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Tinos Griechenland Tinos Food Festival Bericht - -93

Unbeatably delicious and typically Greek: puff pastry tarts with Petroma cheese and vanilla

TINOS FOOD PATH – 3 days on Tinos | Rediscover Greece ++ Food Path Festival ++ Land and People – I love to travel. And I love to eat even more. The combination of the two always brings me great joy. A while ago, I was on Tinos. Tinos is a Greek island, located about 10 kilometers from Mykonos. During a multi-day trip, coinciding with the "Tinos Food Path" festival, I had the opportunity to get to know the island, its people, and—of course—the food. My next vacation there is sure to come, so join me as I introduce you to a side of Greece you may not have experienced before.

Discover Tinos: The „Tinos Food Path“ Festival

Over the past few months, I've told many people about my trip to Tinos. Often, the first reaction was: "Tinos?... Where's that? I've never heard of it." When I explained that Tinos is a Greek island, reachable from Mykonos by ferry in about 45 minutes, it finally dawned on some of them. Since then, I've not only made new, local friends on Tinos, but I've also infected quite a few people with my enthusiasm for traveling there.

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My delicious breakfast at the Hotel "Big Blue"„

What makes the island so special? How do people live and eat there? And what is the essence of the desire that arose within me after the very first sunny day on the island: "I want to come back and learn more and more about Tinos." But let's start from the beginning. It's certainly not without reason that I count myself among the many fans of this sunny Greek island since my stay. I took my time to discover everything, and so I had several days to explore, which took approximately... 6000 – 7000 To get to know the island's inhabitants. The land, life, people and of course the cuisine were the focus of my 5-day stay. My personal journey took me via Athens, followed by a one-hour drive to Rafina and a four-hour ferry ride to the port of Rafina. As mentioned, a faster route is via Mykonos, from where Tinos is only about a 45-minute ferry ride away.

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How is marble made? – You can find the answer on Tinos.

I spent four out of five nights in the beautiful Hotel „Big Blue“ Breakfast on the private terrace with sea and pool views was included. Inside the small apartment, everything was white, bright, and sparsely but functionally furnished. However, the feeling of well-being was primarily due to the hospitality and the location; with such a breathtaking view, nothing more was needed to lift your spirits. Since there was no dining or breakfast room at the Hotel "Big Blue," the lovingly prepared and varied breakfast was delivered to the room daily after a call to reception – the ideal solution for any vacationer who values privacy and absolute peace and quiet.

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Delicious! Tasted at the "Zeuki" restaurant on Tinos

My time on the island consisted primarily of a variety of activities that helped me get to know Tinos better, as well as a kind of "tour" across the island. Tinos quickly makes you realize that it's worthwhile to approach the land, the people, customs, and traditions, and of course the cuisine, with an open mind in order to gain a good overall impression of a place you've never visited before. In terms of culinary delights, I had it very easy during my stay, as Tinos hosted a week-long food festival – the „Tino’s Food Path“ festival – held on the island. The annual festival is specifically designed to introduce visitors to both the cuisine and the island itself. During a conversation with locals at a restaurant, for example, I learned that all Tinos residents, chefs, helpers, and festival participants are volunteers. The elaborate festival is not about profit, but solely about making Tino more widely known. What better way to do that than an island tour and the fantastic "Tino's Food Path" festival?

My visited stations

My first stop was the tour of the „"Nissos Brewery"“ on Tinos. Nissos is the only brewery on the island, and a very successful one at that. Since its fifth anniversary, it has The Nissos Brewery has become one of the most successful breweries in Greece and now ships its craft beer to numerous countries around the world. I was therefore delighted to have the opportunity to tour the brewery and taste various craft beers. You can learn more about the brewery and its success story here. here. Anyone who likes beer and would like to learn something about the history of the respective beer should definitely make a stop at the "Nissos Brewery" and try it.

You can also discover a lot of handcrafted work on Tinos.

After that, we went to „"Church of Virgin Mary"“ (The Church of the Virgin Mary), probably the most important religious monument in all of Greece. It's something you absolutely have to see. Built entirely of the finest marble from Tinos, Paros, and Delos, it was constructed in 1823 as a house for the icon of the Holy Virgin. Surrounded by museums, chapels, and office buildings, the church stretches along the end of a wide street that begins at the waterfront and culminates in an attractive courtyard. If you want to see both the church and the icon of the Holy Virgin within, wear comfortable shoes and bring some refreshments, as the icon, always adorned with jewels, is visited not only by locals but also by a great many tourists.

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Even the ferry ride makes the heart beat faster.

