KYTHNOS ISLAND: 2 HOURS BY FERRY FROM THE MAINLAND

Kythnos is a beautiful island in the Cyclades that I highly recommend for couples, groups of friends, or families with children. Having visited for the past three summers, I can confidently say that Kythnos is a destination I would love to return to again and again.

This medium-sized island boasts stunning beaches, vibrant beach bars, and a charming Chora—the main town and capital. Kythnos offers delicious food, good road infrastructure, and a convenient location for Athenians, with affordable ferry tickets from Lavrion compared to other Cycladic islands.

Whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or a taste of authentic Greek island life, Kythnos has something for everyone.

How you can arrive in Kythnos island?

Kythnos has one port, there is no airport. You can arrive by ferry either from Lavrion port or Piraeus port from Athens.

Ticket from Piraeus is more expensive, around 30 euros per person one way and duration is 3 hours. Ticket from Lavrion is approximately 15-17 euros and duration 1:40-2:40 hrs. The only negative is that Lavrion is far from the city center while Piraeus port is closer. You can book your tickets here: Ferryscanner.com 

Angel’s tip: If you arrive in Athens airport, it is very convenient to head straight to Lavrion port – less than 30 minutes drive.

Must have: Car is necessary .

Don’t miss: Stroll around Chora (town) day & night .

Accommodation

Stay ideally close to Chora or the Port. Last time I visited the island I stayed in “Chora Kythnos suites”, really awesome and on foot to Chora and nightlife with good restaurants! Really soooo convenient. Previous time, I chose a wonderful hotel called Eternal Blue Kythnos, as you can see below, close to Merichas port with amazing views. I loved it too but you need a car for everything!

Beaches of the island

Kythnos, an island in the Western Cyclades, is renowned for its unspoiled beauty, traditional charm, and a plethora of beautiful beaches. Here are some of the best beaches you can explore on Kythnos:

• A beach you cannot miss is “Kolona”. You can get there either by boat from Merichas port (10 euros pp round trip) or by car through 2,5 km dirt road. The beach is located at the northwest section of the island and it is unique due to the area’s geomorphological peculiarities. A sandy bank, connecting the island of Kythnos with a small rocky island with the church of St. Luke. You can swim on both sides of the sand strip, thereby resulting in 2 beaches,  creating an impressive landscape. Angel’s tip: You can walk up to the church in order to enjoy a wonderful scenery. Fyi the church is usually locked.
• Apokrousi beach: Awesome crystal clear waters in a beach with sand and pebbles.  Lots of trees for shade but also sunloungers and umbrellas on different spots. Baiocco and Coconut are some famous beach bars there. Check below a beautiful sunset I saw!
• Episkopi beach, a beautiful long sandy beach with natural shadow from trees that are very close to the water! Located close to the village of Merichas, it is family friendly with a famous beach bar called Pountaki.

• Flabouria beach: A secluded beach on the southern coast of Kythnos, Flabouria offers a peaceful retreat with a sandy shore and clear waters.
• Martinakia Beach: near the port of Merichas, making it one of the first beaches visitors see when arriving on the island. the most popular beach bar of the island is here.
  

  Hamsa beach bar in Martinakia beach

• Kanala Beach, located near the village of Kanala, is divided into 2 smaller beaches: Megali Ammos and Mikri Ammos. Clear waters, scenic views, and the nearby Church of Panagia Kanala, a significant pilgrimage site. Limited facilities; a few places to eat and drink in the nearby village.
• Antonides beach : situated on the western coast of Kythnos, near the village of Agios Dimitrios. It is not organized and relatively quiet and less crowded compared to some of the more popular beaches on the island, providing a peaceful retreat. Angel’s tip: Lots of steps to go down to the beach fyi.

• Skilou beach : perfect place for friends and families. A little walk to go down but you will certainly enjoy it. A charming beach with a sandy shore and crystal-clear waters, offering a peaceful setting with no facilities.
• Flabouriani beach with an amazing sunset and a beautiful cafe shop to drink or eat something. Pebbles and sand.
• Gaidouromantra beach: a beautiful sandy beach located on the southern part of the island, known for its clear waters and peaceful environment. Usually less crowded.
• Agia Eirini Beach: one of the charming and less frequented beaches on the island of Kythnos, offering a serene escape for visitors looking to enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of the Cyclades. Angel’s tip: You can combine it with an elegant dinner/lunch in Arias restaurant next to the sea.
• Loutra beach: Known for its thermal springs and therapeutic waters that flow into the sea, Loutra Beach has a mix of sand and pebbles. You can find some sunbeds and tavernas nearby too.
• Aliki beach: 1 km dirt road to arrive by car but the crystal clear waters and the quiet vibes around reward you. Don’t forget your water, umbrella, snacks…
• Agios Sostis beach: a small, serene beach located in a picturesque bay half an hour from Chora. It is named after the small chapel of Agios Sostis nearby.It is not organized and calm. Be careful of the long dirt road to arrive by your car.

