Is Kea Worth Visiting?

Kea sits closer to Athens than any other Cyclades island, yet its stone villages with red tile roofs look nothing like the whitewashed image most people carry of the island chain.

Kea reaches by ferry from the port of Lavrio in about an hour, and its capital, Ioulida, sits eight kilometers inland, built with terracotta rooftops and covered stone passageways called stegadia rather than the cube shaped houses found elsewhere in the Cyclades. The town stays car-free, and a short walk from its center leads to the Lion of Kea, a stone carving dating to around 600 BC tied to local legend.

Ancient Karthea, the most significant of Kea's four ancient city-states, sits on the island's southeastern coast and is reachable only by a demanding hike or boat, where temples dedicated to Apollo and Athena stand alongside a well preserved theater. Divers come for two notable wrecks offshore, the HMHS Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, and the Burdigala, a French ocean liner that sank in 1916.

Beaches on Kea range from organized stretches at Koundouros and Otzias to quieter coves like Kalamitsi and Vroskopos reachable mainly on foot. A network of hiking trails stretching more than 80 kilometers crosses the island's oak forested interior, connecting Ioulida to its ancient sites and coastline.

Kea works well for travelers wanting real hiking, diving, and a quick escape from Athens without an early flight or a long ferry, and a weekend covers the highlights, though longer stays make room for Karthea and the quieter beaches at an easier pace.