Where to stay in Sikinos Island – Best areas, hotels & Airbnb
Sikinos is one of the hidden gems of the Cycladic Islands.
Nested between Ios and Folegandros, this tiny island is the perfect spot for anyone wanting to avoid the busy Greek islands.
In fact, Sikinos is surely one of the quietest Greek islands and one of the most secluded place to stay in the Aegean Sea.
You can comfortably explore this relatively small island (around 12-13km long and 4km wide) by car or bus.
You can even walk through most of of the island if you do not mind the high temperatures of the summer months
The capital, Chora, is probably the best place to stay in Sikinos for an overall enjoyment of the island
For those looking for a beach holiday, and a more practical base for their Greek breakaway, there is another option.
In this travel guide I have included everything you need to know about where to stay in Sikinos Island, including a few hotels and holiday rentals I recommend for a quiet and relaxing breakaway.
But let’s go into the juicy stuff.
Best hotels in Sikinos Island – In a nutshell
These are the top three best places to stay in Sikinos. Keep reading to find out more about the island, the most interesting areas and other accommodation options.
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You will be happy to know that an hourly bus connects the Alopronia Port to Chora, with a few runs extending to the lovely beach of Agios Georgios.
You can also decide to walk between the two villages if you feel fit enough (4 km or about an hour).
Car and scooter rentals are nearby the port of Alopronia, another good option to explore more of the island of Sikinos
Staying close to the harbour will be handy if you want to take a boat to one of the handful of beaches reachable only from the sea.
As you may already know, there is no night life in Sikinos. This is a place to relax and unwind.
Here below I have listed and described the best 2 areas to stay in Sikinos Island, with pros and cons for each one, and a bunch of recommended accommodations
Chora
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The area of Chora has it all for an enjoyable stay, except the beach, but that is only a 10-15 minutes away by bus.
First of all, it is such a beautiful town with traditional whitewashed houses, and a maze of small lanes and tiny squares to get literally lost.
There are not as many restaurants on this small, beautiful Greek island, probably less than 10.
The best ones are positioned in Chora, so enjoyable for the lovely setup and local food.
In true honesty, I even suggest going to Chora from the Alopronia Village for dinner, definitely worth the bus trip.
The town of Chora has actually two distinctive parts, on the right side (as you approach the town), you will find Kastro the oldest area, and on the left side you will find Chorio, the newer village, also very characteristic.
One of the best things to do from Kastro is the short walk to the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, still in very good condition.
The slope of the hill can be challenging, but you will have the best spot for its panoramic views.
Unmissable is also a visit to the Manalis Winery, a good idea for sunset drinks and dinner.
It is located southwest of Chora and it is quickly reachable by car (2.5km) and by foot in 30-45 minutes.
The only drawback of Chora is that you will not be next to the beach, but you can always take a quick bus ride to Alopronia Beach or the lovely Agios Georgios.
Renting a car during your stay in Chora is not essential, however, you will be more flexible with one.
There is a dirt road here and there, however, the main roads are all sealed.
For dinner, head to Garbi’s Place, one of the best options in Chora for its fresh food and very reasonable prices.
Kรกparฤ is another great option, with the tables along a little lane of Kastro, family run and friendly service.
Here below are three great accommodation options that may work perfectly for you.
Sikinos Elegant Studio
The property is right next to the castle and comes with a balcony from where you can enjoy your meals as you take in the views
Here you have a studio with its patio and free Wi-Fi. Making meals will also be a breeze, in its well-equipped kitchen.
You can also enjoy the common terrace, and thereโs also a car rental service available to aid your trips in the area.
Check price at the Elegant Studio
Stegadi Apartment (1BR)
The traditional apartment is spacious, with free WiFi access, entertainment units, including a flat-screen TV, all through to a kitchenette with the cookware needed to prepare your meals.
It’s all well maintained, and the private bathroom has a spacious shower cubicle.
Seat and relax on the sun terrace while enjoying the views of Sikinos and, far off on the horizon, Santorini.
