Veranda Syros House

The real highlight was our hosts. Dimitris, Alexandra, and Vassiliki were warm, generous, and always smiling. Dimitris met us at the ferry port, insisted on helping with our heavy cases, and drove us up to the house behind Ermoupoli. Alexandra and Vassiliki greeted us with warm embraces. They kept the place spotlessly clean and brought us homemade Greek food nearly every day, more than we could manage. We miss them, and you won’t be disappointed. The house felt pretty, comfortable, and homely. Our balcony looked over the ever-changing Aegean and glimpses of nearby islands. In the garden, we could unwind under the vines and lemon trees, and cool off in the hot tub or plunge pool. There’s a kitchen and shower down there, too, so we could bring food and drinks, and use it as a second bathroom. On arrival, the fully stocked fridge and huge selection of sweet and savory homemade dishes meant we could relax without shopping. Amazing and quite unprecedented. The beach is about a ten-minute walk, though the route involves lots of steps up and down. Taxis are cheap and easy to find if you’d rather ride. The swimming spot is a concrete platform with a ladder into the cool sea, and you can dive in if you like. There are fixed parasols and places to sit under pine trees, which we loved for people watching. A bar and restaurant are just up the walkway, and there’s another lovely restaurant at the top with glorious views for a romantic evening. The mix of people was lovely, and our things felt safe while we swam. It’s also possible to walk down into lively Syros town, with boutiques, shops, supermarkets, and plenty of bars and restaurants in the little streets and along the bay. The town and port are beautiful and historically significant, with ornate marble civic buildings, churches, houses, and hotels. For 18 Euros, a taxi can take you to the other side of the island, where there are sandy beaches and restaurants and hotels right by the sea. I’ve visited many Greek islands and, in my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful and well worth a visit.

The family welcomed us with delicious homemade food, and they were incredibly kind and hospitable. There was plenty of space in the house, with comfortable beds and air conditioning that got properly cold, very welcome after climbing all those stairs. It was an easy walk to the water and restaurants. I’d give it 10 stars if I could!

The house was spotless, with kind and friendly hosts. They gave us so much home-cooked food that even our group of six hungry adults couldn’t finish it. We also loved the tranquil swimming spot and how close the place was to the town center. The garden was delightful, with lemon and orange trees and a shady grapevine.

We’d been to Syros once before, but this visit felt special because Dimitri, Alexandra and Vasiliki hosted us. They welcomed us with a smile and made us feel like family. They were thoughtful about everything, from the plentiful food and useful suggestions on what to visit to keeping the house impeccably clean. If I could give them ten stars, I would. There’s a saying, “third time’s the charm,” and we’ll make another trip to Syros and stay at VerandaSyros House! ♥️ Michele e Denise