TINOS

Breathtaking. Stunning. Amaaaaazing! … and a big surprise! After living in Greece for over 7 years, this island was never at the top of my list – for various reasons but mostly because no one ever recommended it – and in fact recommended NOT going. “It’s very religious”, “no fun and no nightlife”, “very conservative”… just some of the comments I heard throughout the years….

So, when my boyfriend and I were looking for a nice weekend getaway, relatively close to Athens, we decided to give it a shot. And it was pure WOW!

Where to Sleep, Eat Drink and Swim in Tinos

In Tinos you will not find 5-star hotels – or even proper 4-star ones but there are plenty of nice, simple and clean hotels that are just fine – even for those of us who are quite picky when it comes to accommodations…

We stayed at Altana, a nice boutique hotel within walking distance of the port and the Chora. The breakfast was super and the owners were a nice and friendly couple. The hotel has a cozy atmostphere and even has a small (tiny) pool but otherwise a very simple place. We liked it!

We visited several villages as per recommendations from locals and these are our top 3 (besides of course Chora which is a must on any island)

1. VOLAX – this village was my favorite and also the most unusual of the three – which may be why. When you arrive you notice something is quite odd about this place. The scenery changes and you’re surrounded by round rocks and large boulders everywhere. On approach, the village itself looks like a small white oasis in the middle of nowhwere. When you arrive there’s a small area to park at the entrance of the village. Walking through was fairy-tale like, with Greek writings on most buildings – poetry, old songs and ancient philosophers’ quotes – so charming. There’s a museum there that is supposed to be worthwhile but we spent our time fascinated by ‘the writings on the wall’….

2, PYRGOS – the main square of this village is one of the most charming I’ve seen…and this was my boy friend’s favorite village here. We enjoyed a nice lunch at one of the small tavernas in the square and tried the local beer… our only regret is that we didn’t leave room in our bellies to try the famous Galaktoboureko (milk pie) at the place next door. Next time. Otherwise this sleepy village is perfect for a casual stroll, lunch, coffee and there are a few cute shops her as well. We found one selling locally made food products and bought amazing capers, jams and local liquor.

3. KARDIANI – this village is another must-see in Tinos. Very beautiful and well-maintained, Kardiani has several beautiful ‘terrace cafe bars’ that let you enjoy the incredible scenery of the island.

CHORA- Finally, the Chora in Tinos is lovely. At the very top is the famous church of Panagia Megalochari (Virgin Mary) which is just stunning. The Virgin Mary is the patron saint of Tinos but is also considered the saint protector of Greece. The road leading up to the church from the port has a long red carpet on the right side which – as I learned – is dedicated to pilgrims who have made solemn promises to tbe Virgin Mary and who climb the hill on their hands and knees – or even crawling. I’m not a super religious person myself but being at this church was a very powerful experience and I felt an extremely strong energy flowing there.

Back down in Chora there is lots to see and do – many tavernas and cafes.