Plizio Visual Lab
Kea
ℹ️Practical info — Kea
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Ferries depart from the port of Lavrio, not Piraeus, making it a quick trip from Athens airport.
- Kea is extremely popular with Athenians on weekends; visit on weekdays for a quieter experience.
- Rent a 4x4 vehicle to comfortably reach beaches at the end of dirt roads.
- Explore the extensive network of ancient trails (monopatia) connecting the villages.
🍽 Food
A traditional dish made with pieces of pork cooked with tomatoes and eggs.
Kea's version of cured pork, often sliced thinly and served as a meze.
A robust, dark honey unique to the island's oak forests, available in local shops.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Try unique cookies and pasta made from acorn flour, a revived local tradition.
Buy directly from local producers in Ioulida or Korissia.
Accessible only by foot or boat, offering ancient ruins right next to a pristine beach.
A sheltered, circular bay good for relaxed swimming, especially on windy days.
Water temperature…
Kea, or Tzia, is located just a one-hour ferry ride from the port of Lavrio, making it a frequent weekend retreat for Athenians. Straying from the standard whitewashed Cycladic aesthetic, the island's architecture relies on earth-toned stone buildings with red-tiled roofs. Inland, the landscape is defined by deep valleys and one of the largest continuous oak forests in Greece. Historical landmarks include the 6th-century BC stone lion carving near the capital, Ioulis, and the coastal archaeological site of ancient Karthaea. The highly indented coastline creates dozens of sheltered swimming spots. Koundouros and Poisses are the most developed beaches, facing west to catch the afternoon sun. Along the northwestern edge, Vroskopos, Kabi, and Kalamitsi offer quieter settings of sand and pebble. Reaching the more remote southern stretches like Mavrabeli, Lygia, and Liparo usually involves navigating steep dirt roads, keeping these beaches uncrowded even in August. The eastern and southeastern shores are rugged and remote. The beach of Mikres Poles sits directly below the ancient ruins of Karthaea and requires a one-hour hike to reach. Chyliamodou, Freas, and Kalogiros are wild, pebble-strewn bays exposed to the Aegean winds. Off the coast of Kea lies the wreck of the HMHS Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic, resting at a depth of 122 meters and drawing technical divers from around the world.
- Location: Greece
- Nearby: Ioulida (Kea) (4 km)
- Population: ~2.394 (2021)
Geography
Facts
- One hour from Lavrio port
- Extensive inland oak forests
- Earth-toned stone architecture
- 6th-century BC Lion of Ioulis
- Developed shores of Koundouros
- Ruins of ancient Karthaea
- Shipwreck of HMHS Britannic
- Remote beach of Mikres Poles
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Kea (1)
Frequently asked questions
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Kea: where is it located?
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Nearby cities