Beach bars:

• Hamsa beach bar in Martinakia beach is one of the most famous in the island with breakfast, good food and great service. Angel’s tip: Please note it is expensive and seabed is average.  
• Pountaki beach bar in Episkopi beach.
• Baiocco beach bar in Apokrousi beach.
• Coconuts beach bar in Apokrousi beach.
• Kolona Experience in Kolona beach. A beach bar not exactly on the beach but on a platform on the one side.

Unique experience:

• If you visit Loutra village, you will see something very unique! In the main beach of the village, there is a very small natural hot spring that lead to the sea. The spring is very warm in some spots, so if you want it, it is absolutely lovely to soak in. Angel’s tip: visit early in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowds.
• In Agios Stefanos beach you can wear a mask and explore the seabed. You can see a shipwreck that had happened many years ago and accommodates lots of beautiful fish.

Must do: Kythnos has some beaches that are accessible only by boat. For this reason and not only, I totally recommend to have a boat tour in the crystal clear waters of the island and explore the area.  For us, it was the best day of the island!

Villages

• A must see village in my opinion: Dryopida. You cannot leave the island without visiting Dryopida. A lovely village where you can get lost in the alleys, take a souvenir back to your home to support the locals, have a breakfast/lunch/ dinner, admire the stalagmites and stalactites in Katafyki cave… Angel’s tip: while Dryopida is beautiful at night, it is even more beautiful with daylight. The cave is open every day 10:30-14:30 and 18:30-20:30.
• Panagia Kanala village: Half an hour from the Merichas port, Panagia Kanala is famous due to the beautiful Christian Orthodox church located there with the magnificent view & sunset. 2 great restaurants there as well and Antonides beach close by.

Food

I loved the food in Kythnos island. Below a list of restaurants I recommend;

•Margiora restaurant in Kythnos town (creative cuisine)

•To steki tou Ntetzi for meat in Kythnos town Angel’s tip: Try gourounopoulo here. Delicious appetizers as well.

•Arias restaurant for seafood in Agia Eirini village. Angel’s tip: reservation is a must. Expensive but next to the sea with high quality service.

•Giagia Koukou in Kythnos town.

•Koutsikos in Loutra village for local Greek food (mainly meat). In Loutra. I ate in “Sofrano” as well next to the sea which didn’t meet my expectations but all around me keep telling me to give it a try again since it is great. Next time 🙂

•Archipelagos in Kanala as a traditional Greek tavern.

•Mirra in Merichas port for a modern twist.

•Casa di Crepa in Kythnos town for delicious crepes. Angel’s tip: Open till late night after drinks.

•Iter del Gusto Gelateria , Sourloulou and Gigil in Kythnos town for ice cream & delicious sweets/loukoumades.

Drinks at night

There are great options for drinks at night, all of them mainly downtown in Chora of Kythnos. Some are great for early evening, others are mainly for late drinks and open around midnight. You can see the main ones below:

In Kythnos Chora:

• “The Kraken”, one of the most famous bars of the island for late drinks till early morning hours.
• “TheaTerra” with a small terrace and nice coktails.
• “Panochori” with great coktails in a beautiful , usually crowded spot.
• “Margiora”, when it started it was mainly a restaurant but now it works as a bar as well with delicious cocktails.
• “Stou Mpouranda” for drinks and shisha.
• “Marrakesh” for late drinks and Greek music.
  

In Dryopida village:

• “Koukos bar” with excellent cocktails in a beautiful spot in the alleys of the village.

Early drinks with nice view

• “Molo all day cafe” in Kanala village, next to the sea where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset.
• “Remezzo cafe bar” in Merichas port, open all day and the port with the boats is so relaxing to have a nice cocktail.
• “Ammos cafe bar” in Merichas port.
• “Arias Restaurant” in Agia Irini village, mainly for food but there is space for drinks as well. Next to the sea and Agia Irini beach.

Planning a wedding?

Are you planning your wedding? Or your friends are looking for a beautiful Greek island to get married? Kythnos is an excellent choice with lovely churches and many options! Locals are talking about few magical ones : Agios Ioannis o Eleimonas, Panagia Flabouriani, Panagia Kanala, Saint Irene church… 

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