Faros village in Sifnos

At a glance: Southeast coast of Sifnos, around 7 kilometres from Apollonia. A small, sheltered fishing village that served as the island’s main port until 1883, now known for three connected sandy beaches and a quiet, unhurried pace. Best suited to travellers who want a genuine fishing village base with easy beach access and good seafood.

Is Faros worth visiting

Faros has a longer history than its small size suggests, having served as the main port of Sifnos until 1883, before Kamares took over that role. The village takes its name from an ancient lighthouse tower on the beach, once part of a chain of signal towers used to relay messages by fire across the region in antiquity. Today it is a low key fishing village with whitewashed houses around a calm, cliff enclosed bay, backed by fish tavernas, cafes and a small stone theatre hosting summer cultural events. It suits travellers who want an easy combination of beach time and genuine village character, without the busier feel of Apollonia or Kamares.

Highlights

• Three connected sandy beaches, Fassolou, Faros and Glyfos, forming a continuous stretch along the village
• The ancient lighthouse tower that gives the village its name, once part of a signal network relaying messages by fire
• A small stone amphitheatre on the waterfront, hosting cultural events through the summer season
• Remnants of old ore loading facilities on the western side of the bay, dating from when Sifnos shipped ore to Lavrio for processing
• The coastal path from Glyfos beach leading on to Apokofto beach and the monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi

A former port turned quiet fishing village

Faros served as the principal port of Sifnos until 1883, when that role shifted to Kamares on the opposite coast, and the village has settled into a quieter identity ever since. Its name comes from an ancient tower on the beach, faros being the Greek word for lighthouse, which once formed part of a wider network of signal towers used to pass pre-arranged messages across the region by lighting fires. The village was also once known for pottery, home to a number of ceramics workshops that no longer operate, while traces of its later industrial role survive on the western side of the bay, where old loading facilities once handled ore bound for processing on the mainland at Lavrio.

Where Faros is

Getting to Faros

From Apollonia: Faros is about 7 kilometres away, around 15 minutes by car or taxi.

By bus: Seasonal bus services connect Apollonia to Faros. Check current routes and times on the Sifnos bus timetable.

By car or taxi: See getting around Sifnos and Sifnos taxi for prices and booking details.

Arriving on Sifnos: For ferry routes and journey times to the island, start with how to get to Sifnos.

Where to eat

Faros has a good choice of fish tavernas along the waterfront, particularly around the central beach where the asphalt road ends, with another well regarded option at Fassolou just along the coast. Fresh, simply prepared seafood is the main draw, in keeping with the village’s fishing history.

Where to stay

Faros suits travellers who want a quiet, beach focused base with a genuine fishing village atmosphere, away from the busier centres of Apollonia and Kamares. For a private villa with a pool elsewhere on Sifnos, see Sifnos villas with a private pool.

The beaches at Faros

Faros is fronted by three connected sandy beaches. See the Faros beach guide, including Glyfos and the Fassolou beach guide for the full picture, or continue along the coastal path from Glyfos to Apokofto beach near the monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi.

Best time to visit

Summer evenings bring cultural events to the small stone amphitheatre on the waterfront, worth checking for during a visit. Spring and autumn offer quieter beaches and comfortable temperatures for walking the coastal path towards Apokofto and Chrysopigi.