The southernmost point of Europe on Gavdos: Discover Cape Tripiti and the iconic chair
- David Neumeyer
- Sep 14, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Visit the southernmost point of Europe on Gavdos - Cape Tripiti. In this article, you will learn all about the spectacular location, how to get there and what to expect at the famous wooden chair.
A special kind of landmark that is typical of Gavdos: a large wooden chair showing the southernmost point of Europe. ‘Relax’, “smile” and “happines” are engraved in the wood. Anyone who has ever stood in this place and gazed into the infinite distance will have felt exactly this feeling. Cape Tripiti is a spectacular place with a lot to say about it.
📖 Overview
#1 Is Gavdos truly the southernmost point of Europe? Explore the facts!
Yes, Gavdos can indeed be described as the southernmost point of Europe. Geographically speaking, Gavdos is the southernmost island in Europe, just 35 kilometres south of Crete. Although the Canary Islands, for example, are even further south, they are only politically counted as part of Europe and are geographically assigned to the African continent. The situation is similar with Cyprus, which is not geographically part of Europe. Incidentally, the southernmost point of the European mainland is in Punta, Spain.
#2 Where exaclty is Cape Tripiti, the southernmost point of Europe on Gavdos located?
To get to Cape Tripiti, you first have to reach the island of Gavdos, of course. If you want to know how to get to Gavdos, this blog article will help you. Cape Tripiti can only be reached on foot. The starting points for the hike to Tripiti are in Vatsiana and Korfos. Both villages can be reached by car or bus (only in season). From there, easy to moderately difficult hiking trails lead to the destination in approx. 2 hours. Please note that there are no opportunities to replenish water supplies along the way. The path from Korfos is easier to walk as the path is better prepared. Directly in front of the imposing rocky cape, a beautiful rocky and pebbly beach awaits the newcomers. The water is crystal clear and invites you to take a dip. If the current is weak, you can also swim under the cape without any problems. The name of the cape is derived from the three striking rock arches. If you look closely, you can see the wooden chair at the end of the cape in the distance. To get there, you have to climb the rocky outcrop. Once you reach the chair, all you have to do is enjoy. The endless sea and a feeling of freedom await you. The next piece of land - the north coast of Libya - is around 260 kilometers away.
#3 The beach of Tripiti
A trip to Tripiti is not only worthwhile because of its geographical peculiarity, but also because of its scenic beauty. This becomes apparent as soon as you arrive at Tripiti beach. A beautiful beach that stretches like a crescent in front of the famous rocky cape. The water is crystal clear and shimmers in the most beautiful blue. The purest water quality allows you to see meters underwater. A perfect opportunity to cool off after the strenuous hike there. As the beach is made up of stones and pebbles, you need to be a little careful when entering the water. Another natural spectacle is located directly behind the beach: a salt pan. To get to Tripiti, the path usually leads directly through the salt plain. You will immediately notice that the salt clay on the ground is very greasy, even after many months of drought. In winter, as soon as there are heavy downpours, the plain fills up with water. Due to the influx of refugees in recent years, the beach has changed dramatically. Refugee boats in the sand paint a picture of flight and despair. It is a sight that makes you pause and reflect. As long as the large numbers of migrants continue to arrive in southern Greece, these boats will remain on Tripiti beach. If you would like to know more about the refugee situation on Gavdos and what it means for you as a traveller, you can find out more in this article.
#4 The Wooden Chair at Cape Tripiti - the landmark of the southernmost point of Europe
A very special landmark awaits you at Cape Tripiti: the famous wooden chair marking the southernmost point of Europe. Sitting on a massive wooden base and overlooking the endless blue of the Libyan Sea, the chair attracts travellers from all over the world. At over two metres high, it has long been one of the most recognisable symbols of Gavdos and a place no visitor to the island should miss. The original chair was erected in the year 2000 by a group of Eastern European emigrants who have lived on Gavdos for many years. More than just a geographical marker, it was intended to symbolise relaxation and joie de vivre. Words such as “Relax,” “Smile” and “Happiness” were engraved into the wooden cladding and perfectly captured the calm, almost meditative atmosphere of Cape Tripiti. The location of the chair offers a breathtaking view across the Libyan Sea.
For many visitors, it is a special moment to linger here, let their gaze wander over the endless blue and simply take in the vastness of the place. Over the years, the wooden chair has also become one of the most popular photo motifs on Gavdos, a place where travellers capture memories of the island’s wild and untouched nature. But life as a chair at the southernmost point of Europe is not an easy one. Exposed to strong winds, intense sun and salty sea air—and climbed by dozens of visitors every single day—the chair slowly began to show its age. Large parts of the wooden cladding fell off over time, and even the concrete structure inside started to crumble. After more than twenty years, a renovation became unavoidable. In 2024, the landmark at Cape Tripiti was finally restored. The basic steel framework remained unchanged, but the concrete shell and the wooden cladding were completely renewed. The work, however, was carried out a little more generously than before. The new layers of concrete and wood are significantly thicker, which has noticeably changed the dimensions of the chair.
The result is impossible to miss: the seat is now around 40 centimetres higher, while the backrest rises about 30 centimetres further into the sky. All in all, the chair has grown by roughly 70 centimetres compared to its predecessor. Anyone who already had trouble climbing the old chair will now need a bit more courage—or a helping hand. At the reopening, there was even a small ladder placed next to it, but it mysteriously disappeared shortly afterwards.
Something else has gone missing as well. The small, affectionate inscriptions of the old chair—such as the familiar “Smile and happiness”—are no longer there. Perhaps new words will find their way onto the wood in the future. Until then, the chair stands taller than ever, continuing to mark the southernmost point of Europe and reminding visitors that even landmarks on Gavdos are shaped by time, nature and the elements.
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