Discover Cyclades
Discover Cyclades
Koufonisia has the most turquoise water in Greece — Pori Beach rivals the Caribbean. This tiny car-free island (3.5 km²) has 16 beaches, waterside fish tavernas, and zero traffic. The ultimate slow-travel Cyclades experience. Complete 2026 guide.
Caribbean-like beaches on a car-free island the size of a postage stamp, making it the Aegean's most joyful secret
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Koufonisia Greece is a tiny car-free island in the Small Cyclades with Caribbean-clear water at Pori and Gala — search "koufonisia greece" for the Aegean's turquoise secret. Reach it via Athens to Koufonisia ferry (6–7h) or a short hop from Naxos.
Koufonisia is proof that the best things really do come in small packages. This pair of tiny islands, Ano Koufonisi and Kato Koufonisi, sits in the Small Cyclades chain between Naxos and Amorgos. It packs more barefoot, sun-drenched happiness per square meter than almost anywhere else in Greece. Ano Koufonisi, where most visitors stay, is just 3.5 square kilometers of low-lying land. It's fringed by a succession of sandy coves lapped by water so turquoise it looks digitally enhanced.
The island operates on a beautifully simple formula: walk or cycle everywhere since there are almost no cars, swim at a different beach every few hours, and grab a fresh ice cream or fresh fish at a waterfront taverna. The village, which is the only settlement, is a single cluster of whitewashed houses, seafood restaurants, and relaxed bars. It feels more like a friendly neighborhood than a tourist destination. Everyone here seems to know everyone, and you'll feel right at home within hours.
Kato Koufonisi, the uninhabited lower island reached by a short boat ride, offers pristine beaches and a single seasonal taverna. Together, the Koufonisia experience is the ultimate antidote to complexity. The biggest decision of your day is which cove to swim in next, and whether to order grilled octopus or sea bream for dinner. For travelers who value simplicity and natural beauty over luxury amenities, it's the Cycladic dream distilled to its purest form.
Koufonisia doesn't have everything, and that's exactly what makes it perfect.
Chora is the only practical base. Koufonisia hotels.
Handpicked hotels with exceptional reviews and local character.
Detailed breakdowns of every neighborhood and village.
Expert Recommendation
"For the first-time visitor, staying in the main Chora provides the best balance of accessibility and atmosphere."
Archaeological finds suggest people have lived on Koufonisia since the Early Cycladic period (3rd millennium BC). The islands' position in the Small Cyclades made them useful stops for ancient seafarers navigating between larger islands. Remnants of early settlements have been found on Kato Koufonisi.
For centuries, Koufonisia's tiny population survived almost entirely on fishing and small-scale farming. The islanders were famous across the Cyclades as skilled fishermen and boat builders. Even today, the harbor remains a busy working port where fishing boats unload their catch each morning.
Through much of the 20th century, the Small Cyclades were among the most isolated communities in Greece. Irregular boat services, no electricity until the 1980s, and minimal infrastructure meant these islands preserved a traditional way of life that had vanished elsewhere.
Word of Koufonisia's extraordinary beaches spread through backpacker networks in the 1990s, and the island gradually gained a devoted following. Development has been careful and small-scale. There are no large hotels, no chains, and no plans for an airport. The island has chosen charm over growth, and we're all the richer for it.
Explore the heart of Koufonisia
The single settlement wraps around the harbor and fishing port with an irresistible charm. Whitewashed houses, colorful fishing boats, and waterfront tavernas make up the entirety of the island's town. The evening promenade along the harbor wall, watching fishing boats return and the sunset color the sky, is a nightly ritual.
The lower island, Kato Koufonisi, is almost entirely uninhabited and offers pristine wild beaches accessible only by the short boat crossing from the main harbor. A single seasonal taverna operates on one beach, but otherwise the island is pure, untouched nature: the ultimate escape within an escape.
At the eastern end of the island's coastal path, Pori is both a sandy beach and a natural swimming area carved into the rocky coastline. The sculpted rock formations create natural pools and channels of clear water, offering one of the most unique swimming experiences in the Cyclades.
A short walk uphill from the village leads to the island's old windmill, which offers a 360-degree panorama over the entire Koufonisia chain, neighboring Naxos and Amorgos, and the endless Aegean. It's the best spot on the island for sunrise or sunset.
Just east of the village, Loutro is a tiny, sheltered cove where locals swim before breakfast. The calm, clear water and easy access from the village make it the island's most convenient swimming spot: proof that on Koufonisia, the beach is never more than a few minutes away.
Boutique villas, cave hotels, and sea-view suites — all in one place.
The best shores of Koufonisia
A wide sandy beach backed by natural rock pools and wave-sculpted formations. It's the most famous beach on Koufonisia and a natural wonder of turquoise water and golden stone.
