SIFNOS

Tourist Guide
Beaches Promenades Paths Festivals Useful telephone numbers Map

Sifnos

Happy holydays!

The biggest website on Sifnos

Sifnos

Dear friends, In your hands, you are holding a short guide of Sifnos, which aims at presenting you the island and at inviting you to explore Sifnos, this summer! We would like to thank all the Associations and the authorities of Sifnos for their perfect collaboration and their help in editing this guide, which has been created for a unique cause:to make your visit unforgettable! For e-sifnos,

Panagiotis Seimanidis

CONTENTS
LOCATION ............................................................................................................ 3 GETTING TO SIFNOS ............................................................................................ 3 BEACHES ............................................................................................................... 4 BEACHES ACCESSIBLE BY ROAD: .................................................................................................................................... 4 IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES WALK, YOU CAN GO TO THE FOLLOWING BEACHES: ................................................. 5 PROMENADES ...................................................................................................... 7 1. THE NARROW STREETS OF APOLLONIA ........................................................................................................................ 7 2. LORDLY ARTEMONAS ................................................................................................................................................. 7 3. MAGIC KASTRO .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 PATHS ..................................................................................................................... 8 PATHS ..................................................................................................................... 8 FAROS APOCOFTO (30 MINUTES) .............................................................................................................................. 8 AGIOS ANDREAS CITADEL (20 MINUTES) .................................................................................................................. 8 KASTRO-POULATI (30 MINUTES) ................................................................................................................................. 9 FAROS SERALIA KASTRO (60-90 MINUTES) ........................................................................................................... 9 FESTIVALS ............................................................................................................ 10 USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS ......................................................................... 12 TAXIS .................................................................................................................... 12 DISTANCES IN KILOMETERS ............................................................................. 13

The biggest website on Sifnos

Sifnos

Snowy-white houses with traditional chimneys made of potters clay and small churches with blue domes, built on green hills which lead to sandy beaches. This is Sifnos, the gem of Cyclades. Sifnos is the homeland of the great chef Nikos Tselemendes and it has a delicious cuisine, with traditional dishes! The island is not known only for its natural beauty but also for its famous pottery art!

Location
Sifnos belongs to the island complex of West Cyclades in the Aegean Sea and it is located in the center of the triangle, which is formed by the islands of Serifos, Kimolos and Antiparos. The islands shape is triangular and its distance from Piraeus is 75 nautical miles.

Getting to Sifnos
Sifnos is connected daily with Piraeus and with the islands of Kythnos, Serifos, Kimolos and Milos. Some days, it is also connected with the rest of the islands of Cyclades with inter-cycladic boats and with boats that connect Cyclades with the rest of Greece. The connection with Piraeus is realized with speed-boats and with conventional boats, which depart during the morning and the noon hours (usually around 7:00-7:30 in the morning and 16:00-17:00 in the afternoon)

As regards the boat timetable, communicate with your travel agent, or click on the following link.

Boat timetable: http://www.openseas.gr

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Sifnos

Beaches
Sifnos is an island with beaches that satisfy all tastes. Rocky coasts, pebble beaches and golden sandy beaches. Some of them are accessible by road, other by picturesque paths or by boat.

Kamares

Beaches accessible by road:

Herronissos (Sandy beach of 200m.) It is a beach with shallow waters on the north part of Sifnos, in the homonymous village, at 15klm. from Apollonia. There are two restaurants, where you can have lunch or have a coffee. Kamares (Sandy beach of 1500m.) It is a beach with shallow waters on the west side of Sifnos, at the port. It has been awarded with a blue flag, and its distance from Apollonia is 5klm. There are parasols and Platys Gialos chaises longues to let. There are also many restaurants and cafeterias.

Vathy (Sandy beach of 1400m.) It is a double beach (it extends on the 2 sides of the small mole) on the southwest side of Sifnos, at the homonymous village. At 10 klm. from Apollonia. There are parasols and chaises longues to let. There are also many restaurants and cafeterias. Platys Gialos (Sandy beach). It is one of the biggest beaches of the W. Cyclades. It is located on the southeast side of Sifnos, at 10 klm. from Apollonia. There are parasols and chaises longues to let. There are also many restaurants and cafeterias.

