Kythnos is one of Greece's quieter and more tranquil islands. It may not attract as many tourists as some of the other islands, seeing only 20,000 visitors each year. Its population stands at around 1,200 with over half of the housing on the island being available to rent, which is a bonus if you want to stay for a while.
There are beautiful villages scattered across the islands which are all accessible by car and are small enough to walk around in on foot. Be sure to visit either Merichas, Loutra, Chora, Dryopida or Kanalac.
The beach at Merichas has many restaurants where you will be served a variety of traditional Greek dishes where one sees scattered tables and chairs which seem inviting to have a coffee and chat a while.
The bakeries on the island are delightful, one which is particularly popular with tourists and locals is Annezio bakery. Here you'll find all the favorite Greek sweets such as pasteli. This sweet is a honey and sesame seed pastry which is loved throughout Greece.
The springs of Loutra can be found on the Island of Kythnos, and are said to have healing properties. There are two thermal springs on the island which are favored by tourists, as they flow down into the sea creating hot pools. Just next to the beachside at Loutra is Hotel Aphrodite, each room is beautifully decorated and shares a name with one of the Greek muses, and include private balconies with stunning views of the tranquil Aegean Sea for its guests.
The capital of Kythnos is known as Chora. Here you will find those lovely picturesque scenes, which are characteristic of Greek villages, with narrow alleyways and stairways, as only the roads up the hillsides are accessible for cars. The villages streets are filled with whitewashed houses, and their colorful shutters and flower boxes. So be sure to have your camera handy, as you will want to send some of these pictures home for sure.
Vineyards are also a prominent feature on the island, and with the hundreds of vines filled with ripe summer grapes, red wine is a popular drink for the locals. Herbs and wildflowers cover the hillsides of this tiny island, which are a plentiful source of pollen for the honeybees. The honeybees on the island produce a lovely sweet honey which is combined with the wild thyme growing on the island to create a fusion of "wild thyme honey," distributed across the world.
Another village on the island is Dryopida, which can be admired from afar as its red tiled roofs make for a spectacular sight. Set alongside the pine forest on the island is the village of Kanala, where pilgrimages are made to the local churches.
Each village has a life of its own and that quiet, tranquil atmosphere which its visitors and residents love so much. Along with the hospitality of its locals, Kythnos and all its quaint villages and picturesque sights are a real paradise for travelers in need of a recharge.