Eros Keros

Easygoing Enchantment Inspired by the God of Love

Named for the mythical god of love, this multi-unit island getaway is the passion project of its owners who some 30 years ago fell head over heels for a tiny island in the Lesser East Cyclades. They decided to create their unique stays on the remote, rocky land mass—a poetic, timeless shore that recalls a quieter, simpler Greece of days gone by.

Located in the teeny tiny island chain of Koufonisia—an Aegean archipelago that is so under-the-radar that two of its islets are uninhabited and getting around happens mostly on foot or by boat—this newly constructed getaway was the dream child of its owners who have visited this rugged, traditional fishing outpost for decades.

Drenched in Cycladic sunshine with a deep, blue Aegean as a backdrop, this cubed complex of low, angular structures takes cues from modern minimalist design and traditional island merchant houses. Shade terraces look across to other wee islands. Quarried stone floors stretch coolly underfoot. Coastal chic accents in rattan, ceramic and straw keep the mood seaside breezy, and all four units enjoy private courtyards overlooking a shared pool, where daily farm-to-table breakfasts (included) add to the luxuriously lazy, off-the-grid vibe.

Houses I and III welcome children aged 12 and older, while Houses II and IV are open to children of all ages.

Around

Koufonisia actually refers to two small islands, Pano and Kato, or upper and lower Koufonisia. The two outcroppings are divided by a sea channel and, along with Keros island, form the Lesser East Cyclades. These vacation home rentals in Greece are located overlooking the white sands of Fanos and Italida beaches, and overlook Keros at sea. The island atmosphere is “life in the slow lane,” a place of few cars and one taxi, plus bicycle and footpaths and turquoise coves to drop anchor. 

Chora, a long-standing fishing village, is the islands’ sole village, a place of a few hundred residents and a handful of shops and taverns, where fishing boats outnumber people and seafood is hauled in daily. Small boats ferry swimmers and sunbathers to the islands’ best beaches, including Hondros Cavos, Fanos, Platia Pounda, and Pori. Neighboring Keros is one of Greece’s preeminent archeological sites, a protected center of Cyladic culture dating from 3000 to 2000 BC. There’s a small church at Kato Koufonisia, the blue domed Panagia, and plenty of peace and quiet all around.

Location

Pano Koufonisia, Small Cyclades, Greece. Nearest airport: Naxos (2½ hours by ferry); Athens

Best time to visit

Open mid-April until mid-October