Kythnos

Kythnos is a quiet western Cyclades island with warm Kythnos hot springs at Loutra, a beautiful double-bay beach at Kolona, and traditional village life. Reached by a ferry to Kythnos from Athens in only 1.5 to 2.5 hours, Kythnos island, Greece is one of the closest spots in the Aegean Sea. Perfect if you're looking for the best things to do in Kythnos.

Kythnos is the Cyclades' best-kept secret, an island so close to Athens yet so far from the well-trodden tourist path that it feels like stepping back in time. Just two hours from Piraeus by ferry, Kythnos (also called Thermia for its natural hot springs) offers an authentic Greek island experience that its more famous neighbors have largely lost.

The island's crown jewel's Kolona, a sweeping double beach where a narrow strip of golden sand connects the island to a small peninsula, creating two sheltered bays of turquoise water on either side. It's one of the most photographed beaches in Greece, and yet on most days you'll share it with only a handful of visitors. That paradox defines Kythnos: extraordinary beauty without the crowds.

Inland, two remarkable villages await discovery. Chora (Messaria)'s a perfectly preserved Cycladic village of whitewashed lanes and over 70 churches, while Dryopida, named after the ancient Dryopes tribe, is a unique settlement of red-tiled roofs cascading into a valley, hiding the spectacular Katafiki cave beneath its streets. Add the thermal springs of Loutra, accessible beaches, and a genuine warmth from islanders unaccustomed to mass tourism, and Kythnos reveals itself as one of the most rewarding destinations in the Aegean.

Kythnos is what the Greek islands were like before the world discovered them, and that is precisely its magic.