A FULL TRAVEL GUIDE TO KASTRO VILLAGE, SIFNOS, GREECE
There are places on this planet where there truly is heaven on earth, and one of those places is in the village of Kastro on the small Greek island of Sifnos.
Sifnos itself is already quieter than most of the islands in the area, and only about 5 minutes out from the main town of Appalonia, the village of Kastro is so perfectly peaceful, and a great place to stay on the island. This is everything you need to know before visiting Kastro, whether it is for a one day visit, or if you are basing yourself there during your stay.
When I was planning my trip to the island, I did not know how special Kastro would be. Think of the bright white buildings lining the cobblestone streets and beautiful rock beaches with clear blue water, but with no crowds or the craziness of the peak season in Greece. When you picture the perfect Greek island summer scene out of a movie or a postcard, you are picturing Kastro.
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KASTRO OVERVIEW
Formerly the capital of Sifnos, Kastro is the oldest inhabited village on the island, people lived up on this hill in the Early Bronze Age (Approx. 2500 BC).
A casual couple thousand years.
Up on the top of the hill that Kastro is built on, the ancient ruins of a settlement where people would look out for pirates out in the distance lays looking over the blue Mediterranean water below, and islands way out where the sky meets the sea.
Walking down the small cobblestone streets along the bright white painted homes, you can really feel all of the years and history around you. Especially because of the 20+ churches in the village being hundreds of years old, ancient ruins hiding in the street corners, and Roman sarcophagi just casually outside of the small churches.
Is There An ATM In Kastro?
Yes, there is an ATM in the village of Kastro, next to The Konaki Cafe and the sculpture exhibition space.
Is There A Supermarket In Kastro?
There is no bigger supermarket in the village of Kastro, but there is a smaller mini market with mostly just cooking staples and toiletries, and a small little cafe and gift shop that had baked goods, coffee, snacks, cigarettes, etc.
How Long To Stay In Kastro?
As most people visiting Sifnos stay in other parts of the island, Kastro is the spot where people come for sunset walks and drinks after dark, spending only a few hours in the village.
It truly depends on who you are and what kind of experience you want, time goes slow in Kastro, days here in the village are spent mostly laying in the sun and swimming in the warm blue water. If that is what you want, you could most likely spend all summer in Kastro alone. Kastro also has walking trails that connect the whole island with beautiful views, little old churches, swim spots and plants unique to Sifnos. If you’re into that, you could also stay in Kastro for a couple of days as well.
HOW TO GET TO KASTRO
When you arrive to Sifnos, the ferry will drop you off in the little port town of Kamares where the boat dock is. Right when you walk straight off of the boat, up the street you will find all of the car rental spots and bus stops. Having a car or a motorbike will definitely give you more flexibility in general while on Sifnos, but it seemed that the bus was consistent all day everyday, and the schedule (below) is very easy to navigate.
There are multiple car rental companies on the island with all different options to choose from.
BY CAR:
Kastro is just about 8km across the island from Kamares, past Appolonia, about a 10-15 minute drive from the ferry docks. Again, right when you hop off the ferry you’ll find all the rental companies right in front of you. Driving on Kastro is easy, the roads are small, turns are sharp, and the locals drive fast but if you are careful and have common driving sense you will be fine.
BY BUS:
The buses circulating on Kastro are pretty consistent and hopefully you won’t be waiting for too long when you arrive, as of summer 2024, a one way ticket to and from any place on the island will cost €2.50.
BY TAXI:
Taxis are available on the island, and though they do sit at the ferry docks when the boat arrives, rides are limited, expensive, and I wouldn’t really depend on it. You would be better off scheduling a ride ahead of time.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO & SEE IN KASTRO
Explore The Castle & Ancient Village Streets
The easiest, best, and most popular thing to do in Kastro is to just wander around the village. Through narrow passage ways, hidden corners, and tiny streets lined with freshly painted white houses, every turn you take is even more perfect than the last.
It won’t take you long to walk around Kastro, it probably won’t even take you an hour, but if you pay extra attention to your surroundings (and the kindest Greek residents around you), you’ll find Kastro x10 more special than it seems to be on the surface.
The Church of The Seven Martyrs
One of my favorite sports in Kastro, whether it was for laying in the sun, looking out over the Mediterranean and swimming off of the rocks below, or laying out under the stars at night, the Church of The Seven Martyrs never got old. And the energy was crazy.
Easily Kastro’s most photographable and visited spot at any time of the day, it is still so peaceful to sit and appreciate your surroundings with little to no people around you.
Kavos Sunrise Bar
Definitely the most unique and unexpected place on Sifnos, and one of my favorites, Kavos Sunrise Bear is most likely not what you are expecting to find in a small village on a Greek island.
Tucked in a small building on the edge of the cliffs, Kavos is a Cuban bar with an…authentic feel…serving either beer or rum cocktails. Inside, you will find yourself surrounded by old Cuban flags, photos of Fidel Castro, revolution memorabilia, handwritten letters and a crazy amount of empty rum bottles.
The owner of Kavos is just as unique as his bar, an older man who shows up every evening to serve customers himself, pouring both you and him a shot with every drink ordered.
Incase you haven’t been sold already, every drink at Kavos is €5, for a literal cup full of rum and a can of soda on the side, compared too the €10000 glass of wine anywhere else on Sifnos. I have no idea.
Hiking Trails Around Kastro
Through out Sifnos, you will find many connecting walking trails both in-land, and out on the cliffs around the perimeter of the island. Not only will you find beautiful secluded churches, views over the bright blue water, and botanicals unique to Sifnos specifically, you will also find some perfect little swim spots to jump in the warm clear water hidden blow the walking paths.
