The hilltop capital is the social and geographic centre of the island. Buses to every beach leave from the main square, the best dinner spots are within a five-minute walk, and the lanes of Steno come alive after dark.

Pick Apollonia if it's your first trip and you don't want to commit to one beach. Trade-off: no swimming on your doorstep — the closest beach is a 10-minute drive.

The port village wraps around a wide sandy bay. You can walk off the boat straight into your hotel and into the sea. Shallow water, sunbeds, casual tavernas along the waterfront.

Pick Kamares for short stays, families with small children, or if you want minimum logistics.

The longest organised beach on the island, with the highest concentration of boutique hotels (Verina Suites, Niriedes). Smart sunbeds, swim-up cocktails, modern Greek dinners.

Pick Platis Gialos if you want a polished resort feel without leaving Sifnos.

The medieval village on the east coast has only a handful of guesthouses inside the walls. Sea on three sides, marble lanes barely two metres wide, no cars, no nightlife.

Pick Kastro for a quiet, atmospheric stay — couples, writers, repeat visitors. Trade-off: you'll need a car or scooter to get anywhere.

Two tiny southern bays, each with one small hotel cluster and three or four tavernas. Long sandy beach at Vathi, swimming-pool calm water at Faros.

Pick these if you want to read a book for a week and forget what day it is.