Location: Sifnos
Top Things to do in Sifnos
What to do and see in Sifnos, South Aegean: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
Sifnos (Greek: Σίφνος; the spelling Siphnos is obsolete in English but still by convention often used to refer to the island in ancient times) is an island municipality in the Cyclades island group in Greece. The main town, near the center, known as Apollonia (pop. 869), is home of the island's folklore museum and library. The town's name is thought to come from an ancient temple of Apollo on the site of the church of Panayia Yeraniofora. The second-largest town is Artemonas (800), thought to be named after an ancient temple of Apollo's sister-goddess Artemis, located at the site of the church of Panayia Kokhi. The village of Kastro (118), was the capital of the island during ancient times until 1836. It is built on top of a high cliff on the island's east shore and today has extensive medieval remains and is the location of the island's archeological museum. The port settlement, on the west coast of the island is known as Kamares (245).
Restaurants in Sifnos
1. Chrisopigi Monastery
2. Narlis Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 105 reviews
Local micro-farming and Cooking experience in Sifnos While on Sifnos, a unique and fascinating way to experience first-hand authentic local food production, is a visit to Sifnos Farm Narlis. Sifnian cuisine, renowned for its mouth-watering recipes throughout Greece, is based mainly on vegetables and local aromatic herbs and here in Farm Narlis we are looking to revive old and native processes of growing and cooking, based on products grown on our land. At Farm Narlis we offer tailor-made lessons in the local diet, micro-farming food production and cooking, to suit your needs and interests. Our micro-farm is situated at the heart of the island, between the villages of Apollonia and Kato Petali, on the road to Kastro. Below, we give four suggestions for you to experience our farm and products: This is the most involved experience on the farm. In this session we will start the day by preparing together a hearty traditional Sifnian breakfast, based on local thyme honey, home-made jams, cheese from our farm and fresh organic eggs from our very happy free range chickens. While we enjoy breakfast, we will discuss the structure of the rest of our session. Time to start work! The wood burning oven needs to be lit early so this is the first thing we do together for our meal preparation and before we leave for the field. In the field, you will collect, with our guidance, the fresh ingredients that will be used for our meal. Here, you will have the opportunity to find out all about the efforts of the local farmer in growing and harvesting vegetables, in this 'unfriendly' natural environment. An understanding of how the crops are produced will help you appreciate the materials you will cook with and immerse yourself in our local farming practices. Back in the stone-built hut you will learn to prepare a complete traditional Sifnian lunch or dinner which will comprise of two different kinds of salads, two starters and a main course. We will enjoy the results of our efforts all together, just like the locals, around our wooden table, next to the wood burning oven, watching each dish being cooked. Local white wine or our own medium sweet red, which has matured in the sun, accompany all the meals. We will finish the meal with fruits of the season such as water melons, cherry plums, melons, pears and apricots, all grown in our land, from old and rare varieties. The suggested duration of the morning session is 3-4 hours for optimum enjoyment of all the activities. For your convenience, we provide a guide for the duration of your visit. We can provide a guide who speaks English, French or Russian. When it's time to go, we will give you a complementary sample of produce from our farm as a goodbye gift and as a reminder of your visit. Additional activities to enhance your experience while in Sifnos Farm Narlis are: Gardening: have a go at looking after our vegetable garden and experience first-hand the unique traditional techniques of growing and harvesting. Ceramic lessons: if you would like to find out how the pots you cooked in and the plates you used are made, then come and have a go at making them! The ceramic workshop that produces them is housed in one of the farm's buildings. Afternoon Session in the Farm - The same experience as above but without breakfast. **** Dinner.=With out lesson!! (private) 2 to 4 people- We will prepare a special dinner meal for your group to enjoy in our hut. 7pm - We will visit together our vegetable and tree gardens and you will hear all about our stories of farming the local and rare varieties. You will then gather around the wooden table, to enjoy fresh, local recipes all prepared in a traditional Sifnian way. A unique way to fully experience and appreciate Sifnian food. Nero kai Alati ('Water and Salt') Restaurant - Platys Gialos If you prefer to enjoy our farm's fresh and organic produce cooked in exclusive recipes while sitting right next to the sea, then this is the place for you. In Nero kai Alati you can experience Sifnian traditional recipes fused with flavours from around the Mediterranean Sea. Booking is essential!
