The main port, Karavostasis, is non too inspiring so make your way to the nearby cliff-top village of Hora, a completely different world. It is no exaggeration to describe Hora as one of the most beautiful, traditional villages of its kind in the Greek islands. From the delightful shaded square outside the main gate, narrow alleyways lead to the inner precinct, an extraordinary square, borded on three sides by the backs of houses, the fourth a cavernous drop 700 feet to the sea with views that almost match famous Santorini. Hora is peaceful and quite upmarket with tavernas and cafes to match. A road stretches northwards from Hora, hugging the clifftop and offering more breathtaking views before descending sharply to Vathi Bay where you can relax on a lovely, sandy beach;

Folegandros is one of those tiny, quiet islands where time seems to have stopped. It is the very prototype for the typical Greek island, with clear waters, white houses and little winding streets.

Even though this island belongs to the "calmer" categories, Folegandros can get extremely busy during high season. For the few locals this is a blessing, since it keeps their island alive. Most of them are involved with fishing and agriculture, and the extra money tourism brings makes them able to stay here in the winter as well.

A steep and rocky island, Folegandros is a challenging place for those who want to explore its' nature. It is definately worth walking here, and the harsh nature and the many views will give you something to remember.

History

The island's history is not very well known in detail, but there is evidence that it was inhabited at a very early stage. In the 2nd Millenia BC it was probably under Minoan, Cretan, rule. Later on, in the 8th century BC, the island was settled by Dorians, a Greek tribe from the north. The island shared the same fate as almost all the Cyclades islands in the 13th century AD, when the Venetians invaded and made the area a dutchy of their own, with Naxos as the centre. This lasted for more than 400 years, when the Turks conquered Greece. Folegandros was liberated in the 19th century after the war of Independance had broken out.

What to See

The island has three basic villages, all worth a visit. The capital is Chora, which is a traffic-free little village with many taverns and shops. Here, the Castro lies, which was an area of the town built like a fortress. You can also visit the church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) just above Chora, which has an icon said to have worked many miracles.

In Ano Meria ("upper part") there is a little folklore museum about the island. This village is where most of the farmers live, and it is quite striking that you see and smell animals everywhere. Karavostassis ("boat stop") is the harbour, and here you'll find many little taverns and a few beaches. You can also visit the Golden Cave, Chrysospilia, but only by boat.

What to Do

Folegandros is an excellent place for snorkelling, fishing and just relaxing. Some people like taking walks in the steep nature, and others even go jogging. There are usually boatexcursions around the island.

Beaches

There a quite a few bays on Folegandros you either can reach by walking or by taking one of the excursion boats. The beaches are both sandy and pebbled. Agali is a nice sandy beach with a bus connection, and the Ag Nikolaos is very pretty where there are quite a few nudists.

Nightlife

Folegandros is not a party island, but in Chora you'll find a few bars. Most people here like to eat out late and then stay at the taverns just relaxing.

Food

On this island traditional Greek food is to be expected. The fancier restaurants are in Chora, in Karavostassis you'll find quite a few fish-taverns, and in Ano Meria there are very basic little places.

Shopping

Most shops are in Chora, and they sell your usual souvenirs, as well as little icons and hand made painted ceramics.

Getting Around

Chora, Ano Meria, Agkali and the harbour are connected by buses, that do not run very often. You can rent a car, but a moped is much more useful. There are also little excursion boats that will take you to some of the bays and the beaches.

Getting There

You can fly to one of the other Cycladic islands, like Naxos, Mykonos and Santorini and take the ferry boat from there. There are also ferries going to and from Pireus.