SeaTV · Cyclades Islands · Sifnos · Kamares
Kamares Port — A Sailor’s Guide to the West Coast of Sifnos
The main entry point for ferry traffic and arriving yachts on Sifnos. A simple but well-equipped harbour with sand bottom, fair holding, and good shelter — provided you respect the surge and the rocks.
Kamares is the working port of Sifnos — sitting on the west coast, it’s where the ferries arrive from Piraeus and the Cyclades, and where most charter yachts make their first Sifnos landfall. The harbour is small and uncomplicated. The conditions are usually workable. The two things you need to remember are the surge with westerlies and the rocks at certain mooring positions. For the rest of the island’s anchorages (Vathi, Platis Gialos, Faros, Kastro), see the Sifnos Island page.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Surge with westerlies — uncomfortable in W winds despite shelter
→ Beware of rocks on the bottom at certain positions
→ Ferry wake — Kamares is Sifnos’s main ferry port
⚓ Quick Facts
Position
36°59.50’N · 24°39.21’E · West coast Sifnos
Bottom
Hard sand · fair holding
Depth (mole)
~5 m (16 ft)
Shelter
Good · surge in westerlies
Services
Water · electricity · showers
Function
Main ferry port + yacht entry
⚓ Mooring at Kamares
Two Options · Quay or Mole
Where to Tie Up
Option 1 — Off the quay: Mediterranean stern-to onto the main town quay.
Option 2 — Alongside the mole: In ~5 m (16 ft) of hard sand.
Bottom: Hard sand · fair holding.
Shelter: Good in most directions.
⚠ Hazard #1 — Surge in westerlies: Although Kamares is sheltered from most directions, there’s a real surge when the wind goes west. Boats moored alongside the mole get the worst of it. If a westerly is forecast, consider crossing to Vathi (all-around shelter) on the SE coast instead.
⚠ Hazard #2 — Rocks: Beware of rocks on the bottom at certain mooring positions. Set the anchor with care, and snorkel down to verify if visibility allows.
Facilities at Kamares
Water and electricity: Available on the quay.
Showers: Available ashore.
Provisioning: Kamares has the main ferry-port amenities of Sifnos — supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies. The waterfront has tavernas and cafés along the front; walk and pick what looks good.
Pro Tips for Kamares
Cross to Vathi if westerly forecast. The surge in W winds is the headline Kamares limit. Vathi (SE coast, all-around shelter) is the natural Plan B. ~12 NM round the south of the island.
Set the anchor twice. Hard sand bottom = fair holding (not excellent), and rocks at certain positions = a chance of fouling. Drop, set, then snorkel down to verify visually.
Time arrival around the ferry schedule. Kamares is a working ferry port — the main wake periods are predictable. If your arrival timing is flexible, slot it between ferries.
Use Kamares as the resupply stop. Best provisioning on Sifnos. Top up water, electricity, and supplies before heading round to the SE coast (Vathi, Platis Gialos, Faros) where the options are smaller.
Take a taxi to Apollonia & Kastro. Sifnos’s cultural heart is inland. Apollonia (capital) and Kastro (cliff-top old town with donkey streets) are both reachable by short taxi from Kamares. Excellent half-day off the boat.
✅ Sailor’s Checklist for Kamares
▢ Westerly forecast checked — Plan B (Vathi) ready if needed
▢ Anchor set carefully and verified (rocks at certain positions)
▢ Heavy fenders set for ferry wake
▢ Water + electricity hooked up while at quay
▢ Provisioning completed before continuing to SE coast
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 throughout
Emergency & Service Numbers — Kamares / Sifnos
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Sifnos Port Authority: VHF Ch. 12 / 16
Marina Platis Gialos (alternative SE coast): +30 22840 33617
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over the Kamares approach from the west, the working ferry quay and the mole, the surge in W winds, and a walk through the waterfront. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Sifnos · Other Pages
→ Sifnos Island — 5 anchorages overview · Vathi, Platis Gialos, Faros, Kastro
Cyclades Routes & Region
Arriving at Kamares?
Hard sand, fair holding, surge in westerlies. Top up here, then continue to the SE coast.
“Kamares is the practical front door of Sifnos — sand bottom, fair holding, ferries arriving on schedule. Watch the surge in westerlies, set the anchor twice, and use the resupply before heading round to Vathi or Platis Gialos.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Cyclades Edition