Also a small shop in Tinos with local sausage, ham and bacon products We visited spontaneously. I highly recommend trying the island's cheese and sausage. The local cheeses are only available in, or are only known for, in the southwestern mountain villages. Traditionally, there's "Kariki," which is matured in dried gourds. As for ham, it's worth trying the "Louza"—the island's equivalent of prosciutto—which comes in various styles. Besides Tinos, it's also produced on Mykonos and Syros. Nissos beer from the island goes very well with it, by the way. After that, we... to eat at „Zeuki“, In the center of Tinos, a wide variety of dishes were served, from baked eggplant casserole and local tomatoes with cheese and two kinds of homemade breadsticks to various meat dishes, Greek-style cheese, and more. The restaurant left nothing to be desired. You can sit both inside and outside, along the row of houses in the narrow alley. Be sure to check out the many small shops in the lively streets. Besides the numerous shopping opportunities in the center, there are also many small shops that Local pastries, sweets and chocolates offer. Between lunch and dinner, I went to the hotel and was able to relax by the pool before going to dinner in a small Greek restaurant – also a participant in the „Tinos Food Path“ festival – where we were treated to stuffed tomatoes, Greek spring rolls, pasta dishes and typical Greek desserts.

Tinos: Narrow lanes, winding paths and plenty of nature.

I then learned how marble is made and what incredible work and dedication lie behind this "passion" in Panormos, a municipality of Tinos, know. There I visited the „Marble Sculptor“ and sculptor Petros Marmarinos, who showed me how he chisels stone by stone from large marble slabs to create a wide variety of sculptures, stones, and so on. In the adjoining shop and museum, I was then able to see how a marble figure is created, the process involved, and the impressive figures that emerge. As with everything, it's true here too: once you know what goes into it, you see it all in a different light. Panormos, by the way, is very beautiful! Small alleyways, many cafes, and some lovely little squares. I also visited an authentic basket weaver, made my own pasta, ate Greek figs, and visited small workshops that „"Pigeon Towers" by Tinos and sampled a few things here and there. You should definitely come hungry and with a high tolerance for alcohol when you travel to Tinos. 😉

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Delicious! Typical Greek delicacies placed in the middle of the table.

Learn more about Tinos: Getting there, hotels and more.

Tinos is great. It's worth spending a week's summer holiday there, for example. It's generally warm from May to September/October. Temperatures sometimes even climb above 20 degrees Celsius in November. I personally recommend... Aegean Airlines Flying is quick, reliable, and straightforward. I also had no problems with the ferry crossing, or rather the two crossings – to and from the island. Depending on whether you're coming via Rafina or Mykonos, you can find the departure times, for example, on [website/platform name]. here Look it up. It was my first ferry trip, and it's actually quite nice to stand at the end of the ship and – depending on the time – watch the breaking waves and the setting sun on the horizon. (If you're traveling at night, be sure to dress warmly. It's very chilly on the ship because the air conditioning – at least in my case – is running at full blast.) If you spend a night in Rafina – for example, if your ferry can't be booked any other way, as was the case for me – then that's Avra Hotel A good opportunity. While it's a very basic and not particularly fancy hotel, the breakfast is adequate, and the sea is within walking distance thanks to its location right at the harbor. I sat on the beach in the morning before my ferry departed. In Rafina, I also recommend eating at one of the following restaurants – all near the harbor: "Agoni Grammi," "Galini Fish Taverna," "Seirines," "Ta Kavouria tou Asimaki," or the "Balcony Café Restaurant." Incidentally, a punctual (!) bus departs right in front of the hotel, which will take you to the airport without any hassle, should that be your return journey.

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Greek bread with Greek craft beer in the morning.

I'm sure you'll find your own personal tour. The best way to spend your days is to choose one or two places to visit, eat well in between, and try lots of different things. Enjoy small local bakeries, Greek coffee, the nature and the sea, and the secluded beaches (absolutely essential!). And of course, experience the culture. That way, you'll unlock the full potential of Tinos. I highly recommend the points mentioned above. It's also worthwhile exploring the island by car. At approximately 195 km², this should be easily doable in, say, a week. Be sure to stop frequently at the scenic viewpoints along the roads and treat yourself to a breathtaking view of, for example... Isternia. This way, you'll also get a good sense of where you are. There's always a light breeze on the island, but I found the climate consistently pleasant. There are over 130 restaurants on Tinos, so don't be fooled by appearances. The Greeks on Tinos are all incredibly warm and friendly, and it's worth venturing into smaller, less conspicuous places. Small shops also sell local products: olives, capers, pickled vegetables, and much more.

If you'd like more restaurant recommendations or have any questions about the dishes, places, etc., shown in the stories, feel free to contact me anytime or visit the Discover Greece website. I hope my little glimpses have inspired you. With so many impressions, I can't share every detail. However, my following photo gallery should further demonstrate that Tinos is always worth a visit.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with „Discover Greece„"Thank you! +++"

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