The island of Sifnos is the most popular destination for visitors of the western Cyclades, but according to "Cycladic standards" it is still reasonably quiet. In peak season there are besides the ferries from Pireaus also direct connections with the more busy island of Paros in the central Cyclades or to Milos, Folegandros and Santorini. The island is popular because of its hilly landscape which has typical white cycladic villages dotted around it, and because of several good beaches. The highest mountain, the Profitis Ilias, measures 680 meters. There are many dovecotes and many beautiful churches on Sifnos. You will also find a number of monasteries (Moni Taxirachis, Agios Sostis, Moni Vounou, Moni Vrissis and Moni Chrissopigi) and remains of antiquity, such as various Hellenistic towers and the ancient fortified acropolis Agios Andreas (on the route of Appolonia to Vathi ), which dates from the Mycenaean period (13th century BC).

During the Archaich period Sifnos was a florishing island because of the discovery of gold. To thank the gods a golden egg was offered in Delphi to the god Apollo each year. The story goes that at a certain moment the inhabitants did not offer a golden egg but a goldplated one and that after that their goldmines were flooded. After that good luck turned its back on the island of Sifnos. The inhabitants started making pottery instead.

Because of its popularity there is not enough accommodation on Sifnos, and so it can happen that some people are left without a hotel or an apartment when they arrive in high season. In this period it makes sense to make a reservation ahead or to arrive very early in the morning if you want to be assured of a hotel room. All the ferries arrive at the small port of Kamares, a lively village surrounded by steep and high hills. In the harbour you find the taverna's and there is a sand/pebble beach. You can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas here. Kamares is situated in a protected bay and it looks a bit like two villages, with houses on either side of the centrally located beach. The water is shallow and save for small children, so a good choice for families. The number of hotels is limited.

At the place where the ferry arrives there is a tourist information (as you get off the boat turn left into the street). Here you will also find several car rental shops. Closeby you find also the bus station to the the chora Apollonia and several other villages. All the busses first drive eastwards and after that they head south. Not many people live in the northern part of Sifnos. The bus ride goes through a valley with figtrees and olive trees. The island is not as barren as you might think at the first glance when you sail in by ferry, and farming is still economically important here.

The mostly modern capital Apollonia is situated at the crossroads and this is one of the reasons why it has grown bigger. There is no real historic center in the village, and it has expanded to neighbouring villages. In Apollonia there is a square where the roads come together and behind it are the tourist streets. The village is best seen while walking around its streets with white houses. The best view is at the hill of Peto Petali, where the windmills are. Apollonia has been the capital since 1836 and even though it is not as old as for instance Kastro it still makes a picturesque impression. There are no large concrete buidings here, but instead white houses that are built in a cycladic style and quite a number of churches with blue domes.

On the rather isolated eastcoast at 5 kilometers distance from Apollonia lies the village of Kastro, the former capital. This can easily be called the prettiest village on the island. Kastro lies on top of a hill and has been inhabited for over 3000 years. Below in the village you can park your car. Kastro is free of cars and there are quiet streets with pretty houses, gates and there is an abundance of churches. You can still see a part of the old city wall, and you will see ancient artifacts scattered around the village, mostly sculptured sarcophagi. Some houses have incorporated an antique column, or a Venetian coats of arms or an antique tumbstone in the outside wall. In Kastro you can also find the Archeological Museum. From Kastro there are beautiful views over the Aegean see, the small beach of Kastro below and over a beautiful church that stands on a rock on the coastline.

Another major attraction of the island is a row of fine beaches in the south, of which Vathi, which is situated in its own mini bay, is the best. There is also a taverna here. You can get to Vathi by bus over the new road, or you can get there by kaik from Kamares. There is also a path that leads to the coastal village of Platis Gialos, with its taverna's, rooms for rent and some smaller hotels. This is the "main beach" of Sifnos. The length of this beach is somewhat exaggerated when I read about it. It is supposedly one of the largest sandy beaches in the Cyclades, or it is even the largest one and 6 kilometer long. I was there and I estimate it is maybe 1 kilometer long and not very wide. Somewhere towards the end of May all the shops and the restaurants were still closed. We understood it didn't open up untill June. People that want to stay in Sifnos before that period are better off booking an accommodation in Kamares or Faros, where there is a bit of life and most of the shops and taverns are opened. Faros is situated a little bit more to the southeast and it's a popular village with three small beaches.

Sifnos belongs to the islandgroup of the Cyclades, a Greek islandgroup in the Aegean Sea, east of the Peloponnesos. The island is situated in the western part of the Cyclades about a six hours journey from Piraeus, the harbour south of Athens. There are a little over 2000 inhabitants and it is 74 km² in size. The capital nowadays is Apollonia, which is almost melting together with Artemonas, the village of the beautiful gardens. Apollonia is built on three hills and it is filled with white Cycladic houses and churches. A couple of these churches contain frescoes. On the square where the bus stops there is a small museum (mostly ceramics), a post office and an atm machine. The village of Kastro, which was build during the Venetian time, is the most authentic.

The most important sight on Sifnos is the Chrisopigi Monastery which is situated on a small island (connected by a road) west of Faros, in the south of the island. It dates from 1650 and was built on the site of an older church. Next to the monastery is a very nice sandy beach. Another interesting Monastery is the Monastery of Panagia tis Vrissis, which is situated in the village of Exabela a few kilometers south of Kastro. It was built in the 17th century on a site where once the old church of Agios Antonio stood. Inside there are interesting old frescoes and icons to be seen.

