The Cyclades islands take their name from the fact that they surround the island of Delos forming a circle. Delos had a special status, because it saw the birth of the famous god Apollo according to Greek mythology. The most famous of the six Greek archipelagos and the one that is found on all postcards, the Cyclades are visited again and again without ever coming to an end. But before leaving for this destination in Greece, you will have to choose: do you want to travel by plane, by ferry or by sailboat? Do you want to have fun and party or discover the vestiges of European history? Mainland or volcanic island? Do you want golden sandy beaches or volcanic rocks? All options are possible, but it is impossible to visit everything at once. This Cyclades travel guide will help you find the islands that suit you best, between Milos, Naxos and the Small Eastern Cyclades for the most beautiful beaches, Mykonos for the nightlife and the pelicans, Paros for its nautical activities, Delos "the museum island" which was inhabited one thousand years before Christ, Hydra the pedestrian or Sifnos and Tinos more natural. Despite the progress of tourism, Santorini remains the star of the Cyclades: from the climb of the stairs on donkey back to the mills on top of the cliffs, everything is magical on this white and blue island. All these islands have in common, for our greatest pleasure, an outstanding gastronomy. You will discover the true flavor of the dishes and mezzes that you thought you knew: moussaka, souvlaki, gyros pitas, tzatziki, tarama or eggplant caviar, accompanied by a glass of ouzo or samos, the Greek wine. The meal can be accompanied or ended with a drink, watching the locals play tavli, known in Greece as backgammon. Practice now if you hope to win a game. Before experiencing life in the small villages of Kostos or Syros, as mentioned above, you will have to choose, because the Cyclades islands are composed of about 250 islands, 24 of which are inhabited. Mythology lovers will choose Delos for all the mysteries that surround this island. While travelers looking for more peace and quiet will go to the small Cyclades. Those who are fond of archaeological discoveries will be the best served as the Cycladic islands turn out to be open-air museums. There are traces of life on the archipelago dating back to the Bronze Age! No matter which island you choose, you will come across beautiful whitewashed houses, charming little harbors overlooking the great blue of the Aegean Sea. There are so many islands in the archipelago that it will be easier to find places to relax and enjoy the idleness. The island of Mykonos, for its part, will satisfy the lovers of an ultra festive atmosphere (remember to avoid the heart of the high season).

When to go Cyclades ?

The tourist season lasts from the beginning of May, when the weather starts to become mild, until mid-October - or even the end of October - when the rain starts to fall. The months of July and August are considered, as elsewhere, as the high (or very high, in August) season.

The off-season. The advantage of choosing the islands of the Cyclades is that you can avoid mass tourism. It is important to know that the climate of the islands allows you to discover them in much calmer and more serene periods, that is to say in May, June and September. Notice to the amateurs.

The off season. The islands are often empty in winter, which gives them a certain charm. However, most of the tourist establishments close their doors during this period.

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Practical information for travel Cyclades

No time to do everything, it's obvious. Greece in general and the Cyclades in particular are one of those places from which we come back saying that we will inevitably return. Indeed, it is impossible to say that one has "done" the Greek islands, as each island, even in the same archipelago, is different. Its lovers know that the Cyclades are not limited to the cliffs of Santorini nor to its whitewashed houses. From Andros to Mykonos, through Folegandros, the archipelago offers many other facets: archaeological sites and monuments classified by UNESCO, but also landscapes of a breathtaking wilderness. Still unknown to tourists, some of the outlying islands like Anafi or the "small Cyclades of the East" have remained authentic and full of surprises. Everywhere, sea and nature live in perfect harmony, allowing to combine the exercise of hiking with the pleasure of swimming!

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How to go Cyclades

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How to go alone

It is very easy to organize your own stay on the islands by booking independently the accommodations and the boats according to your desires. Note that it is necessary to book well in advance in high season to avoid unpleasant surprises. Finally, the Cyclades are a safe destination and its inhabitants are very welcoming.

How to go on a tour

The Cyclades have always fascinated French holidaymakers. Thus, many tour operators offer tours from one week to one month combining several islands by ferry, plane or sailboat. It takes at least 15 days to visit up to 4 islands. The destination can easily be combined with a visit to another archipelago or to Athens. You should also know that many cruise ships pass through the islands in Greece.

How to get around

By plane. Quite expensive, most of the trips are to and from Athens, but some airlines also offer inter-island flights.

By ferry. A few major ferry companies can be found all over the country. The schedules are more or less respected and, often, you can also board your car.

In the car. The car is one of the most efficient means of transport to discover the islands.

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Discover Cyclades

They would hold their name of the nymphs that the irritable Poseidon would have transformed into rocks. But their name could also come from the word kuklos or "circle", since they draw a halo around the sacred island of Delos. The Cyclades are 39 islands, surrounded by countless islets, but only 24 of them welcome tourists and are presented here. But we are in Greece, no doubt about it. This archipelago is bathed in mythology. Of its history, one often retains only the Antiquity, but the archipelago also crossed all the stages of the history of the country. It is difficult to "fly over" such a rich and complex country. In many ways, it remains very oriental. Religion has a predominant place, both Orthodox and Catholic. Without forgetting its culture which is also ours: with arts, sciences, philosophy, mythology constitutes one of the pillars of the heritage..

