January is usually a cold and blustery month for us in the Pacific Northwest and I find myself thinking about travel and far away places.
Last October we spent time on a fairly unknown island in Greece. I thought I would share some information about the island in case you too are feeling wanderlust!
The island of Tzia or Kea (pronounced Kay-a)
Kea is one of the largest islands in the Cyclades and the closest to Athens. It is known for its hiking trails, ancient archaeological sites, beautiful beaches, and popular with local Athenians.
How to Get There
Drive southeast from the Athens International airport (about 30 minutes) to the city of Lavrion. Take the ferry (1.5 hours) from Lavrion to Korissia.
You will need a car on the island so check rental prices in both Athens and on the island. We found that a car from Athens was much cheaper than an island rental.
The roads are rough so be prepared to drive slowly over gravel and sometimes very bumpy, trail like terrain.
As the ferry approaches Korissia you will be greeted by a beautiful lighthouse perched on top of the hill at the mouth of the bay.
Where we stayed
Because of its proximity to Athens, Kea is home to many Athenians second homes. When they are not occupied by their owners, they become vacation rentals.
We found a villa through AirBnb that had a monthly rental rate. So….if you can stay longer…you might negotiate a better price.
The view from the hill is amazing. Watching the sunsets and ships cross the Aegean Sea is, in my opinion, time well spent!
Our villa (Kea Live in Blue) was about 2 miles (10 minutes) outside of Korissia. We were there during “off season” so it was very quiet.
Village of Korissia (also spelled Coressia)
Korissia sits on the bay…
with lots of restaurants and markets…
and alleyways to explore.
Our favorite restaurant in Korissia is Ravaisi!
Don’t show up too early though….lunch service begins between two or three in the afternoon!
You may also enjoy a walk through the old enamel factory in Korissia.
What to do while on the island
Kea is known for its unique hiking trails. I used All Trails to discover and map hiking/walking paths. It’s a great app for the serious or not so serious hiker!
You can hike to the Kea Lion
the lighthouse
the ancient city of Karthaia
through the oak forests
and to many other ancient structures on the island.
You can explore the beautiful beaches
swim in the Aegean Sea
hunt sea glass on the beach
watch the ships and the sunsets
and enjoy the flora of the island.
You will also want to explore the hilltop village and hora (capital city) of Loulida.
At the top of Loulida you will find the best bakery on the island. Note: They bake very dense whole grain bread on thursdays and it is delicious!
Cooking Class
One of the highlights of our stay on Kea was a cooking class with Aglaia and Costas.
Their cooking classes take place at their home and we got a tour of the garden and grounds where Costas cultivates a variety of plants and trees that they use for cooking.
We learned how to roll phylo dough and make a selection of traditional greek dishes.
Baked feta on phylo (also called Lazy Women’s Pie)
spinach pie
and roasted lamb cooked in an outdoor wood fire oven.
We dined at this beautiful table on the patio that was flooded in speckled sunlight.
The outdoor kitchen area is every chefs dream!
It’s very welcoming and showcases a traditional greek esthetic.
The food was amazing and the conversation with Aglaia, Costa, and Abeli (wine boutique) owners was fascinating. Conversations and connections like this are the best part of travel!
You can learn more about Aglaia and Costas’s Kea Artesanal classes and tours here. You can also find Aglaia’s many cookbooks here.
Getting to other Islands
We traveled to several other islands including Santorini. It is a long journey by ferry from Kea but very enjoyable as you stop in many different ports along the way.
From Kea you will need to take a ferry to the island of Kythnos and spend the night. From there you can jump on a ferry that island hops through the Cyclades all the way to Santorini.
Greece Cuisine
This is just a small sample of our time in Greece. Is Greece on your bucket list? If you are interested in learning more about Kea, Athens, or Santorini…leave a comment below!
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