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Sifnos

south-east side of Sifnos, at 8 klm. from Apollonia. There are restaurants, where you can have lunch or have your coffee. Faros (Sandy beach). It is a beach with shallow waters on the south-east side of Sifnos, at the

Apocofto (It is a beach with sand and pebbles of 120m.) It is located in Chryssopigi, on the

village of Faros, at 7 klm. from Apollonia. There are restaurants where you can have lunch or have your coffee. Fassolou (Sandy beach) It is a beach with shallow waters on the south-east side of Sifnos, next to Faros, at 7 klm. from Apollonia. There is a restaurant where you can have lunch or have a coffee.

Faros

In less than 10 minutes walk, you can get to the following beaches:
Glyfo or Vlyho (Sandy beach of 150m., at 3 minutes from the parking site) It is a beach with shallow waters on the south-east side of Sifnos, in the village of Faros, at 7 klm from Apollonia. (Park your vehicle in the parking site of Faros and follow the narrow street on your right, which passes through the old settlement). Saoures (Pebble beach of 50m., at 3 minutes from the parking site). It is a beach in Chryssopigi, on the south-east side of Sifnos, at 8 klm. From Apollonia. (Park your vehicle in the parking site of the church and follow the path on your right). Seralia (Pebble beach of 30m., at 7 minutes from the parking site) It is a beach on the southeast side of Sifnos, under the settlement of Kastro. There are restaurants, where you can have lunch or have a coffee. (Park your vehicle at the end of the circular road of Kastro and walk down the steps to the beach). 7 Martyrs (Rocky coast, at 10 minutes from the parking site) For those who love rocks, next to the famous church of the Seven Martyrs. (Park your vehicle in Kastro and follow the road signs to Epta Martyres (Seven Martyrs). Walk down the steps to the Eftamartyros church).

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Poulati (Rocky coast, at 8 minutes from the parking site) For those who love rocks, under Panagia Poulati (park your vehicle at the end of the road Artemonas-Poulati, and follow the path to the coast). Vroulidia (Beach with pebbles in

the first 5 meters, on the west side of Sifnos). At the beach there are
2 restaurant-cafes with parasols and sun beds where you can have a cheese pie or even taste grilled meat!

Beaches with access by path:

the first 5 meters, on the west side of Sifnos) Gialoudia (Beach with pebbles on the west side of Sifnos) Tsoha (Sandy beach on the west side of Sifnos)

Vroulidia (Beach with pebbles in

Vroulidia

Vlyhada (Sandy beach on the west side of Sifnos) Fykiada (Sandy beach on the south-west side of Sifnos) Kontos (Sandy beach on the south side of Sifnos)

(You shall find a detailed map of the paths in bookstores, travel agencies and tourist shops in Sifnos).

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Sifnos

Promenades
1. The narrow streets of Apollonia Leave your car in the municipal parking site of Apollonia (on the island all the parking sites are for free) and start your promenade from the central pedestrian zone, at the heart of Sifnos night life. Wandering in the paved narrow streets of Apollonia, you shall admire its beautiful traditional architecture. The dominating austere decoration creates an environment of unique aesthetic value. There, you shall have a first opportunity for shopping therapy in all kinds of stores, for all kinds of wallets. Just before reaching the cathedral of Apollonia, Agios Spyridonas, it is worth following the narrow street that starts opposite of Rambagas square. It shall lead you to the exhibition multi-center of Cyclades, Giomisti Kefali where you can admire and also buy special works of art. After your visit, you can enjoy a cold coffee in the specially formed space of the exhibition center, away from the noise.

On the way back to your car do not forget to visit the Folklore Museum of Sifnos, which is situated in the central Heroon square of Apollonia where you can admire the exhibits from the traditional life of Sifnos. 2. Lordly Artemonas The best afternoon walk begins with a delicious ice cream at the square of Artemonas. After recovering your strength from the noon swim, enter the settlement turning right at the paved narrow street, towards the wind mills. Along the way, on your left and your right behind the gardens with the perennial conifer trees, xina as the locals use to call them, there are old mansions. Further down you shall see churches, which are so harmonically adapted in the environment, that if they didnt have any bells, they wouldnt stand out at all. It is worth visiting Panagia tis Ammou, where you shall find Panagia Monahi, a rare representation of Panagia without the Holy Infant, and the beautiful Panagia tou Bali.

