A Guide to Tinos: The Quiet Side of the Cyclades

A short ferry from Mykonos sits an island most visitors sail straight past, and that is exactly its charm. Tinos is all marble villages, hillside dovecotes, empty coves and some of the best food in the Cyclades. If you want the islands the way they used to be, this is where to go.

Where to stay

Base yourself in the countryside at the Tinos Olive Mill House in Ktikados, a restored nineteenth-century olive mill that keeps its stone character while adding modern comfort. It puts you among the marble villages and within easy reach of the beaches, a proper Tinos base rather than a spot on the tourist trail. There is more on our Tinos page.

What to do

• Wander the marble villages. Pyrgos, home of Tinos's marble-carving tradition, is unmissable. Ktikados and Volax each have their own character.
• Spot the dovecotes. The island's ornate stone dovecotes are a Tinos signature, dotted across the hills.
• Find a beach. Kolymbithra, Agios Sostis and Livada reward the drive with quiet, clear water.
• Eat well. Tinos is a foodie island. Local cheese, artichokes and small tavernas that take their time.

Getting there

Ferries run to Tinos from Rafina near Athens and from neighbouring Mykonos, so it pairs easily with a Cyclades trip or works as a destination in its own right. We can help with transfers once you land.

Book the Olive Mill House direct with Restoni for the best rate and a local team on hand. Tell us your dates and we will get you settled on the island the rest of the crowd forgets.