Ios digital nomad guide

Essentials

Short Term Rentals

Airbnb, Vrbo, and local 'Rooms to Let' (Domatia) starting at €50/night

Budget Accommodation

Francesco's Hotel (Chora) approx. €30-45/night off-season; Far Out Beach Club (Mylopotas) for hostel dorms

Best Area to Stay for Tourists

Mylopotas Beach for party/sun; Chora for nightlife and traditional vibes

Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads

Chora (The Village) for year-round amenities and accessibility to cafes

City

Ios (Chora), Cyclades, Greece

Population

Approximately 2,024 (increases significantly in summer)

Internet Speed

Average 45-60 Mbps (Starlink available in many villas; 5G coverage via Cosmote is excellent in Chora)

Currency & Banking

1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Piraeus Bank and National Bank of Greece (located in Chora)

Tap Water

Non-potable. Buy 1.5L bottled water for approx. €0.50 at Supermarket Sklarvenitis

Power

230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets

SIM Card

Cosmote (best coverage), Vodafone, Nova. Pre-paid 30GB plans approx. €15-20

Banking for Expats

Revolut and Wise widely accepted; National Bank of Greece for local accounts

Accommodation

Relatively expensive in peak summer; studio rentals via local agents or Booking.com

Cashless Friendly

Yes, cards accepted in 95% of shops and restaurants

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space

No dedicated 'brand' coworking; Ios Club Sunset Bar offers a quiet workspace during morning hours

Best Cafe for Work

Click Cocktail Bar (Chora) - great Wi-Fi and power outlets; Nutelleria (Chora) for casual laptop work

Networking Events

Informal meetups at 'The Nest' bar; most networking happens organically at Pathos Sunset Lounge

Social Events for Expats

Ios Community Facebook Group; volunteer cleanups organized by Save Ios

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App

No Uber/Bolt. Use local taxi rank in Chora (+30 22860 91606). Chora to Mylopotas approx. €10

Bike/Scooter Rental

Jacob's Rentals (Port) - Scooters approx. €20-30/day; Quads approx. €40/day

Best Beach Nearby

Mylopotas Beach (White sand, Blue Flag status, 5 mins from Chora)

Top Regional Airline

Sky Express / Aegean Airlines (to Santorini or Naxos, then ferry to Ios)

Top International Airline

Lufthansa, British Airways (via Athens or Santorini JTR)

Highway Access

No highways; main paved road connects Port, Chora, and Mylopotas

Main Train/Transit Hub

Ios Ferry Port (Gialos). Daily ferries to Piraeus (Athens) and Santorini

Public Transport Passes

KTEL Ios Bus - single tickets €1.60 - €2.50 purchased on the bus

Regional Travel

Seajets High Speed Ferry (Ios to Santorini in 40 mins, approx. €50)

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital

Ios Medical Center (Chora). For emergencies, air-lift to Santorini or Athens

Yoga & Wellness Centers

Calilo Wellness (Manganari) - high-end; Yoga sessions at Liostasi Hotel

Gyms & Fitness Centers

Far Out Village Gym (Mylopotas) - outdoor fitness area and pool

Laundry Services

Ios Laundry Service near the Port - approx. €10–15 per load washed and dried

Food and Drink

Best Food Delivery App

fagaki.gr (local Greek version of Deliveroo/UberEats)

Best Local Dish to Try

Tsimetia (stuffed zucchini flowers) and local 'Skotyri' goat cheese

Vegan/Vegetarian Options

Under the Tree (Ano Chora) - excellent veggie options and Greek tapas

Best Dessert Spots

Nutelleria Ios (Chora) - famous for crepes and waffles

Affordable Shopping Spots

Supermarket Proton (Chora) - best prices for essentials

E-commerce/Online Store

Skroutz.gr (Greek Amazon equivalent) delivers to the island within 3-5 days

Grocery Delivery

Local markets offer delivery if you call; no major app service

Bar/Nightlife Area

Chora Square (The 'Slammer' Bar, Sweet Irish Dream)

Local Brewery

Nissos Beer (Regional Cycladic brew found at most bars like Astra Blue)

Wine Bars

Ios Club (Sunset views and local Assyrtiko wine selections)

Street Food Stalls

Pigi (Chora) - Best Gyros/Souvlakis for €4.50

Popular International Cuisine

Katogi (Chora) - Tapas style fusion Greek; Lord Byron (Chora) - eclectic international

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks

Odysseas Elytis Theatre (Open-air marble theater); Panagia Gremiotissa Church

Museums & Art Venues

Archaeological Museum of Ios (Chora); Skarkos Early Bronze Age site

Historical Sites

Homer's Tomb (Northern tip of the island - accessible by car/scooter)

Religious Sites

Agia Irini Church at the entrance of the Port

Annual Events

Festival of Panagia (August 15th); Ios Music Festival (Summer)

Cultural Districts

The Old Town (Chora) with its labryntine alleys

Theater Venues

Odysseas Elytis Open Air Theatre

Local Markets

Small organic stalls near the Port on Saturday mornings

Music Scene

Summer DJ residencies at Pathos Lounge and Free Beach Bar

Street Art

Minimal street art; focus is on traditional white-washed Cycladic architecture

Cooking Classes

Organized occasionally by local tavernas like Grandma's Restaurant

Art Galleries

Gaitis-Simosi Museum (dedicated to the painter Yannis Gaitis)

Historic Buildings

The windmills of Ios at the top of Chora

Local Heritage

Traditional cheese-making (Niotiko Cheese Factory)

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes

Manganari Beach - remote, crystal clear waters (25 min drive)

National Parks Nearby

N/A (Island is mostly protected coastline)

Cycling/Walking Paths

Hike from Chora up to the three chapels for the sunset highest point

Scenic Viewpoints

Panagia Gremiotissa (Chora) for 360-degree island views

Birdwatching Locations

Wetlands near Epano Kampos

Bonfire-Friendly Spots

Strictly prohibited due to fire risk; use designated BBQ areas at Far Out Camp

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service

ACS Courier (Port area) and Hellenic Post (ELTA) Chora

Tech Repair Services

Limited; small shop 'Ios Tech' in the Port for basic mobile repairs

Table Tennis Spots

Far Out Beach Club (Mylopotas)

Language Classes

Private tutors only; check local 'Ios Noticeboard' on Facebook

Libraries & Study Spots

Municipal Library of Ios (Chora) - quiet but limited hours

Community Centers

Kentro Neotitas (Youth Center) near the school

Gaming Lounges

N/A - most social gaming is at local beach bars with arcade setups

Casino & Gaming Halls

No casinos on island; nearest is in Syros

Business

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² Chora studio = €135,000)

Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 30 m² near Mylopotas = €96,000)

1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €210,000)

1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €150,000)

2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €320,000)

2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €224,000)

Corporate Tax

22% in Greece

Dividend Withholding Tax

5%

Tax System

Worldwide income basis for residents

Highest Income Tax Bracket

44% (for income over €40,000)

VAT

24% (standard), reduced to 13% for some food items

Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules

Yes, applicable under EU anti-tax avoidance directives

Property Tax

ENFIA (Annual tax based on size and location, approx. €3-6 per m²)

Property Transaction Tax

3% transfer tax + solicitor and notary fees (approx. 7-9% total)

Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads

Greek Digital Nomad Visa: 50% income tax reduction for 7 years if tax resident