Galissas Beach

Galissas is Syros's most popular beach, a sheltered bay on the west coast about 8km from Ermoupoli. The sand is fine, the water calm and clear, and the beach is long enough to absorb summer crowds without feeling crushed. A handful of tavernas and beach bars line the back of the bay.

The beach is shaded in the afternoon, which makes it a good choice for families with children who need a break from the midday sun. Bus connections to Ermoupoli run several times daily in season. A ten-minute walk over the headland leads to the smaller nudist beach at Armeos, which is quieter and backed by vegetation.

things to do sight
A story
Galissas was a gathering point for European backpackers in the 1970s and 1980s — one of the Cyclades's lesser-known hippie stops. The low-key camping culture that once defined the bay has largely given way to small pensions and tavernas, but the beach retains a relaxed character that the more developed Cycladic resorts have lost.