1. General Information

2. Travel Information

3. OMILO Activities during the Intensive Courses

4. About Syros

1. General Information

1- or 2-week courses on Syros Island are possible in June, July and September.

The courses take place in Pension Echo in Azolimnos , 4km south of Ermoupoli (the capital of Syros). There are beautiful beaches and plenty of tavernas right at the course location. There is a frequent bus connection from Azolimnos to and from Ermoupoli.

Students will arrive on the indicated arrival day. We will meet the students for the first time at 19.00 h on the arrival day and give more information about the course and possible activities. At 20.00h OMILO invites all students for a taverna meal in Azolimnos (included in the course fees).
The lessons will start the following morning at 9.30h. Students will be asked to do a small test, in order to divide them in the right course levels. The course book will be given during the first lesson.  The last day of the course the lessons finish at 13.30.

OMILO is not only a language school, we also pay great attention to the accommodation arrangements. For information about accommodation in Syros, please see “accommodation” 

   2. Travel Information

   You are expected to make your own travel arrangements to Greece.
Do not forget to arrange for a valid passport and all the necessary paperwork such as an insurance covering “your stay in Greece”.

When you register for a course, OMILO will provide you with information on bus, boat, train or metro timetables in Greece three weeks before your course starts.

You can reach Syros by airplane from Athens (2 times per week) or by 3 daily ferries from Piraeus Harbor.

Most participants book a flight to Athens and then travel from Athens to Syros.

By Plane: please contact a travel agency to book a flight from Athens to Syros. From Syros airport you can take a taxi to Azolimnos.

By Boat : you can take several boats from Pireaus Harbour:

Blue Star Ferries : www.bluestarferries.com (4 hours)

Hellenic Seaways : www.hellenicseaways.gr (2,5 hours)

For all shedules, see www.gtp.gr

How to reach Piraeus Harbor from Athens Airport?

By Express Bus from the Airport

Line X96 connects the Airport with Piraeus harbor. Tickets cost 4 Euro. The bus leaves about every 25 minutes and the trip to Piraeus takes around one hour.

By Metro

You take the blue line 3 to the Monasteraki station. In Monasteraki station, you change to the Green line 1 to the end stop and you are in Piraeus.

How to reach Azolimnos from Ermoupolis (Syros) harbor?

By Taxi: taxis are waiting right where the boats arrive. The trip takes 10 minutes.

By Bus: busses are waiting where the boats arrive, opposite Goody’s fast food restaurant. You take the bus with destination “AZOLIMNOS”. The trip takes 15 minutes.

    3. Activities during the intensive courses

During the intensive courses, following activities are organized

Included in the course fees:

• Walk in Ermoupolis
• Walk in Ano-Syros
• Greek dance lessons
• A short introduction to Greek music
• Taverna dinner on arrival day

Optional excursions or activities are proposed:

• Boat trip excursion
• Musical Performance in Ermoupolis
• Taverna evenings
 

4. About Syros

 Syros lies in the middle of the Cycladic islands between Kythnos and Tinos. It has an area of 86 sq. km., a coastline of 87 km., and a population of over 20,000 people. The island of Syros is full of beauty and charm created by its unspoiled landscape, its authenticity and its traditional villages.

Syros' wonderful capital, Ermoupolis, is the capital of all the Cycladic islands. Ermoupolis is a walker’s paradise with its small streets, little shops and cafes. The waterfront is alive with people, cars and commerce. There are plenty of good restaurants and ouzeries.

Because Syros was a commercial center (Ermoupolis was named for Hermes: God of commerce) and not reliant on tourism, it has been restored slowly and intelligently. The city is like a living museum.

During the 19th century Ermoupolis became the major port of Greece. It was superseded by Piraeus in the 20th century, but is still the capital of the Cyclades and largest city, with a population of over 13.000. It is a very affluent, lively town; its wealth evident in the many restored neo-classical mansions, the marble-paved streets, and the chic little backstreet boutiques. Unlike most of the Cyclades, the occupants of Ermoupolis are busy with things other than tourism, which in itself adds immeasurable real-life charm to the place. Syros is an exception in the Greek territory, having a very big Catholic population. As the boat sails into the port you will see the Catholic settlement of Ano Syros to the left, and the Orthodox settlement of Vrodado to the right, both set on hills. Today, the population of Syros is 40 % Catholic and 60% Orthodox.

Syros was the home of Markos Vamvakaris, the famous rembetika player who wrote "Frankosyrianni" one of the most popular Greek songs. You should pay a visit the Markos Vamvakaris Museum.

The island is known for its Loukoumia (or Turkish delight) which is a sweet, gummy, sugar-powdered, nut-filled candy sold in attractive boxes from stores and loukoumia factories all over the city of Ermoupolis.

Azolimnos lies in the southeast of the island, at 4 km of Ermoupolis. The settlement of Azolimnos borders on a small, picturesque bay with a beautiful beach and crystalline waters. The lovely village has a few pensions and many excellent taverns.

There is a regular bus-connection to Ermoupolis.

For more information on Syros island (how to get there, map of Syros, history, etc..) click here.