Sifnos island guide

Apollonia spreads over three hills in the centre of the island, with whitewashed houses, flower-filled lanes and the famous Steno, a narrow pedestrian street of boutiques, cafés and bars that buzzes on summer evenings. It is the best base for nightlife and for buses to every beach.

• The Steno lane
• Bars and restaurants
• Bus hub

Kastro is one of the most atmospheric villages in the Cyclades, a medieval settlement on a steep rock with the sea on three sides. Its narrow lanes, arches and old mansions are a joy to wander, and its restaurants are among the best on the island. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Medieval lanes
• Sea on three sides
• Excellent restaurants

Artemonas is the most elegant village on Sifnos, with grand old mansions, gardens and churches, and is known for its traditional pastry shops and tavernas. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Neoclassical mansions
• Pastry shops
• Walk from Apollonia

Kamares is where the ferries arrive, a relaxed village with a long sandy beach, waterfront tavernas, cafés and pottery workshops, and lovely sunsets over the bay. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Ferry port
• Sandy beach
• Sunset over the bay

Platis Gialos is the island’s main beach resort, with a long sandy beach and shallow water, a choice of hotels and some of the best seafood restaurants on Sifnos. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Long sandy beach
• Seafood restaurants
• Family-friendly

Vathi is one of the loveliest corners of Sifnos, a calm bay of shallow water enclosed by hills, with a small whitewashed chapel at the water’s edge, family tavernas and a few hotels. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Calm, shallow bay
• Chapel on the shore
• Family tavernas

Platis Gialos beach is long and sandy, with shallow water that suits children and plenty of places to eat along the shore. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Sifnos.

• Long sandy beach
• Shallow water
• Restaurants

The water in Vathi bay is almost always calm, making it a perfect swimming beach on windy days, with tavernas right on the sand. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Sifnos.

• Calm water
• Tavernas on the sand
• Sheltered

Apokofto is a lovely sandy cove beside the rock of Chrysopigi, where the monastery stands at the water’s edge. Swimmers also jump from the rocks around the monastery. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Sifnos.

• By the monastery
• Clear water
• Taverna nearby

Heronissos is a little fishing village at the end of a long fjord-like bay in the north of Sifnos, with a small beach, pottery workshops and fish tavernas. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Sifnos.

• Remote hamlet
• Fish tavernas
• Pottery workshops

Vroulidia is a beautiful little cove with brilliant turquoise water at the northern tip of the island, with a simple taverna for salads and grilled dishes. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Sifnos.

• Turquoise water
• Simple taverna
• Quiet

Lost Bay is the relaxed beach bar of Platis Gialos, with sunbeds, drinks and food from morning coffee to sunset cocktails. Sunbeds usually cost extra, and the most popular clubs are worth booking at weekends in July and August. Arrive by late morning for the best sunbeds, and check whether there is a minimum spend.

• Sunbeds
• Cocktails
• All day

Cantina is one of the most sought-after tables in the Cyclades, perched on the rocks below Kastro with the sea at your feet and a menu built on the island’s fish and produce. Reserve well in advance. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view.

• On the rocks by the sea
• Island ingredients
• Book well ahead

Omega3 is a small, much-praised spot with a modern seafood menu of small plates and a good wine list, a few steps from the sand. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Sifnos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Creative small plates
• Good wines
• By the beach

This family taverna has been grilling the catch from its own boats since 1973, on the waterfront of the remote fishing hamlet of Heronissos. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Sifnos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Own boats
• Charcoal grill
• Since 1973

Manolis is the place to taste the island’s famous slow-cooked dishes, revithada, a chickpea stew, and mastelo, lamb or goat baked in a clay pot, made in a wood-fired oven by the bay of Vathi. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view.

• Revithada and mastelo
• Wood-fired oven
• Since 1976

Perivoli serves seasonal dishes in a peaceful garden in Artemonas, from fresh fish to handmade pasta. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Sifnos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Garden setting
• Seasonal menu
• Handmade pasta

Mosaico is a relaxed, intimate courtyard for an evening of shared meze plates, local wine and tsipouro. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Sifnos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Courtyard
• Meze to share
• Wine and tsipouro

Loggia is a magical spot for a glass of wine as the sun sets, at the old stone entrance to Kastro, with small plates and occasional live music. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Sea views
• Natural wines
• Small plates

Botzi 93 is a good stop at any time of day in Apollonia, from brunch to drinks on the rooftop as the village lights up. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Rooftop view
• Brunch
• In Apollonia

Verina Astra is the island’s most admired boutique hotel, with suites scattered down the hillside near Kastro, each with its own terrace and sea views, and the Bostani restaurant with its herb garden. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead.

