Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1991. Just outside the kástro to the north stands the conspicuously unwhitewashed,
late seventeenth-century church of
Khryssóstomos
, the most beautiful on the island.
Near the church is the
archeological
museum
(July-Sept Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm; free),
displaying pottery from the Geometric to the Roman period. In a restored house near
the eastern gateway is the privately run
Folk and Maritime Museum
(July-Sept daily
9am-1.30pm; €1).
ACCOMMODATION
HÓRA
6
Ì
Meltemi
T
22870 51360.
A superlative option in the
west of the village, with modern, recently renovated
rooms, airy balconies and an excellent view across to Hóra.
The owner is the captain of the
Panagia Faneromeni
and
can arrange for your pickup at Psáthi. There is also an
excellent restaurant below where you can taste island
dishes such as
tomatokeftédhes
(€6), something like
tomato bhajis.
€50
Villa Maria
T
22870 51392.
Central hotel, right by the
entrance to Hóra, with rooms and studios that are up there
with the most comfortable in the Cyclades; however, check
carefully (and then reconfirm)
whe
ther it is block-booked,
something that happens often.
€50
EATING AND DRINKING
Ì
Panorama
T
22870 51351.
This is the best place to
eat on the island near the northeastern gate of the kástro.
It offers well-cooked dishes (mains €6) with fresh
ingredients, a tasteful marine decor and a pretty veranda.
Most importantly in an island as sleepy as this, the place is
consistently open.
Daily noon-midnight
.
To Kyma
Psáthi
T
22870 51001.
An excellent taverna
midway along the beach, specializing in fresh seafood (€8)
and vegetarian dishes that come directly from their own
farm. This is the place to try fried rather than the normally
grilled octopus.
April-Oct daily noon-late.
Rest of the island
The hamlet of
Alykí
on the south coast is about thirty minutes' walk on the paved road
that forks left from Psáthi; it is named after the saltpan that sprawls behind a pebbly
beach. Here you can indulge in some serious birdwatching or to spot the rare, endemic
Mílos wall lizard. If you stroll west one cove, you arrive at
Bonátsa
which has better
sand and shallower water. Passing another cove you come to the even more attractive
beach of
Kalamítsi
,
with decent shade.
There are three clearly signposted beaches next to each other starting from the dirt track
at the end of the asphalted road of
Fykiádha
, a 45-minute walk west of Alykí. The first
one, dotted with caves and ancient tombs, is
Dhékas
. It is divided by a low bluff from the
long coarse-sand beach of
Elliniká
, itself divided by a rocky promontory from
Mavrospiliá
,
which provides the best spot to watch the sunset. There are no facilities on any beach.
Some 7km northeast from Hóra is
Prása
, arguably the best easily accessible beach on the
island, with crystal-clear water, fine sand and, to top it all, radioactive thermal springs. The
route takes in impressive views across the straits to the island of
Políaigos
, and there are
several peaceful coves where it's possible to swim in solitude. In the northwest, on
Kímolos's 361m summit, are the scant ruins of a Venetian fortress known as
Paleókastro
which can be reached after a reasonable trek (2hr 30min) from the dirt road off Prása. The
road forks by the peak to Sklavos with one branch leading to
Skiadhi
, an odd rock
formation like a mushroom which has been adopted as the island landmark.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
REST OF THE ISLAND
Bonátsa Studios
Bonátsa
T
22870 51429,
W
bonatsa
.gr.
Right behind a string of salt cedars, this apartment
complex offers studios of exceptional quality in bright red
and yellow colours. A good restaura
nt be
longing to the
owner operates next door. June-Sept.
€90
Kimolía Yi
Prássa
T
22870 51192,
W
kimoliagi.gr.
Set
at 200m from the beach, this is the only, but still pretty
good, accommodation option here, eye-catchingly
decorated, with much ornamental bric-a-brac on show.
Children under the
age
of four pay nothing. Breakfast
included. April-Sept.
€90
Sardis
Alykí
T
22870 51458.
Comfortable hotel with
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