An informative guide on how to get to Tinos by Ferry, itineraries, fares and suggestions for public transport and services.
We have prepared a small user guide that will help passengers to get to Tinos as easily and pleasantly as possible.
Find useful information on how to get to Tinos by ferry, local public transportation options to reach your overnight hotel in Tinos, port addresses and embarkation offices, ferry schedules and prices for Tinos ferry, and real-time departures and arrivals.
- All year round there are ferries running to Tinos from Athens (Piraeus and Rafina), while from May to September there are frequent ferries from Mykonos, Andros, Syros, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Ios, and from some other Cyclades islands.
Getting to Tinos by ferry is the best option you have and it can be a very nice and exciting experience and especially if you are doing some island-hopping too. Greek islanders are seasoned ferry experts and they prefer to travel by ferry because of the convenience and flexibility it affords!
Cars are allowed on most ferries running to or from Tinos, for an additional fee and children usually travel for half price!
- There is a choice of Conventional and High-speed ferries running frequently with stops along the way.
Give a departure port and a date and find all possible ferry destinations!
Notice: Each year and depending on the period, there may be more or fewer connections. The biggest shipping companies (carriers) announce the new ferry schedules by the end of December and the rest of them by January-March each year!
Local transport
Public Transportation
- Tinos has a very good road network with road rings. Most of the seaside and mountainous villages can be accessed with the local buses or taxis with frequent routes on a daily basis.
Public Bus Services on Tinos
- There are frequent departures from Tinos (Chora) to Kioni, Steni, Monastery of Agia Pelagia, Volax, Kaloni, Agios Fokas and several days to Panormos via Pyrgos and Kampos.
- Buses are reliable and cover the major settlements so wherever you stay you can catch a bus to the start of your walk and/or use one at the end. You buy the tickets on the bus.
- Timetables can be obtained at the bus station and are displayed on some bus stops.
- The bus station is beside the Catholic Church on the harbor, above the pier where the large island boats dock.
- Details to Bus Timetable
- Phones: +30 2283022440, +30 6947200440, +30 6944365703
Taxis on Tinos
- Taxis hang out on Trion Ierarchon Street, which runs uphill from the harbor just before Palamaris supermarket and Hotel Tinion.
- Calculated fares for most destinations are posted on the dashboard of each taxicab. Alternatively, you may ask the driver to activate the taximeter.
- If you want to call a taxi to get to a beach, you can arrange an appointment with the driver to pick you up on a specific time.
- The phone numbers of the taxi drivers in Tinos: +30 6945994632, +30 2283026000, +30 2283022470
Tip: Most of the hotels on Tinos have their own minibus and will transfer you from the hotel to the port or vice versa. Try ringing them to find out if this service is available!
Note: All above information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice.
Itineraries & departures
The port of Tinos is connected daily with Rafina port by at least 5 ferry routes. Itineraries are executed by modern and comfortable passenger-car ferries. The port is also connected with most of the Cyclades islands.
Itineraries and departures
From Rafina port
- Daily dep. at 07:00, 07:15, 07:30, 07:45, 16:45, 17:30
- Duration with Regular ferries: 3,30 hrs
- With High-speed ferries: 2 hrs
- High frequency of departures on weekends and peak seasons
From Piraeus port
- Daily dep. from Piraeus at 07:30
- Duration 4,30 hrs
From Mykonos
- Daily at 10:00, 13:45, 14:15, 16:00
- Duration: from 20 min. to 1 hour
- More frequent on weekends and peak seasons
From Syros
- Daily at 11:30
- Journey time: 30 min.
From Naxos
- Daily at 10:35, 11:00, 13:0, 16:00
- Trip time: from 1,20 to 2 hrs
Ferry timetables may change by season, so take an optical canvassing via our search engine to receive the latest call of dates, schedules, prices, and availability to Tinos by ferry.
Accommodation
Choose the ideal accommodation options on the ferry to Tinos and get fresh and relaxed at your destination.
Is it necessary to book in advance?
Arrange your ferry journey in advance
It is very important that you have organized your ferry to or from Tinos in advance, having arranged all the details. You don't want something to go wrong, and you can achieve perfect holidays with a great organization. In addition to hotel accommodation and air-tickets, when you book the boat tickets to or from Tinos you know that everything is under control even before leaving home.
There are many reasons why you should arrange to book in advance your ferry tickets. Here are some of the most important:
Pay for Hotel in Tinos without using it!
During the high season in Greece, and especially in July and August, it is likely that you won't find ferry tickets to popular destinations, such as Tinos, if you don't book them in advance. So, don't make the mistake to book your hotel on Tinos without having booked the ferry pass to/from Tinos. The last thing you want is to get to the port and not find an available ferry to or from Tinos!
Save time!
Although we charge a commission for acquiring ferry bookings to Tinos, this allows you not only to secure your ferry tickets to Tinos but also to save time in Tinos; besides receiving a service and attention of first.
