Mykonos island

Mykonos (Mikonos) is the most cosmopolitan island in Greece, where people from all walks of life and different cultures meet to create an upbeat atmosphere that is expressed by unprecedented exuberance and liveliness. Its name is known throughout the world, and even though it may be spelled Mykonos, Myconos or Mikonos, it is the same unique Greek Island that fuses cosmopolitan lifestyle and traditional features, making a multifaceted holiday destination for all types of visitors.
Myriads of vacationers spend their holidays in Mykonos Greece, as it is a favorite of celebrities and simple folk alike. Mykonos Island in Greece is particularly famous for its exciting nightlife, with countless bars and clubs that cater to both the straight and gay crowds. At the fantastic Mykonos beaches, visitors can spend the day lounging on soft sands, soaking up the sun's rays and dancing at beach bars. Mykonos' sophistication is evident in its high-end boutiques, trendy art galleries and chic gourmet restaurants found mainly in Mykonos Town. VIPs and celebrities have made Mykonos Greece one of their preferred stops while sailing through the Aegean Sea in their luxury yachts.

Gay Mykonos

Mykonos Island Greece is the most popular island for gay and lesbian holidays, as it offers an extensive variety of gay friendly hotels in Mykonos Town, as well as the areas surrounding Super Paradise Beach and Paradise Beach. Mykonos Greece is the ideal holiday destination for both gay couples and gay singles who want to have a fun and relaxing gay vacation, without being under scrutiny, as fellow tourists and locals are discreet and respectful of other people's sexual orientation, be it gay or straight.
There are exciting gay bars and gay clubs that cater to the specific crowd that are mainly located in Mykonos Town, close to Mykonos Port. You can find out about them by word of mouth or from special gay entertainment leaflets that are distributed around the island. Popular Mykonos gay beaches are Super Paradise Beach and Paradise Beach, but also Elia Beach, which is a quieter alternative to the more crowded gay beaches in Mykonos Greece.

Ferries & Flights to Mykonos

Reaching Mykonos Island is quite easy. There are direct flights to Mykonos from the Athens Airport, Thessaloniki Airport and from other airports throughout Europe. If you are island hopping in Greece, there are direct flights to Mykonos from Santorini and Rhodes.
Ferries to Mykonos depart from Athens (Piraeus Port), Thessaloniki, as well as other Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands and Crete (ferry boat or high speed). Ferry transport to Mykonos is frequent, especially during the summer, when Mykonos is packed with tourists

Kythnos island

The picturesque Kythnos, also known as Thermia, is located between Kea and Serifos islands. It was on the small island of Kythnos, famous in antiquity for the excellence of its administration (according to Aristotle in his 'Constitution of Kinthos') that recent archaeological finds have provided evidence of the earliest presence of man in the Cyclades.

Here, too, the terrain is mainly mountainous, but the harshness of the bare earth is relieved here and there by vines or fig trees like brushstrokes on it, while pretty little bays form indentations in its coastline. Ferries put in at Merihas, the port on the western side of the island.

Hora or Messaria, the island's capital is 8 Km. from Merihas and stands on a hillside plateau. A typical Cycladic village, it is noted for its beautiful churches with their fine wood-carving, sanctuary screens and icons (St. Savas, church of the Saviour, Holy Trinity, Theologos). At the monastery of Our Lady 'tou Nikous', which stands on an attractive hill, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on 15 August is observed with the traditional festivities.

A little way to the south is the island's former capital, which retains its ancient name of Driopida - picturesque village, very typical of the islands. In the north-eastern part of the island lies Loutra, renowned for its thermal springs, which are considered beneficial to sufferers from arthritis, dermatitis and gynecological problems. In the South-east, the monastery of Our Lady Kanala, the patron saint of the island, stands on a very attractive promontory facing towards Serifos, with a beautiful expanse of sandy beach. The building is of great interest and the scenery is reminiscent of a fjiord - in Greek colours. Other good beaches for swimming can be found at Merihas, Episkopi, Flambouria bay (accessible only by boat), Loutra and Agios Stefanos.

