This summer, leave the car behind in the city. Weve found seven islands for you that are ideal for exploring by bike.
Summer holidays are an escape from the pressures of everyday life and for many, the car and driving are among them. In the list below you will find seven, quite different from each other, islands of the Aegean, where you can explore and get around comfortably by bike, so you can leave your car behind in the city this summer.
Spetses
When we think of an island for cycling, Spetses comes to mind first. Visitors choose to get around this Saronic Gulf island because it is small and flat. The island offers a 26-kilometer cobbled road with views over the Saronic Gulf, as well as dozens of off-road trails of varying difficulty leading to the town. On Spetses there are many places to rent bikes or mopeds, so if you find yourself on the island this summer, touring by bike is certainly a very good way to get to know the place.
Agistri
Agistri is considered one of the most ideal destinations for cycling, as it is a small island with easy coastal routes and short distances, without major elevation gains. Staying on Agistri and using the picturesque village of Skala as your base, you can get everywhere by bike and discover the island’s beautiful beaches.
Antiparos
It may not be established as “the island of cycling”, but this small Cycladic island is one of the ideal destinations if you want to take a holiday with a bike. Antiparos has several trails of varying difficulty, while the island’s basic and close routes (e.g. camping - Chora - Psaraliki) become more comfortable with a bike.
Kos
The paradise for cycling is none other than Kos, the Aegean island with a bike culture and over 15 kilometers of dedicated bike paths. The “island of the bicycle” is for everyone, since it offers routes that are completely flat, mountainous, mixed, on dirt roads, and even steeper ones for experienced cyclists who choose mountain routes. In fact, the island has been awarded the “Bike Friendly Destination” Certification Mark, as a bike-friendly destination.
Poros
On the serene and lush green island of Poros, a bike can easily replace the car, as distances and routes are neither long nor difficult. Along Poros’ beautiful seaside paths, you will enjoy endless bike rides, discovering another side of the island and exploring its beaches and nature.
Chios
Chios is another Aegean destination that’s worth discovering with your bike and exploring its interior. Depending on your stamina, many routes are offered through the island’s beautiful villages, such as the Mastichochoria. Cycling culture has grown significantly on Chios, which is why there are plenty of clubs that schedule everything from simple, leisurely rides in various locations around the island to organized sporting events and races.
Skiathos
We head to the Sporades and make a stop at Skiathos, the lush green island that in recent years has emerged and been certified as yet another cycling destination (Bike Friendly Destination) and offers a variety of cycling routes for both amateur and professional cyclists. You can get around by bike both in Skiathos Town and outside the town where there are more mountainous routes.
Source: Reader.gr