Have a bigger choice of Ferry Tickets!
Buying in advance gives you a better chance of getting the ferry tickets to Tinos, on the ferry you prefer and at the schedule you want. It does not make sense that your trip to Tinos is interrupted by not finding available ferry departures, but it is possible.
Find more Ferry routes!
If you want to organize your vacations to or from Tinos, it is wise to check all the possible routes and timelines in order to make the right combinations between Tinos and other destinations as well as between the air and the ferry tickets. Online, you can have an overview of all the routes going to or from Tinos.
Get the best deal!
Ferry tickets to Tinos can be expensive, so it’s natural to want to get the best deal on them. It has become a regular practice for ferries to announce special rates and deep discounts for booking ferry tickets to or from Tinos up to 3-6 months in advance.
Feeling Great having Tinos ferry ticket in your pocket!
You will feel a great feeling when having the ferry confirmation to or from Tinos in your hands. The reservation with us will allow you to secure your ferry to or from Tinos, you will be relieved to have the confirmation in your hands or on your smartphone!
About Tinos
Tinos is one of the most charming – although “unknown”- islands of the Cyclades, situated at the northern part of the complex, among Siros, Andros and Mykonos. It is closely associated with Panaghia Megalochari church and thousands of Christians come to Tinos to embrace the icon of Virgin Mary every year on August 15th seeking for help and consolation.
Although it is widely known as a religious center, Tinos has a lot of natural beauty and important sights, which many of the thousands of visitors ignore, as the majority is limited to a daily pilgrimage trip. It has many picturesque villages built next to the sea and genuine Cycladic, mainly mountainous, landscapes at the inland, traditional settlements, the famous lofts of pigeons and beautiful chapels.
During the 8th century B.C. Tinos was a colony of Eretria and later Athens. From 1207 to 1390 the island belonged to the Gizis family and later it was passed on to the Venetians. Tinos has a long tradition in marble sculpture and painting. Famous sculptors and painters of modern Greece came from Tinos. The island extends over a surface of 194.5 km2, its coastline is 114 km long and it has 8,500 inhabitants.
Source: www.tinos.gr
What to See in Tinos
A walk through the town will give you the chance to visit its main sights. Do not forget to visit:
- Panaghia Evangelistria church: It was established in 1823 and was built on the spot where the icon of Annunciation was found after a vision Aghia Pelagia had. It is a majestic building made of white Tinian marble and Parian marble. In addition, this church is the first remarkable architectural monument of the liberated Greek state. The exhibition of icons and heirlooms comprising of old icons from local churches and the ambry including works of gold thread embroidery and silverware is worth visiting.
The memorial of Elli, the Greek battle cruiser which was torpedoed by an Italian submarine outside the port of Tinos in August 1940.
- Next to the Evresis church (dedicated to the finding of the holy icon) which is located at the first floor of Evangelistria church, you will find the memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives when Elli was sunk.
- The Art Gallery exhibiting remarkable works of Greek and foreign painters.
- The "Small Park” where you can observe the busts of major Tinian artists.
- Agios Nikolaos Katholikon Church.
- Koimisis tis Theotokou church.
- The drinking fountain dating back to the reign of Otto, first King of Greece (19th century).
- The building of the Foundation of Tinos Civilization exhibiting works made by renowned Greek sculptor, Giannoulis Chalepas.
- The location known as “Pallada” near the port.
- The church of the Holy Cross where you can see relics of the harbor breakwaters (1816).
- The ruins of the wall of the ancient city.
- The memorial to the Fallen (1912) offering an amazing view of the port.
- The Archaeological Museum exhibiting findings from the sanctuaries of Dimitra and Poseidon (7th century) and Amphitriti (dating back to the Hellenistic period).
- The Tinian Artists Museum.
- The monastery of Kechrovouni (10th century) in Arnados village (9.5 km NE of Chora): a big edifice which looks like a fortified village. There you can see the cell of nun Palagia as well as the Museum, where several remarkable icons from 18th and 19th century and other important heirlooms are kept.
Panayia of Tinos
Tinos is considered to be the capital of Religious Tourism in Greece. Panayia of Tinos, also known as the Megalohari of Tinos (Great Grace) or Evangelistria of Tinos (Our Lady of Good Tidings), is the declared national patron saint of Greece. The discovery of Her Holy Icon coincided with the very first days of the establishment of the Modern Greek State. Throughout the centuries, numerous reports of miracles attributed to the Holy Icon have rendered it the most venerated religious icon in Greece, and the Church of Panayia Evangelistria a globally known sacred place of spiritual pilgrimage and divine worship.
