Koufonisia Island, one of the islands we visited on our Yacht Getaways Cyclades Route, surprised us. Small in size but big in impact, the island’s exotic crystal-clear aqua beaches, fascinating sea caves, sunsets over old windmills, and delicious Greek food, Koufonisia certainly lives up to the moniker “paradise.”
Koufonisia (Κουφονήσι) is a secret gem, and arguably the most beautiful and most romantic Greek island, and ranks near the top of our list of most stunning beaches in the world. That said, it’s definitely the place for a laid-back respite from a busy life. If you’re looking for raucous partying, go to Mykonos or Ios; if you enjoy large crowds and all-inclusive resorts, go to Santorini; for a ton of things to do, go to Paros. If you prefer off-the-beaten-path beauty, go to Koufonisia; resort tourism has not yet permeated this island. Koufonisia Island will not disappoint.
You don’t have to just laze on the beach, though; there are plenty of outdoor adventures and water sports to pursue.
Koufonisia at a Glance
Kato Koufonisia
Belonging to the archipelago of the Small Cyclades, Koufonisia includes three main islands:
- Ano (Upper) Koufonisia
- Kato (Lower) Koufonisia
- Keros Koufonisia
The main round-shaped island, Ano Koufonisia, has an area of 2 square miles, with a population of about 400 residents. It’s the smallest and most densely populated island of the Cycladic island group. The main occupation of the locals is fishing and, in recent years, tourism. When visitors arrive by boat in the harbor, they are greeted by an attractive 1830s white windmill on the east side of the port.
Kato Koufonisia is an uninhabited island with beaches that can be visited by boat and a small tavern.
The third island of the archipelago Keros is a strongly protected archaeological site from which a large number of ancient Cycladic art pieces have been. The island has been uninhabited since 1968, and visitors are not permitted.
Gettting to Koufonisia
In the past, Koufonisia was isolated in the Cyclades and far away from the radar of tourists. While there is still no airport on the island, there are ferries from Athens (5 hours), as well as from other islands in the Cyclades.
We were fortunate enough to visit Koufonisia on our catamaran sailing adventure, which was much more convenient.
Getting Around Koufonisia
Koufonisia is one of the few Greek islands where you can’t hire a car or quad.
Although you’ll find infrastructure on the island, the locals are focused on preserving the natural beauty of the island. The island is small enough to rent a bicycle or just hike to most attractions.
Depending on time constraints and heat, you can walk on the scenic coastal path and enjoy a view of the shimmering Aegean Sea as you walk to all the beaches. You can also take a taxi boat.
Here are our top ten things to do on Koufonisia Island:
1 Snorkeling at Remote Arlimnia
One of everyone’s favorite treats with Yacht Getaways transpired right before we got to the port on Koufonisia. Skipper Mark anchored the Iris at Arlimnia, a small, remote cove off the coast of Ano Koufonisia so guests could jump off and enjoy a swim in the deep water. Just look at the color of that water! Heavenly!
2 Swim in Magnificent Beaches
Ammos (“sand”) is the first beach that you’ll reach after arriving in the harbor. Unlike most beaches that are located close to the port, Ammos Beach is pristine, with shallow iridescent turquoise water and small fishing boats that seem to hover on the water, with the mountains as a backdrop. It just doesn’t get more picturesque than that.
One thing you should know is that none of the beaches on the island are what they call “organized,” i.e., there are no facilities like umbrellas, lounge chairs, sunbeds, water equipment rentals, or restrooms on the sand. However, Tamarisk trees border the beach, offering much-appreciated shade.
If you continue walking along the coastal path for about 15 minutes, you’ll reach Finikas beach, another pretty beach with white sand and lovely water. There’s a restaurant there which makes it convenient for tourists.
Fanos beach, about a 5-minute walk from Finikas, is one of the most visited beaches on the island with coves and bays to explore. Despite sounding repetitious, the water is also crystal clear and gorgeous, You can also get here by boat from the harbor if it’s too hot to walk.
Pori is considered by many to be the island’s best beach although it can get quite windy here. It’s a long crescent-shaped beach with soft, golden sand and crystal clear waters. On calm days, it looks like a natural pool. Because it takes around 50 minutes to get there on foot from the port town, you might want to go to this one early in the morning before it gets blistering hot.
