Koufonissia is one of the smaller islands in the neighbourhood of Naxos, with a lot of beaches on its coastline. It is a quiet island and you can see it in no time. The sand on the beaches is very good though and the beaches are pretty. Especailly the large beach in the east, which is in a lagoon, is worth a visit. Only the sand of the beach in the main city is kind of hard. It's a good island to relax, but not so much for making long walks, simply because it's too small for that. The short walk along the coastline is interesting though with lots of rocks and caves and very clear turqoise water.

When you arrive it's best not to take any offers for a room from the crowd waiting for you in the port, unless it's necessary (in highh season for instance). We found a nicer and much cheaper place to stay after looking around, when we decided not to take an offer a woman made us in the port. We ended up in a big room right on the beach, with a balcony overlooking the sea with all the Greek kaiks (traditional Greek wooden boats) in it, for only 5000 drachma (about 15 euros) a day. In the night we could hear the waves rolling on to the beach. We spend the evening on the balcony enjoying the silence and drinking a couple of ouzo's.....well, I have a picture to prove that we did just that. Thank you downstairs-taveerna for the ice cubes. As you understand this visit was quite some time ago (we still paid in drachma's) and things have changed. It is very unlikely you will now find a room for that kind of money.

Koufonisia is a quiet island, but on one day in the week you will have a boat with day-trippers visiting from Naxos, which means it's going to be bussier than usual. There's not much to shop and the supermarket looks like an explosion took place just a minute ago, but at least there is some choice (compared to Donoussa for instance). The restaurants are not spectacular, and just because you see a lot of people sitting somewhere doesn't mean that the food is good. It only means you have to wait longer before you get your meal. Koufonisia is a nice island to visit for a couple of days. Because it is a small island it's not an island where we wanted to spend a long time. We always get restless and want to see new things. When we were there it was also very windy, but that is something that can always happen on the Greek islands. It probably happens more often there, because on the last beach (the blue lagoon we called it - Pori Beach, which is also a naturist beach) people had piled up stones so they could lie down there out of the wind.

Koufonisia is a place you visit and explore for an hour or two (because allthough it's small it's also quite pretty). You look at the rocks in the sea and the beautiful coloured water until you find a beach that you like. Then you lie down, read a book and dip into the water to cool down and make a swim. There's not much more to do.

The island is a perfect destination for people that want to have a good time laying on the beach reading a book and enjoying the sunshine. From all the islands in the small Cyclades (Koufonissia, Donoussa, Heraklia, Schinoussa) Koufonissia has the best and the most beaches. Some of its visitors are attracted to the island just for that and they have no need to move any further and explore other islands. Of all the islands in the small Cyclades group Koufonissia is the island with the best ferry connections, so if you only have time for a visit to one of the islands in this group Koufonissia is perhaps the best option. As for restaurants and accommodations, the island also has the largest choice. There is a post office, there are a enough rooms for rent and there is a wide choice in tavernas.

Koufonissia actually consists of two islands: Ano or Pano(upper) and Kato Koufonissi (lower) Koufonissi. The "main island" is Pano Koufonissi or Ano Koufonissi, and the other island, Kato Koufonissi rises no more than a few meters above the sealevel. The last island is the home of the goats. Next to Koufonissia the much larger nearby islands of Naxos and Keros rise out of the sea. On the left side of the bay of the port of Koufonissia is a windmill and in the water there is a large fleet of wooden kaiks (brightly colored wooden Greek fishing boats). On top of the hill behind the port is the Chora (the old capital).

The beaches on Koufonissia are all accessible from the footpaths. The more you travel to the east the better the beaches are. The beaches of Charakopou and Thanos are the busiest thanks to the rooms that are for rent there, the tavernas and a campsite. Nudism is supposedly banned on the island but everybody is very relaxed about it. In fact, the beaches of Punta Platia and the beautiful beache of Pori are naturists beaches. These are the two most eastern beaches of the island.

