Sífnos

Sífnos has the kind of laid-back charm that makes Greek islands so appealing. With a population of only about 2,500, it’s a small but beautiful place with a number of attractive little towns and villages to explore. It also has a wealth of good, sandy beaches, several monasteries and old churches, and a couple of small museums. The hilly interior is covered with olive groves, almond trees, and citrus trees, and it’s a delightful island to explore on foot. At less than 5 miles wide, and with an area of only 29 square miles, you can see a lot of it while walking, and take yourself to some of its deserted beaches and relaxed fishing villages. ...

Sífnos has the kind of laid-back charm that makes Greek islands so appealing. With a population of only about 2,500, it’s a small but beautiful place with a number of attractive little towns and villages to explore. It also has a wealth of good, sandy beaches, several monasteries and old churches, and a couple of small museums. The hilly interior is covered with olive groves, almond trees, and citrus trees, and it’s a delightful island to explore on foot. At less than 5 miles wide, and with an area of only 29 square miles, you can see a lot of it while walking, and take yourself to some of its deserted beaches and relaxed fishing villages. The port of Kamares is on the west coast, connected by road with the main town of Apollonia in the east, a pretty Cycladic town that stands on a plateau and is surrounded by agricultural terraces, giving the place a lovely rural appeal. The fortified village of Kastro is the other place that has to be visited, for its dramatic cliff-top setting.

About the Expert

Mike Gerrard is the author of the National Geographic Traveler Guide to Greece, as well as guides to Athens, Crete, Corfu, the Greek Mainland, and the Greek islands for publishers including AA, AAA, Thomas Cook, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and New Holland. With his wife Donna Dailey, he also publishes the Greece Travel Secrets website.