Kythnos
Thermal springs, empty beaches, and the magical Kolona
Kythnos is the first Cycladic island you reach from the Athens Riviera, yet it remains one of the least visited. It has no airport, one main ferry link, and a population of just 1,500. The draw: 99 beaches, ancient thermal springs that have drawn bathers for 2,000 years, and an absolutely pristine double-ended beach at Kolona that looks photoshopped.
Good for
- Travellers who want the Cyclades without the crowds — Kythnos is a short hop from Athens yet barely visited
- Anyone drawn to natural thermal springs and a genuinely uncommercialised beach scene
- Walkers and quiet-beach hunters happy to drive to find an empty cove
Maybe skip if
- If you want nightlife, beach bars and a buzzing scene — Kythnos is deliberately quiet
- If you won't rent a car or scooter; the best beaches need wheels to reach
Getting there
No airport. Ferries from both Piraeus and Lavrio dock at Merichas (the main port). Conventional ferry ~2.5–3h, daily.
Read full route
Tip: Lavrio is closer to the airport than Piraeus is — save 30 minutes if you fly in.
When to Visit
Kythnos has hot springs (Loutra), the Katafyki cave, and strong Athenian-weekender traffic. Less spectacular than Serifos or Sifnos but cheap and accessible. Best in May, June and September.
2-day itinerary for Kythnos
Day 1: Chora & Thermal Springs
- 10:00 · Merichas (port)
Small ferry port with a horseshoe sandy beach and tavernas on the waterfront. Most arrivals dock here mid-morning, rent a car or scooter on the spot, and head out the same hour — there's almost nothing to keep you in Merichas itself. - 11:30 · Chora (Messaria)
Main inland village — maze of narrow whitewashed lanes with the marble church of Agia Triada at the centre. Walk the main artery end-to-end, then get lost in the side streets; the lanes are too narrow for cars, which is why the Chora has stayed exactly as it was. - 13:00 · Katafyki Cave
Old iron mine turned geological attraction in the island's interior. Short guided tours in summer take you through chambers carved into the rock — bring a light layer, it's cool inside. The mine fed Kythnos' economy for decades and the entry chambers still have rusted tools where the workers left them. - 17:00 · Loutra Thermal Baths
Ancient thermal springs (52°C) — bathed in since antiquity, housed in a 19th-century spa hotel. Day passes available. - 20:30 · Dinner — Karnagio
Friendly taverna on the Loutra waterfront, the kind of place where the menu changes daily based on what came off the boats that morning. Fresh fish straight from the pier, grilled simply, served with horta and a carafe of house wine.
Day 2: Kolona & Beaches
- 10:00 · Kolona Beach
The famous double beach — a sand spit connecting the main island to the tiny Agios Loukas islet. Swim in two sides at once. Arrive early to beat the crowds. - 13:00 · Apokrousi Beach
Larger sandy bay adjacent to Kolona, separated by just the famous sandbar. Usually less crowded than Kolona itself but with the same crystal-clear water and a small canteen for shade and coffee. The walk between the two beaches takes under five minutes. - 16:00 · Dryopida
Red-tiled roofs (unusual in the Cyclades) and a tiny folk museum. Lunch at one of the two village tavernas.
Top beaches of Kythnos
Kolona
Kythnos' icon beach. A narrow white sandbar connecting the island to a small rocky islet — you can swim simultaneously on two different sides.
- Type
- Fine white sand
- Length
- 150 m sandbar
- Depth
- Shallow on both sides
- Wind protection
- Double-sided
- Facilities
- One canteen in summer, no umbrellas
Apokrousi
Longer sandy beach right next to Kolona. More space, still very blue water.
- Type
- Fine sand
- Length
- 400 m
- Depth
- Gradual
- Wind protection
- Northwest-facing — exposed to the meltemi (the dominant summer N/NE wind); often windy on meltemi days
- Facilities
- Beach bar, umbrellas
Episkopi
Long sandy south coast beach. Local favorite, calm water, great for children.
- Type
- Sand
- Length
- 300 m
- Depth
- Shallow
- Wind protection
- South-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm in summer, exposed only to rare southern winds
- Facilities
- Taverna, rooms