The Best Travel Guide to Chios

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Chios

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Overview

Chios The guide was updated: 2022-12-22

Chios is a Greek island that comes alive in the summer, attracting many visitors from Athens and the mainland. This gives the island a truly authentic Greek flavor, with lively nightlife and excellent Greek cuisine. There are many sightseeing opportunities and activities to keep visitors busy for a full two weeks. Unlike many other Greek islands, Chios is not overrun with tourists, making it a unique and authentic destination for a summer vacation.

Facts

Population:	Municipality: 54,030 Chiots (2020) Chios town: 26,850
Currency:	Euro. €1 = 100 cents
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	General emergencies: 100 Fire: 199 Health emergencies: 166
Newspapers:	Alithia ("The Truth") — www.alithia.gr Chios News — chiosnews.com
Website:	chios.gr/en
Opening hours:	In summer, normally 8.00-12.00 and 16.00-20.00 daily for most shops. Government offices and businesses normally 08.00-12.00 and 16.00-20.00 Monday-Friday.
Tourist information:	Chios Tourist Office Kanari 18, Chios +30 22710 44389

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Section in Chios

Chios Town (also referred to as ‘Chora') is a surprisingly modern city. With a crescent harbour overlooked by office blocks, warehouses and workshops; it is dominated by the forbidding walls of the Kastro. This Genoese castle partially encloses an old quarter of narrow streets, tall stone houses with wrought iron balconies and shuttered windows, and drinking fountains bearing Koranic inscriptions that hint at their Turkish ancestry. There is plenty to do on and around the island - from active pursuits to sightseeing, or simply relaxing on the beach.

Chios Cooking Lessons

Chios Cooking Lessons

Cooking lessons organized by a Chios native will grant you insight into the intricacies of local cuisine, and give you the chance to try your hand at creating an edible masterpiece with some of the freshest local ingredients.

Yacht Tours

Yacht Tours

A number of companies offer all-day yacht tours around Chios and to neighboring islands - an experience guaranteed to leave visitors with lasting impressions. Most tours include a BBQ lunch on board and stops for swimming in the open sea and/or lesser known, secluded beaches.

Citrus Estate

Citrus Estate

Citrus reigns king here in the heart of Kambos, a picturesque area south of Chios Town. A tiny citrus plantation and museum devoted to the sour fruit will give you an insight into its processing stages, and the adjacent gift shop provides an opportunity to stock up on some unique citrusy souvenirs.

Byzantine Museum

Byzantine Museum

The most interesting aspect of this museum is the building itself - a mosque with the only intact minaret in the Aegean Islands. The museum contains a clutter of Hellenistic statuary, Roman slabs and a collection of Turkish, Jewish and Armenian tombstones that hint at the island’s multi-ethnic past.

Nea Moni

Nea Moni

"New Monastery" is a misnomer – this imposing religious institution was founded in the 11th century by the Byzantine Emperor Constanine IX Monomachos. It is, perhaps, the finest religious building in the Aegean islands, with mosaics that date back to the golden age of Byzantine religious art.

Kambos

Kambos

Inland from the town lies the fertile plain of Kambos, an area of olive groves, citrus orchards, almond trees and patchwork fields divided by stone walls and country lanes. Under the Giustiniani, this rich hinterland was the domain of wealthy Genoese landowners and many of their substantial stone mansions can still be seen – some have been turned into holiday homes by wealthy Athenians, while a few have been converted into comfortable guesthouses.

The Mastic Villages

The Mastic Villages

Further inland, in the southern part of the island, lie the so-called masticochoria (mastic villages). These well-preserved, fortified villages date from the 14th-16th centuries and were centres for the cultivation of mastic. Mastic is the sweet-tasting gum of the lentisk bush, which was exported all over the Mediterranean – and the area still produces around 300 tonnes of mastic every year. The most picturesque villages are Pyrgi, with its houses decorated in black and white geometric patterns called xysta Mesta, where towers and walls surround a baffling labyrinth of village streets as well as Olympoi and Vessa are all a worth a visit.

Anavatos

Anavatos

This ghostly but picturesque hill village has been abandoned since 1822, when its 400 inhabitants chose to throw themselves from its 300 meter high cliff rather than fall into Turkish hands during the genocide following the revolt against Ottoman rule.

Inousses (Oinousses)

Inousses (Oinousses)

This tiny island cluster in the narrow strait between Chios and Turkey is said to be one of the wealthiest spots in Greece – several millionaire ship owners have their roots and family homes here. They prize their peace and quiet, so the islands are pleasantly unspoiled and there are good (but tiny) beaches next to the main island's small port village. There is also a Maritime Museum which celebrates the island’s seafaring traditions.

Trips to Samos and Mytilini

Trips to Samos and Mytilini

There are several ferries and (in summer) hydrofoils between Chios and the neighbouring islands of Samos and Mytilini. Try the local Muscat wine in the former and ouzo in the latter for an authentic island taste.

Medieval City of Mesta

Medieval City of Mesta

The tiny castle village of Mesta dates back to the Byzantine period, when its thick city walls protected residents from marauder attacks. Today this unique historical monument welcomes visitors and invites you to taste its delectable local wine, “Mestousiko”.

Pyrgi

Pyrgi

This tiny village is known for the intricate black and white geometric patterns which adorn its building's facades. A true piece of folk art, Pyrgi is a Chios must-see for amateur photographers and all those who appreciate beauty.

Vroulidia

Vroulidia

Tucked away in a secluded location, this tiny bay is a hidden gem on the island of Chios. The pristine turquoise waters and idyllic landscape of the untamed nature are a hidden gem for those seeking a few hours of peaceful bliss. The beach itself is mostly sandy with a few pebbles mixed in.

Olympi

Olympi

Nowhere else on the island is the scenery more reminiscent of the middle ages than in the tiny village of Olympi, where many of the narrow windy streets aren't lit up at night, which helps create an eerie medieval feel. Make sure to check out the nearby caves as well.

Chios Castle

Chios Castle

If you have some time to spare in Chios, check out the town's old historic castle located right next to the town's port. The castle walls encircle a tiny village as well as a restored Ottoman era bath house and an abandoned mosque.

Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum

Even if archaeology doesn't particularly excite you, this Chios museum certainly will - the skillfully arranged exposition tells a fascinating story of the island's glory days and boasts a striking collection of ancient jewelry. Exhibits date back to the 8th and 9th centuries.

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