When I booked my trip to Sifnos with my hotel in Kastro, I had no idea what I should’ve been expecting. I had no prior knowledge of what Kastro had to offer, besides how beautiful it looked.
It exceeded all expectations very shortly after arriving. Small, quiet streets lined with bright white churches, ancient ruins, and a backdrop of the blue Mediterranean meeting the sky, Kastro is small, but has so much to offer.
Explore The Castle & Ancient Village Streets
The easiest, best, and most popular thing to do in Kastro is to just wander around the village. Through narrow passage ways, hidden corners, and tiny streets lined with freshly painted white houses, every turn you take is even more perfect than the last.
It won’t take you long to walk around Kastro, it probably won’t even take you an hour, but if you pay extra attention to your surroundings (and the kindest Greek residents around you), you’ll find Kastro x10 more special than it seems to be on the surface.
The Church of The Seven Martyrs
One of my favorite sports in Kastro, whether it was for laying in the sun, looking out over the Mediterranean and swimming off of the rocks below, or laying out under the stars at night, the Church of The Seven Martyrs never got old. And the energy was crazy.
Easily Kastro’s most photographable and visited spot at any time of the day, it is still so peaceful to sit and appreciate your surroundings with little to no people around you.
Hiking Trails Around Kastro
Through out Sifnos, you will find many connecting walking trails both in-land, and out on the cliffs around the perimeter of the island. Not only will you find beautiful secluded churches, views over the bright blue water, and botanicals unique to Sifnos specifically, you will also find some perfect little swim spots to jump in the warm clear water hidden blow the walking paths.
One of my favorite things to do on Sifnos was walking along these trails, finding a good spot to jump in, swimming for a bit, drying off in the sun, then continuing on walking and repeating the cycle over and over.
The Ancient Wall & Settlement of Kastro
Up at the top of the cliff that the village sits on is the ancient wall and settlement that overlooks the Mediterranean and the islands way out in the distance.
The ancient wall is the only surviving marble wall on the island, and at the settlement, you can still see the foundations of the home/shelter where people lived and kept watch for invaders thousands of years ago. It is a surreal feeling standing there, where people stood centuries ago. If you appreciate some good history, you will appreciate this.
Kavos Sunrise Bar
Definitely the most unique and unexpected place on Sifnos, and one of my favorites, Kavos Sunrise Bear is most likely not what you are expecting to find in a small village on a Greek island.
Tucked in a small building on the edge of the cliffs, Kavos is a Cuban bar with an…authentic feel…serving either beer or rum cocktails. Inside, you will find yourself surrounded by old Cuban flags, photos of Fidel Castro, revolution memorabilia, handwritten letters and a crazy amount of empty rum bottles. The owner of Kavos is just as unique as his bar, an older man who shows up every evening to serve customers himself, pouring both you and him a shot with every drink ordered.
Incase you haven’t been sold already, every drink at Kavos is €5, for a literal cup full of rum and a can of soda on the side, compared too the €10000 glass of wine anywhere else on Sifnos. I have no idea.
Church Hopping
With over 20 small, bright white little churches around Kastro alone, there are plenty of churches to spend your time seeing on the island.
It might sound a bit boring especially if you are not religious, but trust, when you see them in real life they are so cute and so picturesque. I really appreciate seeing the contrast between the bright white with the colorful accents and the blues of the sky and the water. Often coated in a fresh sheet of white paint, each church has signs outside of their doors with the dates of their founding.
Eat Fresh Seafood On The Water
Below the village on the water, there are three beautiful little restaurants: Cantina, Captain Sifakis, and Captain George. All of them being right on the water, all of the seafood is is brought in fresh from the boat that day and put on the menu, paired with a beautiful view with your meal.
The Kastro Archaeological Museum
Tucked away down a tiny side corner in a little house, the Archaeological Museum is a must when visiting Kastro. Again, you are constantly surrounded by so much history just walking through the village, but being able to dive a bit deeper into that history by seeing more artifacts unearthed in Kastro is absolutely worth the time.
The Kastro Archaeological Museum is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30am-3:30pm, and entry will cost €3.
Again, it may seem small but this little village really sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. I will be back, I dream about it everyday. Add Sifnos to your summer travel plans, and stay in Kastro, you won’t regret it.
Madigan Murphy 