Sifnos

Day 1: Apollonia, Kato Petali & Artemonas

Ease into Sifnos through its lived-in heart: whitewashed lanes, blue-domed chapels and courtyards perfumed by basil. Today blends architecture and flavour so you can read the island in its walls, ovens and clay pots.

• Morning: Wander the Steno in Apollonia with a Greek coffee and amygdalota; peek into tiny chapels and notice the flaroi chimneys above you and the kalderimi paving underfoot. Start early in summer to beat heat and crowds; greet locals with a simple yassas and don’t step into private avli courtyards.
• Midday: Walk or bus to Kato Petali and Exambela along the monopatia; look for dovecotes and ancient alonia (threshing floors). Lunch at a farm-to-table spot (e.g., Narlis Farm) for seasonal horta, caper dishes and house wine; if your Day 1 falls on a Sunday, seek out revithada, the slow-cooked chickpeas that define Sifnos.
• Afternoon: Head up to Artemonas to admire neoclassical archontika amid Cycladic cubes; linger by garden walls and tiled roofs that hint at 19th‑century prosperity. Pop into a bakery for paximadia and melopita; spring visitors may catch pre‑Easter asvéstoma whitewashing in full swing.
• Evening: Dinner in Apollonia or Artemonas at a traditional taverna for mageirefta (oven dishes) and manoura cheese; ask what’s good today rather than ordering by habit. In July–August, reserve a day or two ahead and carry some cash for smaller family places.

Day 2: Kastro to Chrysopigi and Platis Gialos

Step back millennia at Kastro, where medieval defences grew from ancient marble walls, then trade alleys for coves and a monastery on the sea-rock. The day balances stone-cool streets with swims and seaside plates.

• Morning: Hike the stone path from Apollonia/Artemonas to Kastro (good shoes, water; start early in summer meltemi). Enter via a lozia gate, trace the exterior “house-wall” fortifications, find spolia marbles and coats of arms, and duck through vaulted passages that funnel breeze and shade.
• Midday: Explore the Archaeological Museum, then a simple lunch within Kastro’s lanes; notice wooden pounti balconies facing inward for protection. If it’s Sunday, you’ll see locals retrieving sealed clay pots of revithada from bakeries late morning.
• Afternoon: Drive or bus to Panagia Chrysopigi; swim in the crystalline inlet and cross the little bridge to the chapel (modest dress inside, quiet voices). If the wind’s up, choose the leeward beach at Faros or Glyfo for calmer water.
• Evening: Dine on Platis Gialos at a contemporary spot such as Omega‑3 or Maiòlica; book well ahead in peak season. Share plates (ceviche, chickpea twists, perfectly grilled fish) and pair with a carafe of local chima; stroll the beach by moonlight.

Day 3: Pottery, Cheronissos or Vathy, and Sunset Over the Terraces

Today is about the makers, the fishing coves and the big-sky terraces stitched by dry‑stone walls. You’ll see how clay becomes both chimney and cooking pot—and taste the island at the water’s edge.

• Morning: Visit a pottery in Kamares to watch flaroi chimneys and skepastaria (revithada pots) thrown on the wheel; pieces travel best stuffed with tea towels in your hand luggage. Coffee by the harbour, then set off north.
• Midday: Continue to Cheronissos for a feet‑in‑the‑sand seafood lunch at a tiny fish taverna; choose your catch by weight and confirm the price. If seas are choppy, opt for sheltered Vathy instead and swim between courses.
• Afternoon: Return via Poulati for a short walk to the cliffside church and sweeping views of xerolithies (dry‑stone terraces) and dovecotes; stones can be slick after rain. Alternatively, loop through Exambela–Katavati to see old windmills and themonies (farmsteads) that reveal rural life.
• Evening: Book sunset dinner at Bostani (Verina Astra) for the island’s grandstand view and produce‑led plates; bring a light layer as hilltops cool after dark. If you’re here in summer, ask about a village panigiri—simple music, shared chickpeas and braised meat under the stars (a small donation is customary).

By Ferry

• Main route: Piraeus (Athens) to Kamares (Sifnos).
• Duration: high‑speed catamarans 2–3 hours; conventional ferries 4.5–6 hours.
• Frequency: daily in summer (multiple sailings); fewer (often 3–5 per week) in low season.
• Operators: a mix of high‑speed and conventional lines; check timetables and book ahead in July–September.
• Port details: Piraeus Cyclades departures use central gates (typically E6–E9; confirm on your ticket/port screens).
• Other island links (seasonal/variable): Milos, Serifos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Mykonos—use these for island‑hopping or short hops (e.g., Milos–Sifnos ~40–90 min).
• Tips: e‑boarding passes are common; otherwise collect tickets from the listed port agent. Conventional ferries are less weather‑sensitive than high‑speed craft.

By Air

• Sifnos has no airport.
• Nearest major airport: Athens International (ATH).
  • ATH to Piraeus port: taxi/ride‑hail 45–75 min (traffic‑dependent); X96 airport bus 60–90 min (24/7); metro about 60–70 min (Line 3 to Piraeus).
  • Then ferry to Sifnos as above.
• Nearby island airports for shorter ferries (seasonal connections; check schedules):
  • Milos (MLO): ferry to Sifnos ~40–90 min.
  • Paros (PAS) / Naxos (JNX): typically 1.5–3 hours by ferry.
  • Santorini (JTR) / Mykonos (JMK): typically 2.5–5 hours by ferry, sometimes direct in peak season.

By Train

• No rail to Sifnos; use train to reach Athens, then metro/bus/taxi to Piraeus for the ferry.
• From Thessaloniki: Hellenic Train InterCity to Athens (Larissa Station) ~4–4.5 hours.
• Larissa Station to Piraeus: metro ~35–50 min (one change), then walk/shuttle inside the port to your gate.

By Bus/Metro

• From Athens Airport (ATH) to Piraeus:
  • X96 express bus: 24/7, ~60–90 min, stops at Piraeus port.
  • Metro Line 3 (Blue): airport to Piraeus ~60–70 min (check trains that run through to Piraeus; otherwise change at Monastiraki for Line 1).
• Within Athens: Metro Line 1 or 3 to Piraeus; allow extra time to reach the correct port gate.

By Car

• Drive to Piraeus and board a car ferry to Sifnos (vehicle spaces must be reserved in advance).
• Indicative drive times: central Athens to Piraeus 25–45 min; ATH to Piraeus 45–75 min.
• Arrive early: with a vehicle, be at the gate 60–90 min before departure; foot passengers 30–45 min.
• Parking: limited street parking near the port; consider private car parks around Piraeus if leaving the car on the mainland.