Kythnos Guidebooks

Kythnos, the island of simplicity and hospitality, is one of the lesser-known and least explored of the Cyclades isles. It’s also one of the closest to Athens, located between Tzia and Serifos, and just 1hr 30mins from the port of Lavrio or 3hrs from Piraeus.

Kythnos is a beautiful Cycladic island with over 100 beaches and over 360 churches!
Depending on how the wind is blowing, it is advised to check where each beach is located in order to be able to swim and sunbathe without sand storms bothering your relaxation and enjoyment!

The nearest beach in Chora is Apokrousi, the longest beach of the island with fine sand and nicely blue colored sea. There are at least two beach bars with sunbeds, but you can also put umbrellas with mats, and there are trees if you go early to rest in the shade. It is possible to rent kayaks with a guide and inflatable sea toys for young children and older ones!

On the right-hand side of Apokrousi, there is a narrow dirt road that leads to a beach called Fykiada with clear deep sea water, while another narrow dirt road leads to the island’s most famous Kolona beach! The road is difficult to drive through as it allows for one vehicle to pass at a time with few spots to accommodate two vehicles from the opposite directions if they meet. Kolona is a strip of beach with fine golden sand, with sea on both sides, one side warm sea water while the other side is cool sea water, while it gradually deepens. There is a beach bar and a restaurant there!
On the way to the port of Merichas from Chora, there is the beach of Episkopi with fine sand inside and out, gradually deepening, ideal for children, with an organized beach bar called Pundaki!

Before the port of Merichas, there is another smaller beach, Martinakia, where there is again a beach bar called Hamza, while half of the beach has rocks to enter the sea, which deepens almost immediately. The port of Mericha serves for Alpha bank, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, children’s playground and the transition to other beaches, such as Kolona, ​​either by renting an inflatable boat or by speed boat. It is very hot at noon and it is recommended to go either early in the morning until 10 am for coffee and shopping, or in the evening after 7 pm for food, drinks until the morning. At Mericha, there is Akrotiri, the biggest club of the island with a swimming pool and a nice view!

Leaving Chora on the left hand side on the way to Dryopida, the second largest village of the Kythnos, you come across small roads on the left that lead to the beaches of Agios Stefanos, Lefkes, Naoussa and Kouri. Of these, Lefkes has a nice small beach and restaurant with good food, and Kouri has a small beach with rocks but also a nice beach bar and restaurant.
Dryopida is a traditional settlement where you park outside at the entrance as, like in Chora, the passage of cars is not allowed.
It has a special picturesqueness with the white tiled houses, folklore museum and the Katafiki cave which is worth visiting!

It is also worth seeing the cultural program of the Municipality of Kythnos as events take place in the theater of Dryopida. There are cafes, patisseries, and restaurants, as well as a few small shops with souvenirs and clothing walking through the village! It is recommended to visit Dryopida either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon or evening to walk through due to the summer inland heat in between.
Leaving Dryopida on the left-hand side, you head towards the settlement of the island’s most prominent and well-known Holy Mother Mary church of Panagia Kanala. There, it is worth visiting and admiring the view of the rocks upon which the church is located with its sibling small chapel of Agia Kalliopi.

Kanala has three beaches, Ammoudaki is a small beach ideal for small children, the second beach Antonides is difficult to reach with steps and hiking and waters that deepen steeply, preferred by teenagers up to 40 years old.
The third beach is Megali Ammos with nice walkable sand and sea, with a beach bar in the center and a nice restaurant-café at the edge of it with local cuisine. In Kanala there is a supermarket, a café-drink place with sea view, a pizzeria, a souvlaki place and two restaurants.

Leaving Dryopida towards Kanala, on the right-hand side, there is the route to Flabouria, Simousi, Gaidouromantra and Agios Dimitrios beaches. All these beaches have fine sand and gradually deepen sea that are worth visiting. At Flambouria is located the Holy Mother church Panagia Flambouriani, who is situated over her rock and connects Flambouria’s Great and Small sand beaches, respectively. A popular festival is held there on the evening of August 22nd at the 9th day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Just before reaching Flambouria beach, there is the Soiree beach bar with a wide variety of snacks, whereas there is also a traditional tavern with great traditional food, called Flambouriotis, just before reaching the church.

Simousi and Gaidouromantra beaches are not organized. The beach of Agios Dimitrios has the largest coastal settlement with an easily accessible beach and sea. There is a beach bar restaurant called Milas and another restaurant also with nice local cuisine!
Leaving Chora on the right-hand side on the way to Loutra, there are the beaches of Ai Giannis, Potamia and Agios Sostis, nice fine white sand beaches, with clear sea waters.
At Loutra bay there exist the hot springs of Kythnos, hence the local name of the island Thermia and its inhabitants being calked Thermiotes. At present the baths are under reconstruction and are not working!

But you can get a taste of the warm spring waters at the right-hand end of the Loutra beach near the rocks where they spring up. At Loutra the view is unique while there are cafes and restaurants and a marina to enjoy your walk, especially in the afternoon and evening! There is the beach to the right of the shops with the warm waters at its edge, the Schinari beach towards the right-hand direction and Agia Irini beach towards the left-hand direction.The last two beaches are not recommended for bathing, rather for a visit. Restaurants for quality food are Sofrano at the Loutra bay, the Katerina tavern at Schinari beach, with a view of Loutra from above and Koutsikos at the entrance of Loutra without a view.

Chora or Kythnos is the capital of Kythnos with inhabitants originating from Ionians. It has special local architecture and beauty walking through its streets. The supply of local products from Panochori and other shops is ideal for a nice breakfast of whatever type you want in Apocalypse. For clothing and accessories, La mer is an excellent choice!