Best Places to Stay in Anafi: Chora, Kleisidi and Roukounas
Choosing where to stay in Anafi is relatively simple because accommodation is concentrated in a few distinct parts of the island.
Chora is the best base for most visitors. It has the greatest choice of restaurants and cafés, comes alive in the evening and provides good access to the island’s bus and walking routes.
Kleisidi is better for travellers who want to stay close to the sea, while the Roukounas area suits those looking for greater seclusion and immediate access to one of Anafi’s best beaches.
There are also a handful of more isolated properties elsewhere on the island.
Anafi doesn’t have the huge hotel inventory found on Santorini or Mykonos. Most accommodation consists of small hotels, studios, apartments and independently run rooms, which suits the scale and character of the island.
Chora — Best Place to Stay for Most Visitors
For a first visit, Chora is the strongest all-round choice.
The whitewashed village sits high above the southern coast and is the centre of island life.
Staying here puts restaurants, cafés and evening activity within walking distance. It also makes it easier to organise walks and travel to different beaches rather than committing to one section of coastline.
Chora is particularly attractive after sunset.
During the day, visitors disperse around the beaches and walking trails. In the evening, people return to the village for dinner and drinks, giving Chora considerably more atmosphere than its small size might suggest.
Best for: first visits, restaurants, nightlife, walkers and travellers without a car.
Panorama Rooms — Best for Chora and Views
Panorama Rooms occupies an elevated position around Chora and is a good example of why staying in the village is appealing.
The location combines access to Chora with wide views across Anafi and the Aegean.
This works particularly well for travellers who want to explore during the day but return somewhere quiet in the evening without being isolated from restaurants.
The elevated setting means guests should be comfortable with Anafi’s slopes and steps.
That is true of much of Chora accommodation: a spectacular view often comes with an uphill walk.
Best for: views, couples and access to Chora.
Meltemi Rooms and Studios — Best for Village Convenience
Meltemi Rooms and Studios is positioned just outside the heart of Chora.
That gives it a useful balance.
Guests can walk into the village for dinner while remaining slightly removed from its busiest summer lanes.
Studios also make sense on Anafi because basic self-catering facilities provide flexibility for breakfast and simple meals.
For visitors relying on buses and walking rather than hiring a vehicle, the Chora location is particularly practical.
Best for: car-free travellers, longer stays and village access.
Ta Plagia — Best for a Romantic Chora Setting
Ta Plagia occupies one of Chora’s scenic positions overlooking the Aegean.
This is the kind of accommodation to choose when the setting matters as much as the room.
Anafi’s elevated village offers dramatic sea views, particularly towards the western horizon, and properties around the edge of Chora can take full advantage of them.
It suits couples who want to spend their days exploring but still value a terrace and view when they return.
Best for: couples, sunset views and a quieter Chora stay.
Villa Kalamiotissa — Traditional Chora Base
Villa Kalamiotissa provides another established accommodation option in Chora.
Its location makes it particularly practical for visitors interested in Anafi’s combination of walking, beaches and evening village life.
Rather than needing transport every time they want dinner or a drink, guests can remain within the island’s principal settlement.
This is an important consideration on Anafi, where staying somewhere beautiful but remote can also mean becoming dependent on transport.
Best for: traditional island accommodation and central location.
Pelagos — Best for Aegean Views
Pelagos is another Chora-area option positioned to take advantage of Anafi’s elevated landscape.
Sea views are one of the major reasons to stay above the coast rather than directly beside it.
From Chora, the Aegean becomes part of the accommodation experience, particularly early in the morning and around sunset.
Properties such as Pelagos suit travellers who prefer a traditional room or studio rather than a larger resort environment.
Best for: sea views and a quiet village stay.
Kleisidi — Best Place to Stay Near the Beach
Travellers who prioritise swimming should consider Kleisidi.
The area lies between Chora and Agios Nikolaos port and has one of Anafi’s most accessible sandy beaches.
Staying here creates a very different daily rhythm from Chora.
Instead of travelling down to the coast each morning, visitors can begin and end the day beside the sea.
There are places to eat in the wider Kleisidi area, although Chora remains the better choice for restaurant variety and evening atmosphere.
Best for: beach lovers, couples and relaxed stays close to the water.
Apollon Village Hotel — Best for Kleisidi Beach
Apollon Village Hotel is one of Anafi’s more substantial accommodation properties.
It occupies the hillside above Kleisidi, with its studios, rooms and bungalow-style accommodation positioned roughly 250–350 metres from the beach.
The elevated position provides extensive sea views while keeping guests within walking distance of the sand.
