Sifnos is perhaps the most Greek of all the Cycladic Greek islands. A rural community nested in a sweet spot of western Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, Sifnos started opening up to tourism recently and gradually.
This means you get the best of both worlds – the unsurpassed charm of an eternal Greek island and its beautiful beaches and villages dotted with occasional sleek boutique hotels, smart restaurants, and chic galleries – on an isle called by Condé Nast “The most delicious Greek island”.
Follow our Sifnos travel guide and discover what to see on Sifnos, where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around.
Sifnos in a Nutshell
Located in the western Cyclades below the islands of Kea, Kythnos, and Serifos, Sifnos is close enough to Athens to allow for a weekend trip, but just far enough and shadowed by its larger island neighbors like Paros and Milos to be secluded and avoided by the run-of-the-mill tourist in Greece.
Sifnos is a rocky island with terraced agricultural fields, quaint villages, and secluded bays. This formed Sifnos into an island dominated by hiking trails, 365 churches everywhere you look, and a fantastic culinary scene that stretches back for more than a century.
Around Sifnos, most of the accommodation (no big hotels or resorts) will be around the farmland or by the beach, contributing to the feeling of complete relaxation – you will hear goats 10 times more often than cars. However, there is classy nightlife in some of the villages.
It seems Sifnos is an island suited for everyone – couples, families, solo travelers, nature and beach enthusiasts, gastronomy lovers, wedding parties, and island hoppers – as long as you crave the simplicity of Greek island countryside, and its distinctive culture, slow rhythm, and pace.
Map of Sifnos Island
How to Get to Sifnos by Air
Sifnos does not have an airport, so the best option is to fly to the neighboring Milos or Paros (flights only from Athens and Thessaloniki) or Santorini and take a short ferry ride to Sifnos.
How to Get to Sifnos by Ferry
There are up to 5 daily departures from Athens’ port of Piraeus, taking anything between 2.5 hours (€69 one way per person) and 5.5 hours (€35-44 one way per person).
I particularly like taking a daytime Dionisios Solomos – a slow but humongous ferry that calls on all the islands along the western Cyclades route before docking on Sifnos.
Sifnos’ port – Kamares – is one of the cleanest and most inviting ports in the Aegean and I love swimming on its sandy beach and watching boats come and go.
Island Hopping
Of all the central Aegean islands and perhaps with the exception of the Small (Lesser) Cyclades, Sifnos and its neighbors are on the best island-hopping itinerary.
Milos(1 hr away) is the home of the striking lunar-like beaches and stunning shoreline, Kimolos (45 minutes) offers a feeling of sleepy privacy, Folegandros (4 hours) is a chic island preferred by Italian and French travelers while the end of the line is in Santorini, the Grande Dame of the Aegean.
Or you can take the more cosmopolitan route and start your island hopping in Sifnos, only to proceed east to Paros and Antiparos (55 minutes), Naxos (3 hours), Tinos and Mykonos.
Getting around Sifnos: Local Transportation
Sifnos has more villages than you would expect from such a small island and its charm is very much hidden in its quaint cobblestone streets dotted with white cubic houses built with great density as to stop the fierce winter winds.
If you are an explorer like I am, renting a car is the best option, as the flexibility is much bigger than with a bus, although there are several local lines connecting all the beaches and villages.
Alternatively, several hundred kilometers of hiking trails along some of the most stunning cliffs I have ever seen await, but in that case, bring a lot of water.
Hiring a Car, Quad/ATV, or Scooter
Sifnos is a rocky island, so if you are not comfortable with hilly roads, best avoid scooters and ATVs and go for a car (from €35-60).
Riding a Bicycle
Sifnos bike experience has fantastic e-bikes and regularly offers different tours around the island, including the Traditional village tour that lets you see 5 villages in 3 hours of easy e-cycling.
Walking and Hiking
Hiking on Sifnos means crossing a (small) distance between gorgeous monasteries, churches, towers, and stone cottages along the orchards, olive trees, and donkey lanes. It is more of a cultural and natural heritage exploratory tour than exercise.
There are 10 well-marked hiking trails, available all year round.
Public Bus System
There are many bus routes on the island and getting around is easy and cheap (around €2 one way per person).
