popular route is the one between Chora and Aegialis.

Located on one of the picturesque alleys of Chora, right next to a little whitewashed chapel, Kallisto is the island’s most famous pastry shop and one of the most photogenic spots in Chora. If you have a sweet tooth you will certainly enjoy the wide variety of local delicacies, including but not limited to homemade sweets, ice cream and pies.

Don’t forget about self-care while you’re on vacation in Amorgos! If you need a relaxing activity we recommend having a massage session or participating in one of the drop-in classes that combine yoga and meditation.