Kythnos Greece

Kythnos is an untouched Cycladic island near Athens filled with hidden beauty in the form of stunning landscapes, along with great scents and colours of the turquoise Aegean Sea. The island welcomes you with its rich history, dating back to the Mesolithic period, a blend of myths and legends with history giving proof that majesty can be found in simplicity.  Despite its plain appearance observed at first glance, Kythnos comes packed with a variety of great sights, once you decide to venture it.  Explore  the iron bridges used to facilitate the old mines, the hydrotherapy facility, ruins of medieval castles and ancient temples, two central villages and scattered chapels.

The island is located 2-3 hours by ferry from Athens and  is the first stop for the night for Aegean sailors. The ferry from Lavrio takes about 1.5 hours while  from Piraeus port about 3 hours.  The ferry tickets are quite affordable for all budgets, and the Aegean sea just amazing.  The island has a  magnificent coastline with hundreds of coves and bays, a delight to swim in, wildwood meadows, rocky cliffs, gardens full of colourful, aromatic flowers and picturesque villages characterised by narrow, cobbled streets.

However, do not rush to leave this Cycladic gem without having a taste of the aromas of thyme and oregano, or seeing the remote lighthouses that bring a sense of hope and safety to the island.  You will fall in love with Kythnos, a living fairy tale experience with very hospitable and open-hearted locals.

Top things to do in Kythnos

• Explore Kythnos

Katafiki cave in Kythnos

Kythnos is a small island, not big on tourism but has some of the best sightseeing places in the Aegean.  From the Byzantine Museum to the Katafiki cave and the church of Panagia Kanala your tour around this town will be filled with unlimited spectacular sights and experiences.

• Visit the Port of Loutra

The Port of Loutra

The Port of Loutra is the most popular night stop for all Aegean sailors with over 70 spots across the coves where one can drop anchor.  However, these coves offer a unique opportunity to see the coast and most of your exploration from this point on is by car or on foot.  While at the port, you can visit one of the numerous seaside bars or tavernas with chairs and tables lined down to the sea, authentic shops serving both foreigners and locals. Find proper accomodation among a few guestrooms and hotels.  You can travel beyond the port and head towards the sandy beach of Martinakia. There you will find a taverna that has one of the best fish dishes on the island.

• Hiking

When compared to other Cycladic islands, Kythnos remains one of the less visited, making it a hiking-friendly destination.  Experience the island’s authenticity and enjoy its natural beauty, culture and history as you rejoice the steps ahead of you.  Walk through paths that end up to thermal springs, country houses, castles, beautiful beaches, windmills, springs, country churches and picturesque Cycladic settlements.

• Scuba diving

The Aqua Team, Kythnos

Kythnos winding coastline and geology creates great diving spots, which are serene and protected from winds and crowded beaches, perfect for anyone wanting to experience the underwater life.  The scenery underwater entails powerful streams, which altogether, create a masterpiece of unspoken beauty.  While underwater, take a chance to admire the wide variety of rich coloured corals and fish. Ridges, shipwrecks and caves.

What to eat in Kythnos

Most of Kythnos local dishes are based and supported by the island’s pastures, have  proven to be very strong and rich for  grazing for such a small island. The result of this is delicious meat dishes across the island, which include local goats, lamb or beef. The meat here is cooked with Mediterranean cuisine mastery, served with either tomato, lemon  sauce or grilled altogether.  Kythnos is the home to mouth-watering cuisine,  you should definitely try.

• Seafood

As a Cycladic island, Kythnos has a broad seafood selection with the stuffed squid being the most popular local speciality.  Please note that the prices will be determined by the freshness, rarity and type of fish found in the Cycladic region.  A tip from the locals is that, the smaller the fish, the more intense the flavour, and the cheaper the serving.

Grilled Stuffed Quid

• Fried cheese Croquettes

(Fried Cheese Croquettes)

This dish is fried food roll wih fine breadcrumbs stuffed with mashed potatoes, cheese, fish or ground meat, mixed with cheese sauce. This meal is a local-favourite and is available in almost every restaurant on the island.

• Locally produced wine

Top up the excellent local cuisine tastes with a bottle of wine made from the local wine vine yards.  The wine is made with excellent quality grapes to give you that fine taste, to enjoy your stuffed squid or grilled octopus.

• Gyro ( served with fries – the Greek style)

A kythnos Gyro with fries

Gyro is a very popular “fast food”  in Kythnos and is made with meat cooked on a rotisserie.  However, the locals spice it up and serve it with fried potatoes to give you one of the best tasting street food  you will ever enjoy.

 

 

Beaches	Anchorages
Kolona	Merikas
Loutra Beach	Loutra
Kanala Beach	Fikiadha
Episkopi	Kolimpithres
Agios Dimitrios beach	Apokrousis
Apokrousi	Ayia Irene
Agia Irini Beach	Ayios Stefanos
Gaidouromantra	Episkopis
Kalo Livadi	Kanala
	Ayios Nikolaos