A crescent of golden sand with shallow turquoise water that looks transplanted from the Caribbean. It's arguably the most photogenic beach on the island.
A small, sheltered cove with fine sand and calm water, tucked between low rocky headlands. It's intimate and perfectly formed.
A sandy beach with a popular beach bar, sunbeds, and a lively atmosphere. It's the most "organized" beach on the island, though still wonderfully low-key.
The uninhabited lower island offers completely undeveloped beaches of sand and pebble, reached by a short boat ride. It's true desert island swimming.
A tiny sheltered cove steps from the village. It's the locals' daily swimming spot and the most convenient dip on the island.
Explore every beach and hidden village at your own pace.
Impossibly fresh seafood from morning boats, simple preparations, and the Aegean on your plate
Each morning, fishing boats unload their catch directly to the harbor tavernas. Grilled whole with olive oil and lemon, the fish here is as fresh as it gets in the Cyclades. You can practically see the boat that caught your dinner.
Sun-dried and charcoal-grilled octopus is a Koufonisia staple. It's tender, smoky, and served with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon alongside a cold beer at sunset.
A Cycladic celebration dish of local lobster braised in tomato sauce and tossed with thick pasta. Several tavernas on the island prepare this as their signature, and it's worth every euro.
The classic Greek salad elevated by briny local capers, sharp feta, and tomatoes ripened in the Aegean sun. It's simple perfection at a waterfront table.
When in season, fresh sea urchin is scooped from the rocks and served raw with a squeeze of lemon. It's a briny, umami-rich delicacy for the adventurous.
Traditional fruit preserves served as a welcome treat or after-meal sweet, fig, grape, and citrus varieties, each made by hand using family recipes
From sunrise to sunset in Koufonisia
Start the day like the locals: with a quick dip in the sheltered cove of Loutro, just steps from the village. The calm, clear water and the soft morning light make this a ritual you'll repeat every morning of your stay.
30 minWalk the island's south coast path, stopping at each beach along the way. From Italida to Finikas to Pori, the trail connects the island's finest swimming spots, so pack a towel, some water, and let each cove decide how long you stay.
3-4 hoursSpend a morning at Pori's extraordinary natural rock pools. The wave-sculpted formations create channels and pools of crystal-clear water that feel like nature's own infinity pools, so bring a snorkel to explore the world below.
2 hoursTake the short boat crossing to the uninhabited lower island for a day of wild beaches and total solitude. Swim, explore the rocky coastline, and have a simple lunch at the seasonal taverna before the afternoon boat returns.
4-5 hoursClaim a waterfront table at one of the harbor tavernas and feast on whatever the boats brought in this morning. With grilled fish, octopus, calamari, and a carafe of cold wine, this is the Koufonisia lunch ritual at its most blissful.
2 hoursRent a bicycle and explore the island at pedaling pace. At just 3.5 km², you can cover every road in an hour, riding past churches, through the countryside, and along the coast. It's the perfect way to discover corners you'd miss on the beach path.
1.5 hoursJoin the nightly ritual of watching sunset from the harbor wall. Fishing boats return, the sky turns gold and coral, and the entire village gathers for what feels like a collective moment of gratitude for another perfect Koufonisia day.
1 hourKoufonisia's evenings are relaxed and joyful. Dine at a harbor taverna, stroll to a beach bar for cocktails under the stars, and mingle with the friendly mix of Greek families, backpackers, and return visitors who make up the island's summer community.
3 hoursSailing trips, sunset cruises, diving, cooking classes and more.
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Ferry routes and travel connections
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Ferries, hotels, car rental and neighbourhood guides — everything you need after reading this Koufonisia guide.
Koufonisia connects to 9 nearby islands by ferry. These are the live island-hopping routes from Koufonisia, with direct connections drawn from our full Cyclades ferry catalogue.
Hozoviotissa monastery, Big Blue diving, and dramatic clifftop villages.
Secluded beaches and a single tiny village: the ultimate Small Cyclades escape.
The largest Cycladic island, serving as your gateway to ferry connections and endless beaches.
Curated tours and activities
Boat transfer to the uninhabited lower island for wild beach swimming, with return in the afternoon.
Full-day boat excursion visiting beaches on Kato Koufonisi, Keros (from the water), and hidden coves of the Small Cyclades.
Evening sailing around the Koufonisia coastline with swimming, snacks, and sunset views from the water.
Insider tips for your Koufonisia trip
Hand-picked Cyclades photography — refreshed weekly from Pexels.
Photography via Pexels — credit shown per image.
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From the turquoise rock pools of Pori to the car-free village harbor, from wild Kato Koufonisi to sunset on the waterfront, Koufonisia is the Cycladic paradise stripped down to pure, barefoot joy.
