Schinoussa Hotels & Villas

Accommodation on Schinoussa is limited: a handful of small hotels, studios and villas, most of them around Tsigouri Beach and the Chora, with a few by the quieter beaches. Above Tsigouri stand the family-owned Archipelagos Boutique Hotel, Grispos Villas and Armonia; Anatoli Studios sits at Vazeo; Pension Meltemi lies near Livadi; Agnadema is close to the port and town; and the Lioliou Beach Hotel overlooks the gulf of Lioliou. Most offer a free port transfer, since ferries can arrive late and cars are few. This guide covers the places listed for the island, with the descriptions and photographs supplied by the hotels themselves. There is not much of it, so book ahead in high season.

Best for the beach

Tsigouri

Best for the port

Chora & Mersini

Quietest

Lioliou & Vazeo

Peak months

July & August

Archipelagos Boutique Hotel, Tsigouri

The Archipelagos Boutique Hotel is where Hans stayed on Schinoussa, a family-owned hotel of five stone-built bungalows with a swimming pool on the south side of the island, in front of Tsigouri, the most popular beach, and about 700 metres from the village. A path leads down to the beach in about five minutes, and the walk to the Chora takes five to ten. It is built in Cycladic style with a traditional windmill, a small Cycladic church and a dovecot in the grounds, in a quiet spot with no passing traffic and sea views towards Irakleia, Ios and Santorini. Rooms are air-conditioned, with a balcony and sea view, a fridge, a coffee machine and an electric hob, and some add a kitchenette. Breakfast, a pool with sunbeds, a canoe, free WiFi and a free port transfer are included.

Anatoli Studios, Vazeo

Anatoli Studios stands 100 metres from Vazeo Beach, with a pool set in a sea-view sun terrace, a poolside bar, a restaurant and a garden with a children's playground. The air-conditioned studios open onto a patio and look over the Aegean or the garden, each with a kitchenette, fridge and cooking hobs, a private bathroom with shower and hairdryer, and a TV, safe and fan. A yoga room is available, and a free port transfer and motorbike rental can be arranged on request. Schinousa Town is 1.5 kilometres away and the port 2.5 kilometres; Liolios Beach lies 400 metres away and Almyros 250 metres, with free on-site parking.

Grispos Villas, Tsigouri

Grispos Villas spreads over 1.2 hectares along the southern coast of Schinoussa, a few metres from the sandy beach of Tsigouri, with a panoramic view over the whole bay; it lies 450 metres from the capital Panagia and 2.2 kilometres from the port of Mersini. The complex has two buildings 80 metres apart. Grispos Villas I holds seven double rooms and one quadruple, most with sea or side-sea views and all with a balcony or veranda, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone and mini-fridge. Grispos Villas II adds four rooms, five studios, a two-room apartment and a suite, all air-conditioned with satellite TV and a private balcony or veranda over the sea and the neighbouring islands. Access to the safe, road-free beach is on foot.

Armonia by Grispos Villas, Tsigouri

Armonia by Grispos Villas stands a few metres from the sandy beach of Tsigouri, with a sea-view Greek restaurant serving fresh seafood, vegetable dishes and pies, and a snack bar for drinks and coffee. The air-conditioned rooms and studios have free WiFi, a balcony over the Aegean, a flat-screen satellite TV, a fridge and a hairdryer, and some add a kitchenette with cooking facilities. There is a children's playground and a souvenir shop stocking local honey and spirits. Panagia, the capital, is 450 metres away, and the staff offer a free two-way transfer from the port of Mersini, 2 kilometres off, with free private parking on site.

Pension Meltemi

The Cycladic-style Pension Meltemi lies a 7-minute walk from the beaches of Livadi and Tsigouri, surrounded by greenery, with a traditional restaurant serving breakfast, traditional recipes, fresh fish and local wine. The air-conditioned rooms have free WiFi and a balcony over the Aegean and the garden, a flat-screen TV and a fridge, and some units add a kitchenette with light cooking facilities. Room service is possible. Schinoussa Port is 1 kilometre away with a free two-way transfer, and the 24-hour front desk can advise on diving in the area.

Agnadema

Agnadema sits about 1 kilometre from the port and main town of Schinoussa, with an on-site restaurant and rooms that each have a TV, air conditioning, a balcony and a fridge, a private bathroom with a hairdryer and views over the town and garden. Guests have a free shuttle service, a garden, a terrace and the option of grocery deliveries, with free WiFi in the common areas and free private parking on site. The town, a short walk away, holds seaside fish tavernas, cafes and shops.

Lioliou Beach Hotel

The Lioliou Beach Hotel stands in the picturesque gulf of Lioliou, by the beach of Liolos, in a calm and idyllic setting, modern and friendly with the sea a breath away. It has 17 modern rooms in three types: a classic double with traditional decoration, a two-bedroom room with a living room and separate bedroom for families, and a two-floor room with an internal stair up to the beds and a spacious living room. It suits travellers who want to stay away from the busier south around Tsigouri, out by one of the island's quiet south-eastern coves.