Visit Amorgos, the island of the Big Blue! Between sandy beaches, whitewashed villages and epic hikes, here are our 6 must-do things to do on Amorgos.
It’s decided: you’re off to explore the Cyclades, and in particular to visit Amorgos, the most easterly of the Greek islands. With its breathtaking scenery, tasty local specialities and authentic little villages, Amorgos appeals to tourists without attracting crowds.
Known to film buffs as the location for certain scenes in Luc Besson’s Le Grand Bleu, Amorgos has many wonders to offer. And to make sure you don’t miss a thing of this dream island, here’s our top 6 must-do list for Amorgos.
1. Hiking
Photo credit: Flickr – Amphithoe
If you love hiking or trekking, you’ll love visiting Amorgos. Indeed, the island is reputed to be one of the best – if not the best – for hiking in the Cyclades. Amorgos offers a wide range of trails, mainly ancient paths lined with low stone walls, allowing you to discover the town from a more authentic point of view, with breathtaking views over the sea. The advantage is that the paths lead from one village to the next, giving you the opportunity to take a well-deserved break before your next climb.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to hiking, but there are 8 signposted historical trails: among them are Palia Strata (trail 1), which runs from Chora to Aegiali in 9 hours round trip, Evangelistria (trail 7), which runs from Katapola to Evangelistria in 2 hours round trip, and Fotodotis (trail 2), which runs from Katapola to Chora in 2 hours round trip. For more information on hiking in Amorgos, visit Cycladen.
2. Visit the Panaghia Chozoviotissa Monastery
Photo credit: Flickr – Andrea Moroni
Undoubtedly one of the island’s best-known viewpoints, and a must-see when visiting Amorgos. Founded in the 11th century, the Monastery of Panaghia Chozoviotissa is built into the side of a cliff, 300m above the sea. To get there, you’ll have to earn your way up nearly 300 steps. But once you’re up there, you won’t regret it for a moment: inside, you’ll find beautiful Byzantine icons and an icon of the Virgin Mary said to be magical, while the outside offers a sublime panorama of the sea.
Even today, the monastery is inhabited by a handful of monks, who will be delighted to show you around their estate before offering you a few loukoums and a glass of Raki. And don’t forget: when entering a holy place, proper dress is required, knees covered for gentlemen and legs and shoulders for ladies.
3. Taste local specialities
Photo credit: Max Pixel
What better way to visit Amorgos than with its local gastronomy? As everywhere else in Greece, you’re sure to fall under the spell of sun-drenched seasonal fruit and vegetables, freshly caught fish and the omnipresence of olive oil and honey.
But Amorgos also boasts some very local specialties, such as patatato, a goat and potato dish; xerotigana, small herb fillings; ladotyri, small goat cheeses marinated in olive oil; and the famous pastéli, honey and sesame nougats that locals often offer on the street.
And for those who like to discover local spirits, don’t miss rakomelo, a hot drink that combines raki – the Greek spirit par excellence – honey and spices.
4. Try your hand at snorkeling and diving
Photo credit: Flickr – Amphithoe
If you don’t know what to do in Amorgos, this could be the opportunity to try your hand at snorkeling. To give it a try, head for the beaches of Levrossos and Psili Ammos, small wild coves perfect for adventure. Don’t hesitate to hire a 4×4 or a scooter to drive along the coast and discover your dream spot.
But Amorgos is also a great place for scuba diving, and Luc Besson, the director of Le Grand Bleu, won’t deny it! Indeed, the island is renowned for its excellent visibility in the water – up to 50m – with depths ranging from 6 to 80m. For beginners, the Marina wreck is a perfect spot, well preserved and covered in coral.
5. Stroll the streets of Chora
Photo credit: Flickr – Amphithoe
It’s hard to call Chora a capital, given that it’s a quiet village of just 500 inhabitants. Yet it is the capital of Amorgos, and one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades. Whitewashed houses, blue-painted shutters and doors, little staircases leading to tavernas where you can enjoy an iced coffee or a cold beer, Chora has it all.
La Ioza, the village’s central square, overlooks the village on a volcanic rock where the Venetians erected the Kastro and where you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the island, a perfect place to enjoy a pastry at snack time. A must-see village in Amorgos, especially as it is spared from mass tourism.
6. Replaying scenes from The Big Blue Bus
If you don’t know what to do on Amorgos and you’re a big fan of Luc Besson, you can explore the filming locations of his famous 1988 movie Le Grand Bleu. In fact, this is the origin of the island’s nickname, l’île du Grand Bleu.
At the foot of the Panaghia Chozoviotissa Monastery lies the small beach of Agia Anna, ideal for a siesta after climbing the Monastery. Popular with tourists, this beach was used as a backdrop at the very start of the film, when little Jacques Maillol tries his hand at freediving. As for the scenes of children in a village, they were shot in Chora.
Another scene, well known to film buffs, was filmed on Amorgos: the scene in which Jacques Maillol rescues an American soldier from a shipwreck. You’ll see this scene in the south of the island, before reaching Kalotaritissa beach.
How to get to Amorgos
The island of Amorgos doesn’t have an airport, so it’s more complicated to get to, but it’s also quieter and far from the other Greek islands that are the victims of mass tourism. From France, you’ll need to book a flight to Athens or Santorini. You can compare plane tickets on Ulysses. Then, to reach Amorgos, you’ll need to take a ferry from Athens Piraeus (5h10 journey) or Santorini (1h journey). You can book your ferry crossing online via the Direct Ferries website.
Amorgos is also accessible by boat from most of the Cyclades islands: Koufonissi (25min), Donoussa (40min), Naxos (1h15), Shinoussa (1h25), Heraklia (1h45), Mykonos (2h), Folegandros (2h20), Paros (2h30), Milos (3h25), Sifnos (4h15), Syros (4h35) and Serifos (4h40). From the Dodecanese: Astypalea (1h25), Kos (3h05) and Rhodes (6h05).
Where to stay in Amorgos?
Amorgos is a long island, and it’s best to stay close to the island’s two ports, Aegiali and Katapola, as these are the villages with the largest supply of accommodation on Amorgos. Of course, you can also go inland and find hotels or houses to rent away from the tourists. It also depends on how long you plan to stay on Amorgos. To help you, you can read our article « Where to stay in Amorgos « .
You can find a cheap hotel in Amorgos by searching on this hotel comparator.
Getting around Amorgos
The island has an efficient public bus service linking the beaches and main villages of Amorgos: Katapola, Chora and Egiali with the beaches of Aghia Anna, Aghios Pavlos, Paradisia and Egiali Bay. There are also buses from Chora to the Hosoviotissa Monastery. For greater independence during your stay, you can rent a car or scooter and move around the island as you please.
You can compare car rental prices in Amorgos on the Rentalcars website.
Main photo credit: Flickr – Dubravka Franz
Map of hotels and accommodations – Amorgos,