Why you should visit the Greek Island of Sifnos
Plush Life’s Fleur heads to Sifnos in the Cyclades for a rustic and authentic (yet undeniably plush) Greek island experience at Verina, a collection of luxury apartments and suites overlooking the Aegean Sea
If you haven’t heard of the Greek Island of Sifnos, you need to put it on your list to visit.
With its laid-back vibe and traditional white Cycladic villages, it offers the real Greek experience. It isn’t the easiest to get to (there are no direct flights, as Sifnos doesn’t have an airport) — but trust me, it’s worth the extra effort to get there.
Fly to Athens and catch a ferry from the port; it takes 3 hours on a high speed ferry and I would recommend booking a car at the port in Sifnos so that you can explore the island. This is exactly what we did, and it couldn't have been more simple. The ferry chugs up to the rustic port and you feel like you’ve just stepped onto the set of Mamma Mia. The slow Greek way of life hit us instantly, and we shifted straight into relaxation mode.
We picked up two juicy peaches from a little shop along the waterfront and hopped into our little car to head to our hotel. After winding through the hills we arrived at Verina, a collection of luxury boutiques and villas among ancient olive trees. We instantly fell in love. We were welcomed by the breathtaking panoramic views of the Aegean Sea, the olive trees shimmering in the warm breeze and the sun casting a golden hue over beautifully manicured gardens.
There are a few options at Verina, including villas and larger suites nearer to the sea. We chose Verina Astra, perched on the side of a steep hill with nothing between us but and the endless Aegean blue.
It left us speechless.
Each suite has its own private veranda where you can sit and lose yourself in the pure calm and serenity of the island and watch the sea shimmer under the Greek sun. On our first evening at Verina, we opted to dine in the hotel’s own restaurant.
The Bostani Bar & Restaurant is nestled in the garden, surrounded by fragrant herbs, beautiful flowers (and, once again, overlooking the endless blue of the Aegean Sea).
It’s the best spot to savour fine Greek cuisine with a creative approach to the culinary heritage of Sifnos and the Aegean region. As the sun set, the festoon lights started to glow.
Breakfast is also not to be missed at Verina. You can either choose to have it in the breakfast bar or in the comfort of your private veranda, both including spectacular views of the Aegean to gently wake you from your slumber.
After breakfast we followed the path down to the sea for a dip. There is an infinity pool in the hotel, but there’s nothing quite like swimming in the Mediterranean. Walk past the idyllic little church, down the jagged steps and you’ll find a small rocky area to leave your clothes and jump in right in.
On our second night we went a few minutes up the road to the charming village of Apollonia, with blue and white painted houses, little boutiques and pastry shops to wander around after a delicious Greek feast.
We chose Drakakis for dinner and it was the perfect evening. Cats slink from table to table hoping to catch something that’s fallen from the diner’s plate, and the village comes to life with families and couples chatting and laughing. A must visit is the ice cream shop on the main road into Apollonia, where we finished off our evening with baklava flavoured gelato.
The next day we headed to Cherronisos, a charming fishing village on the North coast of the island. The water is calm and utterly beautiful to swim in. There is a small sandy beach to soak up the sun and if you have beach chairs, or don’t mind sitting on the rock to dry off, there is a stony area near the fishing boats.
We spent the day in and out of the water, amongst tiny fish that flitted in the crystal clear sea, and nodded to the local fisherman in the boat next to us, who spent the morning untangling his net. In need of some refreshments, we wandered over to the taverna on the cove for a fresh Greek salad and a glass of local wine.
After another spectacular breakfast of thick Greek yoghurt, drizzled with local honey and fresh fruit, plus a stack of freshly made pancakes, just because, well why not.
We went in search of another cove, Faros — a sheltered harbour and fishing village 7km from Apollonia. It has three, tree-lined sandy beaches to choose from, and a car park close by. For lunch we hopped back in the car and went just around the cove to Fasolou beach where you will find a restaurant tucked in the trees and rattan lights blowing in the wind. The Greek salad here was a little different, with a local whipped cheese, and the prawn saganaki is a must.
This would be a great option for an evening meal too, eating under the twinkling lights with the sound of the sea in the distance.
We headed back to Verina for the last evening in Sifnos well-fed. In the morning, before we left for our next destination (Milos), we indulged in one of the many spa treatments on offer at the Bostani spa. They combine spa therapy rituals with proven techniques and natural surroundings to balance your body and help you relax and feel strong to the core.
I can confirm that we floated to the next leg of our trip after a truly magical and calming visit to Sifnos.
The Plush Life verdict: An island escape with sea views I will never stop dreaming of and an abundance of deliciously fresh, authentic Greek dishes to remember.
The details: Verina Hotels Sifnos (verinahotelssifnos.com) has a selection of hotels, suites and villas across Sifnos offering double rooms from €202 during low season and €372 during high season. Poulati 84003 Sifnos Greece; +30 22840 31440; astra@verina.gr)
