Kea has twelve waymarked walking routes. Wooden signs mark the start and end of each route, and small metal signs mark the way. Many routes follow old paths that islanders used before there were cars. They start from villages such as Ioulida, the capital, and Kato Meria. The longest walk goes from Ioulida to the ancient site of Karthaia, about 12 km. A shorter path to Karthaia starts at the village of Havouna and goes downhill for about 40 minutes.

Wreck diving is the other main activity. Three wrecks off Kea are protected, and only licensed dive centres may take divers to them. One centre works from Vourkari, a harbour village close to the port of Korissia. The paddle steamer Patris lies at 28 to 54 metres. The liners Burdigala and Britannic lie much deeper, so these dives need technical diving training. Divers may not enter the wrecks or take anything from them.

Karthaia was one of the four city-states of ancient Kea. It stands above the bay of Poles at the south-eastern tip of the island. The remains include the temple of Pythian Apollo from about 530 BC, a temple of Athena, and a theatre cut into the rock that held about 900 people. The site has no fences or tickets, and it is reached on foot.

On the edge of Ioulida, the capital, stands the Lion of Kea, a large stone lion about 6 metres long, carved in the 6th century BC. A signposted path leads to it from the town in about ten minutes. Near the port of Korissia, the prehistoric settlement of Agia Irini has remains from about 3300 BC to the end of the Bronze Age. Its finds, including clay female figures, are shown in the archaeological museum in Ioulida.

Most of the beaches that have a road and facilities are sandy. Otzias, on a wide bay in the north, has about 700 metres of sand and shallow water. Koundouros, on the south-west coast, is a sandy beach with places to eat and water sports nearby.

Spathi, on the east coast, is a remote sandy beach, and a walking trail leads to it. Many other coves around the island have no facilities and are reached by dirt track, on foot or by boat.

Ioulida, the capital, rises on a hillside about 6 km from the port, at around 300 metres. Its old two-storey houses have tiled roofs and stand close together along stone lanes and small squares. Cars cannot enter its centre, so you park below and walk in. Above the town, the stone towers of 26 old windmills line the ridge.

Vourkari is a small harbour village on a large bay close to Korissia, the port. Yachts and fishing boats moor along its quay, and tavernas line the water.

Central and eastern Kea are covered by an oak forest of about 2,000 hectares. The trees are valonia oaks, and the forest is protected under Natura 2000, the European network of protected nature areas. Several of the walking routes pass through it.

For at least 400 years, islanders collected the large acorn cups and sold them abroad for tanning leather. Acorns are still used on the island in crafts and in local recipes.

The best-known local product is loza, a cured and smoked pork. The island also makes several local cheeses, such as kopanisti, a soft and tangy cheese, and xerotyri, a hard dry one. Thyme honey comes from the island's hills. These products are sold in shops and served in tavernas across Kea.