Koufonissi Island Overview

Saying anything about Koufonissi feels like giving away a secret you’ve promised not to share. I first visited in 2018 after seeing photos of the island online and not quite believing they could be real. Was this a tiny jewel hidden in the middle of the Cyclades? Or would the reality prove to be different? Spoiler alert: it is every bit as amazing as it looks.

Koufonissi Video Highlights

Koufonissi – or Ano (meaning ‘upper’) Koufonissi to give it its full name – is a small island south of Naxos. Its name is often a source of confusion: Koufonisia is the collective name given to the two small islands that are individually known as Ano (Upper) and Kato (Lower) Koufonissi. When people refer to Koufonissi as a single island, they’re typically referring to Ano Koufonissi, which is the larger and only inhabited island of the pair.

The island is so small that you can walk around it in a few hours. As such, it’s not the kind of place you’d spend a fortnight – or even a week – unless you really like relaxing in a quiet setting. I spent three nights there in 2018 and found it was a good amount of time to see all the beaches and visit its neighbouring island too. I’m scheduled to return in May 2025, so check back in the summer for a revised island guide!

Only one ‘resort’ – Chora – spreads out from the ferry port onto the shallow hillside surrounding the main town beach. It’s quite picturesque in a simplistic sense, with just a smattering of white buildings dotting the horizon. If you’re wondering why so many Greek islands have a Chora, it’s because the word literally means “town” and is often the name given to the main settlement and capital of the island.

Koufonissi Accommodation and Dining

Google lists just over a dozen restaurants in Chora, which should be enough to offer a variety of choices over a 3 – 7-night stay without repetition. My favourite by far was Lavanda e Rosmarino, a superb Italian restaurant with a hillside view:

I chose to stay at Dafnis Studios when I visited Koufonissi. Prices were reasonable, and its location on the hillside but close to the town beach proved excellent. It lacks a pool, but so do most hotels on the island and with such a superb beach nearby, you don’t need one.

Since my visit, quite a few new hotels and apartments seem to have sprung up, so there is no lack of choice available. It does hint at the fact the island is getting busier as its reputation spreads.

Koufonissi Beaches

The main reason to visit Koufonissi is its stunning beaches. The main beach close to the port has to be one of the best town beaches I’ve ever seen, with soft, golden sand and crystal-clear water:

You’ll find several other impressive stretches of sand as you head east around the island’s southern side: Finika, Fanos and Italida are all worth exploring.

Perhaps the best beach, though, is the horseshoe-shaped bay of Pori Beach in the northeastern corner:

Despite being on the opposite side of the island from Chora, it’s easily walkable in 40 minutes over mostly flat terrain. However, a regular bus service is available should you prefer an easier life. You are on holiday, after all! We chose to walk across in the early morning and then take advantage of the bus to get back to our accommodation.

A couple of restaurants can be found close to the beach, though beware that online reviews suggest they are quite expensive and may not offer the best experience, so consider bringing your own drinks and snacks or returning to Chora for mealtimes.

Koufonissi: Conclusions and Alternatives

If you can’t afford to visit the Caribbean or Seychelles – or you don’t want to travel that far – but you want golden sandy beaches with glistening turquoise waters, this is probably the Greek island for you. It’s best visited for a few days, perhaps with Naxos or even one of the other “little Cyclades” such as Amorgos or Iraklia.

We’re unaware of any comparable alternatives – Koufonissi is quite a unique island – so we recommend putting it on your itinerary. It seems to get busier every year, so we’d suggest seeing it sooner rather than later.

Koufonissi Blog Posts

Learn more about Koufonissi by reading our recent blog posts: