The island of Kimolos is a small Greek island, nestled between Milos and Sifinos in the group of islands known as the Cyclades in the Mediterranean Sea. Kimolos is a hidden gem in this group of islands with only 810 residents, it doesn’t see that big a footfall of tourists every year, in comparison to the amount of visitors that travel to its neighbouring island Santorini.
The charming thing about Kimolos is that is holds much of the same culture and sights as many of the other Greek islands, small fishing harbours, warm clear blue sea and beautiful beaches. It is the perfect balance and a special place to visit.
We were kindly invited by Aria Hotels to experience two of their lovely accommodations on Kimolos, The Bonatsa Beach House sitting right on the beach and Psathi Blue with gorgeous sunrise views over the harbour.
On the shores of the idyllic Bonatsa Beach is a small accommodation called Bonatsa Beach House, the perfect retreat for your next trip to Kimolos. With uninterrupted views of the blue Aegean Sea, you can wander down onto this peaceful beach directly from your room to enjoy the warmth of the water.
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Planning Your Trip
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How to get to Kimolos
The best way to get to Kimolos is by ferry from Athens. We sailed with Aegean Sea on our way to Kimolos and it took around 6-7 hours stopping a few other islands on a comfortable ferry. The boat leaves from Piraeus and you will be able to get a bus or a train from Athens direct to there. There are numerous gates and ferries when you arrive at the Pireus harbour. We learned after a bit of wandering around in the heat that there is actually a free bus that can take you to where your ferry is leaving from. Boarding was straight forward as was the sailing. Zante ferries also travels to Kimolos as we travelled with them on our return to Athens. Another option would be to fly to Milos from Athens and then take the ferry from Milos to Kimolos.
Arriving into Kimolos
On arrival into Kimolos we were greeted by locals at the quaint Kimolos Harbour that had a number of restaurants, shops and scooter/car rental stores.
We were going to be staying with Aria Hotels on this trip who were incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. We found their flag at the harbour and checked in at the desk there. We were kindly met with the very friendly staff who gave us tips on visiting the island and unmissable things to do on Kimolos.
The journey to our accommodation was hosted by Aria Hotels who ensured that we had a smooth check in process on arrival, despite us arriving after dark.
Bonatsa Beach House
Our first stop was at Bonatsa Beach House. Waking up to the sound of the waves and the sunrising over the sea outside of our front door was a special way to start the day. The Bonatsa Beach House is part of the Aria Hotels group and only has 3 bedrooms, all of which lead out onto a veranda with seating looking out to the sea. The modern furnishings are beachy in style, fitting in with the relaxed vibe of the surroundings. The Coco-mat beds are so comfortable and we found ourselves sleeping so well here. There is a fan and aircon as well as a safe and wifi for your convenience.
The wifi connection here was brilliant and the sheltered outdoor seating area was a great place for us to sit out and relax when we had some work do do. The Bonatsa Beach Bar is open daily serving a great selection of drinks snacks and some hot meals. You can enjoy one of the sun loungers and umbrellas for free if you are staying at Bonatsa Beach House which are otherwise 20 euros to hire.
Housekeeping is offered daily and the Aria service team are incredibly helpful to make your stay as smooth as possible. They can help with arranging car rentals, restaurant bookings and excursions to name a few.
The Windmill
During your stay with at Bonatsa Beach House with Aria Hotels, breakfast is provided at the Windmill. If you are staying elsewhere, it costs 20 euro per person for breakfast. This restaurant is located just outside the town of Choira, a 5 minute drive from the Bonatsa Beach House. The staff from Aria Hotels can arrange a transfer for you to get there or you can choose to have the breakfast delivered to your room. The food is absolutely delicious with a great variety of plates to choose from. We enjoyed the fried eggs with the bread board and the chocolate pancakes. The view from The Windmill extends over the harbour of …
Psathi Blue – Beta
Another one of Aria Hotels incredible accommodations that we had the pleasure of experiencing during our time on Kimolos is Psathi Blue. We spent the remainder of our time on the island staying in this self catering suite and it was another perfect example of what Aria Hotels does so well. We felt so relaxed slowing down and enjoying what the beautiful island of Kimolos has to offer.
How to get around Kimolos
The best way to get around Kimolos is to rent a car or a scooter which can be done at the pier or from the one petrol station on the island. We paid 20 euro per day for scooter hire and it made it so much easier for us to get around and gave us so much flexibility.
Things to do in Kimolos
Explore the town of Chorio
Choiro is the main village in Kimolos and the only one for that matter. It comes more alive later in the evening and there are some lovely restaurants and cocktail bars. Some of our favourites are Stou Fragoli, Stavento Ice Cream and Agora Bar. Choiro also has castle remains which you can walk through at the top of the village.
Beaches
- Bonatsa Beach
- Prassa Beach
- Aliki Beach
Take a day trip to Milos
Whether you want to book a private boat tour over to Milos or take the local ferry, we would definitely recommend a visit to this neighbouring island while you are there.
Before You Leave for Kimolos
Before you set off on your way to Kimolos, there are several things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Scotland. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Kimolos
The best way to get to Kimolos is by ferry from Athens. We sailed with Aegean Sea on our way to Kimolos and it took around 6-7 hours stopping a few other islands on a comfortable ferry. The boat leaves from Piraeus and you will be able to get a bus or a train from Athens direct to there. There are numerous gates and ferries when you arrive at the Pireus harbour. We learned after a bit of wandering around in the heat that there is actually a free bus that can take you to where your ferry is leaving from. Boarding was straight forward as was the sailing. Zante ferries also travels to Kimolos as we travelled with them on our return to Athens. Another option would be to fly to Milos from Athens and then take the ferry from Milos to Kimolos.
Where to Stay in Kimolos
If you are choosing to stay with Aria Hotels on your trip, which one do you choose?
I think this depends on the type of trip you are planning to have. Bonatsa Beach House is perfect if you want a chilled beach holiday as it is perfectly situated on Bonatsa Beach.
If you would rather be within walking distance of the town then Psathi Blue is a great accommodation for you.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Kimolos
What you need to pack for Kimolos will rely highly on when you make your trip there. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and rainy days. During the Summer, you are pretty much guaranteed nice weather with temperatures ranging from 20-35 oc. The hottest months are July and August, so these will be the most popular for a Summer holiday.
During the winter months in Kimolos, the rain will become more frequent and the temperatures will drop to between 10-20 oc. If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Kimolos is very strong, especially during the summer months. Apply a lot of suncream regularly to prevent a nasty burn from ruining your trip. We use this specific sunscreen to protect us as it is not as oily and irritating as other sunscreens.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around the Kimolos, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Kimolos
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there your guide to staying at Aria Hotels on Kimolos. If you are visiting this incredible island and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience here.
If you are planning a Greek trip soon then check out our other Greece content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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