Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The fleet is disproportionately large for the population, the catch supplies the surrounding islands, and the practical consequence for a visitor is that the seafood here is as good as anywhere in Greece and considerably cheaper.
The village
Fourni Korseon, the port, is effectively the whole island: a single main street running up from the quay, tavernas along the water, a square with plane trees, and a scatter of rooms. It is unglamorous and entirely genuine.
Chrysomilia and Kamari to the north are small villages reached by a winding road or by boat.
The wrecks
Underwater surveys around Fourni have found an exceptional concentration of ancient shipwrecks, dozens of them, spanning many centuries. The archipelago sat on a major shipping route and its coves offered shelter, which is precisely why so many vessels came to grief there.
The sites are protected and not open for casual diving, so this is context rather than an activity. It does explain why a place this small keeps appearing in archaeological news.
Beaches and walking
Coves rather than beaches, most of them empty: Kambi, a short walk from the port with tavernas behind it, is the easy one. Petrokopio, Elidaki and others need a walk or a boat.
The island is hilly and the old paths are walkable, with the ridge giving views across to Ikaria and Samos.
Getting there and how long
Ferries from Ikaria, Samos and Piraeus, on the eastern Aegean lines. No airport; the nearest are on Ikaria and Samos.
Two nights, and it combines naturally with either neighbour.
Last checked August 2026. Ferry frequency is limited and seasonal - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Where is Fourni?
A small archipelago between Ikaria and Samos in the eastern Aegean.
What is Fourni known for?
Being a working fishing community rather than a tourist island, with exceptional seafood, and an unusually rich field of ancient shipwrecks offshore.
Can you dive the shipwrecks at Fourni?
No. The sites are archaeologically protected rather than open for casual diving.
Are there good beaches on Fourni?
Coves rather than beaches, mostly empty. Kambi is a short walk from the port; others need a longer walk or a boat.
How do you get to Fourni?
By ferry from Ikaria, Samos or Piraeus. There is no airport on the island.