One of my favorite things to do on Sifnos was walking along these trails, finding a good spot to jump in, swimming for a bit, drying off in the sun, then continuing on walking and repeating the cycle over and over.
The Ancient Wall & Settlement of Kastro
Up at the top of the cliff that the village sits on is the ancient wall and settlement that overlooks the Mediterranean and the islands way out in the distance.
The ancient wall is the only surviving marble wall on the island, and at the settlement, you can still see the foundations of the home/shelter where people lived and kept watch for invaders thousands of years ago.
It is a surreal feeling standing there, where people stood centuries ago. If you appreciate some good history, you will appreciate this.
The Kastro Archaeological Museum
Tucked away down a tiny side corner in a little house, the Archaeological Museum is a must when visiting Kastro.
Again, you are constantly surrounded by so much history just walking through the village, but being able to dive a bit deeper into that history by seeing more artifacts unearthed in Kastro is absolutely worth the time.
The Kastro Archaeological Museum is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30am-3:30pm, and entry will cost €3.
Church Hopping
With over 20 small, bright white little churches around Kastro alone, there are plenty of churches to spend your time seeing on the island. It might sound a bit boring especially if you are not religious, but trust, when you see them in real life they are so cute and so picturesque. I really appreciate seeing the contrast between the bright white with the colorful accents and the blues of the sky and the water. Often coated in a fresh sheet of white paint, each church has signs outside of their doors with the dates of their founding, and sometimes even a sarcophagus outside its doors.
Stargazing At Night
Being in the middle of the Aegean Sea away from the city lights makes for an unbelievable summer night sky, which was one of my favorite parts. Every single night I would end my day by laying outside of one of the small churches hidden away in the cliffs underneath the starry sky.
The beauty of the Greek islands is the mix of being able to spend your nights out at a club until 6am on some islands, and being able to spend your night alone in silence under the clear shooting stars on other islands.
THE BEST WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING IN KASTRO
If you only have an evening to visit Kastro, or if you are just looking for a way to spend an evening while on the island, spend a few hours exploring Kastro and all that it has to offer. When you arrive, start by wandering through the small streets around the castle, up to the ancient wall and settlement.
After taking in all of the history and the picturesque castle streets, walk along the cliffs for the end of sunset down to the Church of The Seven Martyrs.
From there head to Loggia Wine Bar for a drink over looking the sea. After a glass of wine, choose between the few restaurants in Kastro and get a bite to eat as the evening goes on. My favorites were Cantina, Captain Sifakis, and Astro.
After dinner, head to Kavos Sunrise Cuban Bar for a €5 Cuba Libre or Mojito on the cliffs as the moon rises, and finish your night with fresh loukoumades from Krypti.
Bonus points if you head back down to the Church of The Seven Martyrs again after dark.
THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KASTRO
Again, most people visiting Sifnos don’t stay in Kastro, but I don’t regret basing myself there at all, and I would 1000 times over again. I quickly learned that I barely even wanted to leave the village at all. Basically all accommodation options in Kastro are locally owned vacation homes and rooms for rent, and there are not many options, which is a good thing.
I scoped out the village and area pretty heavily imagining and planning for the future while looking at all of the vacation homes, and I have gotten a solid list of places that I would recommend most (and will stay in one day).
Again, most people visiting Sifnos don’t stay in Kastro, but I don’t regret basing myself there at all, and I would 1000 times over again. I quickly learned that I barely even wanted to leave the village at all. Basically all accommodation options in Kastro are locally owned vacation homes and rooms for rent, and there are not many options, which is a good thing.
I scoped out the village and area pretty heavily imagining and planning for the future while looking at all of the vacation homes, and I have gotten a solid list of places that I would recommend most (and will stay in one day).
MY TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
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Aegean Eye Apartments, Kastro
THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN KASTRO
Below the village on the water, there are three beautiful little restaurants: Cantina, Captain Sifakis, and Captain George. All of them being right on the water, all of the seafood is is brought in fresh from the boat that day and put on the menu, paired with a beautiful view with your meal.
Cantina $$$
Made with the day’s fresh seafood brought in from the sea below, and fresh ingredients grown on the island, Cantina is a ‘zero waste’ restaurant in the most beautiful setting on Seralia Beach below the village.
Cantina is open seasonally, and reservations are required. Each dinner is booked for 2 and a half hour dinner sessions to go through each course in the meal, with each plate meant to be shared.
Captain Sifaki’s $$
Next to Cantina on Seralia Beach is a small seafood restaurant on a beautiful deck over the water below. The day’s menu also depends on what Captain Sifaki brings in from his boat in the morning for his family to cook, whether it be grilled octopus, lobster, calamari, squid, and so much more. Along with the fresh seafood, Captain Sifaki’s also offers Mediterranean dishes and lovely desserts.
Captain George $$
Also right next to Cantina and Captain Sifaki’s, Captain George’s is another fresh little seafood tavern that is a bit more unassuming and low-key. When you picture this little tavern, picture the most authentic little Greek island restaurant directly on the water. With the kindest staff and atmosphere, this spot is perfect for a late lunch or dinner.
Astro $$
Up on the hill in the castle streets, Astro is a small restaurant with some tables out on the narrow street, and seating up in their building overlooking Sifnos’ hills and the twinkling lights in the distance. The staff is so kind, the food is fabulous, and it is pretty easy to get a table without a reservation.
Astro Restaurant, Kastro
Overall, staying in Kastro was exactly what I needed after dreaming about being back on the Mediterranean since last fall. Staying in this little village has only further deepened my need to continuing visiting and exploring smaller, more authentic Greek destinations on the sea, whether it’s on an island or the main land.
THINKING OF TRAVELING TO SIFNOS? DO IT.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE: SAFETYWING HAS ALWAYS BEEN FABULOUS. THE BEST EVER.
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