Cyclades
Sikinos
A tiny Cyclades island where almost nothing has changed in decades.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
9h ferry
In pictures
Sikinos
Sikinos is, by most conventional measures, the least-visited inhabited island in the Cyclades — and for the specific person that description appeals to, that is the entire point. The island has around 250 permanent residents, a beautiful hilltop Kastro village whose narrow lanes and whitewashed cube houses have changed little in decades, and an extraordinary piece of architectural layering at Episkopi: a 3rd-century Roman mausoleum that was converted into a Byzantine church, with the original column drums and entablature still visible beneath the Christian additions. Local wine is good and inexpensive. The beach at Alopronia, the port, is pleasant. The Chora at sunset — whitewashed walls, bougainvillea, the open sea in every direction — is one of the more quietly perfect images in Greece, and a very small number of people get to see it.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Almost nothing to do by conventional standards. Limited accommodation. Ferries can be infrequent.
Where it sits
Cyclades, Greece
Sikinos — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Sikinos? +
- The best months to visit Sikinos are May to October. It's very quiet, even in August, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Sikinos from Athens? +
- Sikinos has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 9 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Sikinos good for couples? +
- Sikinos is one of the most romantic Greek islands — sunsets, candlelit tavernas, sea-view rooms.
- Is Sikinos good for families with kids? +
- Sikinos is not the easiest island for families with young kids.
- Is Sikinos expensive? +
- Sikinos is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Sikinos? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Sikinos. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Sikinos? +
- Almost nothing to do by conventional standards. Limited accommodation. Ferries can be infrequent.