Hiking might 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. Especially if you visit the island outside of the hot summer months or even in winter, hiking the trails of Syros is something you can not skip!
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. We’ve walked almost all of the trails and take you along with us in the complete guide for hiking in Syros.
Hiking in Syros: a quick overview of our favorites
In this article, we go over all of our favorite hikes in Syros. If, however, you are looking for a specific hike or trail, you can find links to all the individual hikes here.
- Ermoupoli – Ano Syros Hike
- Ano Syros – Alithini Loop Hike
- Ano Syros – Agios Athanasios Hike
- Ermoupoli – Agios Dimitrios Loop Hike
- Agios Stefanos – Galissas Hike
- Papouri – Aetos Beach – Varvaroussa Beach Hike
- Kini – Delfini Beach – Varvaroussa Beach Hike
- Kampos – Americanou Beach – Grammata Hike
- Kampos – Americanou Beach – Marmari Beach – Lia Beach Loop Hike
- Kampos – Diapori Hike
- Chalandriani – Kastri Hike
Why Syros is a great place to hike
First of all, exploring Syros Island on foot lets you reach places you would otherwise miss, such as remote beaches or traditional villages. Hiking (apart from taking a boat) is the only way to really explore the natural landscape and remote beaches in 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.
Hiking truly has become one of our favorite activities in Syros, because it takes you to the true heart and soul of the island, far away from the tourists. And, especially in the north, chances are high that some goats will accompany you on your journey.
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 temperatures are pleasantly mild, and the island’s landscapes are at their most beautiful.
April to May is particularly lovely, with green hillsides and colourful blooming wildflowers after the winter rains, while September to October offers warm but more comfortable temperatures than the peak summer months.
Winter, from November to March, can also be a great time for hiking on sunny days, although rain and strong winds can make some trails challenging. Always check weather forecasts before setting out, for example on windy.com.
Summer is the least comfortable period for longer hikes, especially in July and August, when temperatures can become very high, and shade is limited. If you do hike in summer, start early in the morning, carry plenty of water, and avoid the hottest part of the day.
Read more: Best time to visit Syros, Cyclades, Greece
Essential tips before you start hiking in Syros
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.
Read more: What to wear in Syros and Greece
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.
Read more: Best things to do in Ermoupoli
Walk around Ermoupoli and Ano Syros
For those who want to explore the best things to do in Ermoupoli and the highlights of 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. You can add the Alithini loop or hike to Agios Athanasios if you want to explore some more.
Read more: Walking tour in Ermoupoli and Ano Syros
Hike to Alithini and back to Ano Syros
We actually discovered this hike, which 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 past Agia Paraskevi Church, and end up in Ano Syros again. Parts of this hike go over rocky paths, so wear the right shoes.
Read more: Complete guide for the hike from Ano Syros to Alithini
Hike from Ermoupoli to Kini Beach
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.
Read more: What to do in Kini, Syros
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 from Ano Syros to Agios Athanasios
If you’re looking for a short and easy hike from Ano Syros, the walk to Agios Athanasios is a lovely little adventure. The trail starts behind Ano Syros and follows an old path downhill for around 500 metres each way, taking you away from the narrow streets and into a surprisingly green and peaceful ravine.
The highlight is the small stone church of Agios Athanasios, tucked among trees next to a natural spring. The spring has been an important water source for the area for centuries, and you can still see the old stone basins where people once came to wash their clothes.
Take some time to enjoy the shade, listen to the running water, and explore the peaceful surroundings before walking back up to Ano Syros. The entire outing takes only around 30–45 minutes (without time to visit the church and spring), making it an easy addition to your visit to Ano Syros.
Read more: All you need to know about the walk to Agios Athanasios church and spring
Hike to Agios Dimitrios
This walk takes you from the center of Ermoupoli 2,5 km over the road to Agios Dimitrios. It’s not a true hike as it doesn’t go over trails or rocky paths, but it was one of our favorite evening walks from Ermoupoli center when we were living in Syros.
The entire hike is 5 km (you go back the same way as you came or do a loop). 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.
