Syros

Syros is not appreciated as much as its famous neighbors, but it is actually the administrative capital of the Cyclades. With the highest population of all the islands and some of the lowest tourist crowds, Syros is the place for those seeking an everyday Greek island experience.

The island is mostly rural outside of the main town of Ermoupoli, whose Crayola-hued neoclassical buildings rise up amphitheatrically around the port. Stare for the domes of the Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches atop their neighboring hills or visit the Apollon Theater, built in 1864 as a replica of La Scala in Milan and host to an annual music festival that attracts visitors from around the country.