Hiking might probably not be the first thing you think of when visiting the Greek island of Syros. After all, the beaches, Ermoupoli, and Ano Syros have a lot to offer with their old architecture, many restaurants, and lovely spots.
However, hiking is one of our favorite things to do in Syros, and we highly recommend you do some of the scenic hiking routes if you are planning a trip to this beautiful island.
There are over 10 marked trails around Syros Island (from easy to hard), but there are many more paths that you can walk that aren’t marked at all.
Why Syros is a great place to hike
First of all, exploring Syros Island on foot allows you to go to places you would never see otherwise, such as remote beaches or traditional villages. Hiking (apart from going by boat) is the only way to really explore the nature and beaches of the northern part of Syros, also known as Apano Meria. But also in the south, there are some amazing hiking trails.
Secondly, when you are hiking the Syros trails, you’ll be treated to some beautiful landscapes, discover charming chapels or old ruins, traverse rugged hills, find remote sandy beaches, and discover stunning panoramic views over the Aegean Sea.
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Best time for hiking in Syros
The best time for hiking in Syros is during early spring (April to May) and early autumn (mid-September to the end of October). During these months, the weather is usually mild, and wildflowers are in bloom.
In summer, it gets really hot, so avoid the midday heat. During winter, the weather can be cold and windy, but it is still nice to hike around the island. Always check weather forecasts before setting out.
Here are a few things you need to know before you head out for a Syros hike:
Always wear appropriate footwear: the trails in Syros can be very steep and rocky, so flip-flops are not an option.
Bring enough water: especially if you are hiking in warm temperatures, make sure you bring enough water. Most trails have no option to buy drinks or fill up your water bottle.
Wear clothes that fit the season: in summer, make sure you have a hat and sunglasses with you to protect yourself from the sun. In winter, wear enough layers as the wind can be very cold but if you are hiking up a steep hill, you’ll also want to lose a couple of layers.
Navigation: while some trails are marked, it’s not always clear what the path is. Make sure to download apps such as Alltrails or Maps.me to find the correct paths.
Respect nature: stay on designated paths, avoid disturbing wildlife, and carry out all trash.
Syros hikes starting from Ermoupoli
If you are staying in Ermoupoli or Ano Syros, you can just walk to the starting point of all of the following hikes. Some are a loop, others are one way. In that case, you either walk back (same way) or grab a taxi or public transport to return to Ermoupoli.
For those who want to explore the best things to do in Ermoupoli and Ano Syros, we can highly recommend our free Ermoupoli and Ano Syros walking tour. It will bring you past some of the most beautiful neighborhoods and treat you to amazing views over Ermoupoli and the Aegean Sea. Although this is more a walk than an actual hike (no rocky terrain), it deserves its place among the best hikes in Syros.
The walk will take you through the bustling port town of Ermoupoli and ascend to the medieval settlement of Ano Syros. Take your time to have a coffee at one of our favorite coffee places in Ermoupoli, explore narrow alleys, visit the Cathedral of Saint George, and enjoy sweeping views of the Aegean Sea.
We actually discovered this hike, that goes in a big loop around Ano Syros, by accident. We were going to walk to Kini Beach from Ermoupoli (see next hike) but took the wrong turn. So happy we did, as we really loved this hike and its amazing views over Ermoupoli and the surrounding islands.
This entire loop is around 5-6 km and is marked by red dots, making it easy to follow the path. You start walking up to Alithini from the back of Ano Syros, take a right on top, walk passed Agia Paraskevi Church and end up in Ano Syros again.
For this hike, you also start at the back of historic Ano Syros. You don’t have to climb all the way up to the top to reach the starting point, which is the same as the previous hike. This trail first goes up to Alithini and then descends towards the coastal village of Kini.
The entire hike is around 7 km long (one way) unless you want to hike back the same way to Ermoupoli. If you don’t you can easily call a taxi in Kini or grab the bus (mainly during high season). Along the way, you are treated to the most beautiful views over the Aegean Sea. If you walk towards the evening, you can also see the sunset and have dinner at Kini Beach.