3 Sail to Kato Koufonisia
I was the recipient of a fabulous surprise on this island…. I had shown Skipper Mark a photo I had of a Cyclades beach with soaring cliffs and impossibly emerald green water. I did not know the name of the beach or which island it was on.
But early in the morning that we were leaving Koufonisia, we heard the engines roar to life while all the guests were still in bed. Soon, I clambered up to the navigation deck (not exactly easy before the requisite coffee) to see what was going on. Voila! There in front of us was the photogenic beach I’d been hoping to see! He found it, Faraglioni Beach, and anchored offshore in the shallow bright green water so everyone could take photos and videos. I could not have been happier!
4 Chora
The picturesque Chora, on Ano Koufonisia, is the only old town on the trio of islands. The town is quite small, with typical charming Cycladic architecture of white buildings with blue windows and shutters, hugging the narrow cobblestone alleys and passages.
There is a scattering of cafes, tavernas, and beach bars in Chora where Kary was able to enjoy some delicious mussels and a local beer. While not a major souvenir hub, there are a few stores with unique handmade jewelry, beach clothing, and local products.
5 Devil’s Eye
Photo Credit: Dimosthenis Eleftheriadis, CC Wikimedia Commons
Devil’s Eye (aka Piscina) is another one of the Koufonisia sights you can’t miss. Rough rocks form a natural pool that contains the most beautiful turquoise water. There is a small tunnel on the edge where the more brave souls dive under the rocks and swim into the open sea.
6 Marvel at the Sunset
From the port, take a slight left on the inclined road. Near the top is a wall where we sat for spectacular sunset views – on the left side of the horizon over the bay, and on the right side is an amazing view of the sun going down behind the windmill that is unmatched (see #10 below).
7 Visit the Tavernas
Like most of Greece, the food in Koufonisia is delicious. There are around 20 +/- restaurants on the island, mostly in Chora. The majority of these are iconic Cycladic whitewashed tavernas with a terrace overlooking the sea or a lovely garden courtyard. They serve grilled local meat, especially lamb, regional produce, and freshly caught local fish.
I wish I could remember the name of the most romantic restaurant on the island (from #10 event below), but I did not take a picture of the menu and the check was just a handwritten note with our food listed and the total Euros. It was a traditional restaurant with friendly owners who barely spoke a word of English and we were the only ones there so we were treated like royalty. If you keep walking uphill past Mylos (the mill bar) you will find it. It had a magnificent sunset view of the mill from our table at the end of the terrace.
8 Nightlife
There isn’t a lot of nightlife in Koufonisia. This wasn’t a problem for us, as we went back to our catamaran after dinner and had cocktails on the deck with the other four passengers and the crew. That said, there are a couple of places you can try. Mylos is set in a traditional windmill that has been renovated into a beautiful bar. It’s a short walk uphill and to the left of where we were docked.
Soroko bar is on the beach of the main village just after Ammos Beach. You can even choose to sit on the rocks and you can have a drink while enjoying the sea view.
I recommend that you try some of the local drinks:
- Rakia (also called Raki) is an alcoholic drink made of twice-distilled grapes and anise that originated in Turkey. It is popular in Balkan countries as an aperitif and has spilled over to Greece.
- Ouzo is a dry anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Greece. It is made from rectified spirits that have undergone a process of distillation and flavoring. Its taste is similar to other anise liquors like rakı, arak, pastis, and sambuca.
The main difference is that Raki tends to be much, much stronger than Ouzo. It is often 90% proof, nearly twice that of Ouzo.
9 Explore the Sea Caves
Photo Credit: MariaV27, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The island was named Koufonisia because there are a lot of caves to be found in the two islands. The name Koufonisia means “hollow,” The islands are known to have been a hub for ancient pirates who drilled huge caves within the two islets to create of view path of those coming to Koufonisia. As time passed, the islets turned “hollow.” Many visitors seek out Koufonisia to experience the remarkable caves.
10 Get Engaged!
Have I convinced you to come to Koufonisia Island for the romance? Well, we took our own advice! We got engaged on the island, at sunset, on the Aegean, with the charming 1830s windmill behind us.
Go ahead. Copy our venue. We’re okay with that. xo
All photos ©Kary Kern unless otherwise indicated.
Click below to PIN so you can find Koufonisia Island again:
Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Yacht Getaways during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
Leave a reply