On Koufonissia there are many good sandbeaches to chose from. Below are a couple of them. In between these beaches you will also find small coves with sand.

Megali Amos and Loutro Beach - In the village / port of Megali Amos there are two town beaches. One of them is the main beach in the port where also the ferries sail in. This beach is okay for sunning and swimming. The other beach is called Loutro Beach and is not really suitable for swimming. There is a caique repair yard in the bay and the beach is covered with uncomfortable big stones. Also there are a lot of plants in the water. You COULD go in for a swim, but why bother since there are so many other great beaches on the island.

Parianos Beach - The beach of Parianos is situated in the west of the island if you continue the walk from the port to Loutro and walk on. This is also not one of the best beaches, since it has seaweeds and plants in the water and it is not very clean.

Finikas Beach - The first beach east of Chora is called Finikas. It is very close to Charakopou beach and where one beach ends the other starts. Finikas is the first beach in te row of good beaches east of Chora. It is only a 15-minute walk from Chora. The beach of Finikas is a really small sandy beach but extremely beautiful. Finikas is a textile beach.

Charakopou Beach - The next beach in the row is called Charakopou. There is a taverna on the beach and some accommodation. The beach is surrounded by trees and green. Near this beach is also the camping site of Koufonissia. Like Finikas this beach is a favorite for families. This beach is the last option for buying water and food because past this point there are no more tavernas.

Thanos Beach - Thanos Beach is situated a little east of Charakopou. This is also a textile beach and a favourite with the younger generation who like sea sports and surfing, and several smaller coves for those who wish for some privacy.

Platia Punta Beach - This beautiful beach is the first beach that is in use by the naturists and it is party textile partly nudist beach.

Pori Beach - As you walk from Platia Punta Beach to the most eastern of the beaches, Pori beach, you will run into more beautiful small cave beaches. Pori Beach, which is set in a protected bay, is easily the best beach of the island. It is a beautiful large sandy beach with some dunes behind it. It is partly textile but a favorite beach for the nudists.

Possibly there are people that prefer to book a hotel or an apartment on the island before they leave just to make sure they have a room. Especially on the highseason (Juli - August) this would be wise. Below are a couple of options.

For all hotels, studios, apartments and villas in Koufonissi - click here.

Villa Maria Vekri offers basic and clean accommodation at Koufonisia. The family run residence has a friendly reception. Surrounded by a charming garden, the studios and apartments at Villa Maria Vekri have a kitchenette, private bathroom and TV. Guests can benefit from the free wireless internet connection, and the free on-site parking.

Check availability and prices & book Villa Maria Vekri on Koufonissia - click here.

Just 100 metres from Porta Beach, this Cycladic-style complex features stylish rooms, some with free Wi-Fi, and a terrace with views of the yard or the Aegean Sea. Guests are offered free bicycles. Furnished with natural materials in white hues, such as wood, bamboo and stone, accommodation at the Portes includes an LCD satellite TV. All units offer modern bathrooms with Cycladic-design details. Guests can enjoy breakfast in the rooms or on their furnished terrace. Taverns and bars are within a 5-minute walk. Foinikas Beach is at 300 metres and Italida Beach is within 500 metres. Pori Beach is 1 km away. Free transfer from Koufonisi Port is offered to guests. Free private parking is possible on site.

Check availability and prices & book Portes Houses on Koufonissia - click here.

Located in Pano Koufonissi or Ano Koufonissi, 100 metres away from Porta Beach, Cycladic-style Petros Rooms offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and a furnished balcony overlooking the Aegean Sea. The property features a snack bar and free 2-way transfer from the port. Air conditioning, a safety deposit box and fridge are included in all rooms at the Petros. Each has tiled floors and a private bathroom with shower. Some units include a TV. Guests can have breakfast in the café or in the sun terrace with views of the sea. The bar serves drinks and hot beverages until late in the evening. A lounge room with sofas and TV is provided near the reception. The centre of Koufonissi is at 200 metres and has bars, shops and taverns serving fresh fish. The island is very small and there is no need for a car. Hotel staff can arrange bicycle rental and boat tours to Kato Koufonisi. Free private parking is possible on site.