• Private terraces
• Sea views
• Bostani restaurant

Elies sits among olive groves on the edge of Vathi bay, with a pool, a spa and the calm water of the bay a few steps away. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Sifnos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Olive-grove setting
• Pool and spa
• On Vathi bay

Verina Terra brings clean, minimalist design to Platis Gialos, with a pool and the long sandy beach on the doorstep. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Sifnos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Steps from the beach
• Minimalist design
• Pool

Hotel Boulis is a friendly, good-value choice in Kamares, close to the ferries and the beach. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Sifnos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Good value
• Near the ferry
• On the beach

Airbnb lists hundreds of places to stay on Sifnos, from whitewashed village houses to modern villas with private pools, and many are run by local families. It suits families and groups who want a kitchen and more space than a hotel room. Read the reviews and check how far the property is from the beaches and the main town.

• Villas with pools
• Village houses
• Good for families and groups

Vrbo specialises in renting whole properties rather than rooms, so it is a good place to find a house or villa on Sifnos for a family or a group of friends. Compare the total price, including cleaning and service fees, with the same property on other sites. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Whole houses and villas
• Good for longer stays
• Compare total prices

Many of the friendliest places to stay on Sifnos are small, family-run studios and rooms, and most of them can be booked on Booking.com, often with free cancellation if your plans change. Filter by village and read recent reviews for cleanliness and the welcome. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Family-run studios
• Free cancellation on many rooms
• Easy to compare

Buses on Sifnos are good, but a car or scooter makes it easy to explore the beaches, villages and monasteries at your own pace. Rental offices are found in Kamares and Apollonia. Book ahead in July and August, check the insurance carefully, and photograph the car when you collect it; a valid licence is needed and non-EU drivers may also need an International Driving Permit.

• Offices in Kamares and Apollonia
• Delivery to the port
• Book ahead in summer

Sifnos has a long tradition of pottery, and many workshops welcome visitors to watch the potters at work and buy handmade bowls, cooking pots and plates. Trips depend on the weather and the wind, so keep a spare day in your plans in case of cancellations. Book ahead in July and August, when the best trips on Sifnos fill up quickly.

• Watch potters at work
• Handmade ceramics
• Kamares, Vathi, Heronissos

Sifnos is one of the best walking islands in the Cyclades, with old stone paths connecting the villages, chapels, dovecotes and beaches. Walk in the morning and take plenty of water. Trips depend on the weather and the wind, so keep a spare day in your plans in case of cancellations.

• Signposted paths
• Villages and monasteries
• Walk in the morning

Chrysopigi stands on a rocky islet at the water’s edge, joined to the shore by a footbridge. It is the patron monastery of the island, and a beautiful place at any time of day. Visit in the morning when the light is soft and the rocks are quiet, then swim at Apokofto beach next door and have lunch at the taverna above the sand. The monastery is the setting for the island’s biggest religious festival on the Feast of the Ascension.

• On a rock by the sea
• Footbridge
• Swim nearby

The chapel of the Seven Martyrs on a rock below Kastro is one of the most beautiful sights on Sifnos, and the evening light makes it glow. Walk the lanes of Kastro in the late afternoon, find a spot near the church of the Seven Martyrs as the sun lowers, and stay for dinner in one of the village’s excellent restaurants. The narrow streets are lovely when they light up at night.

• Chapel of the Seven Martyrs
• Golden light
• Dinner in Kastro after

All visitors arrive by ferry at Kamares, from Piraeus or the neighbouring islands of Milos and Serifos. Buses and taxis meet the boats. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Sifnos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable. Pharmacies take turns to open in the evenings and on Sundays; the rota is posted on every pharmacy door.

• No airport on Sifnos
• Ferries to Piraeus
• Buses meet boats

Buses radiate from Apollonia to the port and the main beaches and villages, and are frequent in summer. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Sifnos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable. Pharmacies take turns to open in the evenings and on Sundays; the rota is posted on every pharmacy door.

• Hub in Apollonia
• Main beaches
• Frequent in summer

For emergencies call 112, or 166 for an ambulance. The health centre on Sifnos handles medical care, and serious cases are transferred to larger hospitals, so travel insurance is strongly recommended. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Sifnos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable.

• Emergency 112, ambulance 166
• Pharmacy nearby
• Travel insurance advised