Kythnos (Kithnos): A Quiet Cyclades Island, Greece
Kythnos, also spelled Kithnos, is a quiet, rocky island in the western Cyclades of Greece, about 3 hours by ferry from Piraeus, with roughly 1,500 residents and few crowds. Kythnos suits travellers looking for peace and quiet rather than sights or nightlife, with three main villages - the port of Merichas, the Chora and Driopida - and an unspoiled landscape dotted with old hillside churches.
- Size
- 86 km²
- Population
- ~1,500
- Ferry from Piraeus
- ~3 h
- Main port
- Merichas
The island of Kythnos
Kythnos lies in the western Cyclades, covers 86 square kilometers and has a population of about 1,500. It is a friendly, rocky island with few facilities for tourists and few big attractions, which makes it a place people come to for peace and quiet. The ferries arrive at Merichas, the port set in a bay on the west side, where whitewashed houses climb the bare brown hills; the Chora and the village of Driopida sit inland, and old churches are scattered across the hills.
Where to stay on Kythnos
Most accommodation on Kythnos is in the port of Merichas, with a few hotels at the thermal-spring resort of Loutra and rooms to rent near beaches such as Schinari, above Loutra, and Lefkes on the east side.
Kontseta Studios, Merichas
Kontseta Studios stands in Merichas, the port of Kythnos, a short walk from the ferry quay and the beach, so guests can arrive on foot and reach the tavernas and cafes of the harbour in minutes.
Check availability & bookHotel Xenonas Afroditi, Loutra
Hotel Xenonas Afroditi sits at Loutra on the north-east coast, the thermal-spring resort of Kythnos, beside the beach and the hot springs that made Loutra a spa since antiquity.
Check availability & bookHotel Meltemi, Loutra
Hotel Meltemi is also at Loutra Beach, a short walk from the thermal springs and the sandy bay, a quiet base for exploring the north of the island.
Check availability & bookSights of Kythnos
The Venetian Castle of Oria crowns a mountain near Cape Kefalos in the north and was the medieval capital of Kythnos until the Turks destroyed it in 1570; ruined walls, houses and two churches survive, though the path up is hard to find. The Katafiki Cave at Driopida runs about one kilometer and is one of the longest caves in Greece. The settlement of Maroulas dates from 9000–8000 BC, where round dwellings, skeletons and stone tools have been excavated. The Monastery of Panagia Kanala, on a cliff near the village of Kanala, holds a revered icon of the Virgin Mary.
Ferries to Kythnos
Ferries run daily from Piraeus, the port of Athens, with the morning Ventouris Sea Lines crossing taking about 3 hours - Kythnos is the first island it calls at - while on some days a faster Aegean Speed Lines boat makes the trip in about 1 hour 45. Kythnos is also connected to the smaller, calmer port of Lavrio, which many travellers prefer to Piraeus. Check the operators' websites for exact times.