Exploring Ano Koufonisi: A Greek Island Paradise

Next stop on our September 2025 trip to Greece was Ano Koufonisi Island and I can’t begin to say how much we loved this little island. Koufonisia is made up of two islands, Ano Koufonisi and Kato Koufonisi. Ano Koufonisi is where the main port is, where we stayed and visited. It is where the shops, restaurants, hotels and many beaches are located. Kato Koufonisi is uninhabited and has one taverna and several beaches. We had every intention of visiting both of these islands while in Greece, but we loved Ano Koufonisi so much we never did make it to Kato. Looks like we will have to go next year!

Location

One of the Cycladic Islands, Ano Koufonisi is located northwest of Amorgos Island and southeast of Naxos Island. Here is a map of the places mentioned in my post.

Getting There

As in so many of the islands in Greece, you can get to Ano Koufonisi by ferry. We took SeaJets from Mykonos to Ano Koufonisi. To visit Kato Koufonisi you need to take a taxi boat from Ano Koufonisi. These boats run about every 30 minutes in season.

Getting Around

Part of the charm of Ano Koufonisisi is you don’t need a vehicle. The chora is very walkable from the port and so are the beaches. There is a boat taxi that you can hop on and off to the various beaches on this island. It all worked very well for us. You can also rent a bike or e-bike but we were fine just walking.

Arriving at Ano Koufonsisi

The minute we saw Ano Koufonisisi Island in this distance from the ferry, we knew we would love it. This tiny Island is big on Greek charm. As we followed the herd down the steps to the lower deck, I excitedly waited for the ferry to anchor and the ramp to lower. I was not disappointed. There were several colorful boats in the harbor, the beach looked inviting, the town is a perfect traditional Cycladic Greek Village, and music was playing somewhere. It was a very festive atmosphere.

As we made our way off the ferry I took a deep breath, just taking it all in. We had no problem finding the car belonging to our hotel and were greeted warmly as our luggage was loaded up. The drive to Keros Art Hotel was short and upon arriving we were once again warmly welcomed. As we checked in we were served the most delicious cherry juice. I have never tasted anything like it, a bit tart and a bit sweet. Perfect. We were shown around the hotel and to our room. We couldn’t have been more pleased. I have more photos of the hotel below.

Koufonisi Town

After settling in we decided to explore the village part of the island. The blue and white buildings accented by the cobblestone walkways are so very charming. Plus in the main part of town there are no vehicles allowed so all you have to worry about is foot traffic. The town was surprisingly busier than we thought, but that being said, it was definitely not crowded. We were able to take our time, browse in the shops, and also find some off the beaten track spots to take some fantastic photos of the area. It was really a lot of fun.

I loved the shops on the Island of Ano Koufonisi, and had a fun time shopping for both traditional items from Greece and other items as well. Along with the traditional tourist items, there were several unique and original shops. Below are a few that we loved. The Keros Statue sits on our mantel at home as a great souvenir and memory of the island. The earrings and ring, Steve bought for me and I wear them often. We also enjoyed chatting about local history with the proprietor of the jewelry shop.

We enjoyed wandering around the town several times during our visit to the island and always seemed to find something new. The locals were very friendly and we saw plenty of smiles which are always nice to see while traveling. Night time is especially tranquil and has its own beauty and vibe. We even were able to see a lunar eclipse.

The Beaches on Ano Koufonisi

The next morning we enjoyed a lovely poolside breakfast at our hotel. The staff here are so very friendly and we felt right at home. After breakfast we were off to explore the beaches of Ano Koufonisis.

We started by hopping on the boat taxi which took us to the far side of Fanos Beach where we hopped off. Our plan was to take the boat taxis to the far side of the Island and walk back, that way we would see everything! We found out the next boat taxi which would take us to Pori Beach was a 15 minute wait so we decided to walk it. It was actually a good thing because this early in the morning there were few people walking along the coast.

Italida Beach

Along the Shore

Walking along the shore is definitely not you average walk as there is something to see with every step.

Sea Cave

As we walked along the shore path and explored the area, we found our first sea cave which was so very exciting for us. It was a very windy day so there was no attempting to swim or get in the water anywhere along the shore but we were still enjoying Koufonisi.

Continuing Along the Shore

The Devil’s Eye

The Devil’s Eye is a natural swimming pool on the Island. On our way to Pori Beach there was no one swimming here, we decided we would swim here on the way back. Unfortunately, on the way back the pool was quite crowded so we never did swim in the Devil’s Eye. Maybe next time.

