Despite being a fairly barren and rocky place, Syros is the administrative centre of the Cyclades. It owes its status to a good natural harbour at Ermoupoli, once the main port for all of Greece. Ermoupoli is the best preserved neoclassic town in the country by some accounts and, with a population of 13,000, is the largest settlement in the Cyclades.

Its role as the administrative and cultural centre for the Cyclades means that, unlike some of the smaller islands, it prospers without needing to cultivate visitors. Nevertheless, tourists do come in increasing numbers, drawn by the island’s small resorts, little fishing villages, and enough good beaches to keep everyone happy.

Alongside the town hall is Syros’s small Archaeological Museum worth a quick visit. Nearby is the Apollo Theatre, built in 1864 as the first opera house in Greece.