Pangaia Seaside Ηotel
Koufonisia - Koufonisia greece
Located in Koufonisia, 5 minutes from Harokopou Beach, Pangaia Seaside Ηotel provides accommodation with free private parking and a garden.
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The island of Koufonissi (also called Ano Koufonissi or Koufonisia) is the secret that every tourist would like to keep to himself. Its beaches are breathtakingly beautiful and hard to match.
A holiday on this little paradise means dips in crystal-clear waters, lazy afternoons lying on fine sand, unforgettable swims in suggestive sea caves and walks in the green.
The word is out. This small island of a few hundred inhabitants and its sister island Kato Koufonissi are attracting an ever-increasing number of tourists, growing at a frightening rate. It is to be hoped that this is a sustainable development, one that does not spoil the island’s beautiful landscape, a priceless heritage.
If in doubt, however, better to book a holiday in Koufonissi today, safe in the knowledge that you will still find unspoilt beaches, generous countryside and the intoxicating scents of the earth.
The name of this island can cause some confusion. Let’s try to clarify. The name Koufonissi refers to the two islands of Ano Koufonissi and Kato Koufonissi. The former is the only inhabited one and its name is commonly abbreviated to Koufonissi.
Koufonisia, on the other hand, is the name of an archipelago comprising these two islands plus another small island, Keros. However, this term is also sometimes used to refer to the island mentioned in this article.
Koufonissi’s climate is typically Mediterranean: summers are hot with very little rainfall, so this is definitely the best time to visit.
For many other islands, it is advisable to avoid peak periods (typically July and August), characterised by crowds of tourists and skyrocketing prices. In the case of Koufonissi one has to be a little careful because even today, despite its growing popularity as a tourist destination, outside the peak season many activities close and the choice of accommodation is drastically reduced.
Koufonissi’s crystal-clear sea is so beautiful that it amazes even the Greeks and is certainly the main culprit behind this island’s growing tourist reputation.
The most famous beaches of Koufonissi are very crowded in the summer months, but they retain their charm and are still wilder than the beaches of more famous islands.
This may be due to the lack of equipped areas, which is a plus for nature lovers but can be a flaw for those travelling with small children and wanting convenient facilities. It must be said, however, that the island is very safe and can therefore also be a good choice for family travellers.
One of the most beautiful beaches on Koufonissi is certainly Pori1, a horseshoe-shaped bay that owes its name to the porous rock from which it is formed. The sand is fine and very white; the sea is simply extraordinary, crystal-clear and fairytale blue: it will make you dream of being in the Maldives. There are two taverns on the beach where you can enjoy typical local dishes.
Other beaches not to be missed in Koufonissi are:
But in reality, the entire coastline of the island is a succession of dream beaches, inlets, coves, bays all waiting to be discovered. Wonderful walks and afternoons of total relaxation await you.
The main attraction of Koufonissi is its wonderful beaches and barren landscapes. It is not an island for those who love city life, museum visits, and nightlife: you come here for the natural beauty.
Chora5, the island’s capital, is a pretty fishing village with typical blue and white Greek houses. Having grown up quickly as a result of tourism, it still retains a romantic atmosphere, particularly in the more historic part, where you can still see the fishermen’s houses, and in the waterfront promenade. There is only one small museum in Chora, dedicated to the folklore of Koufonissi: on display are objects donated by the island’s inhabitants that tell its history and traditions.
To admire the beauty of the island, you can go to one of its most beautiful viewpoints, the rocky promontory of Ksylompatis6, located along the east coast. From here, the more daring can jump several metres into the sea: don’t do it unless you are an experienced cliff diver.
During your holiday in Koufonissi you can also visit the neighbouring island of Kato Koufonisi7, a larger but completely uninhabited island and therefore not served by regular ferries. The caique is the only way to reach it and in the high season months departures are about every two hours.
It is said that Kato Koufonissi actually has an inhabitant: a shepherd, who lives on the island with his flock. Whether this is true or not, it is certain that you can expect a rural landscape criss-crossed by numerous paths leading to beautiful wild-looking beaches.
Other beauties of the island are its sea caves and the ever-present windmills.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The island of Koufonissi is very small and almost all flat, so the best way to explore it is on foot or by bicycle.
In the high season months there is so much demand for bike hire that you might not find one available. Some tourists make arrangements in good time by booking one before arriving there.
Tourism development in Koufonissi has fortunately gone in the opposite direction to that of other beautiful Mediterranean islands. Instead of mega-hotels of international chains, a large number of studios (or domatia) have sprung up, which are generally well maintained and therefore good value for money.
The only major population centre on the island is Chora (Koufonissi), the obvious choice for those who want to have shops, bars and restaurants on their doorstep; here you will also find a town beach that is perfect for those who want to get to the sea without wasting time travelling.
Holiday homes and flats can also be found near the most famous beaches. On the other hand, there are few hotels on the island, almost all of them medium-low (2-3 stars).
We offer a selection of hotels at Koufonissi to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Koufonissi, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Koufonissi. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Koufonissi are in high demand.
Unfortunately, there are no direct connections to Koufonissi. The easiest way to get there is to fly to Mykonos, an island for which numerous low-cost flights are available in summer, and from there take a hydrofoil that will take you to your destination in a rather short time (about an hour and a half). The disadvantage of this solution is that the hydrofoil is a bit expensive and not very frequent.
A similar solution is to fly to Santorini, another popular island, and from there take the hydrofoil. In this case, the journey time is slightly longer, 10-15 minutes longer.
A third option is to fly to Athens and take a ferry from the port of Piraeus. In this case, allow 4 to 9 hours of sailing time depending on the company and the ship chosen.
The small island of Koufonissi, together with Donoussa, Iraklia and Schinoussa, is part of the micro-archipelago of the Lesser Cyclades, a few kilometres as the crow flies from the more famous Naxos.
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