Unlike many simple room rentals on Anafi, Apollon offers a wider range of accommodation styles, including studios with kitchens and larger suites.
This makes it particularly suitable for travellers who want more facilities while still avoiding a conventional large resort.
Best for: Kleisidi Beach, sea views and travellers wanting more hotel facilities.
Chora or Kleisidi?
This is the most important accommodation decision for many visitors.
Choose Chora if restaurants, evening atmosphere and easy access to different parts of the island matter most.
Choose Kleisidi if waking up close to a sandy beach is the priority.
There isn’t a universally better choice.
For a first visit of four or five nights, Chora probably has the advantage because it makes experiencing different parts of Anafi easier.
For a slower summer holiday centred on swimming, Kleisidi can be more appealing.
Roukounas — Best for Seclusion and Nature
Roukounas offers a third style of Anafi stay.
The long sandy beach is one of the island’s best known, but the surrounding area remains far less urbanised than Chora.
Staying here puts visitors directly into the landscape rather than inside a village.
This suits people who actively want quiet surroundings, walking and beach time.
It is less appropriate for travellers who expect to walk out of their accommodation each evening and choose between several restaurants and bars.
Best for: nature, beaches, quiet stays and escaping village life.
Ypseli Anafi’s Hive — Best Boutique Stay
Ypseli Anafi’s Hive near Roukounas provides one of the island’s more distinctive accommodation experiences.
Its architecture draws inspiration from Anafi’s traditional rural katikies and the forms of old ceramic beehives.
Rather than simply importing a generic luxury-hotel design to the island, the property uses local architectural ideas as part of its identity.
Accommodation consists of individually designed units of different sizes, making this considerably different from a conventional room rental.
Its Roukounas location also places guests away from Chora’s evening activity.
Best for: couples, design, boutique accommodation and quiet surroundings.
Ktima Roukouna — Best for a Simple Beach-Oriented Stay
Ktima Roukouna provides another accommodation choice in the Roukounas area.
Its main attraction is location.
Visitors choosing this part of Anafi are generally doing so because they want to spend substantial time around Roukounas Beach rather than commuting between Chora and the coast every day.
It is therefore best regarded as a lifestyle choice rather than simply another hotel option.
Stay here because Roukounas is where you want to spend your time.
Best for: beach-focused holidays and a slower pace.
Agios Nikolaos — Best for Ferry Convenience
Anafi’s ferry port is at Agios Nikolaos.
There is accommodation around the wider port area, and staying nearby can be useful for travellers with inconvenient ferry times.
This matters more on Anafi than it might appear.
Island ferry arrivals and departures can occur very early or late, and being close to the port can remove some logistical stress.
However, Agios Nikolaos isn’t generally the best base for a complete Anafi holiday.
Chora has more atmosphere, while Kleisidi provides a better beach setting.
Best for: short stays and ferry convenience.
Anafi Drops Mare — Best for Staying Near the Port
Anafi Drops Mare provides a more contemporary accommodation option around Agios Nikolaos.
Its location makes it particularly useful for travellers who value proximity to the ferry and coastline over being in Chora.
This could work well for a short visit or for travellers arriving and departing at awkward hours.
Visitors planning a longer stay should still compare the convenience of the port with the greater restaurant and evening choices available in Chora.
Best for: port access, short stays and contemporary accommodation.
More Remote Accommodation
Anafi also has properties away from the three obvious bases of Chora, Kleisidi and Roukounas.
These can provide impressive scenery and greater privacy, but location becomes much more important.
A remote property may look only a short distance from Chora on a map while involving steep roads or a substantial walk.
Before booking, check:
- distance from Chora
- distance from the nearest bus stop
- whether port transfers are offered
- road access
- walking conditions after dark
- proximity to somewhere to eat
A remote Anafi stay can be wonderful when chosen deliberately.
It can be inconvenient when booked simply because the photographs looked attractive.
Best Place Without a Car
Choose Chora.
It gives the greatest flexibility for visitors relying on buses and walking.
The island’s beaches and port are connected with Chora, while several important walking routes can be approached from the village and surrounding countryside.
Kleisidi can also work without a car, particularly for visitors mainly interested in the beach.
More isolated accommodation requires considerably more planning.
Best Place for Couples
There are two strong choices.
For couples wanting restaurants and sunset evenings, stay in Chora and choose a room with an Aegean-facing terrace.
For couples wanting privacy and a more retreat-like experience, look towards Roukounas and properties such as Ypseli Anafi’s Hive.
Kleisidi sits between the two, combining beach access with reasonable proximity to the rest of the island.
Best Place for Walkers
Chora is the most practical base.
Anafi’s network of paths is one of the island’s major attractions, connecting settlements, archaeological sites, churches, monasteries and sections of coastline.
Staying centrally makes it easier to undertake different walks rather than repeatedly starting from the same beach.
Walkers should remember that Anafi is much more demanding than its small size suggests.
Heat, elevation and limited shade matter more than distances on a map.
Best Place for Beaches
Choose Kleisidi or Roukounas.
Kleisidi is better if you want beach access without becoming too isolated.
Roukounas is better if the beach and surrounding landscape are the principal reasons for visiting.
Chora remains perfectly viable for beach holidays because transport runs towards the southern coastline, but it doesn’t provide the experience of walking directly from accommodation to the sea.
Best Place for Nightlife
Chora, easily.
Anafi isn’t a conventional nightlife destination, but summer evenings in the village can be lively.
Restaurants, cafés, bars and occasional live music provide enough activity to make the village sociable without turning Anafi into a party island.
Staying outside Chora means considering how you will return after dinner.
For travellers who expect to spend most evenings in the village, sleeping there is considerably simpler.
Do You Need a Swimming Pool?
Probably not.
Anafi is a small Aegean island surrounded by clear water and excellent beaches.
A swimming pool can be pleasant, but it shouldn’t be a major criterion when choosing accommodation.
Location, shade, air conditioning, a comfortable terrace and access to transport are generally more useful.
The best accommodation isn’t necessarily the property with the longest facilities list.
It is the one that fits how you intend to experience Anafi.
Air Conditioning Matters
Summer temperatures make air conditioning worth prioritising.
Traditional Cycladic buildings can handle heat surprisingly well, but not every room has the same orientation, ventilation or level of exposure to afternoon sun.
A refrigerator is also extremely useful for keeping drinking water cold.
For apartments and studios, basic cooking facilities provide flexibility for breakfast and simple lunches.
Check the Hills Before Booking
Anafi is steep.
This is particularly important around Chora and Kleisidi, where a property described as being only a few hundred metres from somewhere may involve a substantial climb.
Travellers with mobility limitations should ask accommodation owners specifically about:
steps, gradients and the route between the room and the road.
Distance alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
The same hillside that creates an exceptional sea view can make returning from the beach considerably harder.
Port Transfers Are Particularly Useful
Look for accommodation offering transfers from Agios Nikolaos port.
This is more valuable than it might sound.
Dragging luggage uphill after arriving by ferry isn’t an ideal introduction to Anafi, particularly if the ferry arrives late at night.
Many small island accommodation operators understand this and may arrange collection.
Confirm the arrangement directly before arrival rather than assuming somebody will automatically be waiting.
Book Ahead in July and August
Anafi’s accommodation supply is limited.
The island doesn’t need Santorini-sized visitor numbers for its best rooms to fill.
July and August should therefore be booked ahead, particularly when looking for a specific location or room with a good terrace.
June and September generally provide more flexibility and can also be more comfortable for walking.
Outside the main season, confirm that accommodation and nearby restaurants will actually be operating.
How Long Should You Stay?
Four or five nights works well for most first visits.
That allows time for Chora, Kastelli and ancient Anafi, Kalamos and the monasteries, several beaches and at least one substantial walk.
A week would not be excessive for travellers who enjoy slow mornings, hiking and long beach days.
Two nights is possible, but Anafi is poorly suited to hurried sightseeing.
Much of its appeal comes from having enough time to walk somewhere, swim, return to Chora and allow the evening to unfold without worrying about what must be fitted into the next morning.
Where Should You Stay in Anafi?
For most travellers:
Stay in Chora.
It provides the best combination of restaurants, atmosphere, transport and access to the rest of the island.
Choose Kleisidi when the beach is more important than village life.
Choose Roukounas when quiet surroundings and nature are the priority.
Choose Agios Nikolaos primarily when ferry convenience matters.
Anafi is small, but these locations produce noticeably different holidays.
Choosing the right one matters more than choosing between two rooms with slightly different facilities.
Explore More of Anafi
Continue planning a visit with:
Things to Do in Anafi — explore Chora, ancient Kastelli, the Sacred Way, Zoodochos Pigi and Kalamos.
Best Places to Eat in Anafi — discover Chora’s tavernas, seafood and traditional island food.
Best Beaches in Anafi — explore Roukounas, Kleisidi, Agioi Anargyroi and the quieter southern coastline.
Best Places to Stay in Amorgos — compare accommodation elsewhere in the Cyclades.
Best Places to Stay in Astypalaia — discover another smaller Aegean island with a distinctive Chora.