Kythnos island - kolona beach

Kythnos is one of the most beautiful island of the west Cyclades, with a pure cycladic scenery and a tradition in arcitecture, easily seen in the many picturesque alleys and churches of the island. The rocky coasts with the wonderful sandy beaches that suddenly appear, form the islands' beaches with the crystal-clear water.

Kythnos is an island of great archaeological interest. Maroulas, near Loutra, is the oldest settlement in Cyclades where remains of circular constructions have been found. They were used as places of residence. In Maroulas, five tombs have also been found. The settlement is dated back to the Mesolithic Period, that is between the 8^th and 7^th millenium B.C.

The role of Kythnos in the development of metallurgy during antiquity has been of vital importance. In the location Skouries, between Profitis Ilias and the bay of Ayios Ioannis, research has been conducted and revealed remnants of the First Cycladic Period (3^rd millenium B.C.). The circular constructions found there were related by scientsts with the metallurgical procedures and further laboratory analysis verified that Kythnos used to supply the Aegean of Prehistoric Times with raw material for the construction of metallurgical objects.

Findings of the First Cycladic, Geometrical and Roman Periods were located in the bay of Ayios Ioannis. The most important place in the island connected with the Historical Times is undoubtedly Vryokastro, which used to be the capital of the island during antiquity, located at the northeast coast of the island. Most of the islands' findings, which are exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and in the small outdoor Katholikon Collection in Kythnos Town, come from this area.

Milos beaches

Milos, one of the thousands of Greek islands, is to be found in the SW Cyclades, a large island group in the Aegean Sea. It is 86 nautical miles from Piraeus and approximately half way between Piraeus and Crete. Its surface area is 151 square kilometres and its varied coastline is 125 kilometres long.

The geographical bearing of its capital, Plaka, is 36^o 44' 35'' longitude, 24^o 25' 28'' latitude.
In general terms, it is a low island, whose highest peak is Prophet Elias in the north-west, rising to 751 metres. The Small Mountain in the same area is 636 metres high, while no other peak
reaches over 400 metres.

Its most characteristic feature is its magnificent gulf, providing a natural harbour, which is possibly the largest in the Mediterranean. This, in combination, with the island�s vast mineral wealth, has played and is still playing, a major role in the history, economy, culture and development of the island society throughout the last 7,000 years.

The population is about 5,000, (4,720 at 2001 census), although it rises considerably every summer. (According to I. Hatzidakis, the population was 20,000 during the Hellenistic and Roman era.)

Milos island

Most of the inhabitants live in the 8 villages, which are in the flat, northern part of the island. These are the capital Plaka, Plakes, Triovassalos, Pera Triovassalos, Tripiti, Pollonia, Zefiria, and Adamas.

Officially, Milos is part of the county of the Cyclades, whose capital is the town of Ermopolis, on the island of Syros. However, de-centralisation of the administration has been achieved
by sub-dividing the county into four provinces. One of these is Milos province, incorporating the Western Cycladic islands, Kimolos, Siphnos and Seriphos and with its administrative capital on Milos.

Its geological make-up, which will be dealt with later, is volcanic. However, this formation which is different from that of the rest of the Cyclades group, (with the exception of Kimolos), is the reason for the island's lack of forests, rich vegetation, natural water supplies and rivers. Never the less, it has given it colour. This unique Milos colour, is dazzlingly evident in its multitude of beautiful beaches - more than 75- with their glistening silver sand and clear blue waters. Also in the chalky white, terracotta, ochre and jet black rocks, the like of which can be seen nowhere else in the whole of Greece.

Ios island

The island of Ios, in Greece, is a part of the Cycladic Islands, at coordinates 36�43' N 25�20' E. It is famous for its intense, nightlife which can be experienced in the touristy and lively beach resort of Mylopotas and in the harbor named Ormos. But aside the fun, the Greek Island of Ios has many beautiful sights to offer to visitors, and various quiet and peaceful places. Its coastline is adorned by kilometers of fine soft sand and crystalline emerald waters which are a real temptation. The capital of Ios is also really lovely. This section of Greece, Ios, provides much information: pictures, map, villages, history, museums, architecture.io