How many days in Andros? 4 days of trails, captains' mansions and empty coves
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Andros is the northernmost of the Cyclades and the one that breaks the postcard rules: green valleys with running water, stone-walled terraces, neoclassical captains' houses and almost no cruise crowds. It is only about two hours by ferry from Rafina, yet it is big (around 380 sq km), so give it four days and rent a car. Spend one day in Chora, two on the waymarked footpaths and in the villages, and one on the beaches you can only reach by dirt road or on foot.
Short answer
Three days is the minimum: Chora and its museums, one long walk on the Andros Routes network, and a beach day around Batsi. Fewer than that and most of the island stays behind a windscreen.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Chora: the bridge, the castle and the museums
Morning. Drive about 45 minutes (roughly 33 km) from the port of Gavrio across the island to Chora, also called Andros town. Park at the top and walk down the marble-paved main street to Riva Square at the tip, where the statue of the Unknown Sailor looks over the sea. From there a stone arch bridge crosses to the ruins of the Venetian Kato Kastro, and the lighthouse of Tourlitis stands on its own rock just offshore.
Afternoon. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation, which stages a major summer exhibition each year (tickets roughly €8-12; check dates, as it is mostly a summer museum). Then see the Archaeological Museum in the main square, whose best-known piece is the marble Hermes of Andros, a Roman-era copy of a classical statue.
Evening. Swim at Paraporti or Nimborio, the two beaches on either side of the town, then eat in one of the tavernas on the main street. Expect €15-25 per person for mezedes, grilled fish by the kilo and local wine.
Chora sits on the windward east coast. On days with a strong north wind (the meltemi) Paraporti can be rough; the west coast around Batsi is usually calmer.
Day 2: Springs and villages: Apoikia, Pithara, Menites
Morning. Walk one of the shorter Andros Routes, the network of old stone paths that has been cleared and waymarked by volunteers and is certified as a Leading Quality Trail in Europe. A good first choice is the loop above Chora through Stenies and Apoikia, around 2-3 hours. In Apoikia, fill your bottle at the Sariza spring, whose mineral water is also bottled on the island.
Afternoon. Drive a few minutes to the Pithara waterfalls, a short shaded path past small cascades, plane trees and old water mills. Continue to Menites, where water runs from lion-headed spouts outside the church of Panagia Koumoulou, and stop for coffee under the plane trees.
Evening. Have dinner in a village taverna in the valley above Chora. Order froutalia, the Andros omelette with potatoes and local sausage, and finish with almond sweets from a local pastry shop.
Trail maps and route numbers are on the Andros Routes website; download them before you go, as signal drops in the valleys. Wear proper shoes: the paths are stone and can be slippery near springs.
Day 3: Korthi and the southern beaches
Morning. Drive about 30 minutes south from Chora to Ormos Korthiou, the bay and fishing village of Korthi. A short walk or drive north leads to Tis Grias to Pidima (the Old Woman's Leap), a sandy cove with a tall rock standing in the water; arrive before 11:00 in August for space.
Afternoon. Head back towards Chora via the Byzantine monastery of Panachrantou, built on the mountainside above Falika (modest dress, often closed in the early afternoon). The views down to the east coast are among the widest on the island.
Evening. Return to Korthi for dinner on the waterfront, or to Chora for a drink on the terraces near the main square at sunset.
Many beaches in Andros are reached by unpaved roads. Ask your rental company whether their insurance covers dirt tracks before you drive to the remote coves.
Day 4: Batsi, Palaiopoli and the west coast
Morning. Spend the morning in Batsi, the main resort on the west coast, about 15 minutes from Gavrio. The sandy town beach is shallow and good for children, and boat trips from the harbour go to coves such as Achla or Vitali in summer (prices vary, ask at the harbour).
Afternoon. Drive south to Palaiopoli, the site of the ancient capital, with a small museum by the road and ruins scattered down the slope towards the sea. Then swim at Agios Kyprianos or Kypri, sandy bays between Batsi and Gavrio.
