The Cyclades island group is Greece’s equivalent of the Hamptons. These small communities, which were once rustic hideaways, have evolved into scene-y summer staples, luring visitors with excellent weather, a chic setting, and delectable local produce.
Consider Naxos, Santorini, or Mykonos as the sun-kissed island equivalent of East Hampton, but the closest thing to a Mediterranean Montauk is Koufonisia, one of the more than 200 islands that comprise this cluster.
Koufonisia, like Montauk, is the final stop on the Long Island Rail Road and was overlooked in part due to its remote location from Athens. It’s not a viable day trip destination; until three summers ago, there was no direct ferry from Athens’ Piraeus port. There is now a daily sailing from the capital (from $25 each way), but it still takes four hours.
Koufonisia’s infrastructure, like Montauk’s, has long been bare bones—electricity only arrived in 1980, internet access is spotty, and the island still has only one ATM. Bring plenty of Euros in small bills, as few businesses accept credit cards here.
Even today, there is no big name or boutique hotelier operating on Koufonisia.
The best option on the island is Hotel Aeolos, which is run by a Greek ex-pat and his wife who spend their off-seasons in Pennsylvania and offers bright, clean doubles ranging from $124 per night on a hilltop garden with a swimming pool.
Given how longtime residents still complain about the arrival of posh hideaways in Montauk, this is probably a good thing. . Fashionistas have begun to flock here as well: the Missonis are frequent visitors, and Robert Cavalli reportedly hosted a family wedding on his yacht (by some estimates, around three-quarters of the tourists most summers are from Italy).
There are even parallels between their economies: both have long relied on fishermen to keep them afloat, though the oft-repeated Koufonisia maxim that there may be more fishing boats than the 400 or so residents is probably fanciful.
Ammos beach
The first beach you’ll see when you arrive on the island, right next to the harbour. And you might think that because it’s near the port, it’ll be dirty and low-quality.
Foinikas beach
This is a beautiful sandy beach with clear waters. It is ideal for children, and the restaurant is an added bonus, with tasty food, friendly staff, and reasonable prices!
But this is not the case!! It may be one of the island’s worst beaches, but it is simply fantastic! You don’t trust us.
Fanos beach
The waters are beautiful and clean, and it is suitable for children. There is a hotel with a bar that serves coffee and snacks. In addition, a boat departs from the harbour and can drop you off just around the corner if you don’t want to walk.
Italida
Yet another beautiful beach. It has lovely sand and even better water. The colours, in particular, are stunning. There is no restaurant or cafe – which made it even better in my opinion, but that is just my opinion! So, if you decide to go, plan ahead of time and bring some water and snacks. Be aware that this can get very crowded during peak season!
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Pori beach
According to most visitors, this is the best beach on the island. I’m not convinced, but if you go, please let me know what you think! This is a pleasant 40-minute walk from the village, or you can take a boat taxi. The waters are spectacular, as they are at every beach on the island! There are two restaurants there, but they are not cheap. It should be noted that it can be very windy (especially when the wind is blowing from the north), whereas the other beaches are more protected.
Gala beach
Before visiting this beach, I heard from many visitors that it is unique and a must-see, but I should not have listened to them. For me, I’m not even sure this qualifies as a beach!
Local food
You can enjoy delicious food on the island; however, make sure that the prices are reasonable because, in some cases, especially during August, you may be charged much more than you should!
Captain Nikolas is my first choice if you want to eat fresh fish at a reasonable price while admiring the view of the sea! It doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
Karnagio is a small restaurant with good food in a beautiful setting. The entire set, with the tables next to the sea and the lights above, is stunning!
How do you get there?
There is only one way to do it! By ferry, of course! Depending on your needs and the price you want to pay, you can take a fast ferry (approximately 5 hours) or a slow ferry (approximately 8 hours).
This route includes several stops where you can get a quick glimpse of some Greek islands, including the well-known Paros and Naxos, as well as some smaller ones like Schoinousa and Iraklia.
