Frankly, I think I’ve inspected every campsite in the Cyclades and sadly they seem to be diminishing in number. Bye bye Kea Camping in Korissia, Ios Camping on Yialos or Parasporos Camping on Paros. However, the ones that are still around, are still around for a reason: they are good value for money in an idyllic setting.
I can not be clearer: the standard of campsites in the Cyclades is one of the highest in the Mediterranean. You should expect to pay €5-7 per person and about €2-4 per tent; find basic cabins without W/C for €10-15; and sometimes bungalows with own a/c and W/C for around €20-25 per day. Oh, and they also rent tents, so you need only bring a sleeping bag.
All campsites below are shaded, flat, have a multiplicity of electricity points, free wi-fi, a mini-market (as they call grocery stores nowadays in Greece), provide transfers to ferries and airplanes, have a beach bar-cum-restaurant nearby and, most of all, are next to the sea.
Camping Aghia Iríni Aghia Irini, Paros. My all-time favourite, out of the way, dead on the beach, overgrown with olive trees and citrus trees. It feels like you are camping in someone’s overgrown garden.
Krios Camping
Krios Beach Camping Parikiá, Paros. The flattes camping I’ve seen (important!) on the best beach near the Paros capital with a really cool beach bar next door. It has a bus that collects people from town and brings them in at 6pm to party Greek-style (including plate smashing) until 9.30pm when they bus them back. For the first time in my life, I also smashed a plate, and hey, did it feel good!
Coralli Camping at Livadhakia Beach, Serifos. The location just back from the excellent Serifos beach is great and the management even better. Superb communal pool, restaurant, bar and free wi-fi.
Kamares, Sifnos
Makis Camping Kamares, Sifnos . Once again, an excellent location and facilities with an owner who will help you from finding hiking paths to giving you directions to the best spot on every beach on the island. Also good value bungalows at a price.
Mykonos Camping Paránga, Mykonos. Smaller, friendlier and closer to town than the more famous Paradise Camping with frequent buses all night in the peak season. Beware that this is always snapped up first. Its beach is one of my favourite spots on Mykonos, and I have made up my mind to go there myself one day.
Achivadolimni, Milos
Milos Camping Achivadolimni, Milos. Now this camping is not on the beach, but on a small hill overlooking the incredible curve of Achivadolimni. To compensate it has a fantastic pool, open to non-residents for €4. But do go to the sea, this stretch has underground volcanic vents that create local, and natural, jacuzzi-like spots.
Plaka, Naxos
Plaka Camping, Plaka, Naxos. This is the newest camping on the island with all mod cons such as swimming pool, good restaurant and café. Dunno about the pool though when you are next to Plaka, the longest beach in the Cyclades, with a nudist section a walking distance from the campsite.
Hi.I came across your blog looking for information on IOS CAMPING where I spend some of the best weeks of my lifes from the early to mid nineties. I was actually planing to go there again this year or next. Realy makes me sad to hear another place with great memories from my youth has closed.Any idea what happend to the place? P.S.: nice blog! Thanks!
Thanks 🙂 I don’t know what happened to the campisite; I was on Ios in June researching a guidebook and found out. I was a bit disappointed, I have to admit, because yes, I had some of the best weeks of my life there, too. Why not keep the memories intact and try another island – there’s loads to choose from.
Truthfully I didn’t know where this place is. Could you post some map or something?
Sorry Chris, which place are you talking about?