Check availability and prices & book Petros Rooms on Koufonissia - click here.

Just a breath away from the island's crystal clear beaches, lies the only 4-star property within the wider region of Eastern Cyclades. The resort features a huge swimming pool. Set in a stunning garden, the recently renovated hotel offers 16 newly added luxury suites. Hotel Koufonisia consists of a breakfast room, bar-café lounge, restaurant and a pool bar. Hotel Koufonisia offers 56 airy rooms styled according to Cycladic architecture. Amphitheatrically built, they enjoy great views of the garden, the pool and the blue ocean from their spacious verandas. Filoxenia Restaurant serves International and Mediterranean dishes.

Check availability and prices & book the Koufonisia Hotel & Resort - click here.

The family-run Paradise Studio is located in Koufonisi Island, just 20 metres from the sandy Charokopou Beach. It offers self-catering units with a patio overlooking the Aegean Sea. Free 2-way transfer from the port can be arranged. Simply decorated with wooden furnishings and white-washed walls, the studios and apartments of Paradise have a kitchenette with fridge and cooking hobs. Each unit is equipped with air conditioning and a TV. The private bathroom comes with a shower. Paradise Studios is situated 2.5 km from Koufonisi Port and 2 km from the centre of Koufonisi, where a variety of taverns and bars is featured. The sandy beach of Pori is at 700 metres. Free public parking can be found on site

Check availability and prices & book the Paradise Studios - click here.

Located 100 metres from Harokopou Beach in Koufonisi, Anatoli Studios features air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony or patio overlooking the Aegean Sea. Free transfer from the harbor is offered. A fridge and TV are included in all units at the Anatoli. Each has a private bathroom with shower. Most accommodation types offer a kitchenette. Taverns and shops are within a 4-minute walk. Koufonisi Harbour is 1.5 km away. Staff can arrange bicycle rental to explore beaches such as Fanos and Platia Pounda. Free private parking is provided at the property.

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Situated right on the main beach on the village of Koufonisi, Aegeon is a beachfront hotel that features a restaurant and a snack bar. Only 100 metres from the main port, it offers accommodation with views to the Aegean Sea and free Wi-Fi. All the rooms are air conditioned and simply decorated with traditional furniture. They all have private balconies. Each unit is equipped with a fridge, a satellite TV and a safe. A rich buffet breakfast is served either at the rooms or at the on-site restaurant, where guests can also taste Greek specialties during the day. The sea-view lounge bar serves drinks, beverages and light snacks. Guests are offered free sun beds and umbrellas at the beach in front of the hotel. Free transfer from and to the port or the nearby beaches is available upon request. Aegeon Hotel is situated 100 metres from the port of Koufonisi and 200 metres from the island's centre. Staff at the 24-hour front desk provides bicycle rental and tour desk services.

Check availability and prices & book the Aegeon Hotel in Koufonissia - click here.

The Windmill Villa is a unique preserved mill in Koufonisia which is also a tourist lodging. The idyllic environment and the peace render the mill as an ideal relaxing place, peaceful and with easy access to the crystal clear Aegean Sea. The mill has a unique view over Naxos, Kato Koufonisi, Glaronisi, Keros and on the far horizon one can see the outlines of Amorgos. On the paved courtyard you will enjoy carefree hours and unforgettable sunsets!

