Cyclades Quiet island Between Ios & Folegandros

Sikinos, Greece: The Chora, Kastro, Beaches & Hotels

Sikinos is a small, hilly and unspoilt Cyclades island of 41 square kilometres with just over 300 permanent residents, set between Ios to the east and Folegandros to the west. Together with Anafi it is one of the least touristed of the larger Cyclades. The ferries sail into the tiny port of Alopronia on the south coast, a bus climbs to the twin hill villages of Kastro and Chora on the north side, and much of the island is still worked by donkey. It is a quiet place with few facilities aimed at tourists — a handful of rooms and a couple of tavernas — which is exactly why it stays on the wish list.

Sea: Aegean · Cyclades
Size: 41 km²
Population: ~300
Port: Alopronia

The island of Sikinos

Sikinos measures 41 square kilometres, holds just over 300 permanent residents and lies between Ios to the east and Folegandros to the west. It is small, hilly and unspoilt, and together with Anafi it is one of the least touristed of the larger Cyclades. Many of the houses stand empty and are used only in summer, so the island can seem busier from the ferry than it is ashore. Facilities aimed at tourists are few: a limited number of places to stay and a couple of tavernas, few cars, and much of the transport still done by donkey. A bus links the tiny port of Alopronia, where the ferries dock, with the upper villages of Kastro and Chora on the north side of the island. The name Sikinos comes from mythology: Thoas, a man banished from the island of Limnos, escaped in a sea-chest, drifted ashore here and was taken in by a nymph, and their child was named Sikinos. Many of today's residents descend from Cretans who began to settle the island in the 16th century. Sikinos has few ferry connections: a handful of boats each week link Alopronia to Piraeus on the mainland and to neighbouring islands such as Ios, Folegandros, Milos and Santorini.

Villages of Sikinos

Sikinos keeps its life in three places: the port of Alopronia on the south coast, and the twin hill villages of Kastro and Chora that stand together on the north side of the island, reached by a bus from the harbour.

Alopronia (the port)

Alopronia is the tiny port on the south coast, where the ferries dock. It has the island's only organised beach — a large sandy stretch with a few umbrellas, sunbeds, tavernas and trees for shade — and most of the island's rooms cluster here, within a short walk of the water. From the harbour a bus climbs to Kastro and Chora, and traditional wooden caiques run along the coast to the beaches further south.

Kastro

Kastro is the larger of the two hill villages and the island's centre, standing on the north side above the port. It is the site of Ancient Sikinos, with old houses and churches, and it takes its name from the fortified Zoodochos Pigi monastery that stands above it (kastro means castle). From the village and the monastery the views reach across the island.

Chora

Chora is the smaller of the two hill villages, set beside Kastro on the north side of the island. It keeps a scatter of ruined houses and a few old windmills, and it is a quiet place to walk. Together Kastro and Chora form the upper settlement that the bus reaches from Alopronia.

Sights of Sikinos

The sights of Sikinos are its hill village of Kastro, the site of Ancient Sikinos, and two monasteries. Above Kastro stands the abandoned Zoodochos Pigi monastery, once fortified, which gave the village its name and looks out over the island. In the south, the Episkopi monastery is built on what may have been a Roman temple dedicated to the god Apollo. The full round, with the windmills of Chora and the ancient ruins at Malta beach, is on the Sikinos sights guide.

Beaches of Sikinos

The easiest beach on Sikinos is the sandy bay at Alopronia, the island's only organised beach, with a few umbrellas, sunbeds, tavernas and trees for shade. The other beaches lie along the south coast and are reached on foot or by caique from the port: Agios Georgios in the south-east is the largest, Agios Nikolaos sits between it and Alopronia, and Malta, a small sand-and-pebble cove with ancient ruins, lies a short walk north of Agios Georgios. Away from Alopronia there are no facilities, so bring your own water and food. The full run is set out on the Sikinos beaches guide.

Where to stay

Accommodation on Sikinos is limited and concentrated at the port of Alopronia, close to the island's only organised beach. The choice runs to a small seaside hotel, a traditional guesthouse and a set of self-catering studios, all within a short walk of the harbour, plus the odd room up in Kastro and Chora. The options Hans has seen are compared on the Sikinos hotels & villas guide.

Where to eat

Sikinos has only a couple of tavernas, so dining is simple and unhurried. Most are at Alopronia, along the harbour and behind the beach, with more traditional taverns a few minutes' walk inland; the hill villages of Kastro and Chora keep the odd kitchen among their lanes. Where to eat, by area, is set out on the Sikinos restaurants guide.