Artemonas

Along the paved narrow street you shall find bakeries with the traditional sweets of Sifnos. On the way back, after having bought home made pastel and Turkish delights from Theodoros old patisserie-home, you can, if you have the time, get past the square and continue your walk in the settlement, away from the cars. Passing over Pano Petali, you shall get to Apollonia in about half an hour. There are a lot of steps to get there; however, you shall be recompensed by the uniqueness of the buildings and the simplicity of the residents. It is worth having a camera with you. 3. Magic Kastro (It has been inhabited since 1130before J.C.) It is a Venitian castle built around 1635. Do not expect to see a castle here because the whole settlement is a castle. With a unique town planning in the world, it has been built in a way that it is impregnable. There are 6 entrances to the settlement, the Lotzies that shut the enemy out once they are sealed. Walking in the narrow streets of Kastro, you shall see marble columns embodied in posterior buildings as architectural parts, the Roman urns that are spread all around the settlement, the escutcheons over the houses doors and if you are perceptive, you shall also see the loopholes! The beautiful old houses with the wooden balconies, the dark arcades and generally the uniqueness of the place, create the feeling that the Lotzies of Kastro have achieved to shut out even time!

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Sifnos
Do not forget to visit the archaeological museum that is situated here.

Paths
Sifnos is an island that has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, and it has a huge network of paths. Many of them are nicely maintained and they are easy to follow. However, since our vacation time has been limited, affecting also our mood for walking, we shall present you some easy and short walks. Those who are in the mood for longer walks should find an updated guide and path map on the island.

Faros Apocofto (30 minutes) From the picturesque littoral village of Faros, at the beach of Glyfo starts a path, by the sea, which leads to the next beach, the beach of Chryssopigi. The path is paved, without any remarkable hypsometric variations, with stone-built benches in various spots, where you can seat and rest. The view along the whole walk is Glypho magic and it is worth having your camera with you. In both edges of the path, you shall find sandy beaches, which are among the best beaches of the island. You shall also find restaurants, where you can have lunch or coffee. You can get to both of those beaches by road.

Agios Andreas Citadel (20 minutes) At the circular road of Apollonia (where you can get either from the settlement of Katavati or from the start of the settlement of Apollonia), drive towards Vathy. In a distance of 500 meters from the unique crossroads that you shall find (at the Monastery of Fyrogia), you shall see on your right the archaeological services road sign that marks the starting point of the path to the ancient citadel. Park your vehicle on the open flat space at the roads haunch on your left, wear your hat and take a blouse with you because it is windy at this height and Agios Andreas Citadel of you go!

You must ascend following a distinguishable path, with some steps and many turns and your destination is on the top of the hill.

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When you get to the archaeological site, you can admire the ancient buildings, the wall, and the towers that the archaeological hoe has brought into light, next to the little church of Agios Andreas. From there, the panoramic view of the settlements of Apollonia, Artemonas, Katavati, Ano and Kato Petali, Agios Loukas, Exambela, Kastro and Platys Gialos (Im afraid Im forgetting some of them) will certainly recompense you! If you are planning to stay up there for a while, take some coffee and some water with you because there are no stores. You shall descend by the same path. Kastro-Poulati (30 minutes) At the mills of Kastro, at the entrance of the settlement, on the left, there is the starting point of a short dirt road. You can park your car there and continue on foot, following the road towards the north. The path is parallel to the seaside and the earths inclination is zero. The path ends at a T (a fork). The right path takes you to a small picturesque rocky bay, where you can have a swim (2 minutes) and the left path takes you to the famous Monastery of Panagia Poulati. From there, you can return to Kastro, or follow the upward path that starts at the church, passes at the right of the parking site and ends at the Lordly Artemonas. This last path is quite upward.

Panagia Poulati

Faros Seralia Kastro (60-90 minutes) It is a path with a great view! You start at the littoral village of Faros and you follow the path that connects for ages the old port of Sifnos, Faros, with the old capital, Kastro.

In the first few meters the path is wide and paved. It starts at the highest spot of the old setlement of Faros, between the beaches of Faros and Glyfo. Twenty minutes to half an hour later, it is cut off by a dirt road. The continuance of the path is on the same side of the road, 20 meters farther.
Kastro If you follow the path, you pass by the photovoltaic park of DEH (Public Power Corporation) and you find the carriageway again. Walk for about 5 minutes up to the power production unit of DEH and you have covered half the distance. The other half, towards Kastro is declivitous. The path starts as a dirt road opposite to the factory. You Seralia

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pass by the country church of Agia Anastasia and you keep walking straight. In a little while, you get past a fork that leads to a house on the right and you keep walking towards the sea. The path is easy to follow and it is one of the best ones for the walkers. The path turns left and among bushes, thyme, origanum and crops there is Kastro. After a short descent, you enter the riverbed of a coulee that flows into Seralia, the beach of Kastro. You cross it for about 50 meters and you are at the end of the course! Take a dive into the sea, that shall relax you and the memories of the images of the way here shall stay in your heart. At Seralia you shall find 2 taverns where you can have something to drink or eat if you are hungry. You can go back the same way you came, or go up to Kastro (10 minutes by the paved steps) If you are in the mood for more walking, follow the path Kastro Poulati which we have already described. Have a nice walk!

Festivals
The custom of festivals, the day of the feast of a saint is nothing original in Greece. However, in Sifnos it is a ritual out of the ordinary. It is worth being in Sifnos during one of the two hundred festivals that are realized every year. You should really go there. The day after the feast of the church, the new panigiras shall take the icon at his house. There, he will place it at a specially formed space, usually in the lounge, where he shall keep it for one year, until the previous day of the feast of the saint that it depicts. During this year, the small hanging oil lamp must not die and the petitions are not going to be rare in

The ritual

the house. The day before the feast of the saint, is the last day that the panigiras is going to have the icon at his house. In the afternoon, they are going to lift the icon from the house and with the accompaniment of priests, friends and acquaintances they are going to take it to the church where the festival is going to take place

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(usually some country church). Most of the people are going to be there. The evening prayer is going to be chanted and blessing of the holy bread is going to take place. In the morning, the cook goes to the church, which has been repaired by panigiras (if required) and which has been whitened indispensably. He sees that the fire is lit at the evening prayer time and he cooks the traditional chick pea soup and lamb or goat with tomato sauce and spaghetti (alternatively, although rarely, he makes spaghetti with mincemeat). After the evening prayer, people are invited to enter a special room of the church called trapeza, where they are served hot chick pea soup and meat with tomato sauce and spaghetti, an offer of the panigiras. Someone proposes toasts to the panigiras, to the cook and to the waiters (who are usually the friends and family of the panigiras) and the rest of the people eat and propose toasts too, hitting repetitively their spoons against their plates. There is abundant wine, singing accompanied by a violin and a lute and dancing till the morning. There are also the poiitika, improvised poems on the violins rhythm that usually thank or satirize the panigiras! The next morning, the morning liturgy takes place and when it is over, the people who are still there, return to the trapeza to have fresh goat milk, cheese, coffee and cookies, made by the women of the island. The icon will stay for one day in the church, so that people can genuflect before it, and then the next panigiras shall take it at his house.

So, if during your visit in Sifnos there is any festival, DONT MISS IT, IT IS WORTH GOING!

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Useful telephone numbers

Municipality of Sifnos Police station Port authority Community clinic Pharmacies: Mavrikios Rammos Fotiadis Dental clinics: Macaronas Papageletos Foutoulaki Post office O.T.E. (hellenik telecommunications organization) Museums: Archaeological museum Folklore museum Ecclesiastical museum Monastery of Vrissi (+30) 2284031022 (+30) 2284031341 (+30) 2284031335 (+30) 2284032350 (+30) 2284032004 (+30) 2284032222 (+30) 2284031329 (+30) 2284033499 - 2284033699 (+30) 2284033541 (+30) 2284033033 (+30) 2284031345 - 2284033880 (+30) 2284031210 (+30) 2284033617 (+30) 2284031315

Taxis
A nap lio ti s C h ri s sog elo s D ep as t as Diarem es G ero nto pou lo s Kalogirou K a r a vi s Koulouri s Komis Mytilineos
( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3165 6 - 69 44 696 409 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 33 570 - 6 94 490 097 2 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3129 5 - 69 32 403 485 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 317 19 - 69 44 642 680 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3162 6 - 69 44 444 904 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3166 1 - 69 44 742 652 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 31173 - 69 44 936 111 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3147 3 - 69 73 209 720 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 3177 7 - 69 44 76 12 10 ( + 3 0 ) 2 2840 312 16

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Distances in kilometers
KAMARES - APOLLONIA APOLLONIA - KATAVATI APOLLONIA - EXAMBELA APOLLONIA - VATHI APOLLONIA - VATHI APOLLONIA - CHRYSSOPIGI APOLLONIA PLATYS GIALOS APOLLONIA - ARTEMONAS ARTEMONAS - POULATI ARTEMONAS AGIA ANNA ARTEMONAS PLATI PIGADI ARTEMONAS - TROULLAKI ARTEMONAS - CHERONISSOS 5 . 2,5 . 3 . 10 . 7 . 8 . 10 . 1,5 . 3 . 2 . 3 . 8 . 14 .

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Happy holydays!

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