The mill is located on the south-west side of Koufonisi. The distance from the harbor is approximately 1 km. The mill is built 30 m from the sea and about 300 m from the borders of the settlement. The mill dates from 1830 and was in use as a windmill until 1956. It is classified as a monument. Since 2006 the windmill is in use as a 4* apartment for rent. It is the thirdyear (2008) that the traditional windmill-villa operates as a hotel A class 4 (****), starting at 01/06/08 to 28/10/08. In 2008 it can be rented at least for one week (7 days) for the whole building, without service (not for Bed and Breakfast), with transfer from/to port by car, either for one or 4persons.

It is only one house, in the groundfloor is the kitchen and WC, it consists from 2 floors, with 2 beds on each one and can't be rented separated. During your stay, no other people can live in the windmill. The price in 2008 for 7 days (one week) in May - June and September - Oktober is 7x250 = 1.750 Euros for 4 pax and 7x300 = 2.100Euros for July - August.

Tel: +30 22850 74294, +30 210 7293794 - Send an e-mail to the Windmill Villa in Koufonissia.

Aeolos Hotel is located on the beautiful island of Koufonisi. Our prime location has unlimited views of the sea. Aeolos is a family owned hotel that opened in July of 2005. We will combine traditional island hospitality with all the modern comforts to make your stay memorable. Access to beautiful sandy beaches is just minutes away. A reception area with a bar, a breakfast area, coffee, snacks, daily cleaning service and daily transfers to and from the port will be provided. The hotel has 24 comfortable rooms available . Single bed, double bed, and four two-bedroom suites are the kind of rooms that are available at the Aeolos hotel. All rooms are tastefully furnished with traditional island furniture. Some rooms are available for people with special needs.

Telephone: +30 22850 74206 & 74296 Fax: +30 22850 71188 - Send an e-mail to the Aeolos Hotel in Koufonissia.

In Melissa rooms you will feel like home! Every room accommodates up to four people in one comfortable room. Air-conditioning, spacious bathroom with shower tap, big porch and TV, are just a few of the comforts that we offer you.

All the apartments are daily cleaned. We are certain that the family and friendly environment, the most reasonable prices, the comfort and the cleanliness of the rooms of Melissa Rooms in combination with the beauties of Koufonossia will give you the best impressions.

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Just 50 metres from Ammos Beach in Koufonissi, the Cycladic-style Archipelagos Hotel offers self-catering units with free Wi-Fi and a balcony or patio overlooking the Aegean Sea. The port and main town of Koufonisi is at 1 km. Traditionally decorated with wrought-iron beds and soft colours, the studios and apartments of Archipelagos have a kitchenette with fridge, coffee maker and a toaster. Each unit is equipped with air conditioning and a TV, while the apartments also feature an electric oven. The private bathroom is stocked with a hairdryer. Taverns, seaside bars and mini markets can be found within a walking distance from Archipelagos Hotel. The sandy beach of Pori is at 1 km, while Foinikas Beach is at 2.5 km. A free 2-way transfer from the port can be arranged

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The Cycladic style Niriides is centrally located in Koufonisia, 150 metres from Ammos Beach. It features elegant studios with free Wi-Fi and balcony with side views of the Aegean Sea or the courtyard. Guests are offered free 2-way transfer from the port. Featuring light colours, all the air-conditioned studios at the Niriides have a kitchenette with a cooking hob, fridge and coffee maker. Each comes with a seating area and LCD satellite TV. The modern bathrooms come with a hairdryer and toiletries. Guests can play table tennis. The multilingual staff can arrange bicycle rental. Beaches such as Finikas, Fanos, Italida and Pori are within a 10-minute walk. Free private parking is possible on site.

Check availabilities and prices & book Niriides Studios - click here.

The Atlantida Hotel is a traditional built hotel close to the port of Koufonissia. There are rooms for two or for more people with bathroom and a balcony with a beautiful view. There is a choice between rooms with a kitchen, fridge, airconditioning and telephone, and more simple (and cheaper) rooms without a kitchen - for those who don't want to cook themselves. There is a breakfast served for all the guests in the dining room.

Check availability and prices & book the Atlantida Hotel - click here.