Kythnos Tourism

Even though it is not one of the most popular destinations among tourists, Kythnos manages to win the hearts of more and more visitors as the years go by. We attribute this mainly to its rugged landscape - which includes many untouched beaches with crystal-clear azure waters - and the prevailing atmosphere that allows people to get away from the hustle and bustle of crowds.

To start with, Kythnos tourism is intertwined with strolling its villages of traditional architecture with the typical Cycladic white houses. Despite being an island, the villages with the most inhabitants are located on hills. The center of life is none other than the capital of the island, Chora. White cube-shaped houses with flowered courtyards, narrow streets lacking cars, small churches and lovely shops create the (structural) profile of the village. A similar situation is apparent in Driopida, but it is much quieter in the evenings. Besides, just wandering around the narrow streets of these two villages is considered one of the best things to do in Kythnos!

To the surprise of many, Kythnos has a long history which has left it with ruins from other eras. Typical examples are the archaeological site of Vryokastro and the Castle of Oria. On the island, you will also find some interesting museums, such as the Archaeological Museum and the Folklore Museum in Chora and the Byzantine Museum in Driopida. As far as religious heritage is concerned, the most popular church is by far Panagia Kanala, where a big festival is organized on 15 August. However, like every Greek island, there are many churches all over the island, even in the most remote places. Lastly, the island is home to Katafiki Cave, one of the most impressive caves of the Aegean.

As far as tourist facilities are concerned, you will find everything you need for a comfortable stay: places to eat and drink, accommodation and shops of various kinds. Most hotels and other types of accommodation are located in Chora, Driopida, Loutra, Merichas and Kanala. The last three villages are seaside villages, so there you have direct access to the sea, fish taverns and beachside cafes-bars. Merichas in particular is the best area in terms of nightlife, with young people selecting it for their stay. Keep in mind that local businesses take care not to alter the island's character, so you won't find all-inclusive hotels or opulent modern restaurants.

Access to Kythnos is only possible by ferry as the island has no airport. Travelers coming from abroad can fly to Athens International Airport and then take a ferry to Kythnos from one of the two ports of Athens that are connected to Kythnos - Piraeus or Lavrio. Apart from Athens, many Cycladic islands are connected by ferry to Kythnos, especially during the summer. A popular island-hopping route is even Kea-Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos. All ferries go to and depart from the port of Merichas, the only port on the island. From there, water taxis also depart for the most beautiful beach of Kythnos, Kolona.

Just outside the port is the info point of the municipality where you can find all the information you need for your stay. The bus timetables are also posted there. Bus routes serve only the 5 main villages and, even in summer, they are not numerous and stop at 21:00. We recommend that tourists wishing to explore the island rent a vehicle so that they can move freely and are not restricted to the places connected by public transport. Of course, it is worth mentioning that Kythnos also has an extensive network of hiking trails that connect the villages with the beaches.