🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where they are
Fourni lies in the North Aegean, between Ikaria and Samos, and belongs to the regional unit of Samos. The cluster has one large island, Thymaina, which is also inhabited, and many uninhabited islets. Small boats come from Agios Kirykos on Ikaria, and ferries from Samos and Piraeus. There is no airport, so many people fly to Ikaria or Samos.
📍 Where Fourni is
Fourni lies in the North Aegean, between Ikaria and Samos. The island is shown in red, and in green are Agios Kirykos, Karlovasi and Piraeus, where the boats come from.
🗺️ The map of the island
The main island is long and narrow, with hills, scrub, a few pines and dozens of bays. The main village, Fourni, is on the west coast, around the harbour, and a little further south is Kampi. In the north lies Chrysomilia, reached by road or by boat. Most beaches are south of the village.
🗺️ Map of Fourni
Fourni is a long, narrow island with many bays and lots of islets around it. The main village is on the west coast, with Kampi to the south and most beaches nearby. Chrysomilia is in the north, Thymaina to the west and Agios Minas to the east. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: Joseph Roux (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Fourni is for anyone who wants the sea, fresh fish and peace and quiet, away from the crowds. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- Lots of quiet beaches with crystal-clear water.
- Fresh fish and lobster spaghetti, among the most famous in the Aegean.
- A lively, real fishing village.
- The ancient quarry at Petrokopi and the history of the pirates.
- Easy to combine with Ikaria and Samos.
👎 The cons
- There is no airport and ferries from Piraeus are few.
- Few rooms, which fill up in August.
- Many beaches need a boat or a walk.
- The wind often cancels the small boats.
🏘️ The village and the harbour
The village of Fourni spreads around the harbour and climbs the slope. Dozens of fishing boats tie up in the harbour, as Fourni has one of the largest fishing fleets in the Aegean. A long pedestrian street with tavernas, cafés and shops leads to the square, where a Roman marble sarcophagus from the 2nd century AD stands.
The name “Korseon” recalls the corsairs, the pirates who took shelter in the islands’ enclosed bays. Since 2015, underwater surveys have located dozens of ancient shipwrecks around Fourni, from the Archaic period to more recent times, one of the largest groups in the Mediterranean.
The village around the harbour.
Houses right up the hill.
One of the largest fishing fleets.
Roman, 2nd century AD.
Colour in the alleys.
Island architecture.
The sun behind Ikaria.
Photos: Athanasios Oikonomou (CC BY-SA 4.0), Tanzania (CC BY-SA 3.0), Turhan Akman (CC BY 3.0), PLAKLE (CC BY-SA 4.0), Art Grafix (CC BY-SA 4.0), Sevaslian Christos (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🏖️ The beaches and Petrokopi
Fourni has many small beaches with crystal-clear water, and most are south of the village. Kampi has sand and tavernas, and a little further down is Elidaki. At Petrokopi there is an ancient marble quarry, and by the sea you can still see half-finished architectural pieces of marble. Further south are Kasidi, with tamarisks, and Vlychada, while north of the village are Koumara and Bali.
- Kampi: sand and tavernas, close to the village.
- Elidaki: a small sandy beach, south of Kampi.
- Petrokopi: the ancient marble and clear water.
- Kasidi: sand and tamarisks, in the south.
- Koumara and Bali: quiet, north of the village.
Boats and clear water.
From the road.
The ancient quarry.
Clear and shallow.
Left there since antiquity.
Tamarisks and sand.
Close to the village.
North of the village.
The water of Fourni.
A small settlement.
Photos: Turhan Akman (CC BY 3.0), Tanzania (CC BY 3.0), Romanos Dimitrios Georganas (CC BY-SA 4.0), PLAKLE (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dlap41 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Art Grafix (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
In summer, caiques from the harbour go to beaches that cannot be reached by road, and some also do a tour of the islands. Ask at the harbour the day before.
🏝️ Thymaina, Agios Minas and nature
West of Fourni, Thymaina has a small village with a blue-domed church and is reached by small boat from the harbour. To the east is Agios Minas, with Samos rising behind it. In spring the hills fill with daisies and wild flowers, and the thyme gives the island its honey. From the high points you can see Ikaria, Samos and the islets all around.
The islands of Fourni.
A view at every bend.
The other inhabited island.
The church of Thymaina.
Behind Thymaina.
With Samos in the background.
East of Fourni.
Looking out to the open sea.
Between the hills.
Spring on the island.
Thyme honey.
Photos: Porouclas (CC BY-SA 4.0), PLAKLE (CC BY-SA 4.0), Romanos Dimitrios Georganas (CC BY-SA 4.0), Waldviertler (CC BY-SA 2.0 de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de), Sevaslian Christos (CC BY-SA 4.0), Maria Kamitsi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🍽️ What to eat
Fourni is an island of fishermen, so the fish is fresh everywhere. The best-known speciality is lobster spaghetti, and alongside it you will find red porgy, grouper, octopus and sea urchin salad. Try the island’s thyme honey too. Book a table for lobster spaghetti early in August.
📅 When to go
June and September are the best months, with a warm sea and few people. In August most visitors arrive and rooms fill up. In winter ferries are few and the wind often cancels the small boats.
✈️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane and small boat | About 50 minutes to Ikaria or Samos | Athens airport | From Agios Kirykos or Karlovasi you continue by boat. |
| Ferry | About 9 to 11 hours | Piraeus | A few sailings a week, via Ikaria. |
From Ioulianou 50, Piraeus is about 40 minutes by metro and the airport one hour on Line 3. The easiest way is to fly to Ikaria or Samos and continue by small boat. Check the schedules in advance, as they change with the season. Fourni is easy to combine with Ikaria: see also our guide to Ikaria.
🗓️ Three days on Fourni
The village and Kampi
Walk around the harbour and along the village’s long pedestrian street, see the sarcophagus in the square and climb up for a view of the bay. Swim at Kampi and, in the evening, have lobster spaghetti at the harbour.
Petrokopi and Kasidi
Head south to Elidaki and Petrokopi, for the ancient marble by the sea. In the afternoon carry on to Kasidi, with its tamarisks.
Thymaina or Chrysomilia
Take the small boat to Thymaina and walk around its village, or go north to Chrysomilia and Koumara. In the evening watch the sun set behind Ikaria.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car on Fourni?
Not necessarily. The village, Kampi and the nearby beaches are within walking distance. For Kasidi and Chrysomilia, a scooter, a car or the caique helps.
Where should I stay on Fourni?
In the village, for the harbour and the tavernas, or in Kampi, for more peace by the sea. Book early, as rooms are few.
Can I visit for a day from Ikaria?
Yes, in summer there are small boats from Agios Kirykos that go in the morning and return in the afternoon. That is enough for the village, a swim and a meal at the harbour.
How many days do I need?
Three to four days are enough for the village, the beaches and Thymaina. If you love the sea and fish, a week passes easily.
— Kathy
