Ios Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide

Ios sits in the Cyclades.

The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi (Etesian) northerly, strongest mid-July to mid-August (around Force 5 to 7, gusting higher in open water).

Plan south legs downwind and overnight on lee and south coasts.

May, June and September are calmer.

This guide covers the island's main anchorages with the practical detail charterers and captains actually use: depth where a published cruising source documents it, holding, and shelter direction.

Where a figure was not documented we say so rather than guess.

Ashore: Chora and its Archaeological Museum, the Skarkos Bronze-Age settlement, the Palaiokastro Venetian castle, and the reputed tomb of Homer in the north.

Ios is the southern turn of the Cyclades week: 30 nautical miles from Naxos on our distance table, 25 from Santorini and 25 from Folegandros, so it is where the loop swings from the central islands to the caldera and back.

The three records are chosen by the Meltemi: the port at Yialos, on laid moorings in the east basin and stern-to the boulevard, with excellent shelter and the nightlife of the quay; Manganari on the south coast, four to ten metres over sand, well protected from the Meltemi and open only to the south, the calm overnight the couples remember; Tris Klisies on the south, four to six metres over mixed bottom, with the anchor checked and Manganari as the fallback.

On the Greek Charter Index 2026 a fully crewed sailing catamaran for eight runs EUR 18,900 to 48,000 a week at 16 to 19 metres and EUR 31,500 to 43,500 at 20 to 22, per yacht before VAT and APA, and the smaller catamarans lie in Manganari where a keelboat anchors off.

Where can a yacht anchor at Ios?

Ios has 3 anchorages in this guide: Ormos Iou / Port (Yialos), Manganari (south coast), Tris Klisies (south). Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.

Which Ios anchorages are sheltered from the meltemi, the summer north wind?

Ormos Iou / Port (Yialos): Excellent shelter from the Meltemi. Manganari (south coast): Well protected from the Meltemi; totally open to south winds. Tris Klisies (south): In strong Meltemi move to Manganari.

How deep are the anchorages at Ios?

Manganari (south coast) 4-10m; Tris Klisies (south) 4-6m. Depths are typical sand-bottom anchoring depths; the captain drops on current chart data.

What is the holding like at Ios?

Ormos Iou / Port (Yialos): Laid moorings in the east basin (no anchoring), stern-to the boulevard. Manganari (south coast): Sand, good. Tris Klisies (south): Sand, weed and rock, check the anchor holds.

When is the best time to anchor at Ios?

The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi, the northerly that blows hardest from mid-July to mid-August, around Force 5 to 7 and gusting higher in open water. Ios rides it out on the south coast: Manganari is the lee and the port the bolt-hole. July and August bring the summer crowd to Yialos and the port is busy with nightlife; Manganari, a taxi away, is quiet. June and September are the months the beaches are empty, and on the Greek Charter Index the shoulder months price 15 to 25% below peak on the same rate card with three to four months of lead time rather than a year.

What does the captain plan around at Ios?

Manganari, four to ten metres over sand, for the night in a northerly, wide enough that it never feels full; the port at Yialos, on the laid moorings, when the party wants the town or the wind is strong and the swell comes round; Tris Klisies, four to six metres, only with the anchor set and checked, and a move to Manganari the moment the Meltemi strengthens. Santorini is 25 miles south, Folegandros 25 west, Naxos 30 north, all mornings. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; the captain confirms the anchor drop against current charts on arrival.

Cyclades

Saronic

Ionian

Sporades

Dodecanese

Crete