The easiest all-round base on the island
Ornos is a deep, south-facing bay that the summer north wind mostly passes over, which is why its water is calm when the north coast is white-capped. The beach is sandy and organised, lined with tavernas and sunbed concessions, and a small harbour at one end is where the sea taxis to Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia start their rounds in season.
Because it is close to town, well served by buses, and quieter at night than Chora or the party beaches, Ornos has become the default choice for families and first-time visitors. The hotel range is wide, from large resorts on the hillsides to small guesthouses a street back from the sand.
It is not the prettiest beach on the island — the bay is built up on three sides — but it is the most useful. You can be in town in ten minutes and on a boat to the far beaches in twenty.
Beach
Sandy, calm, organised, and busy in summer. Good for children and for anyone who wants to swim without waves.
Nights
Low-key. Beach restaurants and hotel bars in the evening; the real nightlife is a short taxi or bus ride into town.
Getting around
Frequent buses from the Fabrika station in town in season. Sea taxis to the southern beaches leave from the small harbour. Taxis and hotel shuttles cover the airport and port.
Season
The sea-taxi service is seasonal, roughly late spring to early autumn.
