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Voykit pocket guide · Greece
Schinoussa
Σχοινούσα
Schinoussa is a quiet, walkable island for 2–3 nights if you want slow beach days and empty trails; skip if you need nightlife or frequent ferry connections.
Schinoussa is one of the Small Cyclades, south of Naxos, with a population of about 210. It has smooth hills, fertile valleys and a mild climate. The island has no airport and limited ferry connections, so most visitors stay 2–3 nights to relax, hike and swim at uncrowded beaches like Tsigouri and Livadi.
- Country
- Greece
- Local name
- Σχοινούσα
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (peak heat, crowded ferries)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 199 · Tourist police 1571 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
- Toilets
- Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €3–4 |
| Beer (local) | €3–5 |
| Meal at a taverna (main) | €12–18 |
| Scooter rental (per day) | €25–35 (check) |
| Ferry Naxos–Schinoussa (one way) | €12–18 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JNX · Naxos Island National Airport
- Then ferry to Schinoussa (check schedules)
Typical fares
- Ferry Naxos–Schinoussa (one way)
- about €12–18, 45–60 min (check)
- Scooter rental (per day)
- about €25–35 (check)
- Taxi from port to village
- about €5–10
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island is small enough to walk or rent a scooter/ATV. A few taxis are available. No public transport.
See and do
Known for
- Small Cyclades quiet island
- Tsigouri beach
- Hiking trails
- Slow pace, few tourists
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Koufonissia | Ferry (check schedules) | About 30 min |
| Heraklia | Ferry (check schedules) | About 20 min |
| Naxos | Ferry (check schedules) | About 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Schinoussa Town (Chora)
- Central, near tavernas and shops; most accommodation is here or within a short walk.
- Tsigouri beach area
- Quieter, with a few hotels like Archipelagos; 600 m walk to the village.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Goodbye | Γεια σαςyia sas |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώefkharisto |
| Please / You're welcome | Παρακαλώparakalo |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κάνει;poso kani |
| Where is the beach? | Πού είναι η παραλία;pou einai i paralia |
| I would like… | Θα ήθελα…tha ithela |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
- Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
- Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
- Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
- Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
- Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry connections are limited and weather-dependent; check schedules and book ahead in peak season.
- No ATM on the island; bring enough cash.
- Scooter rental requires a valid driving licence; roads are narrow and unpaved in parts.
Schinoussa is very safe; the main risks are sunburn, dehydration and scooter accidents on unpaved roads. No serious crime reported.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Schinoussa yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Small Cyclades quiet island
- Tsigouri beach
- Hiking trails
- Slow pace, few tourists
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Schinoussa, revision 4986269 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4986269
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SchinoussaΣχοινούσα
Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση, παρακαλώ
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Athens. For consular assistance, contact the embassy in Athens or the nearest consulate on Naxos (check).
No ATM on the island; bring cash.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/schinoussa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.