Tinos island guide

Tinos Town is a cheerful harbour town where the ferries arrive, with cafés and fish tavernas on the waterfront, a lane of shops and bakeries, and the grand church of Panagia Evangelistria at the top of the main street, one of the most important pilgrimages in Greece. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Waterfront cafés
• Panagia Evangelistria
• Ferry port

Pyrgos is a beautiful village of marble lanes, fountains and carved doorways, with workshops where sculptors still work the island’s marble, a shady square with cafés, and the Museum of Marble Crafts. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Marble workshops
• Museum of Marble Crafts
• Shady square

Volax is one of the most unusual places in the Cyclades, a little village surrounded by a landscape of enormous round boulders, where a few craftsmen still weave baskets. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Giant boulders
• Basket weavers
• Unique landscape

Kardiani tumbles down a green, terraced slope above the sea, with springs, marble details and peaceful lanes, and a beach far below. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner. Early morning and the golden hour before sunset are the most beautiful times to explore Tinos’s villages.

• Green terraces
• Sea views
• Peaceful lanes

Panormos is a lovely little harbour below Pyrgos, with fish tavernas on the quay and sandy beaches close by. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner. Early morning and the golden hour before sunset are the most beautiful times to explore Tinos’s villages.

• Fish tavernas
• Small harbour
• Beaches nearby

Agios Sostis is a favourite beach of Tinos, with fine sand and very clear water, sheltered from the north wind. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Tinos.

• Clear water
• Sheltered
• Fine sand

Kolymbithra is the island’s surf beach, a wide bay of sand where the north wind brings waves, with a smaller, calmer bay next door. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Tinos.

• Surf beach
• Sandy bays
• Calmer cove next door

Porto is a long, family-friendly beach with shallow water, sunbeds and beach bars. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Tinos.

• Long sandy beach
• Shallow water
• Beach bars

Agios Fokas is the easy beach from town, with a long stretch of sand and pebbles, beach bars and a choice of restaurants. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot. The summer meltemi wind blows from the north, so on windy days head for a beach on the sheltered side of Tinos.

• Walk from town
• Beach bars
• Restaurants

Dear John is a laid-back beach bar on the west coast below Kardiani, with sunbeds and drinks by a little beach. Sunbeds usually cost extra, and the most popular clubs are worth booking at weekends in July and August. Arrive by late morning for the best sunbeds, and check whether there is a minimum spend.

• Sunbeds
• Snacks and drinks
• West coast

La La Louza brings a modern style to Porto beach, with local products, cocktails and sunbeds. Sunbeds usually cost extra, and the most popular clubs are worth booking at weekends in July and August. Arrive by late morning for the best sunbeds, and check whether there is a minimum spend.

• Local products
• Cocktails
• On Porto beach

Sundara is a relaxed beach bar a short walk from town, for drinks and snacks by the water. Sunbeds usually cost extra, and the most popular clubs are worth booking at weekends in July and August. Arrive by late morning for the best sunbeds, and check whether there is a minimum spend.

• Near town
• Drinks and snacks
• Relaxed

Its name means once there was a little boat, and it is one of the best-known restaurants in town, with inventive Mediterranean dishes in a pretty courtyard. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Creative menu
• Courtyard
• In town

Marathia has tables by the sea and a menu built on the island’s produce, from fish to cheeses and vegetables. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• By the sea
• Local produce
• Near town

Thalassaki sits right at the water’s edge at Isternia, where the fish and island dishes come with a view of the bay. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• At the water’s edge
• Fish focus
• Island dishes

Marina serves fresh seafood and local meat on the harbour of Panormos, with a range of local wines. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Fresh seafood
• Harbour tables
• Local wines

Svoura is a cheerful place for meze on a village square in the green valley of Komi. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Village square
• Meze
• Kafeneio feel

Malamatenia serves traditional dishes on a quiet square in the old town of Tinos. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Tinos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Quiet square
• Traditional food
• Old town

Koursaros is a Tinos favourite on the harbour, with rock music, its own pale ale and a friendly crowd. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Rock music
• Own pale ale
• Harbour

Sivilla has been the place for late cocktails and dancing in Tinos Town since the early 1990s. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Late nights
• Cocktails
• Long-running

Kaktos has a terrace with wide views over the sea, perfect for sunset cocktails. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year. Many bars serve coffee by day as well, so they are worth a stop at any hour.

