Kea, also known as Tzia, is the closest island of the Cyclades to the Greek mainland, which makes it a favorite destination for Athenians. One hour by ferry is enough to reach the island and enjoy the softness of its beaches. Surprisingly, despite its geographical proximity to Attica, Kea is spared from mass tourism. Charming and peaceful, it has kept its authentic and rural character and has a stunning natural beauty.
Kea, the island of the Athenians
When the ferry arrives at Korissia, the port of Kea, there is no crowd on the quay. Unlike other islands in the Cyclades, here you will not be lured by travel agents trying to sell you tourist excursions or by landlords offering rooms for rent for the night. The island is quiet and does not attract many international tourists, especially because of the lack of connection with the port of Piraeus (in Athens, the boats leave from the port of Lavrio). Kea is therefore much less visited than the other islands of the Cyclades.
Kea or Tzia is frequented mainly by a wealthy Greek clientele and many inhabitants of the capital have a second home on the island. The Athenians go there on weekends to find a little freshness and calm. And the regulars of Kea come here to relax and enjoy local food and wine by the sea or on the terrace of their villas.
The Titanic of Kea
Two wrecks are stranded in the waters of Kea. The most famous is the liner Britannic, which like the Titanic came out of the White Star Line shipyards. It served as a hospital ship for the British army during the First World War. For reasons still unknown to this day, it sank off Kea on November 21, 1916 and was engulfed in the waters of the Aegean Sea within an hour. Fortunately, most of the soldiers were rescued and there were few casualties.
The wreck of the Britannic was explored in 1975 by Captain Cousteau’s teams. It is one of the largest wrecks in the Mediterranean.
Why visit Kea?
Kea is an island with many assets. You can only be seduced by its beauty, its landscapes, its beaches, its ancient treasures.
In Kea, we like :
- Relaxing on the island’s sandy beaches and small coves
- Swimming in the crystal clear sea
- Walk around the capital of the island, Ioulida, one of the most beautiful villages of the Cyclades
- Discover the mascot of the island, an imposing lion of 9 meters by three, carved in a block of stone, and more than 2,500 years old
- Stroll through the small traditional villages
- Visit the archaeological site of Karthea
- Admire the landscapes: the island surprises by its green character, especially in the north. The valleys and ravines are lined with trees. In the south, the landscapes are more arid.
- Walking on one of the many trails: Kea is a hiker’s paradise. The paths cross forests of olive trees, lemon trees, almond trees, with the blue of the sea in the background.
For more information, see our article What to see and do on the island of Kea?
Transportation : how to get to Kea?
There is no connection between Kea and the port of Piraeus. To get to the island, you have to leave from the port of Lavrio located 55 kilometers from Athens. There are between two and four ferries per day. The crossing takes only one hour. The ferry ticket costs between 12 and 15€ per adult. A ticket office is installed on the port, otherwise you can book online. For this, we recommend the Ferry Hopper website which has an easy to use interface, in English. And above all, it doesn’t charge commissions or hidden fees. This is the cheapest site for internet reservations.
There are also connections from the islands of Kythnos, Syros, Naxos, Ios and Paros. Tickets are also available on Ferry Hopper.
To get to the port of Lavrio from Athens
- KTEL Attikis bus from outside the Nomismatokopio metro station (line 3) in Athens – 2 hours trip, departure every 1h30 approximately. More info – Bus schedule.
- Shuttles from the airport, in front of the arrivals terminal, near the Sofitel, then change at Markopoulo (5€ to 6€, 1 hour trip)
- Cab from the airport (58€, 45 minutes drive) or from the center of Athens (74€, 1 hour drive). To book your cab upon arrival, we recommend that you use Welcome PickUps.
- A suggestion: spend the day at Cape Sounion, admire the temple of Poseidon, then take the evening boat to Kea (the port of Lavrio is located 10km from Cape Sounion).
To get around the island of Kea :
- Buses connect the port of Korissia to the villages of Ioulida, Vourkari, Otzias and Pisses.
- There are cab services but it is not always very practical and quickly expensive
- The best way to discover every corner of Kea and get off the beaten track is to have a vehicle. If you have a car, you can take it on the ferry. Otherwise, you can rent a car or a two-wheeler at the port of Korisia. For this we recommend RentalCars a very good price comparison of the different cars available for rent (type Kea Tzia).
Where to sleep in Kea?
To sleep in Kea, several possibilities are offered to you, according to your desires and your budget.
You will find a nice selection of accommodation in Kea on the website Booking: hotels of course, but also villas, stone houses and apartments. With or without a pool, there is something for every taste and budget.
If you want to stay by the sea, in a lively place in the evening (possibility to go to dinner on foot) and easily accessible from the port, we recommend Otzias or Vourkari. If you prefer a quieter place (which also means more isolated), choose Koundouros.
We also tested and liked very much the villa Poseidon of the Green Island Resort. A magical place, in the middle of nature, with beautiful views, quiet and where the owners are extremely considerate. With a swimming pool as a bonus and a breakfast prepared with products from the garden (fresh eggs, homemade jams and breads, etc).
Finally, to learn more about Kea, do not hesitate to take a look at our article Cyclades: what to see, what to do on the island of Kea?
Laure M.
