We’ve just had a fabulous 10 days in Ano Syros. We’ve been coming to Greece once or twice a year for over 20 years and can honestly say that this is one of the very nicest places we’ve ever stayed. The apartment is in an amazing old house, built right into the rock of the hill. Inside it is modern, comfortable, bright and airy with great views. It felt very special to be staying in the old town of Ano Syros (not many tourists do), and we soon felt like locals. Everyone was so friendly, and we were recognised and warmly greeted in the shops, cafes, restaurants and by next door neighbours.
We love Syros itself - the busy, untouristy and very Greek bustle of Ermoupoli; the beautiful swimming at Vaporia (15 minutes brisk walk from the apartment, more on the way home!); great tavernas and cafes and picturesque streets. Because a lot of the town is old cobbled streets and steps, there isn’t any traffic in most of it, which is a real bonus. You can (and we did!) spend days just wandering around Ermoupolis and Ano Syros, discovering something new each time. A reasonable bus service will take you around the island to various beaches. There are some old cobbled footpaths and marked walks if you wanted to explore on foot.
Of course, what made the holiday really special was the wonderful hospitality we received from Andriana. She was very warm, welcoming and generous, appearing with plates of cookies and home-cooked food. We enjoyed some good times together drinking coffee on the beautiful terrace, having interesting discussions in a mix of English and our fairly basic Greek about everything from Aristotle to the Greek economy. We left with our Greek very much improved, and feeling like we’d made a friend. We’re already thinking about when we can go back!