🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where it is
Sikinos lies in the southern Cyclades, between Ios and Folegandros, north of Santorini. Ferries from Piraeus take 7 to 10 hours, depending on the stops, while from Ios the crossing is about half an hour. There is no airport, so many people fly to Santorini or Naxos and continue by ferry.
📍 Where Sikinos is
Sikinos lies in the southern Cyclades, between Ios and Folegandros, north of Santorini. The island is shown in red, and in green Piraeus, Ios and Folegandros, where the ferries come from.
🗺️ The map of the island
Sikinos is long, narrow and hilly, with terraces, dry-stone walls and chapels everywhere. The harbour, Alopronia, is on the south-east coast, and a road climbs in a few minutes to Chora, built on the brow of the mountain. From there the road continues south-west to Episkopi. Most of the southern beaches are reached by small boat or on foot.
🗺️ Map of Sikinos
Sikinos is long, narrow and hilly. The harbour, Alopronia, is on the south-east coast, and Chora sits higher up, above the north coast, with the monastery on top. To the south-west are Episkopi and Agia Marina, and by the sea Dialiskari, Agios Georgios, Malta and the beaches of the south. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: Benedetto Bordone (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Sikinos is for people who want an authentic Chora, walking and peace. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- One of the most authentic Choras in the Cyclades.
- The view from the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi.
- Episkopi, a Roman monument that became a church.
- Peace and no crowds, even in August.
- An easy trip from Ios and Folegandros.
👎 The cons
- Few beaches with road access, the rest by boat or footpath.
- Few ferries, especially outside summer.
- Hardly any nightlife.
- Few rooms and few shops.
🏘️ Chora and the Kastro
Chora is built high up, on the edge of a cliff above the Aegean, and has two parts: the Kastro and the Chorio. The Kastro was built in Venetian times, with the houses joined together to form a wall, and in its middle is a paved square with the church of Panagia Pantanassa. Around it are narrow lanes, arches, prickly pears and old threshing floors.
In the afternoon Chora comes to life: locals sit on the low walls, the little tavernas turn on their lights, and the sunset over the sea is one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades.
High above the sea.
The lights come on.
The last light.
The way to Chora.
In the lane to the Kastro.
The gate of the Kastro.
The heart of the Kastro.
Arches and palm trees.
The church of the Castle.
White and blue.
An August fruit.
Where they threshed the wheat.
Photos: Kavouras Konstantinos (CC BY-SA 4.0), Chris Kar (CC BY-SA 4.0), Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), Marina Aggelopoulou (CC BY-SA 4.0), Meltedrainbow (CC BY-SA 4.0), Joan Gené (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
⛪ The monastery of Zoodochos Pigi
On top of the rock above Chora stands the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, white and tall like a fortress, built to protect it from pirates. A path with marble steps climbs from Chora in about 20 minutes, and from the top the view opens over the whole island, Folegandros, Ios and, on clear days, as far as Santorini.
Above Chora.
The climb begins.
Walls against the pirates.
Marble all the way to the top.
A few minutes from Chora.
Terraces down to the sea.
Photos: Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), GPierrakos (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🏛️ Episkopi and the ancient town
About 4 kilometres south-west of Chora, Episkopi is the island’s most unusual monument: a Roman tomb monument from the 3rd century AD, with columns and marble, that became a church in the 7th century and later a monastery. Early travellers thought it was a temple of Apollo. Above Episkopi, on the hill of Agia Marina, are the ruins of the ancient town, with views over the whole Aegean.
A Roman monument and a church.
A monastery around the temple.
Agia Marina above.
Ancient marble in the walls.
The path to the temple.
At the top of the hill.
Walls on the hillside.
The town on the hill.
On the way to Episkopi.
Fields and sea.
The island from above.
Photos: Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), Frederic Boissonnas (Public domain), Joan Gené (CC BY-SA 4.0), Glorious 93 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Jeremy Avnet (CC BY 2.5), LBM1948 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
An old footpath links Chora with Episkopi in about an hour, among terraces and chapels. Start early, take water and a hat, and if you like, come back by taxi or by bus when it runs.
🏖️ Alopronia and the beaches
Alopronia, the harbour, is a sheltered bay with a sandy beach, tamarisks, shallow water and a few tavernas, ideal for families. A few minutes’ walk to the east is Dialiskari, a small sandy cove. To the north-east, Agios Georgios has a road, a sandy beach and a chapel, and further up Malta is reached on foot. In the south, Agios Panteleimonas and Santorineika have blue water and are reached mainly by the small boat from the harbour.
- Alopronia: sandy beach in the harbour, shallow water and tavernas.
- Dialiskari: small cove, a few minutes on foot.
- Agios Georgios: sandy beach with road access and a chapel.
- Malta: quiet beach reached by a footpath.
- Agios Panteleimonas and Santorineika: in the south, by small boat.
The harbour and the beach.
Shallow, clear water.
Shade on the sand.
Sheltered and calm.
Ruins at the edge of the harbour.
Boats at the pier.
A hidden cove.
The chapel by the beach.
The view from the terrace.
Photos: Zde (CC BY-SA 4.0), Pirantelo (CC BY-SA 4.0), Joan Gené (CC BY-SA 4.0), Bikyk (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
🍽️ What to eat
The few tavernas in Chora and Alopronia cook with local produce: fava, kid goat, fresh fish, capers and cheese from the island. Sikinos has a long tradition of wine, and today a small winery on the island is making local wines again. Try a glass at sunset in Chora.
📅 When to go
June and September are the best months, with warm sea and few people. In August the island is busier, but it stays quiet compared with its neighbours. Spring and October are ideal for walking, but there are fewer ferries.
✈️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry from Piraeus | About 7 to 10 hours | Piraeus | Few sailings, usually via Paros, Naxos or Ios. |
| Plane and ferry | About 50 minutes to Santorini, plus 1 to 2 hours by ferry | Athens airport | Fly to Santorini or Naxos and take a ferry. |
From Ioulianou 50, Piraeus is about 40 minutes by metro and the airport one hour on Line 3. Check the timetables in advance, as ferries are few. On the island a bus links Alopronia with Chora, and in summer some services go further. Sikinos is easy to combine with Folegandros: read our guide to Folegandros.
🗓️ Three days on Sikinos
Alopronia and Chora
A morning swim at the beach of Alopronia, and in the afternoon take the bus up to Chora. Walk through the Kastro to the Pantanassa and stay for dinner at the little tavernas of Chora.
The monastery and Episkopi
Early in the morning, climb the steps to the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi for the view. Then walk or drive to Episkopi and, if you have the energy, climb to the ancient town of Agia Marina.
The beaches
Take the small boat that tours the southern beaches, such as Agios Panteleimonas and Santorineika, or take the road to Agios Georgios. In the evening, sunset from Chora.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Sikinos on a day trip?
Yes, from Ios or Folegandros, when the timetables allow. In one day you can see Chora, the Kastro and have a swim at Alopronia. For the monastery and Episkopi it is better to stay a night.
Where should I stay on Sikinos?
In Chora, for the views, the lanes and the evenings. In Alopronia, if you want to be by the sea and the harbour.
Do I need a car?
Not necessarily. The bus links the harbour with Chora, and the small boat goes to the beaches. A car or scooter helps for Episkopi and Agios Georgios.
How many days do I need?
Three days are enough for Chora, the monastery, Episkopi and the beaches. A week if you want rest and walking.
— Kathy
