Sweeping beaches, dramatic coastal scenery and one of the Cyclades' most attractive villages have helped transform Ios from a backpacker favourite into one of Greece's most appealing island escapes.
Perched above the natural harbour of Ios, Agalia Luxury Suites is an intimate hillside retreat where Cycladic simplicity, handcrafted detail and sweeping Aegean views come together to create one of the island's most distinctive boutique stays. Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the hotel follows the contours of the hillside, with whitewashed buildings, stone terraces and winding pathways cascading gently towards the sea. Every level reveals a new perspective, whether across the port, the sparkling bay or the whitewashed skyline of Chora in the distance. With just fourteen individually designed suites, Agalia feels quietly exclusive. Original artwork, locally inspired craftsmanship and carefully considered outdoor spaces give the property real personality, while its elevated setting creates an atmosphere that is both peaceful and unmistakably connected to the island below. para-2 Each suite has been individually designed rather than repeated to a standard formula, allowing every space to develop its own character. Contemporary furnishings are complemented by handcrafted pieces and natural textures, while generous terraces become an extension of the interiors. Many of the higher categories introduce private pools that appear to merge with the sea beyond, while larger villas provide separate living areas and expansive outdoor space for guests seeking greater privacy. Whether choosing a Junior Suite, the dramatic Loemo 360° Suite or one of the private pool villas, the emphasis remains on generous outdoor living and uninterrupted views across the Aegean. para-3 The restaurant and bar occupy one of the finest positions within the hotel, overlooking the harbour and serving Mediterranean dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients. The setting changes naturally throughout the day, from relaxed breakfasts to lingering dinners beneath the evening lights of Chora. Poolside dining and attentive service allow guests to remain immersed in the surroundings, while carefully prepared cocktails and lighter dishes encourage long afternoons spent overlooking the sea. para-4 The infinity pool forms the social heart of the hotel, framed by spacious sun terraces and uninterrupted coastal views that invite guests to slow the pace and simply enjoy the setting. Tzamaria Beach lies just below the property, while the port, nearby walking trails and the island's celebrated beaches are all easily reached. Yoga sessions, guided experiences and outdoor activities can also be arranged, making it easy to discover another side of Ios beyond its well-known nightlife. para-5 Wellness is woven naturally into the experience, with massage treatments, beauty therapies, personal training and yoga creating a relaxed programme centred around wellbeing rather than routine. The intimate scale of the hotel means these experiences remain personal, complementing the peaceful atmosphere instead of becoming the focus of the stay. para-6 Agalia Luxury Suites occupies an elevated position above Ios Port, just 50 metres from Tzamaria Beach and only a short drive from Chora, combining immediate access to the coastline with spectacular views across the harbour and the surrounding Aegean Sea.
From £115 per night
On the remote eastern coast of Ios, Calilo occupies a private sweep of Papas Beach where sculptural architecture, extraordinary suites and a protected natural landscape create one of the island’s most distinctive stays. Everything about Calilo is tied to scale and setting. The resort stretches across a vast tract of land where hills, pathways, gardens and installations are woven into the landscape rather than concentrated around a conventional hotel core. The sense of arrival is therefore gradual, with spaces revealing themselves one by one as you move through the property. The design is unapologetically expressive. Carved stone, reflective surfaces, sculptural forms, water features and unexpected visual details appear throughout, creating an atmosphere that feels part resort, part art environment and entirely its own. Against the raw hills and deep blue of the Aegean, that visual language becomes even more striking. para-2 The suites are the real heart of the Calilo experience, and the variety between them is remarkable. Some are built into the landscape with cave inspired forms, while others open onto expansive terraces, private ponds, heart shaped pools or broad beachfront settings. Categories such as Alpha Love Heart Pool Suite, Journey of Hearts and Rebel Souls Heart Pool One Bedroom Suite embrace the playful side of the design, while the Beachfront Suite, On the Beach Suite and Sea View categories place greater emphasis on the connection with Papas Beach and the open water beyond. Larger residences including Sea of Smiles, Ray of Light, Moonwake and Everly bring multiple bedrooms and considerably more outdoor space, making them particularly well suited to families or friends travelling together. The Calilo Suite sits at the top of the collection, combining the resort’s boldest design language with a highly private setting. para-3 Papas Restaurant is the principal dining space and sits above the bay, allowing meals to remain closely connected to the landscape throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are shaped by Mediterranean flavours and Greek produce, with the changing light over the beach providing a different mood from one meal to the next. Dining also extends beyond the restaurant itself, with service available around the beachfront and private suite terraces. That flexibility suits the scale of Calilo particularly well, allowing a long lunch by the water or dinner in the privacy of a suite to feel just as much a part of the experience as a meal in the main restaurant. para-4 Papas Beach is the defining feature of the resort. Wide, sandy and enclosed by the surrounding hills, it feels naturally private, with sun loungers, swimming