Kythnos is a small Greek island located in the Cyclades. Less known than its neighbor Kea, this island will charm you by its authenticity.
Landscapes and geography of Kythnos
The island is wild. It offers the double advantage of being relatively close to the mainland (1h40 by ferry from the port of Lavrio) and to be quite little frequentedeven in summer.
The dry stone walls run through the numerous hills. Here and there goats and beehives testify to the presence of a still very traditional agriculture. Some pockets of greenery and some beautiful white villages punctuate this landscape arid landscape. In addition, the island is known for its beachesThere are many of them and they are still very well preserved. On the other hand, they are not always very accessible by car. Many sailboats take advantage of these remote coves to make a stopover.
In summer, the villages located in the interior of the island like Messaria or Dryopida and the ports of Loutra and Merihas are lively and it is a real pleasure to wander through the alleys or to sit on a terrace. There are many cafes and taverns, as well as a few stores, especially for local products and ceramics.
The island is ideal for a family vacation. As such, we appreciated its calm, the many beaches, the numerous small taverns where you can eat simply and cheaply, and the various activities (sports or visits).
The villages of Kythnos
The capital of the island of Kythnos, Chora also called Messaria
The “capital” of the island is located in the mountains. It is quite classic in the Cyclades. Indeed, this situation allowed the inhabitants to remain safe from pirate invasions.
The village is charming, and typical of the Cyclades white houses and blue shutters, white lines on the ground. The ideal place to linger in the evening in the lively streets and enjoy a dinner in one of the many restaurants of grills. And the atmosphere is family and lively. In summer, it is also the place of many events and festivities.
In Messaria you will find shops bakery, pharmacy, gas station, supermarkets, souvenir stores, bars, restaurants and taverns. It is a nice place to stay and enjoy the village life. Nevertheless, you will have to take a car or a bus to reach the sea.
The port of Loutra
Loutra is a small village by the sea. Of course, it has a fishing port and pleasure port, but it is especially famous for its thermal baths. The virtues of the springs of Loutra are known since antiquity. And the place has seen a succession of establishments taking advantage of the benefits of these hot and ferrous waters. Today you can still enjoy these warm waters.
The village is 5km from Chora and has only few shops supermarket, bakery and some nice taverns along the harbor. It is a good place to stay if you are looking for proximity to the sea.
Dryopida, a hidden village in the heart of Kythnos
This village, invisible from the sea, is located in the height, between two hills in the center of the island of Kythnos. Nice discovery when we finally see it appear from the road. It differs a little from the traditional Cycladic villages because although the walls of the houses are white, the roofs are red. This is attributed to the intensive use of ceramics (traditional art of the village) even on the roofs of the houses.
The village is crossed by very small alleysThey are a pleasure to get lost in and children love them. Despite its commercial and tourist street, the village is still very traditional. Indeed, it is not uncommon to come across “yiayia” (grandmothers) on the steps of their house. In the middle of the village, there is the cave of Katafykiwhich can be visited.
The port of Merihas or Mericha, arrival of ferries
It is the main port where the boats arrive. Even if the village is not the most charming on the island, it is a must-see. In fact, within a distance of only 500 meters, you can find: tourist office, supermarkets, car and scooter rental companies, taxiboats (to take you to the beaches that are inaccessible by road) and of course taverns on the water’s edge …. everything you need for your stay on the island of Kythnos. In addition, every morning you can go to the harbor to buy fresh fish when you return from fishing.
The beach of the harbor is not very interesting but you can easily reach on foot the beach of Mericha-Martinakia, which is much nicer and shaded. That’s why, if you don’t have a car, Merihas is an interesting village to stay in, simple, practical and cheap.
What to do in Kythnos?
The beaches
They are so numerous and beautiful, that we have devoted an entire article to them whole article . Follow the link ….
Sports activities
Diving :
à In Kythnos, you can easily practice diving (mask and snorkel or tanks). There are more than 30 dive sites listed around the island. Several agencies offer sea trips. We tested Loutra’s, very professional and friendly.
Boat: The 104km of coastline of the island are fantastic to discover by boat. Kythnos has several anchorage areas, which are listed by the tourism office .
Hiking : The island is crossed by several paths and dirt roads. We particularly recommend :
- the walk from Apokrisi to the beach of Kolona (2.5km), a nice way to discover this site.
- the walk from Chora to Loutra, which passes through the countryside and farms (4km)
Visits
The cave of Katafyki
This cave presents rocky concretions, stalagmites, stalagtites and draperies. It was formerly exploited for iron. It is very pleasant to visit it in summer because it is very cool. The guided tour is pleasant and there is a departure every 40 minutes. (opening 10am-2pm then 6pm-8pm)
The castle of Oria
Oria Castle : located in the north of the island, the ruins of the castle date back to the 7th century and testify to the location of the ancient capital of the island. It was destroyed by Turkish pirates in 1537. It was at this time that the capital was relocated inland. (the current Chora / Messaria). The view from the castle is superb!
Chora:
Installed in the old elementary school of Chora, the museum opened in May 2023 presents the archaeological collections of the island. A nice discovery!
The thermal baths of Loutra
In Loutra, you can also enjoy the iron waters of the natural spring. Either free of charge on the beach, because the water arrives directly in the sea, in a small stone basin. Either by doing a session in the spa with its old-fashioned charm.
Sophie B.
