Sifnos Travel Essentials
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Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days
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"The Island Of Gastronomy"
Sifnos Tourism
Sifnos is a triangular island located 75 nautical miles away from Athens. Small island of Sifnos is popular for its traditional villages, pristine but empty beaches, exquisite gastronomy and local rembetika music. The island boasts typical mountainous villages with characteristic cycladic architecture, sandy beaches, and isolated bays.
Activities popular in Sifnos include hiking, walking, sailing, yachting and spear fishing. There are several archaeological sites as well on the island, along with various churches and monasteries. A few peculiar features of Sifnos include the Pigeon houses, used for pigeon breeding, and the island's 60 windmills. Apart from food, Sifnos is also known for its ceramics and pottery.
With two major subdivisions- Apollonia and Artemonas, Sifnos has a couple of towns and villages. Apollonia subdivisions include Apollonia (also the capital of Sifnos), Vathy, Kamares(port town of Sifnos), the Famous village of Kastro, Kato Petali, Faros, Platys Gialos, and Chrysopigi. Artemanos includes villages such as Agia Marina, Troulaki, and Hersonissos.
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Things to do in Sifnos
1. Visit Chrisopigi Monastery
Established in the 1600s, the Chrisopigi Monastery houses the supposedly miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin Mary dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi. Legend says that the rock came floating from the sea and s (Read More)plit in half to save the locals from a horde of pirates. The location ideal to enjoy a relaxing swim down the smooth rocks, as the sea here is calmer and less windy than on the east coast.
2. Watersports At Kamares Beach
Kamares Beach is a short but tranquil strip of golden sand lined with tamarisk trees providing shade. It is popular for watersports like SUP surfing, catamarans, and jet skis, making it idea (Read More)l for all types of travellers. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent.
3. Sunbathe At Vathi Beach
Vathi is one of the longest beaches in Sifnos, stretching for almost 1,400 metres. Vathi, meaning a ‘deeper location’ in Greece, actually signifies that the village is situated at a l (Read More)evel lower than the sea. That means the sea off the beach is quite deep and suitable for good swimmers. It is not popular for adventure sports, but sunbeds and umbrellas are available on rent.
4. Swimming At Fassolou Beach
Fassolou Beach is one of the three beautiful beaches of Faros, a village in the southern part of Sifnos. The beach is scattered with pebbles, and the water near the shore is of reasonable depth, (Read More)making it ideal for a relaxed swim. There are flat pebbles laid down on the seabed that helps you navigate the water if you’re a novice. Standing on the beach, you can spot the monastery of Timios Stavros on the west and the Chrisopigi Monastery straight ahead. This beach once used to be a popular den for naturists or nudists, but it is no longer allowed here.
5. Go Scuba Diving
The island of Sifnos is bound by shallow shores and crystal-clear waters, making it ideal for scuba diving. However, not all beaches are ideal for diving. A few with rocky terrains, deep gradients, an (Read More)d windy climates can be risky for divers. Sifnos Diving Centre in Kamares is a PADI-affiliated establishment that offers diving courses. Their Open Water Diver course is the most popular, costing EUR 370. There is also a course specifically tailored for kids at EUR 150 called Bubblemaker. For non-course divers, they offer a beach dive and a boat dive package inclusive of equipment and underwater photographs.
Beach Dive: EUR 60
Boat Dive: EUR 80
Beach Dive: EUR 60
Boat Dive: EUR 80
6. Wander Around Apollonia
Named after the God Apollo of the Greek pantheon, Apollonia is Sifnos Island's capital and largest village. It is perched atop three hills in inner Sifnos and is dotted by traditional Cycladic archite (Read More)cture in white and blue. Apollonia offers bus service to nearby villages and beach destinations, but the village town is best explored by walking. There are a few pubs, cafes, shops, and Italian pizzerias.
