Aegean market

Aegean Market is one of the main supermarkets in Ios Town (Chora), located on the island of Ios in the Cyclades. Open every day of the week from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, it serves both residents and the steady flow of visitors who need to stock up on groceries, pantry staples, and everyday household items without travelling off the island.

The store traces its roots to 2006, when it was founded by the Gialesakis family and operated from a 340-square-metre space at Ios harbour under a partnership with Carrefour Marinopulos. In 2016, a second location was acquired in Chora itself — roughly 196 square metres — and branded as Aegean Market. Since 2013, the business has also extended into wholesale supply. Knowing this background matters in practice: if you are staying near the port, there is a Carrefour Express-branded outlet tied to the same operation, while the Aegean Market name covers the Chora branch.

With a 4.2-star rating from over 155 Google reviews, the store consistently meets the basic expectations of travellers who need reliable access to food and supplies during their stay.

What to Expect

Aegean Market in Chora is a mid-sized neighbourhood supermarket, roughly equivalent to a well-stocked convenience store in terms of floor space. You can expect the essentials: packaged and fresh produce, dairy, deli items (the website references cheeses and pulses as product categories), drinks including water and local wine, bread, household cleaning products, and sundries like sunscreen or basic toiletries.

Given its location in Ios Town, the store caters heavily to the island's tourism-driven demand — which means shelves are generally well-stocked during summer, particularly in June through August when the island's population swells dramatically. Pricing follows the premium that applies to most island supermarkets in the Cyclades: expect to pay noticeably more than you would in Athens or at a mainland chain outlet, particularly for branded or imported goods.

The store is owned and operated locally by the Gialesakis family, which has been part of the island's retail landscape for nearly two decades. You can reach the store by phone at +30 2286 091810 or by email at [email protected]. The website at aegeanmarket.gr lists current product categories and contact details.

How to Get There

Aegean Market's Chora branch sits in Ios Town, the main village of the island, which spreads across the hillside above the port of Ormos. From the port, you can reach Chora either on foot — a steep 20-minute uphill walk — or by taking one of the frequent local buses that run between the port, Chora, and Mylopotas beach throughout the day in summer.

If you are driving or on a scooter, parking in Chora itself is limited, as the streets in the older part of the village are pedestrianised. The main road skirting the edge of Chora has some informal parking areas; from there it is a short walk into the commercial strip where the supermarket is located.

For visitors staying along the Mylopotas beach area, the bus route passes through Chora, making a supply run straightforward. Taxis are available from the port rank and from Chora's main square.

Best Time to Visit

The store is open daily, year-round as far as current hours indicate, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. For grocery shopping, early morning — particularly before 10:00 AM — tends to be the least crowded. Midday in high summer can be busy, as visitors arrive from beaches and the port simultaneously.

Ios peaks in July and August, when the island fills with a young international crowd. During this period, popular items such as bottled water, sunscreen, and bread can sell through quickly earlier in the day, so morning visits are advisable. Outside peak summer, from late September through May, Ios is considerably quieter and the store will be less pressured.

If you are arriving by ferry and planning to self-cater, note that ferry schedules into Ios often land in the afternoon or evening — the 9:00 PM closing time should give you enough of a window to stock up on arrival day, but plan accordingly if your ferry is scheduled late.

Tips for Visiting

• Check the closing time before heading out. The 9:00 PM cutoff is firm; arriving at 8:45 PM on a busy evening may mean a rushed shop with depleted shelves.
• Bring cash as a backup. Card payment is generally accepted at Greek supermarkets, but connection issues can occur on islands; having euros on hand prevents problems at checkout.
• Water is heavy — buy it early. If you are staying uphill in Chora or hiking to your accommodation, pick up large bottles of water in the morning rather than on a hot afternoon return.
• Island pricing is higher than the mainland. Budget roughly 20–40% more than you would at a supermarket in Athens for most branded goods. Local products — olive oil, pulses, dairy — tend to offer better relative value.
• The harbour branch operates under a Carrefour Express banner. If you are staying near Ormos port and the Carrefour Express is closer, it is part of the same Gialesakis operation and stocks comparable products.
• Wholesale enquiries go through the same business. If you are organising a villa stay or group catering and need bulk supplies, the business has wholesale capacity — contact them via the website or phone in advance.
• For specific or specialist items, call ahead. The store's email and phone are reliably listed; if you need something specific (infant formula, particular dietary items), it is worth checking before assuming availability.
• The Facebook page at facebook.com/Aegean-Market-210377349344789 occasionally carries updates on promotions or seasonal changes; worth a glance before a long stay.

Practical Information

Detail	Info
Address	Ios Town (Chora), Ios 840 01, Greece
Phone	+30 2286 091810
Email	[email protected]
Website	aegeanmarket.gr
Hours	Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Google Rating	4.2 / 5 (155 reviews)
Facebook	facebook.com/Aegean-Market-210377349344789

The store has been operating under the Aegean Market name at this Chora location since 2016, with the associated harbour outlet running since 2006. Both are managed by the same family-run company, Gialesakis AE.