sifnos

One of the lesser-known Cycladic islands, Sifnos is a small island with a population (outside of the tourist season) of under 3,000 souls. In summer it is a favourite port of call for off-the-beaten track sailing fans, seeking out both the lovely beaches and the island’s reputation for food. There are two main towns, Apollonia and Artemonas, although they are small enough to be considered villages. The island does however hold the record for the number of churches in the Cyclades, with 360 places of worship. 

The main harbour is the small village of Kamares – boat or ferry being the only way to arrive, this is where most people start their visit. Alternatively, if you arrive by boat you can drop anchor off one of the popular beaches such as Cheronissos, Vathi, Paralia or Chrysopigi. At the latter you’ll also find a rather lovely monastery of the same name.  

It’s easy to get around and the local architecture follows the classic Cycladian sugar cube style. Culturally there are a couple of museums and sites of antiquity – the island was very wealthy during the Bronze Age due to its gold, silver and lead mines and was the first place in Greece to mint coins. Today however it’s mostly a place to get away from it all for perhaps a couple of days and nights. One thing not to miss is the local pottery made from the local veins of rich clay and unique jars and pots are a trademark of the island’s culture. 

Our view: good for a day’s visit and an overnight if island-hopping. Otherwise ideal for a quiet beach holiday in traditional Greek style.