Weekend Getaway in Kythnos

Kythnos is an island in the western part of Cyclades, Greece. The island is rich in history and beautiful natural landscapes. As it is relatively close to Athens, Kythnos is an excellent destination for a short trip. The island of Kythnos is also known as Thermia, due to the natural thermal springs that can be found in the village of Loutra on the island.

Traditional Villages

• Driopida Village

Driopidia is a traditional village in the southern part close to the center of the island of Kythnos. The village got its name from Dryopians who were one of the aboriginal tribes of ancient Greece.

One of the notable attractions in Driopida is the Katafyki Cave. In the cave, there are stalactites and stalagmites and you can also observe stalagmites in early formation. The cave was operated as an iron mine in antiquity and iron can be seen in the walls as well as exhibits of the tools used to transfer the iron. The cave was also used as food storage and a place of celebration. It maintains a constant temperature of about 15-17 degrees and the temperature difference is notable between the cave's entrance and as you walk towards the lower levels.

• Loutra Village

Loutra is a traditional seaside village in Kythnos. It is located on the northeast part of the island and is well known for its hot springs. The name Loutra means in Greek "the Baths" owning the name to its thermal baths. In the past, Loutra used to be the main port of the island.

How to get there

You can reach easily the island of Kythnos either from Piraeus or Lavrio ports in Athens. The island can also be reached from other islands of the Aegean.

At the time of the writing from Piraeus, the trip costs about 29€ and last approximately 3 hours, while from Lavrio it costs 17€ and lasts approximately 2 hours.

Thanks for reading this article – I hope you found it helpful.

Have you ever been to Kythnos? How was your experience?