Merichas

Merichas is the main port of Kythnos, on the island's western coast about seven kilometres from the capital, Chora. Its harbour has served ships since at least the 19th century, when it was already noted as a safe, spacious anchorage for the inland town of Dryopida, and it grew into the island's principal seaport through the twentieth century as ferry links to Piraeus and Lavrio developed. Whitewashed houses climb the slope above the bay in a loose amphitheatre, and although Merichas is the second most populous settlement on Kythnos, it has only a few hundred permanent residents, which keeps its harbourfront feeling more like a village than a working terminal.

The bay mixes sand and pebble along a modest beach close to the quay, with clear, calm water that suits swimming and snorkelling in summer, and a short walk or drive reaches other beaches such as Episkopi and Apokrousi for those wanting more seclusion. North of the settlement lie the ruins of Vryokastro, the ancient capital of Kythnos, on a promontory overlooking the sea. For yachts cruising the western Cyclades, Merichas offers straightforward mooring alongside a working port, tavernas along the waterfront, and easy onward routes to neighbouring islands — worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece looking for an unpretentious stop between larger destinations.