The fishing village
Faros, Sifnos
Written by Elena Philippou,Updated August 2026
Faros is a small former fishing village on the south-east coast of Sifnos with three sheltered coves within a ten-minute walk of each other and a flat coastal path to the Chrysopigi monastery, 1.5 km away. It is the quiet beach base on the island: a handful of fish tavernas by the sand, easy water, and 10.5 km by road from Platis Gialos and the villa.
The name means lighthouse; an ancient one stood here. Today it is the village for couples and young families who want low-key beach days and dinner two minutes from the towel, and are happy seeing the same few menus each night. That is the honest downside too: Faros is small, and any change of scene means the bus or the car. Platis Gialos, with its kilometre of sand and its restaurants, is 10.5 km round the coast.
Faros at a glance
| What it is | A small former fishing village on the south-east coast; three coves and a few tavernas |
|---|---|
| Beaches | The village beach; Fasolou five minutes east below the Stavros monastery; Glyfo ten minutes west; Apokofto beyond Chrysopigi |
| Eating | Pelicanos for a polished seaside lunch; fish tavernas by the sand; kitchens close early |
| By road | Kamares 12.5 km · Platis Gialos 10.5 km · Chrysopigi five minutes |
| Bus | Nine a day from Artemonas via Apollonia, about every two hours, last from Artemonas at 23:00; €3.50 from the port, €2.20 from Artemonas, €3.50 from Kastro |
| Walks | Chrysopigi 1.5 km on the flat coastal path, about 30 minutes; Platis Gialos a further 2.4 km beyond |
| Best time | Early morning and late afternoon; the coves are at their calmest before the day boats |
Distances are road and footpath kilometres routed over OpenStreetMap; bus times and fares are the municipality's summer 2026 timetable. Bus timetable and stops
Is Faros a good place to stay?
For low-key beach days, yes. The three coves give you a change of beach without a car, the water is easy and calmer than the north-facing side of the island, the snorkelling off the rocks is some of the best on Sifnos, and dinner is a two-minute walk. It suits couples and families with young children who want quiet more than choice. It is not the base for nightlife, shops or a different restaurant every night; Apollonia is a short drive for those, and Platis Gialos 10.5 km round the coast.
The three coves
The village beach is the small sandy one with the fishing boats drawn up and the tavernas at its back. Fasolou is a five-minute walk east along the lit coastal path, a mostly sandy cove sheltered by the headland, with the whitewashed Monastery of Stavros on the west side of the bay and a lighter crowd than the main beach. Glyfo is ten minutes west on the path, longer than the village beach and usually quieter, with a seabed of sand and flat rock where the water stays shallow for a good distance, useful with children; it has no facilities, so carry water. All three face south-east and stay calm when the meltemi blows.
The coastal path to Chrysopigi
From Faros the path runs 1.5 km east along the coast to the Chrysopigi monastery, about 30 minutes on the flat: the 17th-century monastery of the island's patroness, on a rocky islet joined to the shore by a short bridge, the image on every Sifnos postcard. Apokofto, the sandy beach below it, and the small cove of Saoures to the west are the reward, with a café at Apokofto. The path continues a further 2.4 km to Platis Gialos, so a one-way walk and a taxi or the bus back is the easy day. The monastery is open to visitors in the mornings; shoulders covered.
Eating in Faros
Pelicanos is the one to book: a polished modern seaside lunch on the water, from the same family as Omega 3 in Platis Gialos and Cantina below Kastro. The fish tavernas along the village beach are the simple evening, grilled fish and the Sifnian chickpeas a few steps from the sand. Most places open from late May to early October, and the kitchens close early by island standards, so eat before ten. There is no shop of any size; bring what you need from Apollonia.
Getting there and the bus
Faros is 12.5 km by road from Kamares, the port, and 10.5 km from Platis Gialos. The Faros bus runs from Artemonas through Apollonia about every two hours in summer, nine services a day reaching the village, the last leaving Artemonas at 23:00; singles are €3.50 from the port, €2.20 from Artemonas and €3.50 from Kastro. A car makes the rest of the island easy; parking is at the top of the village.
Faros and the villa
Villa Olivia Clara sits above Platis Gialos, 10.5 km from Faros by road and 2.4 km beyond Chrysopigi on the coastal path. Faros is the natural half-day from the villa: walk or drive to Chrysopigi, swim at Apokofto, carry on to Faros for lunch at Pelicanos, and take a taxi back. Ask Elena for the day she would do it.
A few honest notes
Faros is small: three coves, a few tavernas, no shops to speak of, and the same menus every night. The bus runs about every two hours, so a car or a taxi is the realistic way to see the rest of the island. Kitchens close early. In August the village beach fills by midday; Glyfo stays quieter. Outside late May to early October almost everything is shut.
Faros, Sifnos: common questions
Is Faros a good place to stay in Sifnos?
Yes, for quiet beach days. Three sheltered coves within a ten-minute walk, easy water, fish tavernas by the sand and the coastal path to Chrysopigi. It suits couples and young families; it has no nightlife and few shops, and the bus runs about every two hours.
What does Faros mean in Greek?
Lighthouse. The village takes its name from an ancient lighthouse that stood here on the south-east coast of Sifnos.
Which beaches are at Faros?
Three: the village beach with the fishing boats, Fasolou five minutes east below the Stavros monastery, and Glyfo ten minutes west, longer and quieter, with water that stays shallow for a good distance. Apokofto, below the Chrysopigi monastery, is 1.5 km along the coastal path.
How far is Faros from Chrysopigi?
1.5 km on the flat coastal path, about 30 minutes on foot, or five minutes by car. The path continues 2.4 km beyond the monastery to Platis Gialos.
Where are the best restaurants in Faros?
Pelicanos for a polished seaside lunch, from the family behind Omega 3 and Cantina; the fish tavernas on the village beach for the simple evening. Book Pelicanos in season and eat before ten, the kitchens close early.
How do I get to Faros?
By the Faros bus from Artemonas via Apollonia, nine a day in summer, about every two hours, €2.20 from Artemonas and €3.50 from the port; or by car, 12.5 km from Kamares and 10.5 km from Platis Gialos.
How far is Faros from Platis Gialos?
10.5 km by road, or on foot along the coast via Chrysopigi: 1.5 km to the monastery and a further 2.4 km to Platis Gialos.
Which part of Sifnos is best to stay in?
Faros or Vathi for quiet beach days; Platis Gialos for a beach-first stay with more going on; Apollonia for village evenings and the bus to everywhere; Artemonas or Kastro for the architecture. The where-to-stay guide compares all eight.
Faros, a half-day from the villa
Villa Olivia Clara sits above Platis Gialos, 10.5 km from Faros by road and a coastal walk away via Chrysopigi. Tell Elena your dates and she'll help you plan the beaches, the walks and the lunches.