Picturesque is also the former capital of Kastro in the east of the island, where most of the buildings date from the 14th - 19th century. The village has retained its medieval character and feeling. There are many old and pretty white houses with brightly colored cabins on the balconies. These cabins are used as toilets. Of the other villages around Apollonia the Venetian village of Artemonas is another attractive one. The Kohi church in Artemonas is build on the foundations of an old temple of Artemis.

The site of Agios Andreas, a fortified acropolis dating from the Mycenaean period, the 13th century BC, is situated on a hill on the route from Apollonia to Vathi. You can climb up to Agios Andreas in about half an hour through a staircase, but nowadays you can also drive up to it. The site comes with a small museum (admission 2 euros in 2013) where several finds that have been excavated on the island are displayed. They are objects from Agios Andreas, Kastro and from the old towers and Sifnos Mines. There is also a large print showing what the acropolis looked like. What you see are mostly the remains of the thick walls. On the site there is also the church of Agios Andreas, which dates from 1701. Agios Andreas is open every day from 8:30 to 15:00, except Mondays when it is closed. From the site of Agios Andreas there are superb views over the island of Sifnos and its villages.

In a quiet corner, this property is built with traditional Sifnian architecture, offering you all of the necessary conveniences for rest and relaxation during your stay. Sifnos is one of the most picturesque islands of the Cyclades, and the property was carefully constructed to depict the traditional rooms of the Sifnian homes of the past. Kamares is a seaside village, with its clean sea awarded the Blue Flag by the Greek Tourist Board. Live the Sifnos of old; enjoy our hospitality and get carried away to the past with the traditional decor. The view of the sunset over the crystal clear water of Kamares from your balcony is out of this world.

Check availabilities and prices & book Sifnaika Konakia Traditional Settlements on Sifnos click here

The studios and apartments are located in the village of Faros, not far from the beach of Fassoulou. It consists of 10 studios of 27 m2 and 2 apartments of 42 m2. All of them have a large veranda. From the complex there is a view of the sea and the Chrissopigi Monastery. The walk to the beach of Fassoulou takes about 5 minutes. At the beach there is a taverna (open from about 20/25 May). A little further are the village of Faros and the beaches of Faros and Glipho. Faros is a cozy little village with a supermarket and several tavernas.

We have stayed here in May 2013 and we were in one of the two-room apartments. The apartment consisted of a large room with a kitchen and a double bed, a smaller room with two single beds, two bathrooms and there was a large veranda with chairs and a table. The apartment was fully furnished, with a TV, fridge, stove, air conditioning and all kinds of kitchen utensils. Owner Jenny was very friendly. The complex was situated on a very tranquile spot, without any traffic passing by or other noises, so well suited for people that are looking for piece and quiet.

Send an e-mail to Fassoulou Studios in Sifnos. - Telephone: +30 22840 71490 Mobile: +30 6936 627271

The Morfeas Pension rents rooms on a quiet spot in the middle of the Bay of Kamares on the Cycladic island of Sifnos. This small complex with 8 double rooms and 4 apartments is situated close to the beach. All rooms have airconditioning, a fridge and television. The Apartments also have a kitchen. In the reception you can get a cup of coffee or a snack. There is wireless internet, a washing machine and plenty of parking space.

Kamares is the largest village on the island of Sifnos, and also the place where the ferries that visit the island make their stop. It is situated in the west of the island at the foot of two mountains. Kamares is a typical Cycladic village with cubic shaped houses and narrow streets where you find shops and taverna's. The village has one of the largest beaches of the island of Sifnos. Because of this Kamares is a bit different and more cozy than most of the other "harbours" on the Greek islands. The long beach, the fertile valley in which the village is positioned, and the good restaurants and bars make it into something special. The ferries normally don't stay very long and when they are gone the peace and quiet returns. Because of this it feels more like a fishermens village instead of a harbour, yet still with some life in it, and with things to do and places to take a look at. The bay of Kamares and the beach ate well sheltered and thus also a very good place for families with young children. The sea is shallow so it is easy to get into the water. In Kamares you will find the bus station with connections to other villages and beaches on the island.

Send an e-mail to the Morfeas Pension. - Telephone: +30 22840 33615 Mobile: +306972 303046 Fax: +30 22840 33800

In a quiet position in Kamares and close to the beach are rooms for rent at Meropi Rooms. All rooms in this building have a balcony / veranda with a great view over the complete bay of Kamares. From the rooms you walk straight into the harbour and you can take a look at the potteries, the taverna's, café's and all the shops in the village. Meropi Rooms is a small complex with 6 double rooms and 2 tripple rooms. All rooms are comfortable and a great place to relax. The views are over the beach, the bay, the harbour and the village. All the rooms have airconditioning, television and a fridge

Send an e-mail to Meropi Rooms. - Telephone: +30 22840 32158 Mobile: +306974 844938 Fax: +30 22840 33800

To see all the hotels, apartmentents and studios click here.

Soooo....it isn't all just sunshine 365 days a year on Sifnos ;). Here are a couple of pictures that were send to me by Kostas Kampoerakis, who made these in Februari 2008 when Sifnos and the rest of Greece suffered from snow.