Tinos sits in the northern Cyclades, between Andros and Mykonos, and it has a character all of its own. Greeks know it as a pilgrimage island: the church of Panagia Evangelistria stands at the top of the main street, about 10 minutes uphill from the port, and on 15 August the town fills with worshippers. Visitors who are not here for the church come for the island's marble craftsmanship and the traditional stone dovecotes dotted around the countryside.
The crossing starts in Piraeus, the main port of Athens. It ends at the port of Tinos town (Chora) on the south coast, where you step off straight onto the waterfront with its cafés, car rental offices and the KTEL bus station. There is no airport on Tinos, so the ferry is how nearly everyone arrives.
Tinos works well as a first stop on a northern Cyclades trip. Mykonos is only a short hop away, Syros is even closer, and Andros lies just to the north, so it is easy to add Tinos to an itinerary that would otherwise go straight to Mykonos. Many people also use it as a quieter base for day trips to its famous neighbour.
Before you book, decide what matters more: speed or cost. The Seajets catamarans save you up to about three hours, or around 1 hr 20 min against the quickest Blue Star sailing, but they cost more and offer numbered seats only. The Blue Star ships take longer, but tickets are cheaper, there is more room for cars and you can book a cabin. Around the 15 August festival, Easter and 25 March, demand spikes and tickets should be booked well ahead.
