Folegandros
Santorini's shy neighbour: a whitewashed clifftop chora strung between three squares shaded by bougainvillea, with sunset views to rival anything on the caldera and a fraction of the audience.
- Best forCouples · Honeymooners · Walkers & hikers
- In February14°C · 8 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~14h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time13:192h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
One of the smallest inhabited Cyclades, Folegandros is a spine of rock about twelve kilometres long with a cliff-edge village at its centre. The chora runs along the top of a two-hundred-metre drop, its squares linked by lanes of bougainvillea and dozing cats, closed to traffic. Beaches are small, pebbly and mostly reached by boat or on foot. Almost nothing here is engineered for visitors.
Ferries from Piraeus take between four and nine hours depending on the boat, and connections run to Santorini, Milos and Ios, which makes island-hopping straightforward. There is no airport. June and September are the sweet spot for warmth and space, the island largely shuts between November and April, and the meltemi wind cancels sailings without warning in August.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Whitewashed, windblown, deliberately quiet
From our guides
Climb the zigzag path to the Panagia church at dusk — the whole island turns out for it — then eat matsata pasta under the trees. June and September are perfect; there is mercifully little to do here except this.
Featured in Ten island hideaways built for two
Things to do
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Panagia church at dusk
A zigzag path climbs from the village to a white church on the summit, about twenty minutes up, with the whole island laid out below.
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The chora's three squares
Linked platías under plane and mulberry trees, entirely pedestrian, where the island's evening happens over dinner and slow drinks.
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Kastro quarter
The medieval core of the village, built as a defensive block with houses backing straight onto the cliff and outside staircases climbing between them.
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Katergo beach
A pebble cove on the south coast, reached by small boat from the port or a hot forty-minute walk over the headland.
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Agali and Agios Nikolaos
The main swimming bays on the west coast, joined by a coastal footpath and served by a shuttle boat in summer.
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Matsata pasta
Hand-rolled local pasta served with rooster or goat, the island's standard dish and worth ordering more than once.
Getting there
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Fly to
Santorini Island (JTR)
Nearest airport to Folegandros, about 57km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Chora
Folegandros has no airport. Fly to Milos (MLO) or Santorini and take the ferry, about an hour by fast boat from Milos.
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On the ground
Getting around
Buses meet the ferries at Karavostasi port and climb to the Chora in about ten minutes. The village is car free and the beaches are reached on foot or by taxi boat.
Public transport: The island bus links the port, the Chora and Ano Meria reliably in season, and the ferries do the rest.
Flights
Los Angeles Folegandros, Greece
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Roughly 14h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in February to 25°C in August. Driest April to October; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
February14° · rain 8 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small family-run hotels and rooms, a few boutique places in Chora and some villas. There are no big hotels on the island and very few beds in total.
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Best base overall
Chora
The clifftop village with the three shaded squares, the tavernas and the path up to the Panagia. Traffic-free, which also means carrying bags in from the car park.
Find stays in Chora -
Best value
Karavostasis
The port below, with cheaper rooms, a pebble beach and quick access to the boats. It is a working harbour, and you take the bus up for the evening.
Find stays in Karavostasis -
Quietest
Ano Meria
The strung-out farming village at the island's far end, with old family tavernas and access to Agios Georgios beach. Buses are infrequent and there is little else.
Find stays in Ano Meria -
Best with children
Agali
A sheltered sandy bay on the west coast with a few rooms and beach tavernas. Reached by a steep road or a boat, and the choice of beds is tiny.
Find stays in Agali
Worth knowing before you book: August is taken by the previous winter and ferry schedules thin out sharply from October, so check the boat before committing to dates at either end of the season.
Search everything else in Chora by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Ferries from Piraeus and from Santorini are the only way in. Build a spare day into the plan, since wind cancels sailings in high summer.
- Cash or card
- There is a cash machine in the village but it empties in August. Bring euros in cash as a backup.
- Pack this
- Walking shoes and a torch. Paths to the beaches and the church are stony, and the lanes are dimly lit after dark.
- Book ahead
- Beds are limited and the good ones go early for July and August. Rooms in the chora spare you the shuttle up from the port.
- With kids
- Steep drops, endless steps and no sand make this a poor fit for toddlers. Teenagers who swim and walk do well.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Milos
Greece · 37km away →
Antiparos
Greece · 42km away →
Oia
Santorini, Greece · 45km away →
Naousa
Paros, Greece · 62km away →
Little Venice
Mykonos, Greece · 98km away →
Mykonos
Greece · 101km away →Elsewhere in Greece
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Folegandros?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in February to 25°C in August. Driest April to October; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
How long should I spend in Folegandros?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Folegandros?
Folegandros has no airport. Fly to Milos (MLO) or Santorini and take the ferry, about an hour by fast boat from Milos.
Do I need a car in Folegandros?
No. The island bus links the port, the Chora and Ano Meria reliably in season, and the ferries do the rest.
What currency and language are used in Folegandros?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Folegandros best for?
Best for couples, honeymooners and walkers & hikers. In a phrase: whitewashed, windblown, deliberately quiet.