At a glance: Central Amorgos, the island’s main port and busiest arrival point, around 5 kilometres from Chora. A natural, sheltered bay made up of three joined settlements, Katapola, Rachidi and Xilokeratidi, developed from the 1830s onward beneath the ruins of an ancient city. Best suited to travellers who want a convenient, low key base right where the ferries dock, with a good spread of tavernas along the water.

Is Katapola worth visiting

Katapola makes an easy, genuinely pleasant base rather than just a stopover on the way to Chora. The bay itself has been inhabited for more than 6,000 years, and on the hill immediately above the port lie the excavations of ancient Minoa, one of the three cities of ancient Amorgos, with continuous habitation traced back to the late 5th millennium BC. The modern village only took shape from the 1830s, growing into three joined settlements around the harbour, and today it combines a working port atmosphere with a relaxed waterfront of tavernas and small hotels. It suits travellers who want easy ferry access, a short hop to Chora, and a quieter alternative to the busier resort villages elsewhere on the island.

Highlights

The excavations of ancient Minoa, on the hill above the port, with continuous habitation traced from the late 5th millennium BC to the 4th century AD
The three joined settlements around the bay, Katapola, Rachidi and Xilokeratidi, each with its own character
A working harbour atmosphere with waterfront tavernas and cafes right on the water
Easy access to Chora, only 5 kilometres and a 10 minute drive away
Maltezi Beach, a quiet, secluded stretch northwest of the port

A harbour inhabited for 6,000 years

Archaeological evidence shows the bay at Katapola has drawn people to settle here since the late Stone Age, at the end of the 4th millennium BC, with activity intensifying through the Early Bronze Age in the 3rd millennium BC. That long history culminated in ancient Minoa, one of the three city states of ancient Amorgos, built on the hill directly above the modern port. Excavations there reveal a settlement continuously occupied from the 11th century BC through to the 4th century AD, with a temple at the summit dating back to the 8th century BC. The village visitors see today is far younger, only developing from around 1830 onward as three separate hamlets, Katapola, Rachidi and Xilokeratidi, grew together around the natural, sheltered bay that still makes this the island’s principal port.

Where Katapola is

Getting to Katapola

From Chora: Katapola is about 5 kilometres away, around 10 minutes by car or local bus.

From Aegiali: About 25 kilometres away by road, around 25 minutes by car, or reachable directly by ferry between the island’s two ports.

By ferry: Katapola is the main arrival point for most ferries serving Amorgos. For full ferry routes and journey times, start with how to get to Amorgos.

By bus or taxi: See getting around Amorgos and Amorgos taxi for prices and booking details, or the Amorgos bus timetable for scheduled services.

Where to eat

Katapola has a good run of waterfront tavernas and cafes spread across its three joined settlements, most serving fresh, simply prepared seafood within sight of the fishing boats. It is an easy, unpretentious place for a first or last meal on the island.

Where to stay

Katapola suits travellers who want to be close to the ferry, with a good choice of hotels and rooms spread along the harbour and an easy 5 kilometre run up to Chora. For a private villa with a pool elsewhere on Amorgos, see Amorgos villas with a private pool.

Beaches near Katapola

Maltezi Beach, a quiet, secluded stretch of coast northwest of the port, is reachable on foot or by boat. See the Amorgos beach pages for the island’s wider range of beaches.

Best time to visit

Katapola stays busiest around ferry arrivals and departures throughout the summer, so mornings and evenings away from boat schedules tend to be quieter along the waterfront. Spring and autumn bring comfortable temperatures for the short walk up to the Minoa excavations, with fewer visitors than the height of summer.

Continue exploring Amorgos

See more of the island’s villages on the Amorgos villages guide, or head back to the Amorgos island guide for beaches, ferries and getting around.