Kythnos is a picturesque Greek island located in the Western Cyclades group of islands in the Aegean Sea. It offers a charming and unspoiled environment for visitors seeking a peaceful and authentic Greek island experience.

Kythnos is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rugged coastline, which make it a popular destination for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts. Some of the notable beaches include Kolona, Apokrousi, and Loutra, each with its unique characteristics and natural beauty.

The island is also dotted with traditional whitewashed villages, such as Chora (also known as Messaria), which is the main town of Kythnos. The narrow streets, charming houses, and traditional tavernas create a delightful atmosphere for strolling and exploring the local culture.

Kythnos has a rich history, with archaeological sites like the ancient capital Vryokastro offering a glimpse into its past. The island’s traditional lifestyle and agricultural activities, including goat farming and wine production, are still evident today.

Overall, Kythnos offers a serene and authentic Greek island experience, blending natural beauty, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, making it an appealing destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat off the beaten path.

1. Ancient Paths (from €55)

• Distance: 8 km
• Duration: 3-4 hours

The hike starts from an area of special archaeological interest in Kythnos, at the site of the ancient aqueduct built by the island’s inhabitants.

We continue hiking towards the top of the hill and cross an area rich in sage and thyme. Then we reach the top of the hill where the ancient citadel of the Kythnos islands is located. There you can see the ruins of ancient buildings that coexist harmoniously with the stone houses of the farmers of the last century.

The path continues south to the ancient port of Kythnos. Our route essentially circles the cape that leads to the beach of Apokrusi. Apokrousi is protected from the winds and is the largest and most beautiful beach of Kythnos. The beach offers a welcoming rest under the shade of the largest and oldest salt cedars of Kythnos.

During our stop at Apkrousi beach you can swim or do some other activity such as kayaking after proper consultation. Our experiences don’t end here. On our return we follow a short and beautiful path where we can see and smell most of the herbs of the island.

2. Medieval Paths (from €60)

• Distance: 12 km
• Duration: 4-5 hours

Our hiking experience begins above the settlement of Loutra in Kythnos, giving a magnificent view of the eastern Cyclades. Then we continue uphill following a dirt road until we reach the intersection that goes either north to the church of Agios Georgios or west to the Castle of Oria.

Further along our path you can enjoy a unique view of the western Aegean and the wild beauty of the landscape until you see the impressive steep rocks where the Castle of Oria is built. Oria Castle was the seat of the Italian feudal Gozzadini family who ruled the island from 1337 to 1617 as vassals of the Venetian Duchy of Naxos. In 1292, Kythnos was plundered by the Catalans, while throughout the Venetian and Turkish periods it suffered greatly from pirate raids. Today, only ruins of fortification walls and medieval houses are preserved from the old Castle, while of its 100 churches, only the churches of Keralaousa and Agia Triada are preserved.

After our guided tour and extensive narration at the Castle of Oria, the hiking trail continues through the local fruit farms and our experience ends at the port of Loutra.

3. Iron Paths (from €55)

• Distance: 3.5 km
• Duration: 3-4 hours

Our hiking activity follows the path that starts from the eastern entrance of Dryopida, giving a magnificent view of the eastern Cyclades. It descends to the beach of Lefka where it meets the impressive buildings of the old mining industry, the so-called Spitares, which exploited the minerals of the land of Kythnos.

Next on our tour we come across the old laundry facilities where the housewives of the village used to wash the family’s clothes. During our experience and depending on the current season, you can try almost all kinds of Greek fruits such as apricots, berries, figs and pomegranates.

At the end of the hike we reach Lefkes beach. Lefkes is famous for its crystal clear waters and fine sand. You can choose to return using the same path or by transport.

4. Dryopida (from €35)

• Distance: 2 km
• Duration: 2 hours

Our hiking excursion in Dryopida begins by entering the village with the largest neighborhood, Galata, on our left. Traditional tiled roofs and winding alleys unfold around us. Our path follows the narrow streets of the village to the metropolis and the largest church on the island of Kythnos, Agia Anna.

We continue to the central alley of the village, the so-called piazza. There we will welcome local ladies who usually sit there drinking their coffee and gossiping about the news of the island.

Our path continues to the enchanting Katafiki Cave, one of the largest in Greece and an important landmark for the inhabitants of Kythnos.

The experience is completed by visiting two major museums of Kythnos. The Byzantine Museum contains a rare and famous collection of Orthodox icons dating back centuries. The folklore museum offers a glimpse into the customs and traditions of the ancestors of the inhabitants of Kythnos and the way the rich and poor families of the island lived.

5. Tour of the Country (from €40)

• Distance: 3.5 km
• Duration with breaks: 2 hours

We follow the hiking path that leads to the entrance of the settlement. Before entering Chora, we can see in the distance 4 wind turbines, which is the first wind farm in Europe, built in 1986.

Continuing the hike, and entering the settlement we meet the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church was a temple during Enetocracy in which the “siliturgo” was formerly held, i.e. the combined service of Catholic and Orthodox church services. Today Katholiko is an open-air museum with great exhibits from Vryokastro, the ancient capital of the island.

Our experience is completed with a guided tour of the traditional mansions, the Cycladic arches and the whitewashed alleys of Chora.

6. Mines & Caves (from €60)

• Distance: 8 km
• Duration with breaks: 4 hours

On the left side of Lefkes beach there is a large bridge where they used to unload iron ore onto cargo ships. Just in front of it, hidden behind the lush vegetation, is the entrance to the iron mine galleries. Walking through the vast darkness, we see the various types of ores found in Kythnos, and sometimes we need the help of magnifying glasses. Continuing through the tunnel we come across the most important source of drinking water, “Archaia”, so called because it was known since ancient times. Along the way, it rises to the surface and meets the most pristine and isolated beach of Kythnos, Sifnios, with its unusually colored sand. Walking deeper into the galleries and parallel to the stream of the mine, we see the rails that were used for transportation within the mines. This excursion ends back at Lefkes beach.