A Photo Tour of Folegandros

A Photo Tour of FolegandrosWe’ve just got back from an idyllic two weeks on the tiny Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades. It has everything I dream of when I think of the perfect Greek island – pretty little harbours, beautiful beaches and great local tavernas. It was delightfully laid-back and despite the fact that we were there during the peak summer season, it wasn’t heaving with tourists.

I’ll be writing more about Folegandros over the next couple of weeks but in the meantime I thought I’d share some of the photos of our trip.

Folegandros has the unspoiled, old-fashioned feel that I love about Greece. We watched local fishermen untangling their nets at the harbour. We passed farmers using donkeys to get around and saw octopus hanging out to dry in the sun outside local tavernas.

We stayed in Chora, the main town on the island, perched on the cliffside, 200 metres up from the sea. Chora is considered to be one of the prettiest towns in the whole of the Cyclades, with its gorgeous white and blue buildings, picturesque squares and bougainvillea-draped houses.

The Castro, the medieval centre of the town has remained the same for hundreds of years. We walked down its narrow streets and covered passageways.

We took a boat to beaches virtually inaccessible by road and swam in the translucent aquamarine waters of the Aegean Sea.

There are churches everywhere you look on the island. We hiked to churches standing alone on top of steep hills. A zigzag path leads up to the main church in Chora, a regular evening pilgrimage for anyone wanting the best sunset view on the whole island.

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75 thoughts on “A Photo Tour of Folegandros

  1. What a gorgeous place! Greece has been on my to travel to list for the longest time, but so far my husband and I haven’t made a trip there (yet!). I love the idea of visiting the different island and seeing the daily life.

    Gorgeous photos, there’s just so much blue-ness and such a summer feel to them all!

    ~ K

    http://www.lifeasunusuals.com

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  2. Clare, I’ve loved following your Greek travels on Instagram, and can NOT wait to read the detailed posts. This holiday seemed truly amazing. It looked as though you had stepped back into a simpler time and place, and quite possibly were able to switch off and truly relax. Beautiful photography!

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    • Thank you so much, Ali. I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed the Instagram pix – I’ve loved taking them although I’m in serious danger of needing to rename my account ‘Shades of Blue’! I do just love finding old-fashioned, relaxing places to travel and Folegandros turned out to be exactly what we were hoping for. Trouble is, I’m struggling to adjust back to normal life – nearly had to lie down after an hour in the supermarket with two fractious kids yesterday! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  3. Oh Clare, must have been difficult getting back on that plane! What a paradise. The water looks so clear and sparkling and shallow for little ones too. Brilliant photos. Cant wait to hear more about Folegandros

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  4. Your photos are gorgeous! I would like to spend some time in the Greek islands. I went many years ago to Mykonos, Rhodes and Patmos. However, I would love to go back and explore more islands. Would love to learn more about Folegandros.

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    • Thanks so much, Ruth. I just love Greece. There are always so many more islands to discover – one reason why we tend to go to different islands whenever we visit. Might have to make an exception for this one though! Thanks so much for commenting and sharing.

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  5. I’d love love love to visit Greece! Every year I put in on the list but I never get to it – next year 😀 And this is exactly the side of Greece I’d like to see, the non-touristy and traditional one! Thanks for sharing 🙂

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    • That’s always the way with travel wish lists – sometimes you do end up having to wait far too long to visit some of the places on your list. This is the side of Greece I adore – the traditional, the not-too-touristy. It’s definitely worth the trip!

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  6. Wow – this makes me want to go to the Greek islands immediately. I spent a lot of my early 20s there, and it is a place that really captured my heart. It’s been 10 years since my last visit though, which is so sad. I have never been to this island, so I’ve put it on my to do list ASAP!! Your pictures show the classic Greece that I really love, and remind me why I just couldn’t leave when I was younger! Thanks as always for sharing 🙂

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  7. Ohhh my, this island is amazing!! How nice to know that it wasn’t packed with tourists during summer. I miss Greece, and I can’t wait to go back there someday… I’m certainly going to add Folegandros to my list (right away) 😀
    Glad that you enjoyed your trip!

    Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes 😉

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  8. Stunning photos Clare! I’ve seen some of them on IG, and to see so many of them in your wonderful collages – it truly looks like a magical place. Love the photo of the hanging octopi:).

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  9. It’s been a few years since our last visit to Greece and I think I need to return for those blue skies and white-washed buildings. Glorious.

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  10. You captured it beautifully Clare! This bit of beauty & sunshine is exactly what I need on a cold, overcast day in Scotland right now! Brings back lovely memories of our time on the Greek Islands exactly this time last year. #wanderfulwednesday

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  11. Wow, “idyllic” is the perfect word! It looks so relaxed there. I love the look of houses on the greek islands with the white and blue. I’ll add this to my list of islands to one day visit, cheers!

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  12. I hadn’t heard of Folegandros before – friends who’ve been to Greece tell me to go to Santorini and Mykonos. Folegandros looks amazing though, and the blue and white buildings look like the pictures of Santorini I’ve seen 🙂 With the Greek economy being in the shambles that it’s in, did you have any concerns about personal safety etc.?

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    • The blue and white of Folegandros is typical of the Cyclades Islands (of which Santorini and Mykonos are also part of). What I loved about this island was that it was a lot less touristy than either Santorini and Mykonos which are a lot better known. I had absolutely no concerns at all about personal safety. Everybody we met was absolutely delightful and the whole family felt really safe and relaxed. Thanks so much for commenting and sharing.

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  13. These are some great photos! I absolutly love Greece and can’t wait to go back there. I used to work in Kalithea during my summer vaccation and travelled around the area, also in Thesaloniki and Athens but never managed to go to the islands. I know just by looking at your photos, I’ve been missing out. Thanks for sharing! #TheWeeklyPostcard

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    • Thank you so much. The Greek islands are some of my favourite places to travel. I’ve been to Athens a few times but not to other parts of the mainland so I should probably explore more of that.

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  14. Beautiful pictures Clare! I had not heard of this island, nice to know there is one that isn’t so crowded and still has everything you would want in a Greek Island. Thanks for linking up with #theWeeklyPostcard.

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  15. Folegandros seems like my kind of island. I will have to make time visit the Greek Islands. They are so beautiful and your photos surely make them look great. Thanks for joining us for #TheWeeklyPostcard.

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  16. Gorgeous pictures! Greek destinations really have that distinctive vibe — you can tell right away that it’s in Greece. And it’s really so beautiful!

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