Where should you stay when you visit Andros?

I have listed the different locations to stay in order of popularity (please note – this is based on my personal experience):

1. Batsi – The great majority of tourists stay in Batsi. This is the main tourism hub and with its large variety of restaurants, shops, bars and amenities it is easy to see why. It also has its own beach and is only a short drive from the port town of Gavrio. In the warmer months it has a lively atmosphere at night, something which you won’t find so much in the other areas.

2. Chora – The islands capital boasts a pedestrianised marble paved street surrounded by beautiful neoclassical mansions. The 50 minute drive from Gavrio and the lesser number of hotels and restaurants put Chora in second place as a location for tourists to stay. Here you will find the Museum of Contemporary art along with a great selection of shops for souvenirs and local produce making it an ideal place to buy gifts to take home. Situated on the northern coast it is more exposed to the northerly ‘Meltemi’ winds and thus the main beaches of Nimborio and Paraporti which are on either side of the town of Chora are prone to being a bit windy. Beaches on the South side such as Batsi beach are somewhat more sheltered. One of the top benefits of Chora for walkers is that the majority of the Andros Routes walks encircle the capital making it a perfect place to base yourself for a hiking holiday.

3. Gavrio -Somewhat less popular than Batsi and Chora is the port town of Gavrio. The main advantage here is that you are a stones throw away from where the passenger ferries dock. Given the all year round activity at the port, it has a plethora of places to eat, plenty of car rental companies, a large number of hotels and a number of places to shop for gifts & souvenirs. It also has all of the regular amenities such as a large pharmacy, ATM’s, supermarkets as well as a medical clinic. Downsides to Gavrio are it does get busy with traffic when the ships are docking and the nearest beach for swimming is about a 10 minute drive away.

4. Ormos Korthiou – This is a lesser known secret of Andros. The town of Ormos Korthiou is about a 1 hour drive from Gavrio port. This quaint little coastal town is great for those in search of a slightly quieter and more relaxed feel. With fewer hotels and restaurants than the top three it does not offer as much choice but if you are looking for somewhere to sit back and watch the world go by whilst sipping an espresso, then this is your place.

5. Fellos – Boasting one of the best beaches on the island in a pleasant sheltered cove, the valley surrounding Fellos beach has seen many holiday rentals spring up in recent years.  Only a 15 minute drive from Gavrio, Fellos is a great base for a seaside holiday. Whilst it does have a delightful taverna near to the beach (To Steki Tou Andrea), one would have to visit Gavrio to stock up on supplies or find other places to eat and drink in the evening.

6. Holiday rentals outside the main towns – In recent years, rental platforms such as AirBnB and HomeAway have become increasingly popular in Andros which has vastly increased the capacity of the island to accommodate tourists. This has offered visitors the opportunity to stay in more remote locations to experience real seclusion and get a true feel for Greek island life.

We have our own place available for rental, located in the quiet rural village of Mermigkies, on the North of the island, 20 minutes outside of Gavrio. You can find The Rambler’s Retreat on AirBnB. This would be a good option for those seeking peaceful seclusion. My father, one of the founding members of Andros Routes, is located on the adjacent property, and can be available to answer all questions related to Andros Routes as well as the Geography of the island.

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For specific questions about accommodation choices I would recommend posting your question in the Andros TripAdvisor forum. There is a wealth of knowledge about the different hotels on the island amongst those posting on the forum. Collectively they will have far more experience of the hotels than I can offer myself

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Camping:

Camping Andros have been operating from Gavrio for many years. They are located in an olive grove 400 metres from the port of Gavrio. They open from May 1st to September 30th every year and have a total of 68 pitches.

See the link above for details.