Greece : Andros and/or Tinos info welcome : Greek Islands and Greece Forums

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: Andros and/or Tinos info welcome

Hi
My boyfriend & I are thinking about visiting the above islands the first week of Sept.
We both enjoy quiet beaches during the day, a 'real' greek type environment where we are staying for eating /early evening drinks/stroll. Plus some good music for later on - not big clubs but perhaps music bars where you can also dance sometimes (& its not cheesy european pop/disco tunes!)
Its hard to glean from either the net or the guides, what Andros and Tinos are really like & which is best location to stay in.
Can anyone recommend anywhere good to stay in Andros town (or Tinos) which would fulfil our criteria?
Also any comments on sea/neaches aroung the island - ie which is calmest part (my passion is snorkelling, so I like calm, pebbly/rocky beaches!)
Regards

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:39 am Post subject:

Hello Jo Jo,

Welcome to our Greece Forum.
Well I will tell you a few things in general about Tinos and Andros and their differences. Then I will tell you why I would choose Tinos or Andros to spend my holidays.

The common thing about those two islands are their ugly town. An other common thing is that both these islands do not attract mass tourism (a good thing) and you will find there a real greek environment. There is also the fact that both islands do not have nightlife activities. Not many bars and I never saw a club.

Andros and Tinos are part of the Cyclades but are completely different.

Andros Island is the only island in the Cyclades that has an abondance of water. They're even producing mineral bottled water! Andros is very mountainous and rocky with a dense vegetation in some parts. There are not a huge choice of beaches and many of them are pebbled (Vitalis for example, a great beach). The port is not very cute by everything else is. What is amazing about the island are the rude landscapes. Really beautiful and incredible colours. The capital of the island is very very beautiful and not so touristy. A beautiful neoclassical architecture and a pleasure to walk in its alleys. Andros does not have an active nightlife.

Tinos Island the misunderstood! Tinos is mostly famous for its miraculous church and thousands of pilgrims get there every year. But the island has a lot more "to offer" and the good thing is that not much people know that Smile

. Maybe I should't say anything but whatever. We try to promote our islands.... so, yes, the island is knows for the church, the busy town and a few resorts a few km away from the town. But the rest and less known part of the island is incredible. I really loved it. There are hundreds of villages in the mountains (never saw so many villages in a small island like that) and the one is more beautiful than the other. Real authentic villages with Greek local people and no tourist Smile

. Great experiences there. So the island gives great opportunities for excursions. There is a place I loved: a green valley with many windmills. Concerning the beaches, there are mostly sandy and as Andros, there is not a great choice. Both islands are not known for that. Concerning the nightlife in Tinos: no nightlife and it is logical as it is a high religious island.

I really love both islands but I would say I maybe prefer Tinos for those incredible villages. I am sensitive to the traditional architecture!
I love Andros two for the reason that it is really easily accessible from Athens and it is just so different from the other Cyclades.

Hope that I gave you some useful information and wish you great holidays in the beautiful islands of Greece.
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The Greek Islands specialists

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:29 pm Post subject: Tinos walks

Hi JoJo
I have never been to Andros, however we did go to Tinos last year - and just managed to get off the island again before the religious festival of 15th August - it was getting very busy!! However, while we were there, we went on some amazing walks through the hills and found some wonderful villages where it seemed time had stood still and no-one knew they were there! It was a very interesting island and I would recommend staying there, although not in the main port town as it is very busy with traffic every day.
Hope you have fun!

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:16 am Post subject:

Sounds like Tinos is a place I would enjoy...I love anything 'horio' (village)!

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject: Andros/Tinos

Tinos sounds really good - but the religion/nightlife thing does make sense - although your main website does say:

:: An Active Nightlife

A wide range of bars and nightclubs can be found in Tinos Town, main harbour and capital of the island. The nightlife in the island being rich and varied, all the bars and clubs propose a wide range of music and different, pleasant atmosphere. Bars can be found in other resorts.

Question

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:03 pm Post subject:

Hello again Jo Jo,

Well you have absolutely right. I have checked other sites and they also say the same things:
http://www.hri.org/infoxenios/english/cyclades/tinos/night.html

Well it's there point of view. I don't agree with that. Greece is known as an expert in nighlife and it is true. Many people know about Greece only Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, Naxos and.... Ios where you can find a bar in every corner.
Comparing to islands where there is nightlife Tinos is very very calm. There are many bars arround the island but if you are nightlife orientated, this is not an island for you. It is more quiet bars where it is great for one drink. Don't wait for the crazy ambiance of the others.

That is all I can say. My word against there hehe Wink

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www.greeka.com
The Greek Islands specialists

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 1:06 pm Post subject:

Well, I'll have to see & update you when I get back!

Thinking of Tinos for a few days to unwind, then moving on - whats Syros like?

Cheers
Jo

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 1:18 pm Post subject: Syros

Hi JoJo
We called into Syros last year on our way to Milos. We were only there for the day while we waited for our next ferry, but the main town is lovely - very bustling, and in the evening everyone (and I mean everyone) was out on the harbour front - great atmosphere. We went to the other side of the town and went down onto the rocks where the locals bring their children to swim - beautiful! I would definitely recommend it even though the main port is somewhat industrial on one side, there is still a lot to see and do. Have fun!

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject: Syros

I agree that Syros town is excellent, although not for those who want a beach holiday. (There are other beaches around the island, and a reasonable bus service.) If you do stay there I would recommend a visit to Ano Syros - the upper town with its little pedestrian alleyways. Our favourite eating place up there is O Lilis which has a huge balcony looking out over the town.

A good evening plan, for the lazy like me, is a drink on the seafront or in the main square to watch the locals volta (take their evening stroll) and then a taxi for about 3 euros to Ano Syros. Walk in through the archway and follow the signs to O Lilis.

Have a good trip

Alan