Forget overcrowded, over hyped and over expensive Santorini and Mykonos. Join the real A listers on the the low key, authentic and super stylish Sifnos.
This stunning, unspoilt island has it all. Whitewashed charm, sugar cube houses, raw nature and quite possibly the best food in Greece.
Here’s why we love it.
The beaches
Sifnos has a perfect combination of clear blue waters and golden sands. Hit a quiet fishing cove like Cheronissos or Chryssopigi. Or choose a low key resort like Vathi or Platis Gialos (the latter is the main resort, but still delightfully small compared to other islands).
The towns
Sifnos is a place to chill, not sightsee, but given the regular bus services, you shouldn’t miss the main towns of Apollonia and Artemonas. They are picture perfect white cube towns jammed with churches, Venetian mansions and atmospheric squares. Our tip is to take the bus to the top of Artemonas and wander slowly down the main cobbled street to Apollonia – they are virtually joined.
We had an early evening meal at the delicious Mosaico Cafe in a pretty square, then wandered down as the sun set and grabbed loukoumades at Dipseli to take back to our apartment. They didn’t make it further than the bus stop.
The hilltop, medieval town of Kastro is also worth a visit, but currently less connected by bus.
The vibe
Sifnos has a rare mix, it ouzes cool and serves as a retreat for serious A listers, but totally retains its authentic Greek charm.
Many holiday makers return year after year. It feels, and often looks, very rustic, not flash. Every Saturday, locals begin to prepare revithada a slow cooked, local chick pea dish eaten for Sunday lunch. You see them soaking in pots outdoors pre-cooking. Do try it.
By contrast, we’ve never seen so many Birkenstocks in one place and artisan products are lined up next to the plastic toys and trinkets in the shops. Cool and the traditional blend seamlessly in Sifnos.
The food
As well as outstanding traditional Sifniot food, the island quite possibly has the best selection of modern Greek food anywhere. Nicholas Tselementes – the Greek Mrs Beeton – was born here. The traditional tavernas are proud of their heritage and the new wave chefs and creating a major stir across the island.
We went to two exceptional places both in Plato Gialos. First the iconic Omega 3 – a beach shack with ridiculously good food. Tom Hanks is, allegedly, a regular. Sat on communal benches the fresh fish concoctions are irresistible and vegetarians will also be spoilt for choice – don’t miss their spin on cacio e pepe.
At the other end of the beach is Nus. Less of a shack more of a restaurant. The exquisite food is mostly sourced from the owners local farm. Tip -don’t miss the ice cream deserts – they are the most inventive flavours out there (think black tahini and parsley). We became instant fans and went twice.