Kamares is the settlement arranged around the port of the island, situated within the homonymous cove, some 6 kilometers northwestern to the capital Apollonia. The port is in use for more than a century, that is to say, from the period when the exploitation of the mines of the island was reactivated. The settlement owes its name (meaning “chambers” or “arches” in Greek) to the numerous caves, natural or carved in the rocks of the southern coast of the cove. These caves, used in the past for various purposes, house today stores, cafés, or bars; some of them are also used as shelters for the boats of the locals in winter. The settlement counts some 200 permanent residents, occupied in tourism.

Being the point of arrival, Kamares receive a lot of tourists and offer good tourist facilities for accommodation, eating, shopping and amusement. The tourist will find shops of various kinds offering all goods and services necessary for a comfortable and pleasant staying and several bars and clubs for “hot” nightlife.

At the western part of the village the visitors will see the luxurious villas of the wealthy people of Sifnos, who in their majority had immigrated to various places in the past. At the foot of the mountain Aghios Symeon, in the quarter of Aghia Marina (or “Pera Banda” as the locals call it) you will find many taverns with traditional dishes and local delicacies. In the broader area of the port you will see the ruins of several old buildings, old churches, as well as the ruins of kilns and the old wharf for the loading of ores; this latter is a construction of 1909. Southern to the port it is situated the Holy Monastery of Panaghia “Tosso Nero”, dedicated to Virgin Mary. Access to the Monastery is possible via the footpath or by the excursion boats departing from Kamares.

The locals organize great religious feasts (“panighyri”) to celebrate the name day of Profetes Elias tou Troulakiou (Prophete Elijah) on the 20th of July and the Assumption of Virgin Mary taking place on the 15th of August at the Monastery. A third religious feast takes place on the 1st of September in honor of Aghios Symeon, whose church is situated on a steep hillside, some 6,5 kilometers northeastern to the port.

For any problem the corresponding services of the nearby capital Apollonia (6 kilometers far away to the Northwest) are available for you.

Access to Kamares from Apollonia is possible by public buses running regularly, by taxi and by private means (car or motorbikes). Of course, as Kamares is the port of the island, it is the point of arrival of the visitors from outside Sifnos. So, if you reach the island by yacht, the port of Kamares is available for mooring and water and fuel supply.