VATHY is a quiet fishing village at a wonderful, sheltered bay with a wide sandy beach and crystal clear water.
"National Geographic" have chosen the isle of SIFNOS one of the Top-Ten-ISLANDS IN THE SUN.
APOLLONIA with its enchanting architecture of white Cycladic cubes is the capital of the relatively green island.
Romantic fishing and bathing village
Just until a few years ago you could reach Vathy only by boat or on a donkey's path. Today a splendidly contructed country road leads from Apollonia, the main town on the island, to Vathy. This route (10 km) is served by a busline, too.
With all the peaceful quietness one hasn't to abstain from no ameneties: A couple of picturesque restaurants at the edge of the bay offer delicate Greek dishes, e.g. with fresh fish from the catch of the day. Two small supermarkets provide the rest of what you need.
Vathy enchants with its bay, protectingly sorrounded by the mountains, its wide sandy beach, the little harbour with the white twin chapel, the delicacies of its restaurants and the friendliness of their landlords.
Vathy - a village of about seven dozen houses - is a car free place; cars are parked on a lot at the rim of the village. The main village route is along the shore of the beautiful bay, tourists like it this way.
SIFNOS - dream island of the Cyclades
The magazine NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC has chosen the isle of SIFNOS - together with the Bahamas, the Seychelles, French Polynesia, the Dutch Antilles and other exotic islands - one of the TOP TEN ISLANDS IN THE SUN ... and continues enthusingly:
Spots in the ocean that someone could hardly notice on a map. Yet if you find yourselves there, you'll know there's no other place of equal beauty in the whole world.
On Sifnos there live about 2500 Sifniots the year around, 1000 of them in Apollonia and Artemonas.
The isle is 15 km long and up to 7 km wide. The highest elevation 682 m - is Mount Profitis Ilias with its widely visible old monastery. The landscape invites you to explore the island on small walking tours. Old donkey paths, some times paved with marble, show the ways of earlier times to the tourists maybe tired of the civilization.
Apollonia - beautiful as Apollo
Apollonia with its white cubic Cycladic architecture, its numerous boutiques, restaurants, bars, cafes and little shops is ideal for a ramble, especially in the evening, strolling easily into the night.
In Apollonia there you'll find the biggest of the many churches and little chapels of the island; people say there are 365 - one for each day. Every little, hidden footpath leads to a tiny church.
Aplollonia has been the capital of Sifnos island since 1836. She got her name in pre-Christian times when their citizens observed an Apollo cult.
As the center of the island Apollonia provides the necessary touristic infrastructure: post office, banks, pharmacy, health center, dentist, police and a well assorted newspaper and book store.
And no one should leave Apollonia without having tasted its famous cakes and pastries.
ARRIVAL
From Athens (Pireus) you can reach Kamares, the ferry harbour of Sifnos, within 3 hours by a speed boat rsp. within 5 hours on a regular ferry boat.
For the schedules of the ferries check:
http://www.openseas.gr/
The taxi from Kamares to Vathy costs 20 €.
Letta, the owner and manager of the Agnanti Apartments, offers to book it for you.
Ther main places on the island are connected by a bus net.
Frequency of the busses: 1 - 4 times a day, depending on the season.
There is a ferry connection from the island of Milos to Kamares. On Milos there is an airport.
