Kea Island

Greece / Kea Island / Kea Travel Guide & Information / Kea Hotels - Map of Kea Island, Greece

Kea Greece Travel Guide - Kea Hotels, Map of Kea Island

Map of Kea Island, Cyclades Islands, Greece

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Kea Greece: the most attractive holiday getaway near Athens!

Kea, the island also known as Tzia, located in the Cyclades Cluster, is a land with great natural beauty and distinct traditional characteristics. Kea (Tzia) Island is bursting with valleys, streams, hills, orchards, plantations and beautiful sandy beaches, all of which create the perfect setting for the island's charming hill and seaside villages.

Kea (Tzia) is situated between the southeastern coast of Attica and the islands of Kythnos, Syros and Andros. It is frequented mainly by people who want to spend their vacations on a serene and peaceful island, soaking up the sun and strolling through quaint villages and attractive landscapes. Its close proximity to Athens makes Kea (Tzia) an ideal destination for both weekend getaways and longer vacations.

Kea (Tzia) has several lovely villages that provide guests with a variety of dining and nightlife venues. If you are visiting the island, don't worry about finding accommodation because there is a wide range of apartments, rooms to rent, studios, suites and hotels in Kea, Greece. You will find the most suitable hotel in Kea Greece in one of its many beautiful villages.

Chora (also known as Ioulida or Ioulis), located in the center of Kea (Tzia), is the capital and the administrative center of the island. Chora is characterized by its traditional ceramic roof houses, stone-paved streets and many steps. Korissia (otherwise known as Livadi), situated west of the capital, is the main port of Kea (Tzia). The seafront of Korissia is especially picturesque, as it is lined with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants, while the area possesses some of the best beaches in Kea (Tzia) and a number of significant archaeological and historical sites, making it an extremely popular resort for the island's visitors.

Pisses is a scenic seaside village, built along a bay area, on the western side of Kea (Tzia). Pisses is well-known for its sandy beach and its impressive ancient site. The village of Otzias, also built on a bay in northern Kea (Tzia), is a splendid village with stone-brick houses and a superb beach that is lined with tamarisk trees.

Koundouros, on the western side of Kea (Tzia), is famous for its series of charming coves and stunning beaches, as well as its impressive villas and mill houses. The settlement of Vourkari is a cosmopolitan resort in northwest Kea (Tzia), with many bars, cafes, tavernas and restaurants along its shore. Here you can see luxury yachts and the jet set as they tour the Cyclades Islands.

Kea Hotels Greece

The island of Kea has a good tourist infrastructure, due to its booming reputation as the short holiday spot of the Athenians. On Kea (Tzia) visitors can select the accommodation of their choice from a plethora of Kea hotels. There are lavish hotels and resorts for those who want a “touch” of luxury during their vacation. Comfortable accommodation is offered in the Kea studios and apartments, while budget rooms for rent and hotels in Kea are abundant.

If you are on a family holiday in Kea (Tzia), we suggest making your reservations at a Kea studio, apartment or spacious suite that can accommodate at least 4 people. Kea hotels also cater to romantic holidays for two, by providing superb Kea suites and tasteful rooms with a dreamy sea view.

Some of the best hotels in Kea are located in the popular seaside resort of Korissia Kea, which is also the main port of the island and close to an abundance of nightlife venues and stunning beaches. Many travel agents provide package holidays to Kea Greece, so ask your tour operator if all-inclusive vacation offers to Kea (Tzia) are available.

Kea Beaches

If you have come to Kea to swim and sunbathe, you will not be disappointed. Apart from lush hills and sparkling springs, Kea (Tzia) has fabulous beaches, most of which have golden sand and tamarisk trees for shade. Be prepared when going to the beaches in Kea. You will find cafes and snack bars at some, while at others, such as Xyla and Mavrambeli, you will need to take your own supplies.

To start off on your tour of the Kea beaches, we suggest getting a map of Kea Greece and marking your favourite ones as you go along. For those who are vacationing on the northwestern side of the island, near the port of Korssia, there are the popular beaches of Gialiskari, Otzias, Xyla, Mavrambeli and Melissaki.

Along the southwestern coast are some beautiful Kea beaches that are worth visiting, including Pisses, Kastelakia, Koundouros, Liparo and Lygia.

From the capital of Ioulida (Ioulis), visitors can easily reach the beaches near Korissia, as well as the beaches on the eastern side of Kea (Tzia). The best eastern coast Kea beaches are Spathi, Kalidonychi, Sykamia, Orkos, and Psathi.

