🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where it is
Sifnos lies in the western Cyclades, between Serifos and Milos. It has no airport, so you go by ferry from Piraeus. Fast ferries take about two and a half to three hours and conventional ones about five.
📍 Where Sifnos is
Sifnos lies in the western Cyclades, between Serifos and Milos. The island is shown in red, and Piraeus, where the ferries leave from, in green.
🗺️ The map of the island
Sifnos is small, and by car you can get anywhere in under half an hour. Ferries dock at Kamares, on the west coast. In the middle of the island are Apollonia and the villages around it, and on the east coast is Kastro. Most beaches are in the south.
🗺️ Map of Sifnos
The port, Kamares, is on the west coast. Apollonia and Artemonas are in the middle of the island, and Kastro is on the east coast. In the south are Chrysopigi, Faros, Platys Gialos and Vathy. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: Benedetto Bordone, 1547 (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Sifnos is an island for good food, walking and calm holidays. It is not an island for big parties. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- Some of the best food in the Cyclades.
- Kastro and Chrysopigi.
- Marked trails all over the island.
- Sandy beaches with shallow water, good for children.
- A small island, easy to get around.
👎 The cons
- No airport.
- Expensive in August.
- The meltemi wind blows in July and August.
- Few rooms in August, book early.
🏘️ Apollonia and Artemonas
Apollonia is the capital, built on hills in the middle of the island. Its narrow paved lanes have churches, small shops, tavernas and bars, and the Folklore Museum is here too.
Artemonas, a little further north, has mansions with gardens, many churches and windmills. Between the two villages is Ano Petali, with views down to Kastro and the sea.
The capital, high in the middle of the island.
Paving stones and white walls.
Churches and mansions.
Between Apollonia and Artemonas.
Photos: Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), Serge Traveler (CC BY-SA 4.0), Jon Corelis (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🏰 Kastro and Chrysopigi
Kastro is the island’s old centre, built on a rock on the east coast, on the site of the ancient town. The outer houses form a wall, and inside there are narrow lanes, arches and churches. The village has the Archaeological Museum, and below the rock stands the Seven Martyrs, a little church right on the sea.
Panagia Chrysopigi is a 17th-century monastery built on a rock on the south coast, and it is the patron saint of the island. Its big feast is on Ascension Day. Next to it is Apokofto beach.
The main street of the village.
Steps, arches and flowers.
The monastery on the rock.
The island’s patron saint.
Photos: Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), Serge Traveler (CC BY-SA 4.0), Georgios Liakopoulos (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
Sifnos has a network of marked trails linking villages, monasteries and beaches. An easy one goes from Apollonia to Kastro. Walk early in the morning, because it gets hot in summer.
🏖️ The beaches
The beaches of Sifnos are mostly sand with shallow water. Platys Gialos is the longest sandy beach on the island, with tavernas and rooms. Vathy is an enclosed bay like a lake, with a small monastery, the Taxiarches, right on the water. Kamares has a big sandy beach next to the port, and Faros is a fishing village with small beaches.
The port and the big sandy beach.
An enclosed bay like a lake.
The little monastery on the water.
The largest sandy beach on the island.
A fishing village with small beaches.
Photos: Golem Unity (CC BY-SA 4.0), Сале (CC BY-SA 4.0), rene boulay (CC BY-SA 3.0), Kondephy (CC BY-SA 4.0), Luca Conti (CC BY 2.0) · Wikimedia Commons
- Platys Gialos: a long sandy beach with tavernas.
- Vathy: calm water, good for children.
- Kamares: a sandy beach next to the port.
- Apokofto: next to Chrysopigi.
- Vroulidia: pebbles and clear water in the north.
- Cherronisos: a fishing village in a sheltered bay in the north.
Sifnos has a long pottery tradition, because its soil has good clay. In workshops at Kamares, Platys Gialos, Vathy and Cherronisos you can watch potters at the wheel and buy plates and clay pots.
🍽️ What to eat
Sifnos is the home of Nikolaos Tselementes, the cook who wrote the best-known Greek cookbook. Try revithada, chickpeas baked all night in a clay pot in a wood oven, and mastelo, lamb or goat with red wine in a clay pot. For dessert, try amygdalota almond sweets and melopita, a pie with local cheese and honey.
📅 When to go
The best time is May, June and September: warm sea, fewer people and good weather for walking. In August the island fills up and prices go up. For the feast of Chrysopigi, go at Ascension, forty days after Easter.
⛴️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast ferry | About 2.5–3 hours | Piraeus | More expensive, but faster. |
| Conventional ferry | About 5 hours | Piraeus | Cheaper, with a stop at Serifos. |
From Ioulianou 50 you reach Piraeus on Line 1, right to the port. There are buses on the island, but a car or scooter gives you more freedom. For ports and ferries, read our guide to the ferries.
🗓️ Three days on Sifnos
Apollonia and Kastro
A walk in Apollonia and Artemonas, and in the afternoon Kastro. Sunset and dinner in the main village.
Chrysopigi and the south
In the morning Chrysopigi and a swim at Apokofto or Faros. In the afternoon Platys Gialos.
A trail and Vathy
A walk on one of the island’s trails, then a swim and lunch at Vathy.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay on Sifnos?
In Apollonia or Artemonas, for food, strolling and buses. At Platys Gialos, Kamares or Vathy, to be right by the sea.
Do I need a car?
Not necessarily. Buses run from Kamares to Apollonia and the main beaches. With a car, though, the smaller ones are easier to reach.
Can I combine it with another island?
Yes. Ferries link Sifnos with Serifos, Milos and Kimolos, and in summer with Paros.
How many days do I need?
Three to four days for the villages, Kastro, Chrysopigi and the beaches. For hiking, a week.
— Kathy
