Kythira
Kythira draws travelers who want a slow island trip by car, with a Venetian castle town, a Byzantine village left empty and waterfalls at Mylopotamos.
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Kythira is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese. Three places anchor a visit: Chora, the main town, built on a hill around a Venetian castle; Paleochora, an abandoned Byzantine-era settlement of ruined houses and churches; and the waterfalls at Mylopotamos, inland from the coast.
The sights are spread across the island, so a rental car is the easiest way to reach them. Kapsali, a harbour village reached by road from Chora, and Agia Pelagia, a beach village, make practical bases. Ferries run from Neapolis on the mainland, and timetables change by season, so check the crossing before you set your dates. Spring and early autumn are milder than midsummer. Give Chora, Paleochora and the waterfalls at least three or four days at an unhurried pace, and add more time for the beaches.
Kythira in five
- Take the short ferry from NeapolisThe crossing from Neapolis on the mainland is the short one, and it ties in with Monemvasia on a Peloponnese loop. Book vehicle space early in July and August.Peloponnese
- Pair the island with MonemvasiaMonemvasia is about an hour by road from the ferry port, so many visitors spend a night in the walled town before or after the crossing.Monemvasia
- Hike to Paleochora with waterThe abandoned Byzantine town sits above a gorge in the south of the island. There is no shade or shop on the way, so go early and carry water.
- Swim at Kapsali below the castleKapsali has two small beaches beneath Chora's Venetian fort, with cafes along the front. It gets busy in August, so go in the morning or in June or September.
- Rent a car, but plan the roadsDistances are short, but the roads are narrow and winding, and village parking is tight. Flights from Athens are short and few, so book early.Getting around Greece
Things to do in Kythira
See all attractions in Kythira
Need to know
- Airport
- Kythira (KIT); short flights from Athens
- Getting there
- Ferry from Neapolis (Laconia), or flights from Athens
- Getting around
- Rental car; few buses
- Best base
- Chora and Kapsali, or Mylopotamos for quiet
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°WildflowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Easter, mildAprilClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, mild
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Warm, sea warmJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sea warm
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low24°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low24°Hot, diaspora crowdsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, diaspora crowds
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low22°Warm, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Rain, closingNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closing
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Mild, wetDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Chora, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kythira
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 26 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Kythira
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°18°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue21°19°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed21°19°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu19°16°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri16°15°3%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat16°15°10%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun16°15°25%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 06:59 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Chora and Kapsaliabout 10 min by car between themThe Venetian castle above a village and two small beaches below.
- Mylopotamosabout 20–30 min by car north of ChoraA shady village with waterfalls and a stream through old mill ruins.
- Paleochoraabout 30–40 min by car south, then a walkA deserted Byzantine town above a gorge, reached on foot.
Before you go to Kythira
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Rules for Kythira, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at the border. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Ferry timetables change by season and weather. Check the operator's current timetable before you book a crossing to Kythira.
- Greek law protects marine turtles. Keep away from marked nesting areas on beaches, and do not use lights on the sand at night.
Plan around Kythira
Entry rules, ferries and island planning
Read the guideMonemvasiaMedieval walled town on the nearby mainland
Read the guidePeloponneseNafplio, Mani and the south by car
Read the guideThe ManiTower villages on the neighboring peninsula
Read the guideGetting around GreeceCars, buses and ferries compared
Read the guideSchengen 90 in 180How your days add up across Greece
Read the guideKythira FAQ
Is Kythira worth visiting?
Yes for a quiet island with a pretty Chora, waterfalls, a ghost town and few crowds. It is not a nightlife or big-beach destination, and it needs a car and a slow pace.
How do you get to Kythira?
By ferry from Neapolis on the Peloponnese, which is the short crossing, or by flight from Athens. Some ferry routes also link the island with other ports, so check the operator for your date.
How many days do you need in Kythira?
Two to four days cover Chora, Kapsali, Mylopotamos and Paleochora at an easy pace. Add a day for a longer hike or a beach-only stay.
Can you combine Kythira with Monemvasia?
Yes. Neapolis, the ferry port, is about an hour by road from Monemvasia, so many visitors spend a night in the walled town before or after the crossing.
When is the best time to visit Kythira?
May, June, September and early October for warm sea and calm roads. August brings many visitors from the large Kytherian diaspora, and winter is quiet with many closures.