Reviewed By 196gillr - Dorset, United Kingdom
Breaking our holiday tradition of a lie in my alarm went off at 7am for an early start to get ready and get to Narlis Farm in time for breakfast at 9am! It was so worth it! My friend and I had been given the visit as Christmas presents from our husbands-what a treat. We were greeted by a very smiley George whose family had lived at Narlis Farm for many generations. We were shown to the door of what looked like a small room but looks are deceiving it was like a tardis and down the stone steps was the most fantastic farm house kitchen where we meet Dina. George explained he renovated the building which belonged to his grand parents who lived there in the one big room his grandfather lived to be 101 and his grandmother 99. We were joined at the table by 4 further guests from France and the 6 of us enjoyed our breakfast with all but the bread from the local bakery and honey(George's cousin keeps bees) sourced from Narlis Farm including the warm goats milk! Over breakfast George talked about his life on Sifnos and the changes that have taken place over the years especially growing produce on the farm which was really interesting. Then after a glass of homemade 30% proof Grappa onto the recipes and dishes that we would be eating for lunch cooked by George with detailed explanations of how to prepare the traditional Sifnos dishes with his home grown produce a total of 5 different plates including honey pie (delicious!). Once the preparation was over we all ventured outside to walk around the various patches of home grown organic fruit an vegetables filling our baskets with lovely fresh goodies, and eating some too! We met the goats and had a wander around the pottery and of course just had to purchase something! George's son is the potter.Then back to the farmhouse kitchen for lunch and homemade wine and a chat about our visit. It was delightful and thourghly enjoyable. We left laden with fruit and vegetables which George and Dina generously gave us and purchases of honey and olive oil. I would highly recommend a visit as something different to do during your stay. We are hoping to visit George's other son's restaurant in Agios Platinos to sample more of the organic produce from Naris Farm. Thank you George and Dina for a lovely time!
3. Church of the Seven Martyrs
4. Sifnos Trails
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 125 reviews
Sifnos Trails is the name of the hiking trails network of the island of Sifnos in the Aegean Sea, Greece. The network has a total length over 100 km, divided in 19 beautiful trails.
Reviewed By marki786 - Dunbar, United Kingdom
A fantastic network of well way marked trails. On a couple of occasions I found it a little hard to find the start of a trail but once you are on them it’s almost impossible to get lost. No 1 offers a bit of everything, villages, olive groves and the coast and can be combined with a section of No3 to create a loop starting and ending with Artemonas/Apolonia with a handy lunch stop at Kastro. There are a selection of maps available from the bookshop in the square in Apolonia and I would recommend picking one up to help locate the start of some of the trails and also to make it easier to combine trails. There are local guides that will take you on the trails but if you are even halfway confident navigating then you won’t need one.
5. Rib Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 67 reviews
We specialize in highly rewarding adventures around Sifnos and in the Cyclades islands, Greece, offering a unique experience in the Aegean Sea. Customized, leisure private tours and transfers with RIB power boats to suit the sun seeker and the adventure seeker, providing a professional service. If you are a lover of leisurely beach hopping nature tours or extreme sports, come with us to play with the waves! With the safety provided by our boat and the experience of the Rib Adventures captains, you will have a unique, intense, exhilarating moments packed with adrenaline. Our captains, specializing in safety and your ultimate convenience, will make sure to provide joyful and fun-filled experiences, either during a leisurely boat tour, a private sea transfer or an extreme boat ride in high seas.
6. Amanda Boat Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 175 reviews
Do you love exploring the sea and cruising along the coast? Would you like to spend a different day aboard a charming and comfortable 14 meters wooden gulet? We visit white sandy beaches with crystalline turquoise waters and hidden bays. You will have time to relax and enjoy the experience, as ‘rush’ is a word that doesn’t exist aboard our boat. We depart from Platis Gialos Marina. We will sail to reach uninhabited beaches and hidden bays inaccessible by land. You will have time to swim, to snorkel and leisurely enjoy the beautiful landscape. We will make 2 or 3 stops by anchoring the boat, alternating between white beaches and hidden bays with turquoise waters. In between two of our stops, lunch will be served on board prepared by the Captain himself, with natural and organic ingredients. After a day of enjoying the sea and the nature in its purest form, we head back to Platis Gialos.
7. Panagia Chrissopigi
8. Agios Andreas Acropolis & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
An acropolis built at the top of this hill and excavated during the 20th century. Dates from as early as the 13th century BC. Small museum at the entrance of the site.
9. Vroulidia Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By Vowlesreviews - London, United Kingdom
I have to say that this is the most serene beach that I have ever visited, perfect blue water, pebbles and sun beds if wanted. Whilst this beach is a little out of the main town and isn’t the easiest to get to, if you can get to there it’s well worth the effort. I would have to say that if you have a small car however I would try and park on the slope on the way down as it’s rather steep and windy right at the bottom. It is a perfect pebble beach with pristine blue waters with a sandy sea floor. I spend hours here under the sun and in the sea and had an absolutely wonderful time, especially as there was no phone signal so it was idyllic and as quiet as anything. The beach wasn’t crowded at all and there are two beautiful cafe/restaurants on the beach of a drink and or food is needed. The cafe ok the right when looking at the sea has some stunning pottery too, some of the best on the island, and I’m kicking myself for not buying even a little coffee cup. To sum up, I cannot recommend this beach any more! Just be prepared to walk down the cliff side road if you don’t have a big car. Have a wonderful time there, I will always remember this special place. (An extra little tip - if you wait until just before sunset and then drive to the top lay-by with a big caterpillar bulldozer, you can get a stunning view of the sun setting over the sea and distant islands. Absolutely stunning! See my last photo on this review)