Other Kea beaches on the southern tip of the island can be accessed by boat. You can rent a boat for the day and go to Agios Philippos, Kaliskia, Schinos Bay and Platis Gialos.

Kea Nightlife – Kea Festivals & Events

The majority of Kea nightlife venues are located in the seaside settlements of Vourkari and Korissia. There is a variety of stimulating and quiet bars and cafes, as well as an abundance of tavernas and restaurants where you can try the local cuisine. The most popular dishes are lobster pasta, mushroom pie, “loza” (smoked pork), “paspalas” (a pork dish with tomato and eggs), sea urchin salad, tomato and squash balls, and mussles and rice. We suggest accompanying your meal with a bottle of locally produces “mavro” wine. Many smaller villages offer you a “taste” of the traditional Kea atmosphere, with small ouzeries and cosy tavernas. Otzias and Koundouros are two such villages.

If you want to experience the traditional side of Kea (Tzia), you might attend one of the festivals and fairs that take place on the island. In Ioulida, the capital of Kea, the main festival is in honor of Agios Charalambos on February 10, with music and dancing. The Agia Marina Festival is held on July 17, while the Panagia Kastriani Fair takes place on August 15. During August, you can attend the ‘Simeonidia' cultural events, including theatrical and dance performances, art exhibitions, children's theater, and more.

Kea Sights & Attractions

The island of Kea is rich in attractions from many different eras. Its long history gives visitors the opportunity to admire a large number of well-preserved archaeological sites. A good Kea Greece map will show the ancient sites so that you can plan your daily touring.

Start off with a stroll through the charming capital of Ioulida, among the churches and houses, to the quaint town square. Continue to the Ancient Site of Ioulis and the Medieval Castle. Then take the path up to the stone Lion of Ioulis, which dates back to the Pre-Archaic Era. Ioulida also has several very lovely religious monuments, such as the Episkopi Monastery, the Agia Anna Monastery, the Church and Tower of Agia Marina and the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Lastly, a visit to the Archaeological Museum is a must, in order to admire the ancient artefacts found throughout the island. In nearby Mylopotamos, you should definitely visit the watermills, which are magnificent specimens of this type of architecture.

In Vourkari, you should make a stop at the Pre-historic Site of Agia Irini, which consists of ruins of several ancient structures. In Korissia, we recommend going to the Ancient Site of Korissos, an Archaic settlement with the remains of houses and temples. Another interesting attraction in Korissia is the old enamel factory, which once was the main source of employment on the island and the only of its kind in Greece. Perhaps the finest historical site in Kea is Ancient Karthea, where you can admire the Temples of Athena and Apollo, the Temple of Demeter or Asklipios, and the Ancient Theater. Near Otzias village, in northern Kea, is the splendid Monastery of Panagia Kastriani, which was built on this particular spot because of an icon of the Virgin Mary was found there. In Pisses, you can visit the Poiessa Fort, while in Pera Meria you can admire one of the best panoramic island views in Kea.

Kea Island is most famous for its walking paths, which are lined with springs, rivers, lush greenery and rare flowers. There are 36 paths that visitors can walk on, which extend from one end of the island to the other. The paths were part of the ancient road network that connected the various cities. Kea is one of the up-and-coming destinations for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Kea Weather – Kea Climate

The weather in Kea Greece is quite mild and dry, especially during the summer. The island's springs make it one of the greenest places in the Cyclades cluster, despite its hilly geomorphology. In Kea Greece It can get quite humid and arid, although if you plan to do a little walking in the mountainside, it would be a good idea to take a jacket along with you.

The winter weather in Kea is temperate, rarely falling below 8 °C. When spring comes to Kea, the whole island is in bloom, with its thousands of flowers coming to life and creating a paradise-like setting. Temperatures are pleasant and ideal for nature walking. Summer is warm and sunny, with temperatures in the mid to high 20s. Autumn is still quite enjoyable, with temperatures ranging from the mid teens to the mid 20s.

Ferries to Kea

Getting to Kea Island Greece is fairly simple. Ferry boats to Kea depart on a daily basis from Lavrion Port near Athens. You can reach Lavrion Port by bus from the Pedion tou Areos KTEL Intracity Bus Station or the Athens Airport, or by car via the Attica Highway. The Kea Greece ferry boat schedule is reliable, and the trip takes approximately one hour. For more information about the Kea Greece ferry boat schedule, contact the Lavrion Port Authorities at +30 22820 25249.

Ticket for ferry boats to Kea are quite inexpensive, although it depends on the season and the boat agency. Book your ferry boat tickets well in advance, as the close proximity of Kea to Athens makes it a very popular getaway all year round.