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Kamares, Sifnos: port guide, beach and arrival
Kamares is the only ferry port on Sifnos, on the west coast, and also one of the island's best family beaches. Apollonia, the capital, is about 5.5 km uphill, roughly ten minutes by car. Everything arriving on the island passes through here.
Kamares is where Sifnos begins. Every ferry docks here, so every visitor sets foot on the island at this one quay. What surprises most of them is that Kamares is not merely a transit point: it is a working port wrapped around a long sandy beach, with tavernas, bakeries and rooms, and it makes a perfectly good place to stay in its own right.
Where Kamares sits
The village occupies a deep, sheltered bay on the west coast of Sifnos, hemmed in by hills on both sides. That shelter is why the port is here, and it is also why the swimming is so calm.
The layout is simple. The ferry quay is at one end, the beach stretches away from it along the bay, and a single waterfront road runs between the two lined with almost everything you need. You cannot get lost.
Apollonia, the island capital, is about 5.5 km inland and uphill, roughly ten minutes by car on a well-surfaced but winding road.
First steps off the ferry
- Clear the ramp and move away from the vehicle deck, which unloads quickly and with little ceremony.
- Meet your car if you have arranged Kamares pickup, or head for the bus and taxi area just beyond the quay.
- If your accommodation check-in is later, drop your bags and swim. The beach is a two minute walk.
- Note the ticket offices along the waterfront for your return sailing.
Arrivals can feel chaotic for a few minutes when a large ferry unloads in August, with cars, scooters, luggage and hotel transfer boards all in the same small space. It settles within a quarter of an hour.
The beach
Kamares beach is long, sandy and shallow, entering the water gently for a considerable distance. That combination makes it one of the two best beaches on Sifnos for young children, alongside Platys Gialos, and it is the only good beach you can reach on foot from a ferry.
There are seasonal sunbeds and umbrellas at the central section, with quieter unorganised sand towards the far end. Tamarisk trees provide patchy natural shade along the back.
Because the bay faces west and is enclosed by high ground, it stays notably calm when the meltemi is blowing from the north. On a windy day it is a reliable fallback, second only to Vathi.
What is at the port
- Tavernas and cafés along the entire waterfront, several open from early morning
- A bakery and a couple of mini-markets for supplies
- Rooms and small hotels, many within sight of the quay
- Ferry ticket offices and, in season, port information
- Pottery workshops, continuing the tradition Kamares has held for generations
- Trailheads for the walking route up towards Agios Symeon
There is no bank branch, though ATMs are available. For a wider range of shops and restaurants you want Apollonia.
Should you stay in Kamares?
It is a genuinely good choice in three situations: your ferry arrives late at night, your ferry leaves early in the morning, or you are travelling with small children who want sand without a drive.
The trade-off is that the island's best restaurants and its only real evening scene are up in Apollonia and Artemonas, fifteen minutes away by car. Kamares is relaxed rather than lively after dark.
See the full accommodation comparison for how it stacks up against the other bases.
Getting up to Apollonia and beyond
This is the practical problem every arriving visitor faces, and it is worth understanding before you land.
The bus meets most ferries and runs up to Apollonia, where the island's routes converge. It works, but it follows its own timetable rather than the boat's, and it fills quickly when a full ferry lands.
Taxis exist, but Sifnos has only a handful of them for the entire island. When a large August ferry unloads, they are gone within minutes and there is no queue system worth the name.
Your own vehicle removes the problem entirely.
Car pickup at the quay
We meet the boat. Send us your ferry arrival date and approximate docking time and your car will be waiting at Kamares port when you step off, at no extra charge.
The same free delivery covers the heliport, Apollonia, Artemonas and Kastro. Vathi, Platys Gialos, Faros, Chrysopigi and Cherronisos are available on request, with the fee confirmed when you book.
A few practical notes:
- Scooters are collected from our Apollonia office only, not the port.
- If your ferry is delayed, message us on WhatsApp. Delays are normal and we plan around them.
- No prepayment and no card details are needed to reserve.
- Third-party insurance, maintenance, helmets and local help are already included in the daily rate.
We have run this from the same Apollonia office since 1988, as a family business, which is why we know roughly when your boat will actually dock rather than when the timetable claims.
Parking in Kamares
There is parking along the waterfront and in informal areas behind the beach. It is tight in the middle of the day in August, and tightest in the half hour either side of a ferry arrival or departure. Do not block the quay access road, it stays busy with freight.
Reserve a car for your ferry arrival · Browse the fleet · Ferries guide · How to get to Sifnos
Related questions travellers ask
- How do I get from Kamares to Apollonia?
- It is about 5.5 km uphill and roughly ten minutes by car. Buses meet most ferries and taxis are few in August, which is why we hand cars over at the port itself.
- How long is Sifnos port to Apollonia by car?
- Around ten minutes on a well-surfaced but winding road that climbs steadily from sea level to the island's central ridge. Take it slowly on the bends and there is nothing difficult about it.
- Taxi or rental car from the Kamares ferry?
- Sifnos has only a handful of taxis and they are heavily booked when a ferry lands in peak season. Picking up a rental at the port removes the queue and costs less than a few taxi trips.