Second Sea Cave

We found a second sea cave shortly after the Devil’s Eye. I was memorized by the water coming up and going back down through another opening near the cave entrance. The force of nature is amazing.

Pori Beach

Just after the Sea Cave is Pori Beach. A wonderful sandy beach with the most beautiful color of water. It was a windy day and we did get in for a swim, but it was a bit rough although it still felt refreshing. We ate a picnic lunch on the beach of spanakopita from the local bakery.

Above Ksylompatis Caves

We continues walking to the edge of the tip of the peninsula and around it back to Pori Beach. A short little walk with amazing vistas.

Gala Beach

As ususal, Steve decided to go off the beaten path, much to my protest he walked around a cliff on which I didn’t see a path. I will say he took some amazing photos of this area. He seemed to start a trend as when he was returning, others had to check it out too. I love the photos, but I would not venture that way!

We followed our same path back. Again caught the boat at Fanos Beach and returned to the port.

We swam again at Ammos Beach which is at the port and then it was back to the hotel. All in all our little adventure took about 6 hours. After returning to the hotel, we enjoyed the pool. It was an enjoyable afternoon and we met several tourist and enjoyed chatting with them all. After a couple of hours, we were hungry and ready to for dinner.

Where We Ate

While in Koufonisi, we ate at a couple of different places but the one we loved the most was Meatato. It was wonderful. The food was spectacular, the service excellent and the setting relaxing.

Where We Stayed

As mentioned above, we stayed at Keros Art Hotel and absolutely loved it. As a matter of fact, we are planning on returning again this fall and hope we will be able to secure reservations here again. The vibe is perfect. Not only are the owners and staff outgoing and friendly, we met so many guests here and enjoyed talking with them at the pool and over breakfast in the morning. One of the pleasures of traveling is to meet people from other areas and connect even if only for a brief bit of time. Keros Art Hotel is the type of place where you can easily do this.

The Bakery and Grocery Store

Two more places I also want to mention that we frequented on Koufonisi Island are the Bakery and Grocery Store. We stopped at both a couple of times and stocked up. First we stopped there before our beach day to take along a picnic lunch. Our other visit was the morning before we left Koufonisi, we bought some fruit and spanakopitas to take along on our ferry ride as we traveled to our next island, Folegandros. Most of the ferries we have been on do offer food and drink but we have found bringing something local to snack on works better for us. Plus we stocked up on Pasteli, those delicious honey sesame bars, we can’t get enough of!

Conclusion

I speak for both of us when I say we are totally in love with Ano Koufonisi island and it is also one of our favorites in Greece. Although we have one big regret; is we did not book another day so we could hop on the boat taxi and explore the uninhabited Kato Koufonisi. We are definitely returning here in Sept 2026 not just to explore Kato Koufonisi, but to once again enjoy the slowed down vibe and tranquility of Ano Koufonisi.

Reading About Greece

Of course I do love to read about Greece and some of my favorite books are listed below.

One of my favorite authors, Peter Barber just released his latest book, it has also became an instant best seller. It is a great read about community and Greek Village life. This book will have you laughing and feeling like moving to a small Greek Village. Check it out here. Zorba’s Parthenon; A Taverna by the Sea. Also check out his other books! All great reads.

V.D. Bucket’s series on his and his wife’s move to Greece is hilarious and also leaves you wanting to know more about the characters in the village they moved to. You can click here for the series A Bucket to Greece.

Read about two journalists who move to Greece and all their adventures at Things Can Only Get Feta by Marjory McGinn. This is also a series and each book just gets better.

The Greek Village Series by Sara Alexi follows several different characters who each have their own story in her series of a small Greek Village.

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In Addition to this post about Ano Koufonisi Island, you can also check out my other posts from our 2025 trip to Greece and also previous years Itineraries by following these links!

Delos Island; A comprehensive Self Guided Tour September 2025

Mykonos One Day Itinerary Sept 2025

Great Places to Eat in Plaka, Athens and Nearby. Updated Sept 2025

Self Guided Tour to Acropolis Sept 2025

Tower of the Wind, Athens Sept 2025

The Roman Forum in Athens, Sept 2025

National Archaeology Museum Athens, Sept 2025

8 Days in Greece, Athens, Milos,Santorini. Oct 2018

10 Days in Greece Athens ,Crete, Santorini Sept 2019

14 Days in Greece Crete, Naxos, Santorini, Athens Sept 2021

2 Weeks in Greece, Delphi, Meteora, Corfu, Santorini Sept 2023

The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences unless noted. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon,Viator, and others which we do receive a small commission from, at no cost to you if you buy or book through one of our links.