Hike to Agios Dimitrios
This walk takes you from the center of Ermoupoli 2,5 km over the road to Agios Dimitrios. The entire hike is 5 km (you go back the same way as you came). You can start from anywhere in Ermoupoli and walk towards Asteria Beach. From there, keep walking following the water, until you arrive at the beautiful Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Dimitrios.
The church is not always open, but even if it’s not, you can enjoy the beautiful views and the many cats that are usually hanging around the front of the church.
Other great hikes in Syros
To be able to hike the following trails, you’ll either need to rent a car, grab a taxi, or take public transport to reach the starting point of the hike. Most of these trails are also over rocky terrain and in remote areas, so make sure to come well-prepared with enough water, food, and proper shoes.
Hike to Agios Stefanos Chapel
Agios Stefanos Chapel is probably one of our favorite places to hike to in Syros. Not only is the coastal trail very scenic, but the little picturesque chapel, built in the opening of a cave, is worth the hike in itself.
The best way to do this hike is by letting a taxi drop you off at the start of the trail. You can also walk from Galissas Beach, but that makes it a lot longer and it’s not a real trail but alongside the road. The hike to one of the island’s most iconic chapels is around 1,5 km, so 3 km in total.
TIP: Agios Stefanos Chapel is also a fantastic place to watch the sunset. As it might be a bit tricky to walk back in the dark, you can also do a boat tour and come here around sunset. You won’t regret it!
Hike to Kastri
This trail, starting in Chalandriana, takes hikers through the northern part of Syros, leading to the ancient settlement of Kastri. Over 4000 years old, Kastri is built upon a hill and is one of the most important archaeological sites of Syros.
The route is rather steep but not extremely difficult and is around 6 km (going and back). Along the way, you get beautiful views over the Aegean Sea and Glysoura Beach. If you want, you can also take a detour to this remote beach to have a picnic or go for a swim.
Hike from Papouri to Varvarousa Beach
Papouri is a very small village up in Apano Meria, the northern part of Syros. From here, there starts a trail down to Varvarousa Beach, which is only accessible by foot or boat. If you walk the trail during winter or spring, it’s very green in the area. You can also do a small detour to Aetos Beach, a beautiful small remote beach.
You can choose to either walk back to Papouri from Varvarousa or continue your journey to Delphini Beach and end at Kini Beach (see next hike). Hiking from Papouri to Kini Beach (around 8 km) has been one of our favorite hikes on the island. From Kini, you can take a taxi back to where you are staying.
Unless you are coming from Papouri village (see previous hike), you’ll probably start this hike from Kini Beach. A path leaves here, going first to Delfini Beach, where in summer there are some amenities, such as a tavern, sunbeds, water sports, etc.
From Delfini, you continue your hike over a hill towards Varvarousa Beach, which is completely remote (no amenities). You can either decide to walk back to Kini from here (the loop is around 5 km), go back to Delfini and call a taxi there, or continue your hike up to Papouri village.
Hike to Americanou Beach
Americanou Beach is actually called Gria Spilia but is more known under this name because of the American men who came to live here and planted many trees around the beach. Now, it is a bit of a green oasis amid the bare landscapes of Syros.
The hike to this beach starts in Kampos village and is around 2,5 km one way. In summer the beach can be rather busy, as people camp here and many boats visit this special place. However, there are no amenities, so bring your own food and drinks.
Hike to other remote beaches
In this article about the best hikes in Syros, we’ve gone over the most popular or known hikes in Syros. But there are many other paths.
There are a few small hikes to remote beaches that are located close to some of the popular ones. Just like you can walk from Kini Beach to Delfini or Varvarousa, you can, for example, also hike from Galissas Beach to Armeos Beach.
Some other remote beaches up in the north take a longer hike. From Kampos village, just like you can hike to Americanou Beach, you can also hike to Grammata, Marmari, and Lia Beach.
