Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(5-6 daily; 20min), Kastro (5-6 daily; 20min), Vathý (3-4
daily; 50min) and Herrónisos (3 daily; 1hr).
By car and motorcycle
For rental try Stavros Hotel (see
below) and No1 (
T
22840 33791/33793,
W
protomotocar
.gr) right by the disembarkation point in Kamáres.
Kamáres
KAMÁRES
, the island's port, with its gorgeous, clean beach, is tucked away in a long,
steep-sided valley that cuts into the cliffs of the island's western side. A compact resort,
though with concrete blocks of accommodations edging up to the base of the
hill-slopes, Kamáres' seafront road is crammed with bars, travel agencies, ice-cream
shops and restaurants.
6
ACCOMMODATION
KAMÁRES
Boulis
T
22840 32122,
W
hotelboulis.gr.
If you want to
wake up and head straight for a swim, this hotel -
arranged around a hedged and vine-covered courtyard in
the middle of Kamáres beach - is the place for you.
Optional br
eakfa
st (€8) in the adjoining, atmospheric café.
Easter-Oct.
€65
Dina's rooms
Ayía Marína
T
22840 32364.
On the
furthest side of the beach, these spotless rooms have the
best views in Kamáres and are suited for those who prefer
quieter, more secluded accommodation. “Rooms” here is a
misn
omer
- there are hotels that offer much less. May-
Sept.
€60
Makis
T
22840 32366,
W
makiscamping.gr.
A campsite
on Kamáres beach
with excellent facilities such as a café-
bar, free wi-fi, minimarket and a laundry open to
non-guests. The obliging, friendly owner is a mine of
information about the island.
The
re are al
so on
-site double
studios. May-Sept. Camping
€10
, studios
€50
Myrtó bungalows
T
22840 32055
W
hotel-myrto.gr.
Opposite the junction to Ayía Marína, this is what you
envisage as the ultimate Cycladic hotel: whitewashed,
stone-paved, comfortable rooms with balconies and, up
from the port as it stands overlooking Ayía
María
, beautiful
beach views. Breakfast included. April-Oct.
€60
Ì
Stavros
T
22840 33383,
W
sifnostravel.com.
A
first-class, extremely helpful and reasonably priced hotel
on the harbourfront with spacious rooms, free wi-fi and
internet facilities. With a wide range of services, it can serve
as a one-point infor
mati
on and booking centre for trips and
the like. May-Sept.
€60
EATING AND DRINKING
Follie
Ayía Marína
T
22840 31183.
Is it a bar? Is it a
beach club? Is it a nightspot? A bit of everything really;
Athenian-owned and operated, it
is full for breakfast, is
rather muted in the afternoon, but packs them in again for
evening drinks and dinner (€8). Don't let all this multi-
functioning confuse you, though; the food in the restaurant
is very good.
Easter-Sept daily 8am-3am.
Ísalos
Ayía Marina
T
22840 33716.
Café-bar and
restaurant with a shaded terrace offering more classy
cuisine than anywhere else on the island. Its Greek and
International menu is highly imaginative, matching the
assiduously sophisticated decor. Try its marinated fish
selection for €10.
Easter-Sept daily 8am-midnight.
The Old Captain Bar
T
22840 31990.
A beach bar
offering deckchairs during the day, it really comes alive
after sunset when a DJ plays eclectic rock music catering for
the young people who haven't made it to Apollonía.
Cocktails €8.
Easter-Oct daily 11am-3am.
Ì
Simos
T
22840 32353.
Family-run, popular taverna
on the Kamáres main street with a reputation second to
none among the islanders, offering meat and vegetables
from their own farm. Their Sunday split-pea soup (€7) is as
traditional as it is tasty and an absolute must.
Daily
noon-midnight
.
Apollonía and around
A steep bus ride from Kamáres takes you 5.5km up to
APOLLONÍA
, the centre of an
amalgam of five hilltop villages that have merged over the years into one continuous
community: immediately north is
Áno Petáli
, which then runs into
Artemónas
, about
fifteen minutes away on foot. With white buildings, stepped paths, belfries and
flower-draped balconies, it is very scenic, though not self-consciously so.
Sights in Apollonía include numerous churches, while on the central square, the
folk
museum
(April-Oct daily 9.30am-2pm & 6-10pm; €1), with its collection of textiles,
lace, costumes and weaponry, is worth a visit. Behind and parallel to the square runs
the pedestrian street,
To Stenó
, lined with restaurants, bars and fancy shops. The main
