A mostly arid island, Kythnos is the opposite of trendy but a wonderful place to relax. The western Cycades island offers genuine grecian cuisine in all of its five villages. It takes three hours to get to the isle by ferry from Piraeus.

Two of the villages are sizeable. Messaria has a population of 561 people and is known locally as Chora (main town), whereas Dryopis or Dryopida is known as Chorio (village). Both are reached via winding roads.

Also called Thermia on account of its thermal springs, Kythnos has mineral-rich springs worth enjoying in its north. The island’s two hot springs and modern spa attract many visitors annually.

Kanala in the south-east features an old monastery and more trees than other places on the island. Legend has it that the monastery’s icon of the Virgin Mary was found by local fishermen in the strait between Kythnos and Serifos, after a column of light revealed its location. The icon, which according to legend was painted by St. Luke, is no longer there today, however, a highly repsected and exceptional work of art, painted by Emmanuel Skordilis in 1575, stands in its place. It depicts the Virgin Hodegetria. On August 15, there is a procession of the icon and a re-enactment of the way that the icon was found.

The island has no less than 65 beaches, most of them secluded, but the most impressive is Kolona, where a strand of sand connects Kythnos with Agios Loukas.

Katafiki Cave is one of the biggest in Greece. Located close to the small, hilly village of Driopida, the old capital, it was first discovered in the 1830s and has interesting rock formations inside.

Castle Orias, the former medieval capital of the island, overlooks the Aegean with superb views, featuring the remains of houses and two churches. Its acropolis, aqueduct and temples are located here.