Celebrating Marcos

About the island

Sifnos is a small Cycladic island in the Aegean Sea, where white villages cling to hillsides in a background of deep blue sea. It is an island known for its pottery tradition, culinary excellence, and unique quiet charm. 

Sifnos has been celebrated since antiquity for its master potters. Today, it remains an important centre of ceramic art with many local workshops continuing the techniques passed down through generations. 

The island is also known as a culinary destination and is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, a renowned Greek chef of the early 20th century. Every year in September, a gastronomy festival is held on the island in his name in the village of Artemonas, where visitors can try traditional dishes from all the Cyclades.  

Getting there

The ferries to Sifnos leave from the port of Piraeus in Athens. Between May and October, there are typically multiple ferries a day (approx. 20 trips per week in total) with the duration of the trip ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 hours, depending on the speed of the ferry. You can book tickets using the following website: 

www.aktoploika.gr

Staying there

Paralia, where our party will be held, is at the edge of the beach in the island's port, called Kamares. Marcos and his crew will be there starting earlier the week of the 7th of September. If you want to be nearby, you can join us by staying at one of the places listed below. 

Villa Areto $

Myrto Hotel $

Xerolithia $$

Mare Nostrum $$

Sifnos House Room & Spa $$$

Flaros Village $$$

The island is small and the distances short, so if you feel like exploring, the seaside villages Platis Gialos and Vathi are also great options, as is Apollonia, the capital of the island on the mountains.

Things to do

Kastro, which means 'Castle' in greek, is a village atop a steep rock and the old capital of the island. The settlement has retained the characteristics of the Venetian fortress built in 17th century and has a magical atmosphere. You can walk to the east of Kastro, where you will find the church of the Seven Martyrs (Eftamartires) lying on a rock in the open view of the sea. Taking the stone path further west, you can see a beautiful sunset over Seralia beach and enjoy a glass of wine at Loggia.

Sifnos has several monasteries and hundreds of churches, but Crysopigi monastery is one of the most impressive ones. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Sifnos and stands majestically atop a split rock. You can visit the monastery and then swim in the crystal clear waters surrounding it, laying on the rocks or enjoying some shade on the beach of Apokofto nearby.

The island also has a large network of footpaths that form trails totalling more than 100km, some dating as far as 3000 BC. They will take you through beautiful landscapes, churches, and beaches. Recently, the municipality restored and mapped the trail network, and you can find the official paths here.

Getting around

By car

If you would like to explore the island, the most convenient option is to either bring your car on the ferry or rent a car when you arrive. There are several car rental agencies in Kamares, such as Suntrail and Apollo.

By bus

There are public buses that take you to the main villages on the island.  A one-way trip costs 2-2.5 euros depending on the destination, and you pay once you board. The stops are relatively spread out so you may need to walk for a while in order to find one. 

By taxi

There is a small number of taxis that operate on the island. We don't expect demand to be too high in September, but if you plan to use one, it is safer to call and schedule your trip at least 30' in advance. As there is no central number - you call directly the driver's mobile phone. You can find some numbers listed here.

Eating there

Argiris in Kamares $$

O Simos in Kamares $

Kelari in Kato Petali $

Cafe Mosaic in Artemonas $

Perivoli in Artemonas $$

Kafeneio Drakakis in Apollonia $$

Omega3 in Platis Gialos $$$