Alonnisos

Talk

Climate

Summers are long and hot. In spring and autumn, you will need little more than a cardigan to keep away the cool morning and evening breezes, and winters are generally mild. You will find it slightly cooler in the island’s village of Chora, set high on a hill.

Get in

By boat

Alonissos is accessible via ferry from

By boat

Alonissos is accessible via ferry from

By bus

Out of season on Alonissos there isn't any public transport and you will find that even though there is a bus stop in Patitiri next to the taxi stand and opposite the Alkyon Hotel, there's no bus. This is because out of season the bus does the school run and is therefore otherwise engaged. Arrive here on Alonissos during the height of the season and you will find a regular bus service running between Patitiri and the Chora and a limited service running between Patitiri and Steni Vala. Tickets are purchased on the bus with the single fare from Patitiri to the Chora costing €1.60 and from Patitiri to Steni Vala costing €1.70.

By taxi

With public transport on the island being available only during the summer months taking a taxi is the main form of transport for visitors unless you hire a car. The taxi rank is opposite the Alkyon Hotel next to the bus stop.

Patitiri harbour to theOldTown takes about 5 minutes by taxi and costs €5. For early morning journeys or at public holidays you may pay twice this amount for the same journey. You can also use the taxis to take you to far off island destinations such as Votsi, Steni Vala and Milia beach which are accessible via ta

Sea caves where seals live. Don't expect to see any seals, they're too shy to be seen.

One of the things you should do if you have some time in Patitiri is visit the Alonissos museum , the largest privately owned museum in the Greek islands. This is housed in a bright, relatively new stone building to the left of the town beach. To get there, go past the bars and tavernas behind the town beach and up the steps at the end. The door to the museum is up the steps. Exhibits are on the lower ground, ground and first floors, with a coffee shop on the second floor. There is a lift to all floors.

The Alonissos photography experience will be one of the most valuable experiences of your life. Bring your camera and take pictures of unforgettable moments.

From the early light bouncing quietly off the ancient white washed walls to the delicate pink hue of the late afternoon sun setting, your lens will be filled with wonder for every moment. Try to be embarked on a daily trip sailing around the island or to the deserted island around. Don’t miss to be embarked on daily walking journeys through the narrow winding pathways of the villages, discovering interesting architecture, the natives and their culture, and some donkeys and mules being led through the narrow paths from ocean to cliff side.

All fish dishes are delicious as most restaurants only serve the day’s catch. The bakery on the right of the main street in Patitiri has delicious pastries. One cannot miss the famous lobster spaghetti dish of Kyria Tasia in her tavern at Steni Vala and her sister’s Soultana desert in the coffee house next door.

The style is hearty rather than overcomplicated. It’s better away from the tourist “chips with everything” areas in the major resorts. Alonissos tavernas generally offer best menus. Portions are usually generous. The excellence of the local wine is a real bonus, and at good prices, so a night out tends to be inexpensive and a lot of fun!

All the markets in Alonissos produce plentiful and inexpensive food. There are small supermarkets well stocked with local and imported food. Feeding 2 people for a week would cost you around €100.

Restaurants and Tavernas are not expensive – you should be able to eat and drink for around €7 per head, and enjoy a really good meal.

Local wines and spirits are good value, and beer will cost about €1.50 a bottle, cigarettes €3.80 per packet).

The cuisine is best enjoyed at the invitation of a local to go to his house - don’t turn down an invite. Grilled fish or meat sprinkled with local herbs cooked slowly on an outside charcoal fire is always delicious, especially when its washed down with some local village wine. Greek salad is well known, of course, and the souvlakia (meat on a skewer) is always to be found in village Tavernas.

If you enjoy seafood find a local Ouzorea that’s used by the locals and try a meze.

At lunchtime fried Calamari with a bottle of chilled Retsina is wonderful.

Breakfast tends to be light, and of the continental variety. But most tourist tavernas now do full English breakfasts, omelettes and toasted sandwiches.

Assume the tap water is not drinkable unless told otherwise. Much of the island relies on collected rainwater for tap water.

Local drinks include Mythos (beer) and Ouzo.

Steni Vala camping ,

Jewelry stores are common

Colorful sea shells are a popular souvenir item, but very many of them are actually imported, and have no authentic connection to the island whatsoever.

Many brand name products for sale in the tourist shops may be fakes and/or unlicensed (T-shirts, towels, hand bags, and so on)

This article is issued from