7. Explore Artemonas Village
Located a kilometre and a half north of Apollonia, Artemonas Village is the second-largest village on the island. The village nestles amid the hills, at the top of which stand several well-p (Read More)reserved windmills. The view of Sifnos from this point is spectacular. It is home to a few significant monasteries. Walking along the winding cobbled alleys of the village, you will find local shops, supermarkets, steak houses, taverns, and bakeries to explore. The village is named after Artemis from the Greek pantheon, where she’s a goddess of many things including flora and fauna. In Artemonas, she’s believed to be the protector of those sailing out to the sea and coming back to land.
8. Join A Pottery Workshop
One of the most ancient crafts still widely practiced in the alleys of Sifnos is pottery. The island boasts of its rich history in the art style dating all the way back to the early Cycladic period. T (Read More)he pottery workshops of Sifnos, also known as tsikaladika, are very popular. Giannis Apostolidis is the most renowned one. Others are Giorgos Exylzes, Antonis Z. Kalogirou, Katerina Kalogirou, and Giannis Podatos.
9. Hike Around Sifnos
The beautiful island of Sifnos in the Aegean Sea has many hiking trails to explore. The top trails of Sifnos are marked from 1 to 10, which you can learn in the pamphlets available at several points o (Read More)n the island. The paths are properly marked with signs at starting and ending points and all the crossroads. Spring and autumn months are the best to hike as during this time you will experience the mildest temperatures, most pleasant weather, and vivid colours in nature.
10. Explore Kastro
Kastro is a small village in the southernmost part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Located at the foot of the Taygetos mountain range, it is known for its ancient walls, beautiful beaches, and lush vege (Read More)tation. It is home to monuments, archaeological sites, and many traditional buildings. The village is also home to some of the world's best olive oil and wine producers, making it a popular tourist destination for those looking for a traditional Greek experience.
Must Know Before You Travel to Sifnos
- Frequent ferries run between Athens and the island. Some ferries connect Sifnos to other Greek islands like Milos, Kimolos, Serifos, Kythnos, as well.
- There are several boat excursions that run from the Sifnos port to islands like Serifos, Milos, Kythnos, Kimolos, and Folegandros.
- Sifnos is small enough to be covered on foot. Public buses and taxis are also available.
- Shops usually open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Some may choose to stay open till late or have a siesta break.
- Restaurants and cafes open from about 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Some of the best places to stay in Sifnos are at the beaches in southern Sifnos like, Faros, Platis Gialos and Vathy, Apollonia, Kastro and Kamares.
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Food in Sifnos
Known for its culinary scenes and strong gastronomic culture, Sifnos is known for its maneuver which is a wine cheese. Some of the traditional dishes in Sifnos are Mastelo, Revitada, chickpea meatballs and other sea foods. Along with these gingerbread and macaroons are also pretty famous. Sifnos has the best traditional bakeries and workshops with the most authentic taste.
Suggested Itinerary for Sifnos
Day 1: Drive to the beautiful hamlet of Chrysopigi to witness the beauty of its pristine beach. Explore the Monastery of Chrysopigi along with several small churches and head to Artemonas. Wander through the only main road in Artemonas to explore traditional shops and bakeries.
Day 2: Drive to the ancient Mycenean acropolis of Agios Andreas in the morning. After exploring the acropolis, museums and church of St. Andrew for an hour, head towards Vathi bay to get a dip, swim and relax in the sun. By afternoon head back to Artemonas. After a short nap at your stay, head towards Apollonia, within a 15-minute walk from Artemonas and spend the evening strolling, shopping and enjoying bars and nightlife.
With some more days to spend in Sifnos, explore Kastro, and take a day trip to Santorini.
Day 2: Drive to the ancient Mycenean acropolis of Agios Andreas in the morning. After exploring the acropolis, museums and church of St. Andrew for an hour, head towards Vathi bay to get a dip, swim and relax in the sun. By afternoon head back to Artemonas. After a short nap at your stay, head towards Apollonia, within a 15-minute walk from Artemonas and spend the evening strolling, shopping and enjoying bars and nightlife.
With some more days to spend in Sifnos, explore Kastro, and take a day trip to Santorini.
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