Just two hours from Athens’ Rafina port and the greenest of its Cycladic neighbours, Andros has in recent years gained a global reputation for its many charms, from scenic hiking routes, considered among the best in Europe, to pretty beaches and scenic villages. In 2021 the New York Times named it as one of the “52 Places to Love”, while Conde Nast’s Global Editor has described the island as one of her “favourite places in the world”.
Unlike nearby Mykonos, Andros is not a destination for glamourous celebs and wild partygoers, in fact even its main town of Chora has no more than a handful of bars, most of which close before dawn breaks. There’s great shopping to be enjoyed, but it’s for local food products and handmade natural soaps rather than priceless kaftans, artworks or conceptual décor items. Even the dining scene is not as evolved as that of newly trendy islands like Milos and Kimolos or even its next door neighbor Tinos. However, Andros, also known as “the ship-owner’s island” because its Chora is home to a cluster of the country’s most influential ship-owning families, has its own particular glamour, elegance and beauty and this has become widely recognized.