and long stretches of open shoreline giving the beach a sense of space that is increasingly rare in the Cyclades. The main pool and landscaped areas sit further back from the water, while hiking paths, snorkelling, cycling and walking routes encourage guests to experience more of the surrounding terrain. The protected landscape gives those simple activities real weight, whether you are following a trail through the hills or swimming just offshore. Calilo also works particularly well for guests who are happy to let the resort itself become the destination. With so much space, so many individual corners and suites designed around outdoor living, days can pass very easily between the beach, a private pool, lunch overlooking the bay and a slow return to the suite as evening settles across the coast. para-5 Wellness is woven into the wider setting through massage, yoga, fitness and spa treatments, complemented by dedicated treatment spaces and a fitness centre. The approach feels consistent with Calilo as a whole, using the landscape and privacy of the resort as part of the experience rather than separating wellness from the rest of the stay. Many suites add their own pools, ponds and large private terraces, so relaxation often begins long before reaching the spa. That combination of personal space and open landscape is one of the strongest reasons to stay here. para-6 Calilo is located at Papas Beach on the eastern coast of Ios, close to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis and approximately 19 kilometres from Homer’s Tomb, with the island’s port and main town reached across the interior of Ios.
From £290 per night
Set above Mylopotas Beach, Hideout Suites is a tightly composed collection of just 12 private suites, positioned across the hillside with uninterrupted views over the Aegean. The layout is deliberately minimal — no central hotel core, no excess movement — just a series of self-contained spaces placed to maximise outlook and privacy. The elevation does the work, creating distance from the beach below while keeping it firmly within reach. Architecture follows clean Cycladic lines but is handled with restraint, avoiding decorative excess in favour of proportion, light and openness. Terraces extend directly from the interiors, with the horizon acting as a constant focal point rather than an afterthought. para-2 Suites are designed around outdoor living, with private pools and shaded lounge areas forming the centre of each space. Interiors remain secondary — calm, functional and intentionally understated. Higher categories such as the Honeymoon Suite Private Pool Sea View and Grand Suite Private Pool Sea View introduce more generous footprints, while select suites include kitchens, reinforcing the self-sufficient, villa-style feel. para-3 Dining is intentionally low-key, centred around a poolside bar serving drinks and light dishes throughout the day. Rather than multiple venues, the emphasis is on flexibility — in-suite dining, grocery delivery and private meals on the terrace define the experience more than a formal restaurant setting. para-4 The rhythm here is entirely self-directed, with time split between private terraces, the pool and the beach below. There’s little in the way of structured activity, with the focus instead on space, quiet and the option to move into Ios when needed. para-5 Wellness is similarly understated, with treatments arranged on request rather than built around a dedicated spa environment. para-6 Located 400 metres above Mylopotas Beach and around 10 minutes from Ios Chora, the setting balances proximity with separation, allowing easy access to the island while maintaining a distinctly quieter base.
From £195 per night
Set high above Mylopotas Beach, Ios Grand Pool Suites is an adults-only, cliffside retreat where a series of private infinity pools step down towards the Aegean, giving the entire property a strong sense of position and openness. Built directly into the rock using locally sourced stone, the architecture feels anchored rather than placed, with a weight and texture that ties it closely to the landscape. Suites follow the natural gradient of the cliff, arranged in tiers that allow each one a clear, uninterrupted outlook, while carved arches, timber detailing and clean lines balance Cycladic tradition with a more contemporary, pared-back finish. Movement through the property is defined by terraces, steps and open pathways rather than enclosed spaces, with the horizon constantly present and the outdoor areas carrying as much importance as the interiors themselves. para-2 Each suite opens directly onto its own terrace, where the infinity pool sits forward-facing towards the sea, forming the focal point of the space. Interiors are deliberately restrained, with neutral tones, simple forms and layouts that prioritise flow rather than decoration. Higher categories such as the Panoramic Suite Private Pool and Grand Three-Bedroom Suite Private Pool offer broader footprints and more defined living areas, while kitchenettes and dining spaces introduce flexibility for longer, more self-contained stays. para-3 Tomatini Restaurant serves a mix of Greek and Mediterranean dishes in a relaxed, open setting, complemented by a bar offering drinks and lighter options throughout the day. Dining can also shift easily to the suites themselves, with private terrace meals and in-room options allowing for a more personal rhythm. para-4 A shared pool and fitness area sit within the wider layout, while the beach below, water sports and island activities provide additional ways to spend the day. Car hire and local experiences can be arranged, keeping the transition between staying in and heading out completely fluid. para-5 Spa treatments, massage therapies and sauna facilities are available, adding a quieter, restorative element that sits naturally within the overall pace of the property. para-6 Located 300 metres above Mylopotas Beach and within easy reach of Ios Chora, the setting combines immediate proximity to the island’s most popular coastline with a noticeably more elevated and private vantage point.