About the Icon
The Church of Panayia Evangelistria in Tinos is dedicated to an icon discovered in 1823. According to the tradition, Sister Pelayia, a nun form the Monastery Kehrovouniou had a vision: the Mother of God appeared asking her to unearth a buried miracle-working icon. Legend has it that the icon was dug up in a field and as soon as it was brought to light a hard protective shield like glass covered it. The men who removed it from the ground penetrated the shield and everyone who touched it was healed. Among the first visitors to Tinos to see the sacred image of the Panayia were Greek War of Independence (1821) heroes Kolokotronis, Miaoulis and Makriyannis.
The icon portrays the Virgin Mary kneeling and Her head bent in prayer, pronouncing words written in an open book. Opposite to the Virgin stands the Archangel Gabriel holding in his left hand a lily, the symbolic flower of purity, while the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends from heaven.
The art of the Holy Icon is regarded as being older than the Byzantine period, dating back to the early Christian age. Those who studied the origin of the Icon arrived at the conclusion that the Megalohari of Tinos is the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. It is assumed that this icon was so highly esteemed in the Byzantine era it was either hidden or lost around the time of the Muslim invasions.
In our days, the Holy Icon is covered with gold and precious stones placed by those who believe in Panayia, as an expression of faith and gratefulness to Her.
About the Feast
The 15th of August is a day devoted to the Dormition (or Assumption) of Megalohari (Virgin Mary). Thousands of pilgrims from all over Greece and from abroad visit the Church of Evangelistria in Tinos to participate in the Feast of the Assumption celebrated in Byzantine splendour. Masses of people are crowded in front of the Church, while inside the Church the gentle candlelight, the hymns of praises to God, and the scent of the burning incense and myrrh create a mystic atmosphere of devout concentration.
During the celebration, the Holy Icon is carried with great honours and special services around the decorated streets of the town of Tinos. When the Icon returns to the Church, a prayer is chanted in memory of the builders and all those who offered themselves to the construction of the Church. Later in the evening, children led by the orchestra of the Church fill the streets of Hora holding lighted lanterns and singing hymns to praise the finding of the Holy Icon.
On the same day, Tinos also commemorates the sinking of the warship “Elli” in 1940, which was anchored outside the harbor of Tinos for the festivities. “Elli” was torpedoed by an Italian submarine, an episode that caused the Greek involvement in the Second World War.
About the Church
Throughout the centuries, the Sacred Church of the Megalohari in Tinos (“Great Grace”, derived from the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel to the Theotokos: “Hail of Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”) has been globally recognised both as a place of pilgrimage and as a philanthropic organization.
The Church was built immediately after the discovery of the Holy Icon; its massive construction (including iconography, and the surrounded buildings) was concluded eight years later, in 1830. The Church is actually a monastery complex. Excavations showed that it was originally built on the site of an early-Byzantine church dedicated to Saint John, which was previously built on the site of an ancient temple of the ancient god Dionysus.
A number of experienced artisans and gifted artists worked tirelessly to carve the brilliant marbles and to design the breathtaking inner ornamentation of this Church. At the same time, gold and silver generously offered to the Theotokos by Christians from all over the world, enormous chandeliers and hundreds of icon-lamps hanging in endless rows compose a magnificent work of Christian art and architecture.
The sacredness of the place and the greatness of the Church create a spiritual atmosphere heightened by the hymns of the Divine Liturgy held every day of the year from the inauguration of the Church to the present day.
The church of Panayia Megalohari celebrates four times a year: on January 30th, the date when the Holy Icon was found; on March 25th, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin; on July 27th, the day when Sister Pelayia had the vision of Panayia; and on August 15th, the day of the Assumption (or Dormition) of the Virgin.
Pilgrimage is of course not the only reason for going to Tinos. It is a beautiful island, with many little villages well worth visiting. For example Moundatos, Ktikados, Hadzirados, Kardiani, Volaka, with its huge rocks, Isternia, Kambos, Steni and Pyrgos, which is the largest and perhaps prettiest village.In Pyrgos you can visit the workshop of the sculptor Giannoulis Halepa as well as the museum of artists from Tinos.
The cave of Gastrion outside Kionia is quite fascinating with inscriptions dating back to antiquity. Here, there are also ancient remains of a temple to Dionysus and Roman baths.
On Mt. Exobourgo the Venetian citadel used to lie, until it was blow up by the Turks in 1715. The Jesuits used to live here, and there is a Catholic, as well as an Orthodox church here.
The nunnery Kechrovouni is definitely worth a visit. It dates back to the 11th century, and allegedly it was built after three sisters had dreamt about it. This is where sister Pelagia, the one that dreamt of the Evaggelistria icon lived. There is also a small museum here.
Useful Information
Port authority of Piraius: 210 4511 310-7
Port authority of Rafina: 22940 22 300
Port authority of Tinos: 22830 22348
Port authority of Thessaloniki: 2310 531504-5
Police: 22830 22255
Health Center: 22830 22210, 22830 23781, 22830 31206
Tinos Municipality: 22830 22234
Post Office: 22830 22247
Hospital/Doctors: 22830 51210 (Komi), 22830 41229 (Steni)
