Location: Mylopotas, Ios, Cyclades, Greece
Distance from Chora: Approximately 2km
Beach: Long, sandy beach with clear Aegean water
Best for: Swimming, beach days, families, groups, couples, watersports and boat trips
Facilities: Sunbeds, umbrellas, restaurants, beach bars, watersports and a summer lifeguard station
Lifeguard: A lifeguard is stationed around the middle of Mylopotas Beach during the main summer season, from June through September
Getting there: Bus, car, taxi or walking from Chora
Time needed: A few hours — although we’d recommend giving it a full day
Best time to visit: Morning for a quieter swim; afternoon for beach atmosphere; evening for dinner and drinks
Mylopotas is the best-known beach on Ios and one of the island’s easiest beaches to reach without hiring a vehicle.
That’s one of the reasons it works so well for first-time visitors.
You can genuinely base an entire day here without needing to go anywhere else.
Swimming at Mylopotas
For most visitors, swimming is the main reason to come.
The bay is large enough that you can choose between busier organised sections and quieter swimming areas.
During the main summer season, from June through September, there is also a lifeguard stationed around the middle of Mylopotas Beach.
That’s particularly useful for families to know, although as with any beach, swimmers should still pay attention to sea conditions, flags and local advice.
If the wind picks up, conditions can change — something that applies everywhere in the Cyclades — so don’t assume that because the sea was completely calm yesterday it will be exactly the same today.
And please don’t underestimate the Greek sun simply because you’re in the water.
A morning swim can very easily turn into three hours by the sea.
Watersports at Mylopotas Beach
If lying on a towel for six hours isn’t your idea of a beach holiday, Mylopotas is one of the best places on Ios for getting onto — and above — the water.
There are two established watersports operators at Mylopotas Beach: Mylopotas Watersports and Meltemi Watersports, offering everything from beginner-friendly activities to higher-adrenaline watersports and boat excursions.
Depending on the operator, conditions and availability, activities around Mylopotas can include:
- Wakeboarding
- Waterskiing
- Windsurfing
- Foiling
- Kneeboarding
- Tubes and banana rides
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- SUP / paddleboarding
- Sailing
- Boat hire
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Boat tours and private excursions
Mylopotas Watersports
Mylopotas Watersports has been operating on the beach since 1986 and has several locations along Mylopotas. Activities include windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, sailing and other water activities, alongside its dive centre and boat excursions.
Mylopotas Watersports & New dive
Meltemi Watersports
Meltemi Watersports & Boat tours is another long-established Mylopotas operator offering watersports, boat tours and diving.
Their activities include windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, SUP, tube rides and other water-based experiences, while their boat tours explore beaches, caves, snorkelling locations and quieter stretches of the Ios coastline.
If there’s a particular activity you have your heart set on — especially foiling, diving, wakeboarding or a private boat trip — contact the operator directly to confirm current availability and conditions.
The Aegean gets the final say.
Is Mylopotas Good for Families?
Yes.
One of the advantages of Mylopotas for families is the amount of infrastructure nearby.
You don’t have to pack the car with everything you might possibly need for eight hours.
There are places to eat and drink, organised beach areas, watersports, easy transport back towards Chora and the Port, and a lifeguard positioned around the middle of the beach during the main summer season from June through September.
Families should still supervise children in and around the water and pay attention to sea conditions and any lifeguard instructions.
And shade matters.
The Greek sun in July and August isn’t messing around.
Can you do watersports at Mylopotas?
Yes. Mylopotas is one of the main watersports beaches on Ios. Mylopotas Watersports and Meltemi Watersports both operate from the beach, with activities including SUP, kayaking, windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, foiling, boat trips and other water activities.
Is there a lifeguard at Mylopotas Beach?
Yes. During the main summer season, from June through September, a lifeguard is stationed around the middle of Mylopotas Beach. Visitors should still supervise children, follow local instructions and check sea conditions before swimming.