Sikinos, Greece
Sikinos is a small, hard to reach island in the Cyclades, in between Ios and Folegandros. It is mostly mountainous, with just three villages and a handful of beaches. Here you will find the quiet and remoteness someone seeks on a Greek island. As it is hard to reach and the locals try to keep its authenticity you will find very few tourists, mostly of them Greeks, couples or families, coming to find some peacefulness. Since ancient times it had a small, active population, living from the land- you will still see the stone walls separating lands in the island for farming and grazing and it still maintains the medieval influences of secure walls and tons of churches with great Christian artefacts, as they had to protect themselves from the constant threat of pirates.
Niki’s Tips:
· As the island is small, it has few options of accommodation; mostly rooms to rent, Airbnb’s and a small hotel. If you don’t mind renting a car or a moto and driving or if you want easy access to the family friendly beach of the port, there are many options in Alopronia (the port). If you want to avoid driving, and you want to be close to the nightlife, then Chora (Kastro) is the best option for you.
· There is no nightlife in this island, it has few restaurants and cafes that are great options for a drink at night as well. Most of them are in Chora (Kastro). The port only offers two restaurants and one café.
· For transportation there is a bus that connects the main villages, the accessible beaches and the main touristic spots to visit (Episkopi, Manalis winery).
· There are three beaches accessible by road (Alopronia- the port’s beach, Dialiskari and Agios Georgios). There are a few more beaches to visit, unorganised, by a small boat from the port. Details of timings etc you will find on the port.
· The municipality has added some free beach umbrellas, but very few, on the beaches of Alopronia, Dialiskari and Agios Georgios. However, you may be lucky and find some shade under the trees.
· Go see the sunset in Manalis winery. It has some breathtaking views on the sea, with the sun setting on the water. You can order a glass of wine or a tasting variety of wines, which they offer (self-service), with a platter of cheese, to enjoy the views. The food is nothing special so I wouldn’t spend my time for dinner here. You can also be lucky and get a tour of the winery.
· The villages of Chora are separated in two: Kastro (where all the restaurants and cafes and buzz are) and Chorio (residential area worth visiting and walking around).
Beaches:
·Alopronia: the port’s beach. It is sandy and easy for families. Even though it is on the port, you will notice it is very clean. There is also a small rocky spot on the right side of the port (where the boats disembark), behind the kiosk. The waters are very clear here but it has harder access.
Dialiskari: you can reach it by a somewhat rocky road, easily accessible. It is a small beach, with pebbles and sand and clear waters. It has nothing, so bring provisions with you.
Agios Georgios beach: reachable by road, easy for families as well, it is a large, sandy beach with a local tavern.
Agios Panteleimonas beach: a small pebble beach, accessible by boat or the small ferry from the port.
Malta beach: accessible by boat or the ferry from the port. Another small beach.
Santorineika beach: a small beach accessible by boat or the ferry from the port.
Restaurants/Cafes:
Thalassa, Alopronia: a fresh fish & seafood tavern, with views over the port.
Meltemi tavern, Alopronia: a family run tavern, here you will find whatever the family has cooked for the day. It is a simple secondary option in the port.
To Steki tou Garbi, Kastro: a meat restaurant in the Chora, with great local selection of meats, including souvlaki.
Taverna Klimataria, Kastro: a family run restaurant, with whatever fresh they have for the day. Mostly homemade local dishes and meats, with some seafood.
Kapari, Kastro: a restaurant on the street, outside Kastro (Chora), that serves local dishes and a few plates featuring the local plant, kapari.
Almyra, Agios Georgios beach: the tavern on the Agios Georgios beach, offers great fresh fish and seafood.
Soulatso, Kastro: come here for coffee or drinks, try the local homemade desserts, or stop for breakfast.
Anemelo, Kastro: another little café turned to bar at night, in Chora. Offers some snacks and sweets as well.
Selladi, Kastro: in the entrance of the Chora, on the left, it is a modern place for sunset or night drinks. It also offers Mediterranean cuisine, if you want to grab a bite.
Manalis winery, near Episkopi: come here for the amazing sunset views and have a glass of wine, or the tasting selection of wines. With or without a bite.
Zagoraios bakery, Kastro: if you are looking for some pie or sandwich, this is the place.
What to see:
Moni Panagias Chrisopigis: Above the hilltop near Kastro (Chora) stands the 17th Century monastery, devoted to Virgin Mary, which you can visit specific times of the day. It usually is open between 5-8pm, but check on their website for exact timings. It has breathtaking views over the sea and the Chora, and actually all over the island. It is built also as a fort to protect the locals from the pirates. You can access it by foot from Chora, with steps, taking approximately 15 minutes, or by car, by following the road to Agios Georgios beach, turning left on the helipad and parking nearby.
Episkopi: a 3rd century AD Roman Mausoleum turned in a church in the 17th century. It is very well preserved, and it is worth visiting. Visiting hours are usually 6-8pm, but you can check locally by public announcements on Alopronia or Kastro. If you are lucky, you will find the local guide, starting this year, explaining the history and showing a video about the church. You can see parts of the Roman Mausoleum plus Byzantine paintings and sculptures in the church.
Church of Panagia Pantanassa, Kastro: here you can see some very rare church icons, gathered from different churches of the island. Opened specific times.
Chorio: the little village near Kastro, Chora. A very beautiful, picturesque residential village nowadays.
Kastro or Chora: even though here is the main life of the island, you will still see remnants of the medieval walls and castle surrounding the village.
