The Cycladic Islands are known for their characteristic blue and white architecture. We’ve all seen the posts on Instagram from Santorini and Mykonos, with expansive views of the Aegean, white Greek buildings, and the blue dome of an Orthodox Church in the background. But where else besides these 2 heavily touristed islands can you find white buildings in Greece?
Astypalaia
Astypalaia is a quiet island in the Cyclades island chain. It is a haven for visitors who like the picturesque alleys and sweeping views of Santorini, but do not want the crowds. Of course, the island is known for its white and blue houses, which are found in the main town of Chora and lead up to the medieval fortress at the top of the hill. Some options of day trips from Astypalaia are Koutsomitis and Kounoupes. Also worth visiting in town are the famous 6 windmills (pictured below), which turn to face the wind.
Sifnos
Almost all of the homes on Sifnos are white. The best place to walk among the white houses is in Kastro, the main village of Sifnos island. The famous French-Swiss architect, Le Corbusier, was inspired by the buildings he saw – some say that his theories of modernist design come from the buildings he sketched here. Out of all the islands with white buildings in Greece, Sifnos is one of the least touristed.
Amorgos
Amorgos island is a great place to hike, dive, and snorkel. Hikers and wilderness lovers are drawn to the island because it has plenty of walking trails and a laid-back atmosphere. Locals are known to be polite and very honest. Amorgos’s unique fame comes from the movie “The Big Blue”, a diving movie that was filmed by a French director. The most well-known area to find the characteristic white houses on the island of Amorgos is Chora, the capital town.
Kimolos
Kimolos is one of the islands in the Cyclades that has the fewest tourists. Outside of the main summer season, Kimolos empties and is mainly locals. Unlike Mykonos, Kimolos is a destination off the beaten path. Locals call the main town the “Chorio”, a tendency unlike the other islands in the Cyclades, which call the town “Chora.” It is pleasant to walk in Chorio town, with its stone paths, bright white churches, and blue domes. Chorio features rows of white cubic homes, and has a centuries-old castle.
Anafiotika
This one is a trick. Islands are not the only places with white buildings in Greece. Anafiotika is not an island but is a neighborhood in Athens, just under the Acropolis. The district includes whitewashed buildings, windows with characteristic Cycladic-style shutters, and cobbled alleys. Most of the settlers of the Anafiotika area came in the 1800s from the small Cycladic island of Anafi. Anafiotika literally means “little Anafi” and the builders from this district built houses to mimic their old island homes.
Sikinos
250 Residents
Sikinos in Greece is a small island in the Cyclades, found next to Folegandros and Ios. The island is mostly free of tourism and features an unspoiled holiday away from the crowds that pour onto other Greek islands. The main town of Chora is known for its traditional blue and while houses and its narrow alleys.
Folegandros
700 Residents
Folegandros is one of the most underrated Cycladic islands, because it has both picturesque nature and charming village towns with blue and white houses. The streets are known for their colorful windows, blue churches, and general postcard views. It is a popular island for family vacations and also for couples.
Serifos
1200 Residents
Serifos is a Greek island in the west Cyclades, and it is one place in Greece where cave houses are becoming more popular. Cave houses, called υπόσκαφα (iposkafa) in Greek, have long been built, with the most known ones being on the island of Santorini.
In a concept that involves building a home into the earth, the idea has been around for as long as humans have been seeking shelter. But it offers a bunch of very modern benefits. The houses provide large cost savings, room for innovative world-class designs and spacious facilities that let in plenty of golden Greek sunlight.
Antiparos
1200 Residents
Antiparos, located opposite the island of Paros, has been drawing celebrities despite its small size. Others reportedly spotted in its tiny chora (main village) include Matthew McConaughey, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who is married to Greek-American actress Rita Wilson, owns a 450 square meter villa on the beautiful island of Antiparos in a property acquired in 2004. The six acre property is located between the villages of Glypha and Chora and offers the actor, who starred in Forest Gump and Cast Away, valuable privacy and protection from prying eyes.
Now you know where to find Greece’s classic white and blue homes in Greece. Want to know more about where the unique building style comes from? Read about its history in our blog “Why are Greek Island Homes Blue and White?”
