Kea Island

Kea (Tzia) is a mountainous island in the western Cyclades, unusually green for the archipelago thanks to its extensive oak forests. Its hilltop capital, Ioulida (Chora), spills whitewashed houses across an amphitheatric slope, while the harbors of Korissia and Vourkari sit below. The landscape is stitched together by an old network of stone-paved footpaths.

In antiquity the island held four powerful city-states - Ioulis, Karthaia, Koresia, and Poiessa - and produced notable figures such as the poet Simonides. Its most famous relic is the archaic stone Lion of Kea, carved into bedrock near Ioulida. Proximity to Attica has made Kea a favored weekend retreat rather than a mass-tourism resort.

• The Lion of Kea, an archaic stone lion carved into hillside rock near Ioulida
• Ioulida (Chora), the amphitheatric hilltop capital with narrow whitewashed lanes
• Ancient Karthaia, seaside ruins of a city-state reachable only on foot
• Korissia and Vourkari, the island's lively northern harbors and yacht anchorages
• The restored network of ancient stone monopatia trails crossing the island
• Oak forests and terraced hillsides that make Kea unusually green for the Cyclades

Kea has no airport and is reached by ferry from Lavrio (Lavrion), a port on the southeast coast of Attica about an hour from central Athens by road. The crossing to Korissia harbor is short, roughly an hour, with frequent sailings in summer and on weekends. Ferries generally do not run from Piraeus, so travelers connect via Lavrio.

Late spring through early autumn (May-October) is ideal, with warm seas and long daylight. High summer brings the strong Meltemi winds and weekend crowds of Athenians. Spring and autumn are best for hiking the stone trails, offering mild temperatures, wildflowers, and quieter villages.