PlanetSKI Prepares Itself for Winter on the Greek Island of Tinos

7th September 2025 | James Cove, Tinos, Greece.

Last modified on September 12th, 2025

We’re holed up on the island, preparing content for the approaching winter. We’re also updating all the news, plus looking at the skiing on offer in Greece and seeing if a ski trip should be combined with a visit to other parts of the country. NEW

On the surface late summer on a Greek island doesn’t have much, if anything, to do with skiing.

But you’d be surprised.

There is usually news about snowsports to be found in most countries if you care to look for it:

Countdown underway for 2026 Winter Olympics torch lighting ceremony

I have been interviewed by Iain Martin for a special autumn edition of The Ski Podcast while here in Greece and gave an overview of the skiing on offer here:

We covered a broad range of subject in the hour-long special for The Ski Podcast and it will be posted later in the autumn.

There is no skiing on the island of Tinos as it rarely snows.

“It last snowed here on Tinos in 2008, but I don’t think anyone went skiing on our mountains,” said the lady at the car hire, Dimitri’s, as we collected our vehicle.

“We do though have plenty of skiing on the mainland in the winter months, though the snow can be a bit unpredictable,” she added.

Most people outside of locals don’t know that there is skiing in Greece, but there are 25 ski areas with 117 ski lifts that give access to 190 kms of marked slopes.

The main ones are:

Parnassos
Kalavrita
Katafygio-Oiti
Velouchi
Helmos
Vasilitsa
Mainalo
Ziria
Velouchi
Pertouli

Image c/o Snowreport.gr

Skiing started for the first time in Greece in the 1920’s with primitive lifts and runs, but has had slowly rising numbers ever since.

“Although Greece is a country where the sun shines most of the year, it can also boast some very good skiing resorts with ultra modern facilities that can satisfy even the most demanding skiers, offering an unforgettable experience down spectacular ski runs where the beauty of the alpine landscape is guaranteed to take your breath away,” says Snowreport.gr.

“Enjoy a ski run in some of the best known skiing resorts of the country, and feast your eyes on the beauty of snow-clad mountaintops as you experience an overwhelming feeling of freedom.”

If a ski trip to any of the two dozen resorts in Greece is something that interests you in winter, then perhaps you should think about doing it late season and adding in a beach or two.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

Tinos is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea.

It forms part of the Cyclades archipelago with the closest islands being Andros, Delos, and Mykonos.

It has a land area of 194.464 square kms, and a 2021 census put the population at around 9,000 inhabitants.

Tinos is 350kms south east of the mainland ski areas and the temperature can reach 20c in April.

Image c/o Google Maps

Perhaps worth a visit after a late winter ski trip.

One aspect on Tinos that is unique is the Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Evangelistria.

Also known as the church of Panagia Megalochari, it is the most popular pilgrimage site not only in Tinos, but also in the whole of Greece.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

The church was designed by the architect from Tinos, Erfstratios Kalonaris, in the Renaissance style and was inaugurated in 1830.

Our Lady of Tinos is the major Marian shrine in Greece.

The complex is built around a miraculous icon which according to tradition was found after the Virgin appeared to the nun Pelagia and revealed to her the place where the icon was buried.

Many pilgrims crawl on their hands and knees from the port along the street and up the steps of the Sacred Church of the Evangelistria to kiss the miracle-working icon.

A carpet has been put down on the hilly road to aid the endeavour.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

It is no mean feat.

At the top of the hill the pilgrims enter Evangelistria.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

The island itself is littered with churches.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

The one at Pirgos, on the north west of the island, is stunning.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

As is the village of Pigros itself, that is well worth a visit.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

The island is also know for its hiking trails in the mountainous areas of the island.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

With some rugged terrain.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

There are 57 marked trails giving more than 150kms of hiking.

They range from easy terrain to some difficult ones that should only be undertaken by experienced hikers.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

No visit to Greece is complete without some time on its beaches

Near to the aforementioned village of Pirgos is my favourite beach on the island – Rohari beach.

I planned to stay for a couple of hours, but ended up there all day.

It is a basic affair and all the better for it.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

It is at the end of the road on the north east coast and has a ‘hippy’ feel to it with it laidback and chilled vibes

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

We could be in southern California in the 60s.

Tinos, Greece. Image © PlanetSKI

There is also a bit of ‘surf’ coming in off the Aegean too.

Like ski slopes and ski resorts, beaches are all different, each has its own atmosphere and charms.

At the other end of the scale is Agios Petros on the central western coastline.

It has its rows of beach beds, and yachts anchoring off the beach.

The restaurants are more upmarket than Rohari beach, with some wonderful local food on offer.

Our local beach is Agali beach on the southern coastlinewhere I swam each morning before breakfast as the sun rose, and planned the work day ahead.

It was fabulous start to a work day and news that needed to go live immediately was posted:

In between articles there was time for a quick dip or three.

Then back on the computer to produce ‘evergreen’ content for the 2025/26 ski season in the most perfect of surroundings.

The main town of Tinos is a 10-minute drive to the west of where we were staying and is a real treat as it nestles by the shores of the Aegean.

Tinos is a magical Greek island, off the beaten track and frequented mainly be Greek tourists.

There is no airport (that puts off the masses) and you access it by flying into nearby Mykanos and taking the boat to it.

If you ski on the mainland and want an island further south that has better beach weather than the mainland then you can do no worse in my opnion.

Regular readers will know we love combining other experiences with a ski trip:

We’re planning to return to Greece at the end of the 2025/26 ski season, if time allows, to sample its slopes (hands up who wants to ski on Mt Olympus) and I will definitely be combining it with a visit to see the ancient sites in Athens and some beach time.

Perhaps Tinos.

What a way that would be to end a winter ski season.

Watch this space…

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