Pictures and images Cyclades

Baie de Livadi, Sérifos. @laurent - iStockphoto
Plage de Vardia, pas loin du port. Ana JOVETIC-VUCKOVIC
Vue sur le port de Folegandros. Ana JOVETIC-VUCKOVIC
Vue sur Chora. Ana JOVETIC-VUCKOVIC

The 12 keywords Cyclades

1. #Atlantide

Do the remains of this legendary civilization sleep somewhere off the island of Santorini? Despite the many inaccuracies relayed by Plato, several historical arguments allow to locate Atlantis in a Greek perimeter. Are the secrets of the decline of the ancient Minoan civilization engraved in the caldera?

2. #Basilic

Basilic © Vangelis K - Shutterstock.com.jpg

Basil has a special place in the life of the islands. You will see it everywhere, in every window, in front of every restaurant, on every terrace... but never in your plate. Although basil grows everywhere (in pots), it is hardly used in the local cuisine. It is a decorative and lucky plant.

3. #Blue

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It is a postcard cliché and a reality in the Cyclades: bright white houses next to churches with a resplendent blue dome and golden beaches bordering a turquoise blue sea... It is easy to understand why Luc Besson shot his film The Big Blue in these islands... More precisely in the waters of Amorgos.

4. #GREEK COFFEE

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You will be amazed by the thousand and one ways of preparing coffee in Greece. To order it, ask for: éna elliniko, which means "a Greek". In the summer, there is nothing like an iced coffee that is drunk iced (Nescafé based) or freddo (espresso based). Coffee can be ordered without sugar(sketo), a little sweet(metrio) or very sweet(glyko).

5. #CHATS

We all know this cliché of the Greek islands: a small port, a white chapel and languid cats. These felines are indeed everywhere, especially near the fish taverns that border the ports of the Cyclades. If you give them a few bones at the end of the meal, try to do it discreetly, to avoid the reproachful eye of the manager.

6. #DELOS

30 minutes from the turbulent Mykonos, a world of memory and silence survives. This "museum island" was classified by Unesco in 1990. Delos has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but it was the Ionians, in the first millennium BC, who made it a panhellenic political and religious center, comparable to Olympia and Delphi.

7. #Churches

They are everywhere in the archipelago, which is also home to one of the country's largest pilgrimage sites in Tinos, the Greek Lourdes. Moreover, the churches are sometimes so numerous that they cannot even be counted, as in Sifnos. In some islands, the Catholic churches share the spotlight with the Orthodox churches.

8. #MATI

The mati means "the eye", meaning "the evil eye". This notion is part of a widespread popular superstition. Beware: if you suddenly start yawning, feel tired or have a headache, you will most likely be given a " se matiasan" : literally "the evil eye has been cast upon you".

9. #MELTEMI

The meltemi is the north-northwest wind that sometimes blows violently on the coasts of the Cyclades, especially in August. When it rises, the beaches exposed to the west can become impassable. This is especially the case for hydrofoils, such as ferries, which will be the first to be cancelled in case of strong winds.

10. #Easter

Here, this week is sacred! The procession of theepitafios on Friday, the mass on Saturday evening, followed by a big meal and the mayiritsa (a giblet soup), and on Monday, with 50 days later a new celebration. Beware, hotels, especially in religious islands like Tinos, are often fully booked.

11. #PASTÈQUE

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The karpouzi (in Greek) is the fruit of summer. Watermelon can be bought by the kilo in supermarkets and from street vendors on the roadside. And it is often the gift of the house, in the taverns, after a good meal in the middle of a hot summer. The region of Greece that produces the most is Elis, in the west of the Peloponnese, near Olympia.

12. #TAVLI

Tavli is the Greek version of backgammon or backgammon. This game is very popular in Greece and is played for hours on end on the terraces of cafes. You usually order it with your drink, or you follow the sometimes colorful games played by your neighbors. Often the dice rolls are followed by flowery expressions.

You are from here, if...

You like to spend time, but really a lot of time, at the table, and especially at any time. And rather at the tavern than at home!

You never order one dish for yourself: you prefer to have several and to stick your fork into all the mezzes on the table.

In general, you like to talk, debate and argue (for real). Among your favorite subjects of discord: soccer or politics.

You are religious, superstitious, or both. Impossible to pass by a church without signing.

You often arrive late. You love the expression "para pende". In Greece, everything ends at "minus five", meaning at the last minute... or a little later.

You value your personal freedom. You can stop smoking in bars, but if you want to wear a seatbelt or a helmet, we'll see..

In general, you should not bother driving. Turn signal is optional and double parking is still quite practical, isn't it?

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