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Iraklia Guide

Iraklia Ferry Port

Sandwiched between the party isles of Ios and Naxos in the Cyclades archipelago is the tiny Greek island of Iraklia, a destination oft-forgotten in the shadow of its larger neighbours. While the other islands fight for the spotlight, the few inhabitants of Iraklia have gone about their usual business; a business that hasn’t changed for decades. It comes as no surprise, then, that the island has retained its tranquil, rural charm. The isle’s landscape is shaped by rugged, shrub-covered hills that tumble towards the rocky coastline edging the sapphire surf of the Aegean Sea. Only a few, sparsely populated villages nestle between these untouched slopes; all flaunting the traditional white-walled stylings of Cycladic architecture. The port in Iraklia is found along the shores of a bay in the village of Agios Georgios, a small settlement by the island’s north-eastern corner. There are no passenger facilities here. Instead the port consists of just a single pier that extends from the edge of the village promenade and into the shallows of the bay. Those looking to buy food or drink before departure will find one or two cafes and stores between the twist of village streets that scale the surrounding hillsides. Due to the island’s largely remote nature and its lack of public transport, travelling to and from the port can prove difficult. Only the eastern half of the island is inhabited and just a few narrow, country roads connect the region’s three villages. Most of Iraklia can only be reached on foot, though settlements are no more than 2-miles away from each other. A number of short-distance ferry routes currently operate from the port throughout the week. Services hosted by Blue Star Ferries hop over the Aegean to destinations scattered across the neighbouring islands; including Schinoussa, Koufonissi, Naxos, Katapola and Paros. Another, longer route heads north to the Greek mainland and the city port of Piraeus near the capital of Athens.