Sifnos has no airport, which is most of what you need to know. Everyone who goes there goes by boat, and the boat leaves from Piraeus.
Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The line
Sifnos sits on the western Cyclades line, the run that goes Piraeus, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Kimolos, Milos, and sometimes onward to Folegandros and Santorini.
Two kinds of vessel work it:
- Conventional ferries, slower, cheaper, steadier in wind, and they carry cars.
- High-speed catamarans, roughly half the time and the first to be cancelled when it blows.
The crossing lands at Kamares, the port on the west coast, which is a proper little town rather than a jetty.
Why the line matters more than the crossing
The western Cyclades line is the reason to think of Sifnos as part of a string rather than a single destination. Serifos is the stop before, Kimolos and Milos the stops after, and hopping between them is short and frequent in season.
That is a genuinely good week: four islands, no long crossings, no flights, and none of them is Santorini in August.
Getting around once you land
Buses connect Kamares with Apollonia, the inland capital, and with Kastro, the medieval village on the east cliff, and Platis Gialos and Vathi on the south coast. The bus network is better than on most islands this size.
Sifnos is also the best walking island in the Cyclades after Andros: an extensive network of restored stone paths, well waymarked. See hiking in Greece.
And it is the island Greeks name first for food. The local ceramic pots, the chickpea stew baked overnight, and a genuinely serious taverna culture for a small place.
Practical notes
- Book cars and August cabins early. The line is busy and Sifnos is popular with Athenians.
- Wind cancels catamarans first. If your flight home is tight, take the conventional ferry.
- The port is not the capital. Kamares is where you land; Apollonia is where most of the rooms and the evening are.
Last checked August 2026. Ferry schedules change every season - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Does Sifnos have an airport?
No. Every visitor arrives by ferry from Piraeus on the western Cyclades line.
Which port do Sifnos ferries leave from?
Piraeus. It is a very large port with numbered gates, so find your gate before you find your taxi.
What else is on the Sifnos ferry line?
Kythnos, Serifos, Kimolos and Milos, with some sailings continuing to Folegandros and Santorini. It makes an easy multi-island week.
Where do ferries arrive on Sifnos?
At Kamares on the west coast. The capital, Apollonia, is inland and reached by bus in a few minutes.
Is Sifnos good for walking?
Yes, among the best in the Cyclades, with an extensive network of restored and waymarked stone paths.
Next
Read Sifnos, Milos, or how the ferries work.