Kimolos Hotels & Villas: Where to Stay

There are not many hotels on Kimolos, and most rooms, studios and villas sit in and around Chora, Psathi, Aliki and the south-coast beaches. The boutique Windmill Hotel stands between Psathi and Chora, the Kimolis Hotel is at Psathi, Kimolia Gi looks over Agios Georgios beach, and Kalamitsi Studios, Studios Maria Begni and Sardis Rooms are near the southern sands, with self-catering houses inside the Kastro. There are no car rentals on the island, so many visitors bring a car from Milos. This guide covers the hotels and the self-catering places.

Psathi

Kimolis & Windmill

Agios Georgios

Kimolia Gi

Aliki

Maria Begni & Sardis

Kastro

House & Faros

The Windmill Hotel

The Windmill, formerly known as the Doctor's Windmill, dates from 1852 and is one of the few authentic traditional windmills left in Greece. It has been renovated into a small boutique hotel between the port of Kimolos and the main village of Chora, with commanding views over the bay of Psathi. A continental breakfast is served from 08.30 to 12.00 in the windmill's cafe-bar or on the room's terrace or balcony, housekeeping and an in-house laundry run daily, and the hotel has private parking. The owners can arrange transfers by taxi from the port of Kimolos or from the airport and port of Milos, and tailor-made tours around Kimolos and Milos.

Kimolis Hotel, Psathi

The Cycladic-style Kimolis Hotel stands 250 metres from the beach of Psathi, with elegant rooms, free Wi-Fi and balconies looking over the Aegean Sea. The port of Kimolos and Kimolos Town are both 250 metres away. Rooms have white furnishings and earthy tones, a flat-screen TV, a fridge and a modern bathroom with Korres toiletries, and some have a fully equipped kitchen with a dining area. Bars, restaurants and tavernas are within walking distance, and Milos is a 20-minute taxi-boat ride away.

Kimolia Gi, Agios Georgios

Kimolia Gi is a Cycladic-style complex 200 metres from Agios Georgios beach, with individually decorated studios in earthy tones opening onto balconies with sea views. Each studio has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and DVD player, Coco-mat products, a fridge, cooking hobs and a dining area, and a garden and free Wi-Fi are shared. The self-catering units are 5 kilometres from the island's main town and 6 kilometres from the port, bicycles are provided free of charge, the owners help with island tours, and free private parking is on site.

Kalamitsi Studios

The Cycladic-style Kalamitsi Studios sit among bougainvillea 150 metres from the beaches of Kalamitsi and Bonatsa, with self-catering studios that look over the Aegean Sea. Each studio has a TV, air conditioning and a kitchenette with a fridge and electric kettle, and the private bathroom has a shower and hairdryer. Guests get discounted rates at the nearby seafront restaurant, the bus stop is 1 kilometre away, and Kimolos Port and the village centre are 3.5 kilometres away, with free transfer to and from the port and free on-site parking.

Studios Maria Begni, Aliki

Studios Maria Begni has a garden and sun terrace and offers apartments with balconies over the Aegean Sea, 200 metres from the cafeterias and the beach of Aliki. Built to Cycladic standards, the air-conditioned apartments have bright colours and marble floors, a seating area, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchenette or kitchen, with a bath or shower in the bathroom. The property is 5 kilometres from the village of Kimolos and its port, with free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Villas & self-catering

Kimolos keeps most of its self-catering rooms in traditional houses and studios at Aliki and inside the Kastro of Chora rather than in large estates. Sardis Rooms stand at Aliki, the House in the Castle is a holiday house within the 16th-century Kastro, and Faros Rooms is a classic Cycladic complex in Chora. The options below are all self-catering.

Sardis Rooms, Aliki

Sardis Rooms is a complex of 10 fully renovated traditional rooms 50 metres from the sea at Aliki, with 8 rooms for 2 to 3 people and 2 rooms for 4 people. All have air conditioning, a fridge and a private bathroom, in a cosy traditional house with sea views and a friendly, homely atmosphere.

The House in the Castle, Chora

The House in the Castle is a holiday house that forms part of the 16th-century Kastro, recognised as an official monument, and was fully renovated in 2008 under the supervision of the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities. Its two first-floor bedrooms each have their own entrance and connect to the main bathroom and kitchen by an interior stair: the west bedroom has two single beds and a sofa-bed with a balcony onto Sotira Square, and the east bedroom a double bed, a traditional fireplace and a balcony over the ruins of the castle interior. There is no air conditioning, because of the monument restrictions, but the thick stone walls keep the house cool, and it comes with mountain bikes, a pushchair and Wi-Fi. Prices ran from 630 to 1470 euro a week depending on the season and the number of people (2011), with a discount for longer stays.

Faros Rooms, Chora

Faros Rooms is a classic Cycladic complex in Chora, built with respect for the traditional architecture but with all the modern comforts, a quiet base for dreaming and relaxing away from everyday life.

Choosing an area

Where to stay on Kimolos comes down to the port, the capital and the south-coast beaches. Psathi puts you by the harbour and the ferries, with the Kimolis Hotel and, just inland, the Windmill Hotel. Aliki and the neighbouring sands of Kalamitsi and Bonatsa suit a beach base, with Studios Maria Begni, Sardis Rooms and Kalamitsi Studios, while Kimolia Gi sits above Agios Georgios. For character, the self-catering houses inside the Kastro of Chora put you in the old fortress village. There are no car rentals on the island, so bring a car from Milos or rely on the summer mini-bus, taxis and water taxis. The whole island is set out in the Kimolos island guide.