Aiolos Iraklia
Iraklia - Rachidi
Set in Iraklia, 1.
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Iraklia is the largest of the Lesser Cyclades and the least inhabited. On an area of 18 square kilometres live a hundred or so inhabitants, a number that increases in summer but never becomes excessive. There is only one paved road that runs inland, connecting the only two settlements on the island to its four beaches: it is 8 km long in all.
If you want to travel by car, you will have to bring it from Athens or another island because there is no car rental agency on Iraklia. You can rent scooters and quads or you can get around by bus during the summer months (pay attention to the timetable because there are only a couple of runs a day).
You may have already guessed it, Iraklia is absolute peace. Life is simple, the landscape is arid, many of the inhabitants still live from fishing and farming. It is a place where you learn to rejoice in small things and where being content is not debasing but enriching.
It is not the holiday destination recommended for those seeking nightlife, dating and glamour. Instead, it will appeal to lonely souls and those who want to stretch their legs along dusty paths and roads with little traffic before diving into the water.
If your idea of paradise is the beautiful blue Greek sea, whitewashed houses and no traffic… you’ve found it.
Only four, but different and all wonderful: these are the beaches of Iraklia that can be reached by land. It may seem like a small number, yet it is enough to provide a dream holiday for anyone who shuns noise and worldliness. If you only want sea, and what sea, write down the names of these beaches.
Other beaches can only be reached by boat; excursions depart from the port of Agios Georgios.
Livadi is the most famous beach in Iraklia. It is a long beach of fine golden sand that can be reached by a walk of about 15 minutes from the harbour. The seabed is shallow and gently sloping, so Livadi beach is also recommended for those travelling with small children.
A small area is equipped, but for the most part the beach is free; there is a bar-tavern and the tamarisk trees that line the beach offer some shelter from the sun.
From Livadi beach it is possible to see the nearby islands of Schinoussa and Venetiko.
For those who do not want to travel far, there is the ‘city beach’ of Agios Georgios, very close to the port. It is a sandy, well-equipped beach with many facilities: perfect for those who dream of a comfortable holiday with everything at hand.
Alimia is Iraklia’s favourite beach for snorkelling enthusiasts. It is a mixed beach of sand and pebbles and is famous for the wreck of a German seaplane that sank in its waters during World War II. The wreck is not far from the shore and the clear waters allow good visibility, so it is possible to see it without the need to dive: a snorkelling mask is sufficient.
Alimia beach can be reached on foot or by tourist boat. It is not equipped and there are no bars, so take food and water supplies with you.
If you prefer pebble beaches, head straight for Tourkopigado: located along the south-eastern coast of the island, it can be reached by the road from the village of Panagia.
It is set in a long, narrow horseshoe-shaped inlet formed by two low, arid hills. This creates a kind of natural pool, a little bit away from the open sea, and therefore well sheltered from winds and currents. The waters are calm and clear: an irresistible invitation to take a refreshing dip.
Of the four beaches of Iraklia Tourkopigado is the smallest and most remote, but it is not that difficult to reach. There is a small harbour.
Iraklia ‘s attractions are the sea and its tranquillity. Don’t expect much else to see and do besides beaches, tavernas and sun-drenched streets. There are only two towns on the island and even if you stay in Iraklia for a short time, it will not be difficult for you to visit them both.
The first place you will see is Agios Georgios, the island’s main port and the arrival point for ferries from mainland Greece and other islands. It takes its name from a church dedicated to the island’s patron saint. This is where all the services and the few venues of Iraklia are concentrated.
There’s not much to it really: it can be described as a handful of typical blue-and-white Cycladic houses arranged amphitheatrically around a bay and is Iraklia’s only tourist resort.
Not far from Agios Georgios is an archaeological site with remains from the Hellenistic period including ancient houses and two temples dedicated to Zeus and Tiche, the goddess of fortune. One can also see what remains of a fortress built by the Venetians for defensive purposes.
Panagia, also called Pano Mera, is a rural village on the western side of the island at the foot of Papas Hill, located about 5 km from the harbour. For many centuries, before the advent of tourism, it was the main settlement on the island: its position away from the sea offered some protection from pirate attacks.
The lifestyle and architecture have remained traditional, and you can still see the stone ovens in the gardens of the houses and the old cisterns used to water the animals.
The village’s landmark building is the Church of Panagia, a typical small stone church dating back to the first half of the 20th century. About 1 km from the village is a natural spring that supplies the island: look for it because it is situated on a beautiful vantage point from which one can enjoy spectacular views of the northern part of Iraklia and the neighbouring islands.
Agios Ioannis is the only real famous attraction of Iraklia apart from the beaches. Also called the Great Cave, it is an underground cavity that opens up along the south coast of Iraklia at the foot of the island’s highest elevation.
A short climb is required to reach the entrance to the cave. Once inside, you can walk for a long time but be careful not to go too far… according to some scientists, this cave descends below sea level to the island of Ios!
In the cave there is a small altar dedicated to St John. On 29 August, a traditional festival is held inside the cave in which all the inhabitants of the island participate.
If you are looking for challenging treks, perhaps lasting several days, Iraklia is not the island for you. If, on the other hand, you want easy walks to do some outdoor activity while admiring the beautiful landscape, then you will find interesting trails that wind their way along marked paths , old mule tracks and cobbled lanes.
The best known and probably most challenging walk is the one leading from the village of Panagia to the cave of Agios Ioannis; you can also get to the cave from Averou.
Another walk not to be missed, also starting from Panagia, leads to the Merichas cliff, more than 100 metres high.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The amount of accommodation on Iraklia is decidedly less than on the more touristy islands but there is a good choice all the same. There are a handful of hotels, mostly mid- to low-category, and nice studios and villas; many have sea view rooms and the most luxurious have gardens.
Most holiday accommodation is located in the northern part of the island, particularly near the harbour. It is possible to find some rural houses in the hinterland, which are only recommended for those seeking absolute peace.
As far as prices are concerned, Iraklia does not rank among the cheapest Greek islands, but it is far from the luxury standards of islands such as Santorini and Mykonos. The added value of the hotels, B&Bs, houses and flats in Iraklia is the excellent value for money and warm hospitality.
We offer a selection of hotels at Iraklia to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Iraklia, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Iraklia. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Iraklia are in high demand.
It is not possible to get to Iraklia by plane because the island does not have an airport. The closest one is Naxos, but it is not served by direct connections.
The easiest way to get to Iraklia, and often also the cheapest, is to take a cheap flight to Athens and from there travel by ferry.
The sea crossing from Athens to Iraklia is rather long (about 8 hours); generally the connections are daily and are reduced to three in the other summer months, however it is good to inform yourself in advance as ferry routes and timetables to the less famous islands can vary considerably from year to year.
The other possibility is to combine a holiday in Naxos with a few days in Iraklia. In this case, it is easy to get to Iraklia by boat from Naxos: the sea journey takes an hour and a half. To get to Naxos one can take a flight or a ferry from Athens.
It is also possible to reach Iraklia by ferry from other Lesser Cyclades and from Santorini, but the crossing is longer and the connections less frequent.
Iraklia or Heraklia is an island in the Lesser Cyclades archipelago, located almost halfway between mainland Greece and the Turkish coast. It lies south of Naxos and north of Ios.
It should not be confused with Ikaria, an island located much further north that is part of the North Aegean archipelago, or with Heraklio or Heraklion, the capital city of Crete.
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