From Piraeus there are scheduled ferries to Sikinos throughout the year. The trip lasts about 8 hours and 15 minutes. During the summer Sikinos is linked by ferries and speed-boats to most of the Aegean islands but with only 300 permanent inhabitants dont expect Sikinos to be a busy, tourist orientated island. .
This may well be due to the relatively poor ferry connections from the other islands. Some ferries sail by from neighbouring Folégandros and Íos without stopping in spite of the fact that the port - Aloprónia - has a good town beach with tamerisks and clean sand and there are a large number of rooms for tourists to rent.
Sikinos has a dry, scrub landscape, very similar to Folégandros but not as harsh and a noticeable omission. There are no churches dotting the hillside so common on other islands. Clergy are however, often seen chatting to parishoners in tavernas, perhaps as a result. The green and cream bus runs frequently between the port and the only other settlement on the island - Kastro-Hora which saddles the mountain on the north coast.
Hora to the left is entirely residential with a lot of re-furbishment taking place. Whilst Kastro on the right is the more commercial side. A pleasant square containing a church surrounded by palms and a memorial can be found by the National Bank. Further exploration of the winding alleys reveals a number of mini-markets, very traditional kafenio and the only ferry ticket office. If you haven`t met a grumpy Greek yet you soon will if you dod not book your ferry tickets in advance!
For drinks the Platía Bar is nicely fitted out and satelite t.v brings you firmly back into the 21st century but is let down by the prices. Crowning the hill is the excellent Kastro containing some interesting ruins and a pretty little chapel complete with bell tower.
The only other real excursion on Sikinos is the roman mausoleum come church at Episkopí, 4km to the west of Kastro-Hora.
Formally called the Iroön this odd building is reached by rough road (a complete waste of money because a decent path would have sufficed) which is serviced by the bus once a day.
If you intend on visiting make sure you tell the bus driver because he will only make the trip if there are sufficient numbers. It is worth the walk though just to see the strange architecture and it is not advised to stand on the stones immediately in front of the building which form the roof of a submerged room.
Sikinos is a charming island with highly hospitable residents. If you are a lone traveller who is happy with your own company or a like-minded couple happy to while away hours doing nothing then Sikinos could be just the ticket. But it may be too quiet for some.
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