2-Day Itinerary for Sifnos
Introduction to Sifnos
Sifnos, a beautiful island in the Cyclades, is still just off most visitors’ radar. It’s home to sandy beaches, incredible food, and the iconic Chrysopigi church. It’s quite popular with vacationing Greeks though, and as other places like Santorini, Mykonos, Kos, and Paros succumb to serious over-tourism, Sifnos won’t stay off the map for long.
Sifnos has a year-round population of inhabitants, which means that it remains a place where you can still experience authentic Greek culture and lifestyle. The food is excellent, and reasonably priced, as restaurants need to cater to the discerning tastes of both local residents and Greek visitors, and not just international tourists.
There’s also lots to do on the island and visitors have an excellent mix of activities and pursuits to choose from. There are countless sandy beaches to wile away the hours, an excellent network of hiking trails, ceramics studios and workshops both for learning and purchasing, and many working farms where visitors can learn about local agriculture and have super fresh, farm-to-table meals.
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How long to go
If you’re wondering how long to stay on Sifnos, our recommendation is at least 2 days. 3-5 days is ideal though, as it will give you a chance to slow down and fall into the rhythm of the Greek lifestyle.
That said, two days will give you enough time to check out some great beaches, have a boat ride, go for a hike, explore Sifnos’ famed ceramics studios, and see the major sights.
Getting around
While you don’t need a car to get around the island, public transportation on Sifnos is somewhat limited and you may find yourself killing a fair bit of time if relying solely on buses. Certain islands, like Santorini or Mykonos, are really better done without a car.
Sifnos is not one of them. If you have the budget for it, renting a car is the best way to see the island.
When to visit
Like most of the Cyclades, the ideal time to visit Sifnos is late spring or fall. In the spring, late April or early May mean that you’ll be arriving along with the good weather and should avoid many rainy days.
In the fall, October is better than September, as the summer crowds have departed and school is starting back up in Europe. This means that even vacationing Europeans are all back home.
The weather in spring and fall is still very pleasant, and definitely warm enough for swimming. With fewer crowds also come lower prices! You can frequently find accommodation and car rentals for less than half the price they’d be in June or July.
Do be aware though that in Sifnos and the islands, during these shoulder season periods you may find that public transportation runs less frequently, especially ferry departures. Certain tourist-focused operations also may not be fully functioning yet. However, this is a good tradeoff to get to see the islands without the massive throngs of visitors.
Morning
Sifnos is best explored with a car, so we suggest that you pick one up at the port as soon as you arrive. Elmar-Sifnos is one reputable local company.
While Sifnos does have a pretty decent public bus system, and you certainly can get around the island exclusively by bus, you’ll lose lots of time and will be on a more restricted schedule. Some places will not be reachable by public transport. With just two days here, a car will give you the freedom to explore much more of the island, much faster.
Once you’ve got your car, head to Artemonas village, which is where you should plan to book your accommodation. For lodging, Hotel Artemon is one good option. It is a traditional Greek style hotel with a fantastic taverna. In general, there’s a good selection of hotels in the village, most of which are small (8-12 rooms) and family-run.
Afternoon
After checking in at your hotel, drop off your bags, put on your swimwear, and get ready to head to the beach. First up is the beautiful beach at Chrysopigi, where you can swim, relax in the sand, and pay a visit to the stunning Monastery of Chrysopigi. This is one of the most photographed places in all of Greece. Once you’ve seen it for yourself you will understand why!
From the monastery, walk along a small bridge to reach the nearby church which sits on its own little island. After admiring the church, if you’re up for it take the path down to the water and go for a swim along the rocks.
Once you’ve finished visiting the Monastery and church complex, it’s time for lunch. Apokofto is an excellent small restaurant right next to the beach that serves traditional foods and extremely fresh fish (especially in summer).
After a delicious lunch, head to Faros beach (on foot) for some more swimming and lounging. Faros can be reached from Chrysopigi via a lovely little path that takes about 20 minutes to walk. Leave your car and work off some of the calories from lunch.
Spend a few more hours enjoying this beautiful beach and the crystal-clear water, grabbing a drink at one of the beachside tavernas, and relaxing. Whenever you’re ready to go, take the path back to Chrysopigi to get the car and return to Artemonas.
Evening
After a day in the sun, relax at the hotel before a stroll. There’s one main road through Artemonas and the early evening is a lovely time for a wander.
Take your time and be sure to browse through the traditional shops and bakeries. They’ll all be open until about 9:30 pm, which is when most Greeks will start thinking about dinner.
Speaking of dinner, tonight you should eat at Xryso which serves very traditional cuisine. The restaurant is in the courtyard of an old house and has a wonderful ambiance.
From your table, you’ll be able to see the vegetable garden where much of the restaurant’s produce (your dinner!) comes from. A few dishes to try here are the chickpea soup (which is slowly cooked in a wooden oven), mastelo (lamb or goat baked in red wine), and kaperosalata (an onion and caper leaves spread).
Day 2
Morning
Have breakfast at your hotel and then hop in the car and head to the ancient Mycenean acropolis of Agios Andreas. Plan to spend about an hour here exploring the acropolis and visiting the museum to see the many artifacts found onsite.
When you’ve finished at the acropolis, the nearby Church of St. Andrew is a lovely Cycladic church which is well worth a visit.
From here, head on to the gorgeous beach at Vathi Bay. Stretching for more than a kilometer, this is one of Sifnos’ most beautiful beaches. While neighboring beaches can get quite wavy when it’s windy, the protected waters of this cove are almost always perfectly calm.
Whenever you’re feeling hungry, you can have lunch right on the beach with your feet still in the sand at Tsikali. The food here is delicious and the scenery cannot be beaten. It’s truly lovely. The restaurant also produces its own cheese, so be sure to get some.
Afternoon
Sifnos is well-known for its quality ceramics production, so after lunch make your way to a traditional pottery workshop called Atsonios Ceramics, about 5 minutes from Vathi.
Here you can view a demonstration and, if you’re lucky, even create something yourself. The kiln used here is the oldest one on the island and is still entirely wood fired. Even if you don’t get a chance to make something yourself, pottery fans will surely find something to bring home.
At this point, you have two options: either head back to the beach or return to Artemonas. If you go back to Artemonas, you’ll have a couple of hours to relax at the hotel and enjoy the village.
In the early evening, take a leisurely 15-minute walk to Apollonia, which is the heart of the island in the evenings. In Apollonia you’ll find good shopping and restaurants, as well as bars and nightlife. The commercial area is found on one principal street which is usually filled with a veritable river of people. Locals and tourists alike come here to stroll, shop, and dine.
Evening
For dinner, consider Cayenne Restaurant. This is a more upscale spot which exclusively uses local ingredients but with innovative and modern twists.
After dinner, you might have a drink or a cocktail at Botzi 93. Be sure to head up to the roof for fresh air and beautiful views
