Sifnos Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide

Sifnos sits in the Cyclades.

The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi (Etesian) northerly, strongest mid-July to mid-August (around Force 5 to 7, gusting higher in open water).

Plan south legs downwind and overnight on lee and south coasts.

May, June and September are calmer.

This guide covers the island's main anchorages with the practical detail charterers and captains actually use: depth where a published cruising source documents it, holding, and shelter direction.

Where a figure was not documented we say so rather than guess.

Ashore: Kastro, the antiquities-rich pedestrianised old town, Apollonia the capital, and the Church of the Seven Martyrs on its rock.

Sifnos is the bolt-hole of the western Cyclades and the island with the best food: 80 nautical miles from Alimos on our distance table, 25 from Kythnos, 25 from Milos, 30 from Antiparos, 35 from Paros and 45 from Folegandros.

The three records are the reason captains plan around it: Vathy on the south-west coast, three to four metres over sand, the safest harbour on the island with all-round shelter even in a south-westerly, a cruiser having ridden out a Force 10 there; Kamares, the ferry port, five metres with holding that is not always good, plenty of chain and the north-east corner; Fikiada on the south-west, solid sand and weed, a line ashore, for the swim.

On the Greek Charter Index 2026 a fully crewed sailing catamaran for eight runs EUR 18,900 to 48,000 a week at 16 to 19 metres and EUR 31,500 to 43,500 at 20 to 22, per yacht before VAT and APA, and the smaller catamarans lie in Vathy's three to four metres.

Where can a yacht anchor at Sifnos?

Sifnos has 3 anchorages in this guide: Vathy (SW), Kamares (main / ferry port), Fikiada (SW). Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.

How deep are the anchorages at Sifnos?

Vathy (SW) 3-4m; Kamares (main / ferry port) 5m. Depths are typical sand-bottom anchoring depths; the captain drops on current chart data.

What is the holding like at Sifnos?

Vathy (SW): Sand, good. Kamares (main / ferry port): Not always good, use plenty of chain. Fikiada (SW): Solid in sand and weed.

When is the best time to anchor at Sifnos?

The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi, the northerly that blows hardest from mid-July to mid-August, around Force 5 to 7 and gusting higher in open water. Sifnos is where a week between Kythnos, Milos and Paros sleeps when it blows, because Vathy holds in anything. Kamares is busy with ferries all summer; Vathy fills with yachts that know it in July and August, so the crew arrives early. June and September are the months to eat your way round the island from a quiet anchorage, and on the Greek Charter Index the shoulder months price 15 to 25% below peak on the same rate card with three to four months of lead time rather than a year.

What does the captain plan around at Sifnos?

Vathy, three to four metres over sand in the south-west, is the night whenever the forecast is in doubt, and often when it is not; Kamares for the ferry and provisioning, in the north-east corner with plenty of chain and no faith in the holding; Fikiada with a line ashore for the swim in north-west to south-south-east winds. Milos is 25 miles, Kythnos 25, Paros 35, Antiparos 30, all mornings, and the Chora at Apollonia is a taxi from either harbour. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; the captain confirms the anchor drop against current charts on arrival.

Cyclades

Saronic

Ionian

Sporades

Dodecanese

Crete