From £265 per night
Set directly above the golden sweep of Mylopotas Beach, Ios Palace Hotel & Spa occupies one of the island’s most prominent positions, with uninterrupted views across the bay and immediate access to the shoreline below. The property is arranged across stepped, whitewashed levels that follow the curve of the hillside, creating a layered layout that opens consistently towards the sea. Traditional Cycladic forms are present throughout, but are offset by more distinctive elements — transparent Kartell furnishings, coloured glass accents and sculptural details that introduce a more individual, design-led character. Light dominates the interiors, with bright whites and soft greys forming a clean base, punctuated by colour and texture that shift subtly between spaces, giving the hotel a more expressive identity than its setting might suggest. para-2 The 59 rooms and suites continue this approach, combining simple layouts with more unexpected design touches, including custom furnishings and poetry integrated into the interiors. Each room opens onto a private balcony, many with direct views across Mylopotas Bay. Higher categories such as the Master Suite Sea View with Private Pool introduce more space and separation, with outdoor areas extending the living space towards the view. para-3 Tomatini Restaurant sits alongside the main pool, serving Greek and Cycladic dishes built around local ingredients, while Tomatini Bar is known for its extensive margarita selection and a more animated atmosphere as the day progresses. para-4 Three pools are set across different levels of the property, each with a distinct setting — from the central pool with underwater music to quieter upper terraces positioned for a more secluded atmosphere. The beach sits directly below, with Ios Chora within easy reach for evenings beyond the hotel. para-5 Positioned at the highest point of the property, the spa combines treatment rooms, wellness facilities and a fitness space, all oriented towards wide views across the island and sea. para-6 With direct access to Mylopotas Beach and walking distance to Ios Chora, the location places both the island’s main beach and its centre within immediate reach, without compromising on outlook or position.
From £85 per night
Set on a hillside above Ios, Liostasi Hotel & Suites is a five-star boutique retreat overlooking the Aegean, positioned within easy reach of both the village and the island’s main beaches. Recently refreshed, the property is shaped around clean-lined Cycladic architecture with a more contemporary layer introduced through the work of Antonis Kalogridis. Bright white surfaces, natural tones and carefully placed textures define the spaces, with terraces and sea-facing areas opening consistently towards the view. The layout makes full use of its elevation, with outdoor areas, garden corners and open terraces arranged to frame the horizon, giving the hotel a clear sense of structure and flow. para-2 The rooms and suites follow a restrained design approach, combining simple layouts with refined detailing and direct access to outdoor space. Each opens onto a private balcony or patio, many positioned towards the sea. Suites such as the Liostasi Sea View Suite with Private Pool, Design Sea View Suite with Hot Tub and Deluxe Suite with Sharing Pool introduce larger layouts and more defined outdoor living, extending the space beyond the interiors. para-3 Grandma’s Restaurant is set on an open-air veranda overlooking the pool and sea, serving Mediterranean and contemporary Greek dishes centred around seasonal ingredients. The Liostasi Pool & Cocktail Bar runs alongside, offering cocktails, fresh juices and lighter dishes throughout the day. para-4 The pool area forms the centre of the hotel, complemented by an outdoor Jacuzzi and a series of terraces that shift naturally between more open and more private spaces. The position makes both Ios Village and nearby beaches easily accessible, allowing time between the hotel and the island to move without effort. para-5 Wellness facilities include a hammam, spa treatments and massage areas set within an olive garden setting, alongside a gym, providing a quieter space within the wider layout. para-6 The hotel is within walking distance of Ios Village, with the Archaeological Museum approximately 1 kilometre away, the port around 2 kilometres away and Milopotas Beach 2.5 kilometres from the property.
From £130 per night