Read more: Walk from Ermoupoli to Agios Dimitrios
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. You could also hike all the way from Ermoupoli or where you are staying on the island, but you won’t always be able to follow trails in that case and might have to do parts following the road.
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
Visiting Agios Stefanos Chapel is probably one of our favorite things to do in Syros and is fantastic to hike to. 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 and a true hidden gem in Syros.
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. However, that part is 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.
Read more: A complete guide for hiking to Agios Stefanos Chapel
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 from Chalandriana 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.
Read more: Complete guide for the hike to Kastri, Syros ancient settlements
Hike from Papouri to Varvarousa Beach
Papouri is a very small village up in Apano Meria, the northern part of Syros. You can come here by car, taxi, or scooter. From this village, there starts a trail down to Varvarousa Beach, a beach only accessible on foot or by 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.
Read more: Complete guide for the hike from Papouri to Aetos, Varvaroussa, Delfini, and Kini Beach
Hike between Kini, Delfini, and Varvarousa Beach
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 better 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.
Read more: Exploring Apano Meria in the wild north 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.
You can also do a little side trip to Grammata Beach if you have enough time. To get back from Americanou Beach, you can either do a loop via Marmari Beach and Lia Beach back to Kampos (our recommendation), or hike back the same way as you came.
Read more: Hike from Kampos to Americanou Beach, Marmari Beach and Lia Beach
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, from Vari to Achladi Beach, and from Megas Gialos to Ampela 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 straight to Grammata, Marmari, and Lia Beach.
More frequently asked questions about hiking in Syros
Is Syros good for hiking?
Yes! Syros has a surprisingly extensive network of trails, old donkey paths, and rural roads connecting villages, churches, beaches, and hillsides. The island’s relatively small size makes it easy to combine hiking with exploring different parts of Syros.
Are the hiking trails in Syros well marked?
Some popular trails are signposted, but marking varies considerably between routes. It’s a good idea to download your route in advance and use a hiking app such as Maps.me or AllTrails, especially when exploring less-established trails.
Are there difficult hikes in Syros?
Most hikes on Syros are relatively easy to moderate, although some routes involve steep climbs, rocky terrain or uneven paths. The island’s hills can make even shorter walks surprisingly strenuous, so check the elevation gain rather than judging a hike by distance alone.
Do I need hiking shoes in Syros?
For short and easy walks, sturdy trainers may be sufficient, but hiking shoes with good grip are recommended for longer routes. Many trails are rocky and uneven, and loose stones can make descents particularly slippery.
Can you hike in Syros in summer?
Yes, but summer heat can make hiking uncomfortable as there is no shade and potentially dangerous. If you hike between June and August, start early in the morning, carry plenty of water, and avoid the hottest hours of the day. There is often very little shade on exposed trails.
Can you hike in Syros in winter?
Yes. Winter can actually be a wonderful time for hiking when the weather is dry and sunny. The island is greener after the autumn and winter rains, but avoid trails during or immediately after heavy rain, as some paths can become muddy or slippery. And always consider the wind, which can be fierce and cold.
Are there hiking trails suitable for families?
Yes. Several shorter walks are suitable for families, particularly routes around Ano Syros, the villages and some coastal areas. And honestly, depending on your kids’ experience level, we believe most trails are suitable with kids.
Do I need to bring water when hiking in Syros?
Absolutely. Even outside summer, you should carry enough water for the entire hike. There are almost no natural springs and no amenities along most routes.
Can you hike between villages in Syros?
Yes. One of the most enjoyable ways to explore the island is by following old paths between villages. Routes can connect places such as Ano Syros, Ermoupoli, Kini, Galissas and other settlements, allowing you to experience the countryside and landscapes away from the main roads.
Our Syros Travel Ebook + Google Maps
The ultimate Syros Travel Guide (printable and downloadable on your phone) has ALL the information and inspiration you need to make the most of your Syros trip! From what to do, where to eat, and where to stay, to the best day trips, walks, and hidden gems.
Includes a detailed, interactive, and downloadable Syros Google Maps, with hundreds of pinned places.