Asteria Beach Syros
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Asteria Beach Syros – best Ermoupoli quick swim spot
Asteria Beach Syros is not the sort of beach you immediately think of – there are a few umbrellas but no sand and entry to the water is either a dive off the concrete platform or an (elegant?) entry down the steps into the water. The water itself can be a little choppy depending on conditions as the water hits the concrete and rebounds back into the bay. And sometimes floods the platform – beware!
To be picky, there are actually 2 ‘beaches’ – Vaporia is the one with the larger platform and Asteria is the area closer to the Ciel Bar – more on that below. The beach areas are south facing and so protected from the prevailing northerly winds.
Perhaps it is not an area to linger too long although the locals are friendly (and it’s a real ‘meeting place’) and the atmosphere is definitely relaxed and non-judgemental. The attraction is really the proximity to Ermoupoli/Vaporia for a swim and the timeless nature of the surroundings, with the splendid colourful old mansions that line the waterfront looking down imposingly on the swimmers.
As you can see from the pictures, there are a few minimal cover umbrellas on the Vaporia platform for shade but most people hang back under the trees for a bit of protection. But the platform is naturally shaded by the buildings behind for a good portion of the day, depending on time of year.
Asteria Beach Syros – cafes nearby
The most obvious option is Ciel Bar Syros which is located just to the east of the beach areas. Ciel functions as an all day bar, covering breakfast up to the early hours of the next morning. It rather changes its nature as the day progresses – a post dip spot for coffee and breakfast where you can lay down your towel, dry off and experience some good quality coffee and breakfast offerings then into lunch then drinks/dinner and finally a late night bar with music and Mykonos vibes/prices (if you like that sort of thing). Ciel does rather come across as a place to be seen, maybe one for the young at heart (with plenty of euros).
A little closer to Vaporia up the steps is Sta Vaporia which has just as good a view as Ciel but slightly elevated. It’s a restaurant but offers coffee/drinks outside the prime meal service times.
Asteria Beach Syros – how to get there
You’ll find this location just to the north east of central Ermoupoli, with the main entrance down the steps past the church of Agios Nikolaos and Sta Vaporia. You can also access from other locations along Athinas street including via the Ciel parking.
Asteria Beach Syros – places to stay nearby
The area is not bad as a base to explore Ermoupoli being just out of the town but easy access with a short walk into the centre. One place that offers a fantastic view across Vaporia is Pafsilipon Suites now a member of the Aria Hotels group. Pafsilipon is at the end of Posidonos and has a range of suites with terraces and great view. If you have a car, parking is not too bad round there either. In the same area you’ll find Amare Boutique Suites and Electra Syros as other options.
Other beach options
This is really the only ‘beach’ option around Ermoupoli – if you’re after something a little more traditional with some sand then the village of Azolimnos (which is just to the south east of the airport) is the closest. For a nice trip out of Ermoupoli I’d suggest a visit to Kini where you not only get a picturesque sandy beach but also plenty of eating and drinking options to while away your day.