Best Time of Year to Visit Sifnos
High Season (June – August)
Although nowhere near the crowds of Paros, Santorini, and Mykonos, Sifnos still has its share of the summer craze during late July and August.
I prefer coming to Sifnos in June or September when the rhythms are slower and the beaches emptier.
Shoulder Season (April – May, September – October)
The best time to visit is late Jun or early September. The school holidays are over and most people have left, but the summer is still going strong. The accommodation is much cheaper, too.
Low Season (November – March)
The low season on Sifnos is great for those seeking an experience of wintertime around the Cyclades. With a population of around 2500, Sifnos has a great scene during the winter months with lots of things to do.
How long to stay in Sifnos?
I’d stay forever! So will you once you taste the island, literary and figuratively.
But, if your schedule (like mine) is limited, plan at least 3 nights on Sifnos before moving on.
Ideally, it would be a week so you could visit most of its villages and sandy beaches and try a couple of experiences.
Sifnos’ Top Tourist Attractions
The Best Beaches in Sifnos
Sifnos has unspoiled and natural beaches surrounded by beautiful nature and even better taverns, my favorite places for lazy lunch in the shade when it gets too hot.
Kamares Beach
A sandy beach doubling as a main port above the main town of the island is always popular for its fine yellow sand and beach bars.
Partly organized and usually not crowded, it is great for a morning swim if you’re staying in Kamares.
Platys Gialos Beach
The best beach on the south side of the island, Platys Gialos is a sandy family-friendly beach with watersports, bars, restaurants, and important landmarks – Panagia tou Vounou church and Aspros Pirgos Tower.
Heronissos Beach
The cutest little beach on Sifnos and my favorite, Heronissos Beach is in a secluded bay up north with a couple of taverns and nothing else to spoil the thrill of a sandy beach day.
Chrissopigi Beach
Named after a cliffside island-protecting monastery established in 1650 next to the beach, this place has great concrete platforms for the days when you’ve had enough of the fine sand.
Major Historical Sites and Museums
The traces of Sifnos’ history are all around the island and every corner has a story to tell. Among so many local landmarks from ancient times and its more recent history, these are my favorites:
Church of Seven Martyrs
Surely the most instagrammable spot on the whole island, this beautiful church is perched on a small peninsula adjoining the Kastro village.
TIP: It is around 20-25 minutes hike along a stone path.
Archaeological Museum
Another great place to visit while in Kastro, is the Archaeological Museum which showcases artifacts from the island’s ancient past. The building itself is a piece of art, too.
Monastery of Prophet Elias
The highest hill peaks in Greece are usually named after the Prophet Elias, so it’s no wonder the Monastery on the highest point of Sifnos at an altitude of almost 700 meters bears his name.
It is a stunning stone complex surrounded by whitewashed drywall and great panoramic views of the Aegean.
Sifnos Villages
The magic of Sifnos hides in its inland traditional villages. Make sure to visit:
Apollonia – the capital town with a lively atmosphere, Agia Marina church, Folklore museum, and nightlife.
Artemonas – for its pastry shops, fancy neoclassical townhouses, the house of the poet Ioannis Gryparis, Bostani Bar & Restaurant, and many churches in its vicinity (especially the church of Panagia Ammou where the Panagia Monachi icon – a Virgin Mary without the Child – is displayed).
Kastro – the old capital of Sifnos and a picture-perfect settlement embodying the Cycladic narrow streets architecture and vibe.
Exampela – it’s where the windmills are, as well as the Monastery of Panagia Vrysiani and its Ecclesiastical Museum. It is also the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, a father of modern Greek gastronomy.
Faros – for its fishing boats harbor and beach.
Katavati – for the Panagia Angelochtisti church and the nearby Monastery of Fyrogeion.
Vathy – for its pottery and ceramics workshops along the beach.
Sifnos Cuisine: What to Eat in Sifnos
Chickpea soup (Revithada) – a traditional Sifnos dish that in its most traditional form back in the day was made with rainwater and slowly cooked overnight.
Anything at Omega 3 restaurant in Platys Gialos – fantastic seafood with a twist on the sands of the south-facing beach.
Melopita – honey and fresh cheese pie.
