There are times when you don’t need long holidays or a perfectly planned trip to feel summer finally beginning.
Sometimes, all it takes is a one-hour ferry ride from Lavrio, a little sea breeze on your face, and that first scent of the Aegean reminding you that island season has quietly returned once again.
The First Summer Ferry
That’s exactly how my little escape to Kea began.
Just forty-eight hours — which may not sound like much, but somehow they managed to hold so many beautiful moments inside them.
By the time you buy a pack of those classic red ferry crackers — you know the ones — and an overpriced bottle of ferry water, you’re already arriving and heading down to the garage deck to grab the car.
And just when you feel the island getting closer, you take one last walk around the ferry deck, trying not to let the heavy metal door crush your fingers from the strong wind.
That’s when you spot the island’s beautiful lighthouse, standing proudly and staring endlessly toward the horizon of the sea you just crossed so fearlessly.
And you think:
“Oh. We’re here already?”
Everything feels so classic. Almost cliché in a way — yet so deeply Greek that you suddenly realize you could never really live without it.
The very first thing you see approaching the island is the large church of Agia Triada. White, peaceful, glowing under the sun, standing above the port like a simple Cycladic “welcome”.
Kea — or Tzia, as Greeks often call it — is one of the most beautiful Cycladic islands for a short summer escape near Athens. And honestly, the moment you arrive, you immediately understand why.
Yaliskari and Little Summer Stops
If you choose to stay near the port, like I did at the cozy and spotless “Kea Island”, you’ll have plenty of options for food, coffee, drinks and little evening walks without needing to drive too far.
Only five minutes away by car, you’ll find Yaliskari, a beautiful little beach that almost feels like a tiny natural harbor.
There’s also a lovely little café-bar right by the water — the perfect place either for a quick swim or simply for sitting by the sea with your favorite iced coffee while watching the Aegean quietly move in front of you.
Roads Full of Flowers and Olive Trees
If you decide to explore the island by car, the drive itself becomes part of the experience.
Kea is incredibly green. Olive trees everywhere, little stone roads and — if you visit during spring — endless wildflowers in every color imaginable blending effortlessly with the deep blue of the Aegean.
And one thing that truly impressed me?
How organized, clean and cared for the entire island feels. Quiet, welcoming and beautifully maintained without losing any of its authentic Cycladic character.
Kea combines quiet Cycladic beauty, authentic Greek atmosphere and easy access from Athens — something that makes it ideal even for a short weekend escape.
Along the way, make sure to stop at Pappus House for brunch with an incredible view, and later at Tsourtis bakery near Ioulida for handmade ice cream that feels like something from another era.
As a devoted chocolate lover, of course I only tried the Bitter flavor.
The Magic of Ioulida
And then comes Ioulida.
The island’s Chora feels effortlessly magical and unmistakably Cycladic, especially at sunset.
Tiny alleyways full of little shops, courtyards that almost blend into the streets themselves, laundry hanging outside under the Greek sun, and whitewashed houses standing close together like old friends who grew up side by side.
You’ll eat amazing wood-fired pizza at Gustosa, find tiny magnets and souvenirs, sip drinks overlooking the white houses of the village…
And of course, you’ll end up taking photos in the tiny square that looks like something straight out of a film.
It’s also worth visiting the island’s Archaeological Museum, not only because it beautifully matches Kea’s deep sense of history, but also because honestly… I don’t think you’ll easily find another museum with a view quite like that.
Then again…
This is Greece we’re talking about.
The Tiny Churches of Kea
And one more thing I absolutely loved?
The tiny little churches scattered all over the island.
Some forgotten by the roadside, some hidden among flowers, others quietly facing the sea.
All of them whitewashed, cared for and proud, with the Greek flag constantly waving above the Aegean sky.
Until Next Time
In the end, we may not have actually gone swimming…
We simply took our swimsuits out of the closet to let them breathe a little island air.
And as you leave, there’s that small bittersweet feeling.
“It’s over already,” you think.
“It ended before I even realized it had begun.”
But at the same time, there’s another feeling too.
What a beautiful little adventure.
What a perfect beginning for an entire season still waiting ahead of you.
The Greek summer.
Aaah.
And somehow, before you even fully realize it, you’re back in Lavrio with salt in your hair and the feeling that summer has only just begun.
Take my ebooks with you on your next Greek getaway 🌿
“Myriam’s Dreams” my romantic novel is the perfect companion while you relax under the hot Greek sun with salty hair and an iced coffee by your side.
And for those warm Greek summer afternoons when everyone slows down for a little Greek siesta, my children’s ebook “A vegan in my classroom” is a lovely way to keep little readers cozy, calm and happily entertained indoors.
You can explore all my books here: Zenia’s Vegan Books
