Tinos Ferries
Everything you need to know about ferries to and from Tinos — the Tinos Town port, routes from Rafina and Mykonos, and how to plan a visit to one of the most important pilgrimage islands in Greece.
The port: Tinos Town
The ferry port at Tinos Town (Chora) is right on the island's main waterfront. The quay is dominated by the view up the main street to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria — Our Lady of Tinos — the most venerated Marian shrine in the Orthodox world. On the Feast of the Dormition (15 August) tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive by ferry, and the entire port becomes a place of extraordinary devotion.
The town behind the port is a pleasant, authentically Greek settlement with marble-inlaid streets, a good market and excellent local cuisine (Tinos is known for its aged cheese, artichokes and the cooking of the Cyclades). A fleet of local buses reaches the island's villages and beaches.
Routes from Tinos
Tinos is best reached from Rafina, the eastern Athens port that sits closest to the northern Cyclades. Fast Ferries and SeaJets run high-speed services in about 2 hours; conventional ferries take roughly 4 hours. Rafina is conveniently close to Athens International Airport — only about 20 minutes by taxi or bus.
From Mykonos, just to the south, the crossing takes 15–30 minutes by fast ferry — making the Tinos–Mykonos link one of the quickest island hops in Greece. Connections also run to Andros, Syros and Piraeus in season.
The island
Tinos is the Cyclades' least-touristy major island — partly because its importance as a pilgrimage destination means it has always had a different kind of visitor. The landscape is dramatic: terraced marble hillsides, hundreds of ornate Venetian-era dovecotes, and some of the finest traditional villages in Greece, including Pyrgos in the north, famous for its marble sculptors. The island's villages are connected by a good network of walking paths; the marble-carving tradition is still active and workshops welcome visitors.
Planning tips
Around 15 August (Dormition of the Virgin) Tinos fills to capacity — all ferries and accommodation book out months in advance, and the port is extremely busy. At any other time the island is easy to reach and rarely overcrowded. Book from Rafina for the most convenient connection if you are flying into Athens; the Rafina bus from the airport (Attiki Odos line) is straightforward. In summer the Mykonos–Tinos connection is ideal for a day trip or as a stop on a northern Cyclades island-hop.
Ports & terminals
- Tinos FerriesView on map →
Ferry routes from here
Frequently asked questions
- Which port do ferries use on Tinos?
- Tinos Town port (also called Tinos or Chora), right in front of the island's main settlement. The famous Church of Panagia Evangelistria is a short walk uphill from the quay.
- Which Athens port do ferries to Tinos leave from?
- Rafina, east of Athens near the airport, is the main departure point for Tinos. Piraeus also has connections. Rafina is more convenient if you are flying in or out.
- How long is the ferry from Mykonos to Tinos?
- Fast ferries and catamarans take around 15–30 minutes; it is one of the shortest inter-island crossings in the Cyclades.