Greece - Korina Miller [301]
Getting There & Away
With Syros being of such administrative and social importance there are ferry connections to the mainland ports of Piraeus and Rafina, to neighbouring islands and even to such far-flung destinations as Folegandros. For details Island Hopping.
Getting Around
About nine buses per day run a circular route from Ermoupolis to Galissas (€1.40, 20 minutes), Vari (€1.40, 30 minutes) and Kini (€1.70, 35 minutes). They leave Ermoupolis every half-hour from June to September and every hour the rest of the year, with alternating clockwise and anticlockwise routes. All of these buses will eventually get you to where you want to go, but it’s always worth checking which route is quickest.
There is a bus from Ermoupolis bus station to Ano Syros at 10.30am every morning except Sunday (€1.30, 15 minutes). Taxis ( 22810 86222) charge €4 to Ano Syros from the port.
A free bus runs along the length of the entire harbour front between car parking at the north and south ends of town about every half-hour from around 7am until late evening. It does not run after 2pm Saturday or on Sunday.
Cars can be hired per day from about €40 and scooters per day from €15 at numerous hire outlets on the waterfront.
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ERMOUPOLIS ΕΡΜΟΥΠΟΛΗ
pop 13,000
Ermoupolis grew out of the refugee town that sprang up during the Greek War of Independence. The refugees were Greek Orthodox and, after some early antagonism, lived in harmony with the original Catholic majority. In 1826 the town was named formally after Hermes, the god of commerce. Ermoupolis is a lively and likeable place, full of paved stairways, restored neoclassical mansions and handsome public buildings, and has a busy shopping scene.
The Catholic settlement of Ano Syros and the Greek Orthodox settlement of Vrodado lie to the northwest and northeast and both spill down from high hill tops, with even taller hills rising behind.
Orientation
The main ferry quay is at the southwestern end of the port. The bus station is on the waterfront, just along from the main ferry quay.
To reach the central square, Plateia Miaouli, walk northeast from the ferry quay for about 200m, and then turn left into El Venizelou for another 100m. There are three sets of public toilets: at the eastern end of the port, off Antiparou and on Akti Papagou near the ferry quay.
Information
There is an information booth run by the Syros Hotels’ Association on the waterfront, about 100m northeast of the main ferry quay; opening times are not guaranteed. The website www.syros.com has a reasonable amount of information.
Alpha Bank (El Venizelou) Has an ATM.
Enjoy Your Holidays ( 22810 87070; Akti Papagou 2) Opposite the bus station. Sells ferry tickets and can advise on accommodation.
Eurobank (Akti Ethnikis Andistasis) Has an ATM.
Hospital ( 22810 96500; Papandreos)
InSpot ( 22810 85330; Akti Papagou; internet per hr €3.40; 24hr) Fast connections but often monopolised by game fans.
Piraeus Bank (Akti Petrou Ralli) Has an ATM.
Police station ( 22810 82610; Plateia Vardaka) Beside the Apollon Theatre.
Port police ( 22810 82690/88888; Plateia Laïkis Kyriarchias) On the eastern side of the port.
Post office (Protopapadaki) Western Union money transfer.
Teamwork Holidays ( 28810 83400; www.teamwork.gr; Akti Papagou 18) Just across from the main ferry quay. Sells ferry tickets and can arrange accommodation, excursions and car hire.
Sights
The great square of Plateia Miaouli is the finest urban space in the Cyclades and is worthy of Athens. Once the sea reached as far as here, but today the square is well inland and is flanked by palm trees and lined along its south side by cafes and bars. The north side of the square is dominated by the dignified neoclassical town hall. The small archaeological museum ( 22810 88487; Benaki; admission €3; 8.30am-3pm Tue-Sun) at the rear, founded in 1834 and one of the oldest in Greece, houses a tiny collection of ceramic and marble