Next stop Kiato: Everything you need to see and do
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Kiato is the main town on the stretch of coast Greeks call the Corinthian Riviera — a 40-km strip of sea, orange groves and small resorts between Corinth and Xylokastro. It’s a working town rather than a resort, which is exactly its appeal: real restaurants, real beaches and a local rhythm that disappears the moment tourist infrastructure takes over.
The Beach
Kiato’s main beach runs directly through the town — pebbled, reasonably clean, and sheltered from open-sea swell by the shape of the Gulf. The water is calm and clear, suitable for families, and shallow enough for safe swimming well out from shore. Beach umbrellas and sun loungers are available for hire at the central section in summer; quieter stretches are accessible on foot to either side of the main town beach.
The seafront promenade runs the length of the beach, lined with cafés and restaurants. In the evenings of summer, Kiato’s waterfront fills with locals and Athenian weekenders in a way that feels genuinely Greek rather than tourist-facing. The fish restaurants nearest the small port are the best option for lunch — ask what came in that morning.
The Old Town and Market
The upper part of Kiato retains a grid of older streets that predate the 20th-century expansion. The weekly Thursday market in and around the central square is one of the best local markets on the Corinthian coast — agricultural produce from the surrounding area (citrus, olives, Corinthian raisins when in season), household goods, clothing and local crafts mixed in together. Arrive before 10am for the full selection.
The rail station in Kiato is a practical note: Kiato is a major stop on the Athens–Patras proastiakos line, with frequent direct trains to Athens Larissa station (75 minutes). It’s the eastern terminus of the suburban railway, which means connections are predictable and the journey is comfortable. This makes Kiato easy to reach without a car for those staying in Athens.
Day Trips from Kiato
Kiato’s position on the Corinthian coast makes it a useful base for day trips in multiple directions. Ancient Corinth and Acrocorinth are 30 km east — one of Greece’s most important archaeological complexes. Nemea and its wine estates are 25 km south. Ancient Sicyon is 20 km west along the coast road. Lake Stymphalos and Lake Doxa are in the mountains to the south and southwest, reachable in under an hour by car. Xylokastro, the next town west, is worth the 15-minute drive for its eucalyptus seafront promenade.
Corinthian raisins — the small, dark, intensely flavoured variety known internationally as Zante currants — have been produced in this area for centuries. Several farms in the Kiato area allow visitors to see the drying process in August and September. Ask locally; it’s not organised as formal tourism but farmhouses in the Kiato valley accept visitors during harvest.
Practical Info
Kiato is 60 km from Athens by road (50 minutes on the E94) and well-served by the proastiakos suburban rail. Hotels and apartments cover a wide price range; booking ahead is advisable in July and August. The town has a functioning port used by local fishing boats, a central supermarket, a pharmacy and most standard services. ATMs are on the main square. Parking is straightforward except on Thursday market days, when the central streets are closed to traffic.
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