A special mention goes to the friendly host, always ready to assist with logistics and support during the stay.
House Of Kastro (2BR)
A house that gives you panoramic sea views, with spacious and well-furnished interiors that deliver that “home away from home” experience, ideal for a family holiday.
The host is so friendly, even offering to pick you up at the port and accompany you to the residence.
The house is surrounded by nature, with its own terrace, making it an ideal spot for breaking away from the bustle of daily life. Free Wi-Fi is available.
Check price at the House of Kastro
Do you want to see more photos of Sikinos?
Check out my best 27 photos of the island
Alopronia Village
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Alopronia Village (also spelt as Alopronoia) is the best place to stay in Sikinos if you prefer a holiday by the beach.
The main beach of Alopronoia is stunning, sandy and with a few facilities.
There is a regular bus to the beautiful beach of Agios Georgios (much wilder than Alopronia Beach) and you can easily take a boat to a handful of beaches hardly reachable from the land.
And finally, you can also have a walk north (2.5km or around 30-45 minutes) to Dialiskari Beach, one of the quietest beaches of Sikinos to make it an off-the-beaten-path day trip.
Plenty of options.
Alopronia has limited tourist development, which is in some respects good news.
However, one of the cons is that there is only one family-run restaurant in the village and one cafe.
For dinner, I also suggest taking the bus to Chora where you will find a more characteristic environment and a better selection in quantity and quality.
Here below I have listed 3 possible accommodation in the area, with Lucas doubles/triples being the best value in Alopronia.
Seafront Maistrali
This seaside hotel was built using the characteristic Cycladic design, so stunning.
You get spacious rooms with air conditioning overlooking the Aegean Sea or the back garden.
Each unit has its flat-screen TV, balcony or terrace, as well as handy facilities like the hairdryer.
Waking up to views of the beach and harbour is so therapeutic.
Alopronia Port is within walking distance, very handy for an early ferry departure or late arrival.
Logistics are also a breeze here, from the free parking and shuttle services available, as well as luggage storage.
Kastellos Apartments
The location of these apartments is so handy! A stone away from the beach and the bus stop. Moreover, transport to/from the ferry is also free.
Regarding the accommodation itself, each unit is well furnished with its own private balcony overlooking the sea, a full-equipped kitchen, TV, and has free WiFi access.
Itโs also close to a supermarket, restaurant and self-service cafe. Such a handy location!
Lucas B Panorama (Budget)
Lucas provides a quiet and serene accommodation with a terrace where you will very likely spend hours overlooking the sea.
The beach is a quick stroll away, as well as the stop to catch the bus to Chora.
Taking your continental breakfast on the balcony is quite the treat.
The apartment is not as spacious, but is great for couples or solo travellers, giving them a neat intimate space.
The hosts can also pick you up from the port and give you a lift back. The premise is cleaned daily, and the towels changed frequently too.
I was forgetting to mention that it all comes at a bargain price (a great cheap accommodation)!
How to get to Sikinos Island
It can only be reached by ferry from Athens or any nearby island, including Paros, Naxos, Ios, Milos and Santorini.
The closest airports to Sikinos are in Santorini, Paros (Domestic only) and Naxos (Domestic only).
Santorini is the quickest, and usually cheapest, destination if you fly from overseas, and from there, a ferry to Sikinos.
You can also make it to Athens and from the Port of Piraeus take a quick ferry, but the entire trip would be much longer and probably more expensive
The ferry schedule may change based on the season and the ferries may be not on a daily basis.
The Omio website is usually where I check and book my ferries. With no pop-ups or push notifications, the interface is simple and intuitive. In terms of price, it’s the same as most other ticket providers.
Check the ferry schedule and price
The best time to visit Sikinos Island is between mid-May and late September, with July and August the busiest period.
In saying that, the word busy in Sikinos is very relative, and not comparable to the other nearby islands.
In this respect, Sikinos works so well even in high season, when most of the other island are crowded.