Driving One petrol station east of Chora (afternoon-only). No coastal road. Narrow switchbacks. What to know before driving Anafi's 38 km² of mostly-dirt terrain. Anafi lacks a coastal ring road. A single paved arterial road connects Agios Nikolaos port to Chora, extending 9 km east to the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery. This main artery features a steep 3 km ascent from the port with multiple hairpin turns. From Chora, dirt tracks branch south toward beaches like Katsouni, Megas Roukounas, and Mikros Roukounas. Route Segment Distance Typical Time Surface Gradient Agios Nikolaos Port → Chora 3 km 10 min Paved 12-15% grade, 6 hairpin turns Chora → Klisidi Beach 1.5 km 5 min Paved Gentle slope, <5% grade Chora → Roukounas Beach 4 km 15 min Paved + 300m dirt Moderate, final steep descent Chora → Zoodochos Pigi 9 km 20 min Paved Rolling hills, 2 steep sections Zoodochos Pigi → Monastiri 1.5 km 7 min Dirt/Rocky Steep, 4x4/ATV recommended The main paved road is generally well-maintained by the Municipality of Anafi. However, side tracks to southern beaches are unmaintained dirt and rocky surfaces. A standard 2WD rental car (such as a Fiat Panda or Hyundai i10) is sufficient for all paved routes. Dirt tracks require a high-clearance 4x4 (like a Suzuki Vitara or Jimny) or an ATV. For a full breakdown of vehicle capabilities on specific routes, see our car vs. ATV vs. scooter comparison for Anafi terrain. This dirt-heavy network is unusual even by small-island standards. In the Sporades, a comparably sized island like Skiathos runs a fully paved main road from the port to its beaches, so renting a car on Skiathos raises none of the clearance and insurance-exclusion questions that dominate planning on Anafi. Route Paved Section Dirt Section 2WD Clearance Recommended Vehicle Port to Chora 100% 0% Sufficient Compact car (Smart, Toyota Aygo) Chora to Klisidi 100% 0% Sufficient Any rental car Chora to Roukounas 92% 300m track Risky ATV or park at paved edge Tracks to Katsouni 0% 100% Insufficient ATV or 4x4 (Suzuki Jimny) Tracks to Katelimatsa 0% 100% Insufficient ATV only Anafi has exactly one petrol station, located 500m east of Chora on the main road. This station operates restricted afternoon hours and represents the only source of fuel on the island. There are no automated 24-hour card pumps. Electric vehicles are not viable on Anafi. As of 2024, there are zero public EV charging stations on the island. 💡 Tip: Refuel at the station 500m east of Chora between 17:00 and 20:00 daily. The station closes outside these hours and there is no emergency fuel supply on the island. Fuel Service Location Operating Hours Payment Petrol Station 500m east of Chora Cash preferred Nearest Alternate Station Thira (Santorini) N/A N/A EV Chargers None N/A N/A Fuel Can Purchase None available N/A N/A Parking infrastructure on Anafi is minimal and informal. Chora features narrow, cobbled streets that prohibit car access entirely. Visitors must park on the main road above the town and walk into the settlement. Beach parking consists of informal dirt clearings with no marked spaces or attendants. Location Parking Type Capacity Walk to Destination Cost Chora Upper Road Informal roadside ~15 vehicles 3–5 min downhill walk Free Klisidi Beach Roadside verge ~10 vehicles 0 min (park at sand edge) Free Roukounas Trailhead Dirt clearing ~8 vehicles 5 min walk to sand Free Zoodochos Pigi Monastery forecourt ~6 vehicles 0 min Free Mobile data coverage on Anafi is inconsistent. Cosmote provides the strongest signal in the rural Cyclades and performs best on Anafi, but significant dead zones exist east of the Monastiri area. Vodafone and Nova/WIND signals are notably weaker. Google Street View coverage does not exist for Anafi's dirt tracks. Pre-downloading map areas is mandatory for reliable navigation. 🚗 Local insight: Download the entire Anafi map area in Google Maps while connected to Wi-Fi at your hotel. Cell coverage drops completely past the Monastiri area toward Megas Potamos, and zero dirt tracks have Street View data. Telecom Provider Signal Strength (Chora) Signal Strength (East Anafi) Data Speed Roaming Partners Cosmote Strong (4G) Weak/None 5–15 Mbps Multiple EU carriers Vodafone Moderate (3G/4G) None 2–8 Mbps Limited Nova/WIND Weak (3G) None <2 Mbps Minimal Standard Greek rental contracts carry strict off-road exclusions. The Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Super CDW (SCDW) are immediately voided if you drive on unpaved surfaces. This is a standard clause across all Greek rental agencies. Damage to the vehicle's undercarriage, tires, and suspension is excluded from coverage even on paved roads under most policies. Always photograph and video-record the vehicle's pre-existing condition at the pickup location before departure. For more details, see our FAQ on insurance and damage claims. ⚠️ Warning: Driving any rental car on the 300m dirt track to Roukounas beach voids your CDW and SCDW coverage. If you damage the undercarriage or tires, you will pay the full excess out-of-pocket, which can exceed €1,500 for compact cars. Insurance Term Paved Road Coverage Dirt Road Coverage Excess Liability CDW (Basic) Active Voided €800–€1,200 SCDW (Super) Active Voided €0–€300 Third-Party Liability Active Active Legally mandated minimum Tire & Undercarriage Excluded Excluded 100% driver liability The 3 km descent from Chora to Agios Nikolaos port drops approximately 250 meters in elevation via 6 hairpin turns. Overheating brakes on this route is a documented hazard. Using engine braking prevents brake failure. Follow this specific sequence for a safe descent: Shift to low gear at the Chora viewpoint: Engage 1st or 2nd gear (or "L" mode on automatics) before starting the descent. Tap brakes intermittently: Apply brakes for 3-second intervals rather than riding them continuously to prevent glazing. Maintain below 20 km/h: The recommended maximum speed for hairpin turns on the port road is 20 km/h. Yield to uphill traffic: Wider vehicles ascending have the right-of-way; pull into the nearest pullout point. Stop at the port lay-by: Do not park in the ferry unloading zone; proceed to the designated 15-minute lay-by near the ticket office. Free-roaming goats are prevalent on Anafi's roads, particularly on the route between Chora and Zoodochos Pigi. Goats are unpredictable and may dart into the road without warning. Night driving presents severe risks. There are no street lights outside the Chora settlement and Agios Nikolaos port. The roads become pitch black after sunset, rendering goats and roadside rocks invisible to headlights. Hazard Location Risk Level Preventive Action Goats on road Chora to Zoodochos Pigi High Reduce speed to 30 km/h, honk gently Night visibility All roads outside Chora Severe Drive before 20:30 or use high beams Loose gravel Klisidi to Roukounas bend Moderate Avoid sudden steering corrections Blind crests Port road hairpins High Stay in lane, sound horn on approach Compare Car Rental Deals