Evening. Watch the sunset from the west coast, which faces Evia, and eat fish in Batsi harbour. Near Gavrio, stop at the Agios Petros tower, a round ancient tower standing in the fields, if you have time before the ferry.
On your last day, return the car in Gavrio at least 45 minutes before the ferry. In August the queues to board are long and boats can run late.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, keep Chora on Day 1, combine the springs walk with the Pithara waterfalls on Day 2, and spend Day 3 between Batsi and the western beaches. You lose Korthi and the southern coves.
Got extra days?
A 5th or 6th day lets you walk the longer stages of the Andros Route, the multi-day trail that crosses the island from north to south, or drive to the remote Achla beach and the far north around Vourkoti. Andros also links well with Tinos, roughly an hour or a little more away by ferry, for a two-island trip.
Where to stay in Andros
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Gavrio | The ferry port, with simple rooms, the cheapest prices and the first and last boat right outside. | €50-80 |
| Mid-range | Batsi | The liveliest base: a sandy beach, tavernas and boat trips, 15 minutes from the port. | €80-140 |
| Mid-range | Chora | Museums, captains' houses and the trailheads into the green valleys on the east side. | €90-160 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels around Chora and Korthi | Restored stone houses and small hotels with pools and sea views. | €180-350 |
Getting around
Ferries leave from Rafina, east of Athens, not from Piraeus: about 2 hours on a conventional ship and about 1h10 on a fast boat, with fares roughly €20-40 one way (more with a car). Rafina is about 30 minutes by taxi or KTEL bus from Athens airport. All boats arrive at Gavrio. The KTEL Andros bus links Gavrio, Batsi, Chora and Korthi a few times a day (a few euros per ride), but timetables are thin outside July and August. A rental car (about €35-60 a day in high season, book ahead for August) is the realistic way to reach trailheads and beaches. Taxis wait at Gavrio for the boats.
What to eat in Andros
Andros cooking is mountain food as much as island food. Look for froutalia, a thick omelette with potatoes and the local smoked sausage, local cheeses such as petroto, and goat or lamb slow-cooked in the oven. The island's springs are famous, so meals often come with a jug of local water. For dessert, almond sweets such as amygdalota are sold in Chora's pastry shops and make a good gift to take home. A taverna meal with wine is about €15-25 per person; fish is priced by the kilo, so ask before ordering. In the villages, kafeneia serve coffee for €2-3.
Best time to visit
May, June and September are best: warm sea, green or golden hills and quiet trails, with highs of 22-28°C. April and October are ideal for walking, with flowers in spring, but some hotels and tavernas are closed. July and August are busy with Athenian families, and the meltemi wind can blow hard for days. Winter is wet and windy, and ferries can be cancelled in storms.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €30 | €60 | €140 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €40 | €70 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €15 | €35 |
| Local transport | €10 | €25 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €70 | about €140 | about €285 |
Approximate 2026 prices, with transport mostly a shared rental car and fuel; Greece adds a per-room, per-night climate resilience fee, higher from April to October.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a car on Andros?
Almost certainly. The island is large and mountainous, and the KTEL buses run only a few times a day between Gavrio, Batsi, Chora and Korthi. To reach the trailheads, the springs and the beaches on dirt roads, a small rental car is the practical choice. Book early for July and August, and check whether the insurance covers unpaved tracks.
Can I visit Andros as a day trip from Athens?
Technically yes, since the ferry from Rafina takes about two hours, but you would spend most of the day on the boat and in the car. Chora is about 45 minutes from the port. A long weekend of two or three nights is the shortest stay that makes sense, and four days is better.
Is Andros good for hiking?
It is the best-known hiking island in the Cyclades. The Andros Routes network covers well over a hundred kilometres of restored stone paths, with numbered, waymarked routes and a long trail that crosses the island. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; in summer, start at 7:00 and finish before midday.
Which are the best beaches on Andros?
For easy access, Batsi, Chrissi Ammos and Agios Kyprianos on the west coast. For scenery, Tis Grias to Pidima near Korthi. For remoteness, Achla and Vitali on the east coast, reached by long dirt roads or by boat from Batsi in summer. When the north wind blows, choose the sheltered west or south side.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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