Kiato is a seaside town, about 25 kilometres from Korinthos on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. On the national highway, it’s roughly an equal distance of around 100 kilometres each way between Athens and Patras.
A relatively quiet, non-assuming town, Kiato has a gorgeous, long pebble beach studded with cafes and tavernas. Surprisingly, foreign tourists are rare even though it has easy train access from the airport of Athens and the port of Piraeus.
Personally, I have been holidaying in Kiato for over 20 years and although charmed by its above mentioned, usual summer locale attractions, I quite like the rather grungy feel of it. It has a slightly rough-around-the-edges vibe.
Locals such as workers – public servants, store owners, bank staff, tradies and farmers – coming down to the city from the nearby mountainous areas, make Kiato lively and colourful.
Its population of around 10,000 swells to much more in the summer months with predominantly Greek tourists, although a few Greek Australians and Greek Americans, mostly with family owned and inherited properties also visit. Of course, there’s also the odd foreign tourist who prefers a more genuine, off-the-beaten track experience.
Kiato has a special feel – relaxed, accessible to shops and small local pockets of greenery including a park with exercise equipment, while it’s also close to archaeological and cultural sites. The beach has free showers, disabled access, a walking path, a bike path, a port, views to mountains – and even a few palm trees. Oh, and there’s even a gorgeous outdoor cinema (in its bordering Kato Dimino village).
There are many wonderful food offerings in Kiato too. You can enjoy souvlaki in a casual taverna setting on tables and chairs literally sea side (at good prices). In the early morning you can see the fishing boats out on the water testifying to the fresh seafood that’s also on offer.
There’s also great tasting meat here (perhaps sourced from the nearby villages), as well as all the other traditional Greek foods and the not-so-Greek – burgers and pizzas and surprisingly good, Italian style gelati ice cream.
Oh, and the local Kiatoans’ sense of humour shows itself though their ‘re-naming’ of a very popular hole in the wall – a take-away kebab shop they call “to vromiko” (the dirty one). Officially named ‘Kyriakidis’, its kebabs most likely stem from a recipe of Asia Minor Greeks many of whom came to Kiato from the 1922 population exchange. My family and I have been enjoying their amazing kebabs for years so I can verify “the vromiko” is good, clean food regardless of its down and dirty, cheeky name pun.
Of course, I’m not the only one who’s in love with Kiato. Years ago, we met Rye there, a baseball coach from Canada.
“Kiato is my love, apart from my wife and daughters of course! My discovery of Kiato took place in 2021 while coaching the Hellas National Baseball Team. Between tournaments in Lithuania and Italy, I needed a place to stay for two months,” he says.
“Kiato was the city I settled in and felt in love immediately. The area has all that Greece has to offer, beautiful sea, great views, wonderful food and the famous Hellenic hospitality.
“The city centre is full of wonderful tavernas, beach bars and welcoming coffee shops along with mouth-watering bakeries.
“Kind, wonderful people are everywhere and add a special charm to this beautiful area along the gulf of Corinth. The sea is forever a changing masterpiece of colour and texture. It has become my home and a place where I feel that I need to be, it has fulfilled me and connected me back to my Greek heritage.”
Both Rye and my family stay at Katina’s rooms/hotel: a 1970s built, three-storey place right on the beach, now mainly run by her son George. It’s actually officially in ‘Kato Diminio’ which is basically a continuation of Kiato, very close to its border and has become our yearly, summer hang out. A very welcoming, quiet, friendly, family vibe place serving food and coffee with retro rooms (some of which have been renovated) right on the beach.
I also speak to Aussie, and long-time Kiato resident Mary, who perhaps has a less starry eyed view of Kiato compared to short stayers such as Rye and I (including my Aussie husband who loves the place).
“When I first came from Australia to Kiato – to my mother and father’s hometown, I was thrilled that you can see and live near the sea every day. It’s a quiet place with friendly people, only an hour away from Athens,” Mary says.
“Although I was only 13 years old, I knew that I wanted to live and work in this town. Finally, I do live and work in Kiato. Even my children who studied in Athens and stayed there for five years did the same as me, and now we all work in the family business (accounting office) only five minutes near our houses. But I still miss and love Australia and go whenever I can.”
There you have it, we love Kiato!
