Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
arrival point for the daily Neápoli ferries (cars €50 one-way,
foot passenger €12; W kythira-kithira-kythera.com).
Slightly disconcerting when arriving by sea is the sight of a
container ship that went aground in 1999 on an offshore
island. Dhiakófti has a sandy beach and a few places to stay,
but most people move on quickly.
Destinations Andikýthira (2 weekly in season; 2hr);
Kalamáta (1 daily; 4hr 30min); Kastélli (Crete, 1 daily; 3hr
40min); Neápoli (up to 4 daily; 1hr) Pireás (2 weekly in
season; 6hr); Yíthio (1-5 weekly in season; 2hr 30min).
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Services Potamós town has tavernas, a bank ATM, a post
office and petrol stations, as well as an Olympic Airways
office ( T 27360 33362). Hóra has a couple of banks with
ATMs and a post office on the main square. For booking and
buying both ferry and air tickets, Kithira Travel has two
locations on the island, one on the main street of Hóra and
the other in Potamós ( T 27360 31390 or 27360 31848).
Guided walks The Mare Nostrum camping and outdoor
shop in Potamós ( T 27360 33573, E chronisdiver
@hotmail.com) can organize guided walks from Paleohóra
down through the Káki Langádha Gorge to the coast a
couple of kilometres south of Ayía Pelayía.
2
GETTING AROUND
By bus A single daily service runs between Ayía Pelayía-
Kapsáli-Dhiakófti, starting at 9am Mon-Sat, returning
Dhiakófti-Kapsáli-Ayía Pelayía late mornings or mid-
afternoon, depending on the ferry times.
By taxi Taxis from the port charge around €25 to Kapsáli
and €17 to Potamós, but establish a price beforehand.
Car and motorbike rental Panayotis, based in Hóra
( T 27360 31004, W panayotis-rent-a-car.gr) but with offices
in Kapsáli, Ayía Pelayía, Dhiakófti and at the airport, rents
cars, motorbikes, mountain bikes and scooters. The roads are
generally well surfaced and there are petrol stations on the
central road at Potamós, Kondoliánika and Livádhi.
Potamós and around
Inland, northwest of the ferry port, is POTAMÓS , Kýthira's largest town. It's a pleasant,
unspoilt place, which makes a perfect lunch stop when you're exploring the island,
though you should choose to stay at one of the towns on or near a beach. The Sunday
market here is the island's biggest event - local cafés provide live music to coincide.
Paleohóra
Unenclosed site • Free • The dirt road to Paleohóra is signposted of the main road south from Potamós just north of
Aroniádhika
About 3km east of Potamós lies PALEOHÓRA , the ruined medieval capital of Kýthira
(then called Áyios Dhimítrios). Few people seem to know about or visit these remains,
though they constitute one of the best Byzantine sites around and boast a spectacular
setting, surrounded by a sheer 100m drop on three sides.
The town was built in the thirteenth century, and when Mystra fell to the Turks,
many of its noble families sought refuge here. Despite its seemingly concealed and
impregnable position, the site was discovered and sacked in 1537 by Barbarossa,
commander of the Turkish fleet, and the island's seven thousand inhabitants were
killed or sold into slavery. The principal remains are of the surviving churches , some
still with traces of frescoes (but kept firmly locked, so peer in through the windows),
and the castle .
Ayía Pelayía
About 4km northeast of Potamós is the resort of AYÍA PELAYÍA , with a good choice of
rooms and tavernas ; the main beaches are cleaner since the ferries stopped coming
here, but the beach at Kalamítsa, a 2km dirt track away to the south, is better - the
track continues on to the mouth of the Káki Langádha gorge which offers excellent
hiking (see p.172).
Mylopótamos
Some 6km south of Potamós it is worth making a detour 4km west of the main road
for MYLOPÓTAMOS , a lovely traditional village and a shady oasis in summer, set in a
 
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