Kini the enchanting fishing village
Where a few tavernas and cafes are clustered around a beautiful sandy beach
About four hundred residents live all year in the small village of Kini, which is about eight kilometres from the main island town of Hermoupolis.
A small port to one side of the bay has moorings for a few traditional fishing boats and fresh fish is sold by a fishmonger in the village.
From Kini you can walk around the coast to the small beach of Lotos or over the hill, slightly further to the quieter bay of Delfini. Here you will find a small beach bar and a taverna. If you have more energy, you can continue to Barbaroussa. But take all you need with you as it’s a totally undeveloped beach.
During the summer, a small boat makes regular excursions from Kini to visit the northern beaches; picturesque isolated bays which are difficult to reach except by boat – you might have a beach entirely to yourselves…
Facing west, Kini is famous for its sunsets. It’s wonderful to sit in one of the beachside bars and sip an ouzo, glass of wine or coffee and watch the ever-different nightly display.
Kini is a fishing and farming village and many of the locals have land where they grow fresh fruit and vegetables. Lemons and oranges, figs and olives – you will see them all growing along the small roads that lead to the beach. You can buy locally produced olive oil, wine, capers and fresh eggs from the farmers or the local shop.
Kini beach has calm clear water and is perfect for swimming. Some bars and tavernas have loungers and umbrellas at the edge of the water and well-established tamarisk trees offer natural shade.
Just behind the beach there is a museum of the sea, documenting a history of the local fishing industry. The Kini Mermaid by sculptor G Xenoulis; a monument to drowned sailors, stands at the end of the road that leads from Hermoupolis to Kini Beach. When you see it, you will know you have arrived – it’s a famous meeting point.
By the harbour is a tiny church dedicated to Peter the Fisherman. A larger church dedicated to the Virgin Mary overlooks the village from a small hill. An uphill walk or short bus ride takes you to the Convent of Santa Barbara, where nuns run a shop that sells finely woven locally produced textiles.
It’s easy to reach Kini by public transport from the main port of Hermoupolis, you can also take a taxi – the journey takes about fifteen minutes. In the village, you can rent a car or moped.
