Kythira Practical info


General Info

CLIMATE
Kythira Island is located south from the Peloponnese but officially belongs to the Ionian Islands complex while administratively it is under the authority of Piraeus prefecture. Its location is of great importance as it is between Crete and the Greek mainland and it is also within the passage from the Aegean to the Ionian Sea.

The surface of the island is about 280 km2 and the total length of its coast 52 km.

The island’s climate is the typical Mediterranean with the light winters and the hot summers but, just like most Greek islands, even during the hot summer the nights are a little chilled and humid.

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 7 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).

The Area Code for Kythira is: +30 27360.
If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.


Getting There

BY AIR
The fastest way to reach Kythira is by air from Greece’s national airport, Eleftherios Venizelos and Olympic Air. The flight lasts about 30’ and Kythira airport is located at Simpetra, at 20km distance for Kythira Hora.

You can also travel to Kythira from Crete or catch a flight for some of the Ionian Islands, like Zante, Kefalonia and Corfu and the mainland Aktion, western Greece with Sky Express.

For more information on flights, please visit:
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos: www.aia.gr
Kythira National Airport: Tel: +30 2736033297, Email: [email protected]
Olympic Airways: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Olympic Air website www.olympicair.com
Athens Office: +30 210 355 0500, 8018010101

Sky Express: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Sky Express website www.skyexpress.gr
Athens Office: +30 2810223800, 80111282888

BY BOAT
Kythira is connected with the port of Piraeus, the port of Neapoli and Githeio, both at south Peloponnese. It is also connected with Crete but the journey is pretty long and can be rough due to the strong sea currents and winds that are pretty usual in the area and, so it is not suggested if you want to have a relaxed and pleasant journey.

From Piraeus the journey lasts about 7-8 hrs and it is usually served once a week. The trip from Neapoli is about 1 hr and 15’ and from Githeio 2,5 hrs. The trip from Kissamos, western Crete last about 4,5 hrs.
We suggest that you either take the boat from Neapoli or Githeio in order to save time and have the chance to see the beautiful south coasts of Peloponnese too.

Kythira’s main port is Diakofti, a wind protected and contemporary port, while for yachts and sailings boats there is also Agia Pelagia and Kapsali.

You can also visit Antikythira, the small island near Kythira, untouched by the human hand.

Lane Sea Lines (Kythira Office)
From Crete, Githeio and Piraeus
For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit: www.lane-kithira.com
Tel.: +30 27360 37055
Mob: +30 6933087777
Email: [email protected]  

F/B Porfyrousa
From Neapoli
For accurate timetables please call:
Tel: +30 27340 24004 / 29004 (bookings from Neapoli)
Tel: +30 27360 31390 (bookings from Kythira)
Diakofti Port Authority: +30 27360 34222
Agia Pelagia Marina Authority: +30 27360 33280
Kapsali Marina Authority: +30 27360 31222
Piraeus Port Authority Tel.: +30 210 4226000, 210 4114005

Antikythira Information
Community of Antikythira:  +30 27360 31930 / email: [email protected]
For accurate timetables and ticket costs you can communicate with Agia Pelagia Marina Authority and the Marina Authority of Diakofti.


Local Transportation

LOCAL BUSES

In Kythira there are no regular bus routes throughout the year but during the touristic season the municipality operates frequent routes with buses that run from the airport and port to the island’s main villages and Hora. The buses also connect the villages between them.

The routes are announced in various travel agencies on the island and you can also find timetables and further information in various local authorities.
For more information on timetables and routes, please call the municipality of Kythira: +30 27360 31213  

TAXI SERVICE

There are a few taxis that you will find useful for your transportation on the island of Kythira.

Find below some telephones of local taxi drivers:+30 6945 227480, +30 6944 314125, +30 6944 746246, +30 6977 865162, +30 6944 931354

RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE

It is advisable to have your own vehicle in order to discover all the hidden gems of Kythira at your own time.

You will find quite a few car / moto rental agencies on the island of Kythira, and mostly in Hora and the larger villages (Agia Pelagia, Kapsali).


Local Services

BANKS & ATMS
On the island there are not many branches of Greek banks. You will find though two branches of the National Bank of Greece (Hora and Potamos village) and one branch of the Agricultural Bank of Greece (Hora).

MONEY EXCHANGE
Banks exchange all major currencies, traveler’s cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels exchange cash and traveler’s cheques but usually charge a higher commission. Credit cards are accepted in shops and restaurants, however, in local cafes, especially in villages you will probably have to pay in cash.

             
POST OFFICE
The Greek post office is called ELTA. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.
Kythira (Hora) Post Office Tel.: +30 27360 31274

POLICE STATION
Kythira (Hora) Police Station Tel.: +30 27360 31206
Potamos Police Station Tel.: +30 27360 33222

MUNICIPALITY OF KYTHIRA 
Hora, Tel.: +30 27360 31213


Useful Numbers
  • Tourist Police: 171
  • Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
  • Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
INTERNATIONAL PRESS                                         
It is not certain that you will find international press on Kythira so be prepared and take it with you from Piraeus, Athens or Peloponnese.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
  • Police: 100
  • Fire Department: 199
  • Ambulance: 166
HEALTH
Potamos Hospital/Health Centre Tel.: +30 27360 33222
Potamos Rural Health Centre Tel.: +30 27360 33213
Hora Rural Health Centre Tel.: +30 27360 31243
Kato Livadi Rural Health Centre Tel.: +30 27360 31536
Karvounades Rural Health Centre Tel.: +30 27360 38015

PHARMACY
On Kythira there are two private pharmacies, at Potamos and Karvounades, and one within the hospital, at Potamos.

Potamos Pharmacy
Tel.: +30 27360 34220
Karvounades Pharmacy Tel.: +30 27360 38055


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