Over the centuries the island has been called by many different names like Ikos, Evonymos, Liodromia, Hilliodromia, but very little has changed.
It is a stopping place on the sea routes from the North Aegean to Crete since the 9th millennium BC.

Renowed for the wine and vineyards since ancient times, the island has preserved a harmony between production and development.

Today the natural cycle of a local enonomy based on ecologically friendly fishing, farming and stock raising helps keep the environment untouched from the development.

This island provides shelter at the Alonissos Marina Park for one of the rarest mammals of the Mediterranean Sea, the "Monachus Monachus", classified as one of the endangered spices.