Trying to decide where to stay in Sifnos? This brief guide gives an overview of the best places to stay in Sifnos, and my recommendations based on my own trip to Sifnos. Where to stay in Sifnos depends on the type of trip you are looking for, but if you want to be on the beach, the best places to stay are Faros, Platis Gialis or Vathy. Apollonia and Artemonas are pretty traditional villages in the mountains, and the port, Kamares has a pretty bay and offers all the tourist conveniences you may need.
Where is Sifnos?
Sifnos is a treasure. A small slip of an island in the Cyclades between Milos and Paros, Sifnos is known for having an enchanting and soulful atmosphere, dramatic mountainous scenery and rich gastronomic traditions. It is home to 360 churches, more than any other island in the Cyclades, and is the birthplace of Nikos Tselementes, one of Greece’s most influential chefs of the 20th century. I loved visiting sleepy, soulful Sifnos for a few days between exploring the bigger and busier nearby islands Milos and Paros. Sifnos is approximately halfway between mainland Greece and Santorini.
Map of Where to Stay on Sifnos
Where is the best place to stay in Sifnos?
The short answer is, the best place to stay in Sifnos is Faros or Platis Gialis for direct beach access, and Apollonia for a peaceful Cycladic village. However, there are several villages and beach resorts to choose from when you visit Sifnos, and each of them have their own pros and cons.
Apollonia
Apollonia is the best place to stay in Sifnos for a traditional village
Apollonia is the major village of Sifnos, but that is a relative term! Apollonia has bars, cafes and restaurants but it is still very peaceful and quiet, nothing like the major villages on other islands like Milos, Paros and Santorini. Apollonia was settled in the 6th century BC and is named in worship of the Greek god, Apollo. It’s a beautiful village, built like an amphitheatre around three hills.
When we visited Sifnos, we stayed in Apollonia and I was really happy with our choice. The only drawback to Apollonia is that it’s located up in the mountains, so there is no beach in town. However, it’s at the heart of the local bus network, so you can get to a beach in around 20 minutes. Apollonia is located near the middle of Sifnos, towards the east coast. I loved staying in Apollonia, tucked up in the mountains, in the rolling hills of the Greek countryside.
We stayed at Nostros Sifnos, a charming B&B located just outside town. It would be better if we had a car when we stayed here, as it was a 10 minute walk along the road into town, but otherwise I loved our stay.
Platis Gialos
Platis Gialos is the best place to stay in Sifnos for beach access.
Platis Gialos is Sifnos’ main resort town, built around one of the largest and most popular beaches in Sifnos. The village is quite small, and doesn’t have the labyrinthine quality of traditional Cycladic villages like Apollonia, or villages you’ll find on other Cycladic islands. The water is beautiful here, and there are beach clubs, as well as restaurants and cafes with water views. One of the best restaurants in Sifnos, Omega3, is in Platis Gialis and is worth making a reservation for. Platis Gialis is located on the southeast coast of Sifnos, not far from other pretty beaches at Chrisopigi and Faros.
Kamares
Kamares is the best place to stay in Sifnos for access to the ferry, convenience & tourist facilities
Kamares is Sifnos’ port town, located on the northwest coast of the island. Kamares has a large beach, although the bay is shared with ferries and other boats. Kamares is a convenient place to stay in Sifnos as it is quite developed, many boat tours depart from here, and it has tourist facilities. Ferries from Piraeus and other Greek islands all arrive into Kamares, which makes it a convenient place to stay in Sifnos if you don’t want to travel far for your accommodation.
Artemonas
Artemonas is the best place to stay in Sifnos for remote tranquility
Like Apollonia, Artemonas is a peaceful, traditional Cycladic village tucked up in the hills of Sifnos. Artemonas is a beautiful village and is worth visiting, but is much smaller than Apollonia. Artemonas is a good place to stay in Sifnos if you want lots of peace and quiet, and aren’t looking to be able to visit many bars, restaurants or cafes on foot.
Faros
Faros is the best place to stay in Sifnos for a beautiful beach & remote tranquility
Faros is one of my favourite spots in Sifnos. Located on the southeast coast of Sifnos, Faros is a quaint fishing hamlet with a small, sandy beach and clear, calm turquoise waters. It is small and secluded but very charming, and has a few tavernas. Faros is not far from the busier resort, Platis Gialis, and Chrisopigi. You would want a car, if you stayed in Faros. Faros is surrounded by two other small bays and beaches, Glyfos and Fassolou.
Vathy
Vathy is the best place to stay in Sifnos for a secluded beach resort
Vathy is a very beautiful beach, on the southwest coast of Sifnos. Like Platis Gialis, Vathy is a popular beach resort, and gets very crowded in summer. There isn’t as much shade at Vathy, but there are beach clubs and a few tavernas right on the waterfront. You would definitely want a car if you were staying in Vathy as it is a bit more secluded than the other villages.
Best place to stay for beach
The best place to stay in Sifnos for the beach is Faros, Vathy, Platis Gialis or Kamares. Faros is a small fishing villages, but attracts visitors during the day. The other resorts are some of the largest and most popular beaches in Sifnos, and each of these villages has resorts or a range of accommodation and facilities near the water, including beach clubs. Lovely Chrissopiggi beach is between Vathy and Platis Gialis, which is another reason this southern area of Sifnos is one of the best places to stay for beaches.
Best place in Sifnos for couples
The best place to stay in Sifnos for couples is Apollonia, Platis Gialis, Faros or Vathy.
Best place in Sifnos for families
The best place to stay in Sifnos for families are Kamares, which has a beach and facilities, and is at the port, or the beach resort Platis Gialis.
Ferry to Sifnos
Sifno has no airport, so you need to get to Sifnos via ferry. There is a ferry from Piraeus, on the mainland, as well as ferries from nearby islands Milos, Paris, Serifos, Kimolos and Folegandros.
Do you need a car on Sifnos?
It is best to hire a car on Sifnos. We weren’t able to hire a car on Sifnos, because we didn’t have an International Drivers Permit, and it did slow us down quite a lot because we had to rely on the local bus. However, we still had a great time, and sometimes hiked between beaches rather than waiting an hour for the bus.
If you don’t have a car, stay in Apollonia so that you have the best access to the bus.
