Tinos is the third biggest island of the Cyclades in Greece and only a twenty minutes boat ride away from the party island Mykonos. Even though both islands are so close to each other, the vibe in Tinos is completely different: Very laid-back with picturesque villages and relaxing beach bars.
Many know Tinos for being a religious island with many churches. But the island has so much more to offer and is definitely a great choice for a stop during your trip to Greece.
At the end of this post you will find a map with the location of all mentioned spots in Tinos, Greece!
How to get to Tinos?
Tinos doesn’t have an airport which means that it’s only accessible by boat or ferry. As already mentioned above the connection between Tinos and Mykonos is only 20 minutes but if you are traveling from Athens then you will need around 3-4 hours for the ferry ride. The price for a ticket from Athens is around 27,- EUR per person.
Here are 5 Reasons why you should visit Tinos in Greece:
No. 1 – the picturesque villages in Tinos
Pyrgos
The village Pyrgos (or also called Panormos) is the so called marble village of Greece in Tinos! It’s one of the most picturesque villages we ever visited and you can find marble sculptures around every corner! The reason for that is that Tinos has huge quarries with marble and is producing the finest marble art work in Greece. Many well known artists have been studying this special art work in the famous marble school of the small village Pyrgos.
My favorite spot in Pyrgos is the main square with many traditional taverns. Locals and visitors are coming together at this place to enjoy the magical evening atmosphere while having some great food and wine!
Volax
On another day we visited the little village Volax which is especially famous for its unique landscape: All around and even in the village you can see countless round shaped rocks which are a unique geological phenomenon created by volcanic activity. According to Greek mythology Volax has been the place where the god and titans had a great battle. A legend says that titans used the rocks as weapons against the gods and that’s why you can find them all over the area.
No. 2 – The Beaches in Tinos
After visiting Santorini which has only high cliffs or rocky beaches, we have been amazed by the soft sandy beaches of Tinos in Greece!
Rochari Beach
The first beach we visited has been the Rochari Beach with a really cool bar. This place almost reminded us of Tulum with hammocks and relaxing beach beds. During the afternoon it gets quite packed and is a nice place to meet other people and to enjoy a cocktail. But we also came back in the morning to catch the sunrise and it has been the most magical atmosphere!
Kolympithra Beach
My favorite beach in Tinos has been Kolympithra Beach. It is a beautiful bay with some incredible blue water and soft sand. You walk down to the beach from the street via a picturesque staircase which offers an incredible view over the bay. In the middle of the beach is a small bar in a vintage VW bus but it’s less busy than the one at Rochari beach! That’s why you can easily find a quiet and empty space. But be careful with the waves! They are pretty strong and I got washed over several times trying to enter the sea for a swim. But this makes a Kolympithra Beach to a great place for surfers – they even rent surf boards right at the beach!
No. 3 – Visiting a local winery
For our last day we visited a winery in Tinos which is called T-OINOS. The special soil and the microclimate of the island create a very characteristic wine! During a tour we first visited the vineyards and of course also tried the different wines they are producing.
No. 4 – The churches of Tinos
Religion plays an important role for many Greeks. Even the tiniest villages have at least one church and most of them are built with marble which is very typical for Tinos. The most famous church on the island is:
Panagia Evangelistria
Located on a hill above the capital Chora stands the church Panagia Evangelistria. At the street, which is connecting the port and the church, you can see a carpet leading all the way up to the top of the hill. The reason for that is that Orthodox Greeks crawl up the street on their knees to the entry of the church as a ritual to pray for health. Especially on the national holiday in Greece “Virgin Mary Assumption Day” which is in August this is a common thing to do! Many religious Greeks only travel to Tinos for this reason.
No. 5 – Staying at the Aeolis Tinos Suites
We stayed at the Aeolis Tinos Suites and really fell in love with this place! It is located up in the mountains with an incredible view on the island with the sea in the background!
The price-performance ratio is very good! They have many different suite categories with all unique interior designs!
The main pool is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring the island or to spend a lazy day!
The Aeolis Tinos Suites also offer rental cars which are the perfect way to explore Tinos on your own.
We absolutely enjoyed our three nights in Tinos and have been so happy that we decided to visit this lesser known Greek island!
Map of Tinos in Greece
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We had a sponsored stay at the Aeolis Tinos Suites.