Natural Light, Serious Training, and Local Energy

A Lifter-Friendly Gym on Syros, Brighter and More Hardcore

If Alterlife feels like a dependable if a bit dusty chain gym and BePersonal feels boutique and coach-led, Metallaxi lands somewhere in between — with a slightly more hardcore edge. It’s roughly the same size as Alterlife, maybe a touch bigger, with a similar mix of cardio machines, selectorized strength equipment, and cables. But the vibe here skews more lifters and hypertrophy, which I appreciated.

If you’re a gym rat, you’ll feel at ease here. 

First Impressions & Feel

The first thing you’ll notice when you step into Metallaxi is incredible natural light provided by window walls all around. The views of the harbor and hills are stunning, and give an airiness to the place that is very inviting.

Once inside, I noticed immediately that Metallaxi has a bit of an edgier vibe than Alterlife, without being intimidating. The crowd was a bit heavier and more committed, and the place was alive when I trained around noon — not packed, but pumping. If your goal is to casually strike up a conversation with a local Syros lifter 9maybe make a gym buddy) this is probably your best bet on the island.

Finding the entrance, however, is a small adventure. The gym itself isn’t hidden, but the way in is. You’ll need to go behind a small mini-mall and head up a few flights of twisting wrought-iron stairs. I got turned around briefly on my way in, but once you’re there it all makes sense.

Equipment & Training Reality

Metallaxi is decently set up for free training and classic gym work.

There’s a solid lineup of cable machines, clearly labeled and easy to use, reasonably fresh dumbbells (well labeled) and squat rack. You’ve got preacher curl stations, dip bars, and plenty of selectorized machines for isolation work. There are a couple options for pull ups, which is an improvement over Alterlife. 

The TVs were playing CrossFit Games footage when I was there, which was a decent vibe match: aspirational, a bit more lifter and intensity focused. 

I came strictly to train on my own and had no issues running a full lifting session without compromise.

Classes, Space & Practical Details

Metallaxi has a large group class and Pilates room, which I didn’t try. This seems to be a theme on Syros, or at least in Ermoupoli: open gym spaces that you walk through to get through a pilates class. Why not?

Bathrooms are equipped with showers and lockers. And this being Syros, a small, tight knit island not totally bombarded with tourists, I left my lifting belt, shoes, and even a laptop bag lying around here (as well as at Alterlife and BePersonal) without a second thought. It’s one of those subtle island perks you don’t get everywhere.

People & Post-Workout Intel

As mentioned earlier, you may be more likely to find a temporary gym buddy here at Metallaxi. I ended up chatting with an older guy between sets who asked what I was doing on the island, then immediately started listing off good food spots where the locals go.

He sent me to a small souvlaki place a few doors down on the main street, and it was spot on. Portable, satisfying, solid macros, and insanely cheap. This is the gym where that kind of thing happens.

Recommended For

Metallaxi is a strong choice if you want a more serious gym atmosphere without sacrificing comfort or light. It’s ideal for lifters who want a real squat rack, functional equipment, and a crowd that’s there to train.

My take: if Alterlife is a little too neutral and BePersonal is too structured for your tastes, Metallaxi hits a sweet spot. It’s brighter, more energetic, and a touch more hardcore — in a good way.

What it is: A well-equipped “serious” gym on Syros with a slightly more hardcore edge.

Best for: Lifters and gym rats who want open training and a focused but friendly environment.

Not for: Anyone looking for coaching-led classes as the main attraction.

Vibe: Bright, busy, focused, and local.

Bottom line: A legit training gym with good light, real equipment, and the strongest “local gym” feel on the island.