• Sea views
• Sunset cocktails
• International music

Nama is a stylish base in town, with soft pastel rooms, sea views and the harbour a short walk away. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Tinos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Sea-facing rooms
• Pastel design
• Walk to the harbour

Infinity View offers wide Aegean views and suites with private plunge pools near Tinos Town. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Tinos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Private plunge pools
• Aegean views
• Near town

Living Theros combines traditional village houses with modern comfort, in the green hillside village of Kardiani. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Tinos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Traditional houses
• Modern comfort
• Village setting

Byzantio is a calm boutique hotel with a wellness focus, a short drive from town and the beaches. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Tinos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Wellness focus
• Near the beach
• Calm

Airbnb lists hundreds of places to stay on Tinos, from whitewashed village houses to modern villas with private pools, and many are run by local families. It suits families and groups who want a kitchen and more space than a hotel room. Read the reviews and check how far the property is from the beaches and the main town.

• Villas with pools
• Village houses
• Good for families and groups

Vrbo specialises in renting whole properties rather than rooms, so it is a good place to find a house or villa on Tinos for a family or a group of friends. Compare the total price, including cleaning and service fees, with the same property on other sites. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Whole houses and villas
• Good for longer stays
• Compare total prices

Many of the friendliest places to stay on Tinos are small, family-run studios and rooms, and most of them can be booked on Booking.com, often with free cancellation if your plans change. Filter by village and read recent reviews for cleanliness and the welcome. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Family-run studios
• Free cancellation on many rooms
• Easy to compare

Tinos has dozens of villages scattered across its hills, and a car or scooter is the best way to explore them, as well as the beaches. Rental offices line the harbour of Tinos Town. Book ahead in July and August, check the insurance carefully, and photograph the car when you collect it; a valid licence is needed and non-EU drivers may also need an International Driving Permit.

• Offices in Tinos Town by the port
• Delivery to the port
• Book ahead in summer

Guided tours visit Pyrgos and its marble workshops, the dovecotes of the inland valleys and the boulder village of Volax. Trips depend on the weather and the wind, so keep a spare day in your plans in case of cancellations. Book ahead in July and August, when the best trips on Tinos fill up quickly.

• Marble workshops
• Dovecotes
• Volax

Panagia Evangelistria houses a revered icon of the Virgin and draws pilgrims from all over Greece, especially on 15 August. Dress modestly to visit. The church is open daily and entry is free; pilgrims climb the road from the harbour, some on their knees, along a carpet laid at the side of the street. Inside, the walls glitter with silver votive offerings, and the courtyard has small museums of religious art and works by Tinian artists.

• Revered icon
• Pilgrimage on 15 August
• Dress modestly

The museum shows the tools, techniques and masterpieces of the island’s marble carvers, a craft recognised by UNESCO. The museum sits on the edge of Pyrgos, a short walk from the village square and its cafés. After your visit, wander the lanes to see marble fountains, carved doorways and lintels, and stop at the workshops where sculptors still work the stone by hand. The cemetery of Pyrgos is famous for its marble tombs.

• Marble craft
• UNESCO-recognised tradition
• In Pyrgos

The dovecotes of Tinos are tall white towers decorated with lace-like patterns of stone, built over centuries, and the valley of Tarambados has some of the finest. The best way to see them is to drive or walk the country roads of the interior, especially around Tarambados, Agapi and Kampos, where they rise above the terraced fields. Many are still in use, so admire them from the paths.

• Decorated towers
• Tarambados valley
• Great photos

Tinos has no airport; ferries from Piraeus and Rafina arrive in Tinos Town, and Mykonos, with its airport, is a short hop away. Check which quay your ferry uses. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Tinos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable.

• No airport on Tinos
• Ferries to Piraeus and Rafina
• Near Mykonos

Buses leave from the harbour to the main villages and beaches, but services to the smaller villages are limited, so a car helps. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Tinos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable. Pharmacies take turns to open in the evenings and on Sundays; the rota is posted on every pharmacy door.

• From the harbour
• Main villages
• Limited to small villages

For emergencies call 112, or 166 for an ambulance. The health centre on Tinos handles medical care, and serious cases are transferred to larger hospitals, so travel insurance is strongly recommended. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Tinos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable.

• Emergency 112, ambulance 166
• Pharmacy nearby
• Travel insurance advised