My favorite island last summer was Koufonissia (also known as Koufonisia, Koufonisi, Koufounisi or Koufonissi) in the Lesser Cyclades. I loved this island, with its bohemian and trendy ambience, golden sandy beaches and extraordinarily clear turquoise waters. A wonderful discovery!
The island of Koufonissia
Koufonissia is actually made up of three islets (in Greek Koufonissia = Koufonissi in the plural):
- Keros, an uninhabited islet
- Kato Koufonissi, a small, almost deserted island with some beautiful beaches
- and Pano Koufonissi, a 4km2 island of homes and shops. So when we speak of ” Koufonissia ” or ” Koufonissi ” without further clarification, we’re really talking about “Pano Koufonissi“.
Koufonissia is located in the Lesser Cyclades. For a long time, this island was not very popular with tourists, but in recent years it has become very fashionable.. It is increasingly popular with travelers.
Indeed, the island has many facets:
- a bohemian feel: many campers practice free camping on the beaches (particularly at Kato Koufonissi), naturism is widespread and there’s a real hippy atmosphere on Nero beach.
- and a trendy side: the clientele is young, and the island boasts restaurants serving fusion cuisine, trendy cocktail bars and fashionable boutiques.
What I loved about Koufonissia is that it’s an island where you can really let yourself go. We get up, walk a little (or a lot, depending on the day) to the beach, stroll through the village at the end of the day, sip a cocktail by the sea, dine in a fish tavern… and do the same thing the next day! Here, time seems suspended.
The beaches of Koufonissia
The main attraction of Koufonissia is its dream beaches: undeveloped, with golden sands and translucent seas. As someone who loves to swim in clear water, I was well served. The color of the sea is superb, and it’s like being in a postcard setting.
My favorite beaches in Koufonissia :
- Pori Bay and its heavenly sea
- Pissina, also known as “Devil’s Eye”. An absolutely superb natural swimming pool! But it’s tiny, so to enjoy it, you’ll have to get there before the crowds. We were there at 9:30 am and were alone for 1 hour. It’s worth getting up early because it’s magical.
- Fanos, pleasant and family-friendly.
- Alejandra Beach creek, lined with pebbles. It’s less crowded than nearby beaches, and the water is just as beautiful.
- Turquoise coves on the trail between Fanos and Pouri
- Kato Koufonissi beaches served by caiques from the port
The village of Koufonissia
Chora is a small but pleasant blue-and-white village typical of the Cyclades. I really enjoyed walking around at the end of the day.
Koufonissia being a very small island, I didn’t expect to find so many nice stores, bars and restaurants in Chora. I was really surprised by how lively and animated the island was in the evening.
My favorite bars and restaurants in Koufonissia
- Capetan Nicolas: a fish tavern on Loutro harbor. Fish and seafood are caught daily by the owner. To order: delicious lobster pasta.
- Karnagio, just opposite Capetan Nicolas (tel: 0030 228 50 71 690): a seaside restaurant serving fresh fish and traditional Greek dishes.
- Neo Remezzo (tel: 0030 228 50 74 203): good fish and seafood here too
- For lunch, I recommend Venetsanos, the one and only tavern in Kato Koufonissia, with its baba-cool atmosphere. Home-cooked stews and casseroles
- To eat at a low price: H Strofi (the corner), a small souvlaki vendor that’s a big hit (there’s always a queue of varying lengths). It is located on a street in Chora and offers a good choice of kebabs and pitta sandwiches.
- The Sorokos bar by the sea: my favorite place for a cocktail at the end of the day. Young, relaxed atmosphere
- Scholio, an old stone school converted into a bar. Very nice!
My tips for making the most of Koufonissia
1- Start the day early to enjoy the island before the day cruisers arrive from Naxos or Amorgos. In the morning, before 11am, the beaches are still quiet (even deserted before 10am).
2- Most beaches have no shade. Remember to bring sun protection and plenty of water.
3- Don’t forget your mask and snorkel to admire the small fish.
4- And for children (or even adults), water shoes are very practical.
5- And find all our practical information in the article “Koufounisia: hotels, transport, ferries”. You’ll find several accommodations on the island on Booking.
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I hope you enjoy your vacation in Koufonissia. And I hope you enjoy this island as much as I do. If you’ve been, let us know what you thought by leaving a comment at the bottom of this article.
Laure M.
