Folegandros
Travel information from Greece Travel Secrets about Folegandros in the southern Cyclades, close to Sikinos, with flight and ferry information.
Folegandros is a delightful island in the very south of the Cyclades. Indeed, if you headed due south from Folegandros your next stop would be the north coast of Crete.
In the past the island didn't have good ferry connections, which meant that it was slow to develop for tourism. It now has much better ferry connections but getting there still takes a little planning. It fits our belief that if you want to have a more authentic Greek experience, go to an island which doesn't have its own airport.
Folegandros Scenery
One reason to visit the island is to see - and to hike in - its impressive scenery. The main village of Chora stands in a very photogenic clifftop setting and there's a rugged beauty about the rest of the island. In fact it's so rugged that some of its best beaches can only be reached by boat, and fortunately in summer there are plenty of boats to take you there.
Towns and Villages
The population of Folegandros is under 800, and most of these live in the three main settlements. About half of them live in the capital, Chora, which is connected to the port of Karavostasis. There's a road from Chora to the other main village where a couple of hundred people live, and that's Ano Meria in the north of the island.
Chora is definitely the best place to stay. It's not only charming and beautiful, it has the best range of accommodation options and places to eat. It's also easy to explore the rest of the island from here because of the bus service that can take you down to the port or north to Ano Meria.
There are few attractions as such, other than the remains of a Venetian fortress. The most stunning sight is the church of Panagia which is above the town and reached by a dramatic and much-photographed zigzag path.
Karovostasis makes a good choice if you want to spend most of your time on the beach. There are several beaches within easy reach and of course as this is the main port you can take boats from here to other beaches around the island. There are a handful of places to stay and to eat, though you can also take the bus from here to Chora, or walk it if you're feeling energetic. It's just over 2 miles (about 3.5 kms), and it's a slow but steady uphill climb. You can also get a taxi to take you up there and walk down, if you like.
Ano Meria is 3.7 miles (6 kms) from Chora, and a bus connects the two. It's very much a farming community but you will also find places to stay and to eat, as well as a small folklore museum. It's called the Ecomuseum and shows you what life is like in a farming community, in a building that was itself originally a farmhouse. Parts of it date back to the 17th century.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
Public Transport
In high season there's a regular bus service between Chora and Ano Meria. The bus also goes from Chora to the port whenever ferries are due in, so keep an eye on the timetables. You can also take a taxi, rent a car, rent a motorbike or rent a bicycle.
Renting a car is a little extravagant as there's basically just the one main road that goes from the port in the south to the north of the island, though there are a few side roads that are drivable if you want to be totally independent and explore the island. There's a good road that goes down to the tiny community at Angali Beach, which the island bus also visits.
Getting to Folegandros
Flights to Folegandros
Folegandros does not have an airport so you would have to fly to one of the neighbouring islands such as Milos or Santorini and take a ferry from there.
Ferries to Folegandros
Folegandros is reasonably well-served by ferries, and there are daily connections with Piraeus (anything from 3-9 hours), Milos (1 hour) and Santorini (from 40 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the service). There are also less frequent ferry connections with other islands in the Cyclades, with Ios being only 20 minutes away while Sikinos is only a 45-minute ferry ride.
Ferries in Greece
Ferries in Greece has an excellent and very thorough website where, in addition to checking ferry schedules and times, you can also book tickets and get lots of useful information about travelling by ferry in Greece.
Where to Stay on Folegandros
There are only a few options on where to stay in Folegandros, and you can see the main places above under Towns and Villages. In addition to the three main places, there are some rooms to rent at Angali Beach.
Other Cyclades pages
Cyclades
Travel information about the Cyclades group of Greek islands including Mykonos, Santorini (Thira), Naxos, Paros, Delos, Tinos, Siros, Milos, Amorgos.
How to Get from Mykonos to Santorini
You can get from Mykonos to Santorini, and of course from Santorini to Mykonos, by ferry, by plane (sort-of) or even by helicopter.
Naxos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades and on this page you can see information about flights and ferries to Naxos.
Best Time to Visit Naxos
Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Naxos, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Best Things to Do on Naxos
Greece Travel Secrets picks some of the best things to do on Naxos in the Cyclades, including discovering the beaches, villages, and ancient ruins.
Tinos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Tinos in the Cyclades has several daily ferry connections from Rafina on the Greek mainland and is most famous for the Feast of the Assumption.
Syros
Syros is in the Cyclades islands, with Ermoupoli as its main town and some good beaches, described here on the Greece Travel Secrets website.
Sikinos
Surrounded by bigger and better-known Cyclades islands such as Ios, Naxos and Santorini, Sikinos is a delightfully untouristy island.
Sifnos
Sifnos is one of the smaller islands in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea.
Serifos
Serifos is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, a rugged and mountainous island with a small population.
Paros in the Cyclades Islands in Greece
The island of Paros in the Cyclades is famous for its marble, and on this page you can also see information about flights and ferries to Paros.
Milos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Milos in the Cyclades in Greece is noted for its museums and beaches, and read about flights and ferries to Milos.
Kythnos
Kythnos is a small island in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, with easy access from Athens and popular with Athenians on summer weekends.
Kimolos
Kimolos is in the Cyclades islands of Greece, close to Milos.
Kea
Kea is in the Cyclades group of Greek islands and this page from Greece Travel Secrets shows how to get there by ferry and what to do when you've arrived.
Ios in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Ios in the Cyclades group of islands in Greece is noted for its nightlife in summer, as well as its beaches, churches and the grave of Homer.
Delos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Delos in the Cyclades islands is a unique archaeological site, taking up the whole island, and a popular day trip from nearby Mykonos.
Antiparos
Travel information about Antiparos near Paros in the Cyclades Islands of Greece from the Greece Travel Secrets website.
Andros in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
The island of Andros in the Cyclades has fast ferries from Rafina. There are some good beaches and the main town has two interesting museums.
Anafi in the Cyclades islands of Greece
Travel advice and information on Anafi in the Greek Cyclades islands with good beaches, walking, accommodation, tavernas.
Amorgos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
Travel advice and information on Amorgos in the Cyclades, a dramatic and growing holiday destination with ferries from Athens and other Greek islands
Schinoussa and Iraklia Travel Guide
This is the first travel guide to Schinoussa and Iraklia, two tiny islands in the Cyclades, published by Real Greek Experiences.
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