Chios Castle
Overlooking the harbor, the castle encloses a maze of alleys, walls, and evidence of the island’s different rulers. Wandering through it is an evocative way to explore the city’s history.
Europe / Greece · TRAVEL GUIDE
ChioNorth Aegean · Greece
DISCOVER · PLAN · GO
Photograph: NASA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
One destination.
A thousand ways to live it.
Chios captivates with a rich and varied heritage: the main town preserves Genoese and Ottoman traces, while inland medieval villages tell the story of mastic production. From Byzantine monasteries to dark pebble beaches, the island offers diverse experiences just a short distance apart.
6 places to see1 / 3 / 7-day itinerariesInteractive map
THE PLACES THAT TELL CHIO
Worth seeing, worth remembering.
Chios Archaeological Museum
Its collections trace the island’s history from antiquity, with finds from important local sites. It is a useful stop for getting to know Chios’s past before exploring its villages.
Monastery of Nea Moni
Founded in the 11th century, this Byzantine monastery is famous for its mosaics and architecture, and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands among the hills in the center of the island, in a peaceful setting.
This medieval village is known for its decorated facades with xysta, elaborate geometric patterns etched into the plaster. Its narrow lanes and closely packed houses make it one of the most distinctive villages in Chios.
Kostisl · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The walls and narrow passageways of preserve the layout of a fortified medieval settlement. With its little squares, arches, and stone houses, the village invites an unhurried stroll.
This beach near the village of Emporios stands out for its black volcanic pebbles and the contrast with the clear sea. It is one of the island’s most recognizable stretches of coast, ideal for a stop on sunny days.
CHOOSE YOUR PACE
How much time
do you have to get lost?
From a first stroll to a week of discoveries. A starting point to make your own.
A concentrated route through unique medieval villages and the volcanic charm of the southern coast.
- 1Chora (Chios Town)
- 2Pyrgi (The painted village)
- 3Mesta (Fortified village)
- 4Mavra Volia Beach
Three days to discover the UNESCO heritage, the secrets of mastic, and medieval traditions.
- 1Chios Castle
- 2Chios Archaeological Museum
- 3Nea Moni (UNESCO Monastery)
- 4Anavatos (The ghost village)
- 5Avgonyma
- 6Pyrgi
- 7Mesta
- 8Olympi Cave
- 9Mavra Volia Beach
A full immersion on the island, from the Genoese castles in the north to the mastic forests in the south.
- 1Chora and the Tampakika Windmills
- 2Chios Mastic Museum
- 3Pyrgi and its "Xysta"
- 4Mesta and the medieval labyrinth
- 5Olympi Cave
- 6Vroulidia Beach
- 7Mavra Volia Beach
- 8Nea Moni
- 9Anavatos
- 10Volissos and its Castle
- 11Monastery of Agia Markella
- 12Managros Beach
- 13Lagada fishing village
- 14Kardamyla
- 15Nagos Beach
GET YOUR BEARINGS, THEN EXPLORE
The city takes shape.
Stop after stop.
BEFORE YOU GO
A well-planned trip.
How to get around
Chios Town can be reached by air from Athens and by ferry from Piraeus or other Aegean islands; the port and airport are both close to the center. Local buses connect the town with some destinations, but services can be infrequent, especially outside the high season. To explore the villages, beaches, and less-served areas, a rental car offers greater freedom. The roads can be narrow and winding: drive carefully and check timetables and connections in advance.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are ideal for visiting the villages and going on hikes, with generally mild temperatures. Summer is hot and well suited to beach days, but July and August are the busiest months. From late summer into autumn, you can also discover the mastic tradition, linked to the villages in the south of the island.
Where to eat
In the tavernas of the town and villages, you can try fish dishes, home-style specialties, and local products. Look for sweets and liqueurs flavored with mastic, the island’s signature ingredient, and try the oranges and citrus products from the Kampos area. In the ports and coastal towns, tavernas are a good choice for the catch of the day; ask which dishes are in season.
Quick tips
- 01Check ferry and bus timetables before planning your transfers: they can vary by season.
- 02If you want to visit several beaches and villages, consider renting a car and book it in advance during the summer months.
- 03Bring comfortable shoes and water to explore the lanes of the villages and the archaeological sites.
- 04Taste the mastic, but buy it from reliable shops and make sure it is a local product.
YOUR STARTING POINT
Wake up in the right place.
Where to stay · Chio
1 night · max 14 nights
Observed average price · EUR/night
1 night · 1 room · 2 adults · no children
Data still limited · Sample: up to 11 distinct hotels, 1 real searches in the last 48 hours, for this query. Not the official average of the destination and not guaranteed to be representative.
Arrival date
Lowest price among the hotels found
among 11 hotels with a LiteAPI price for this search, not the absolute lowest of the destination
CityZen Rooms Chios
Kanala 3, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€48
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Prices are real for the searched dates and may change. Click a point on the chart to change arrival keeping the length of stay.
Real prices for your dates
Chios Chandris
2 Eugenias Chandris Street, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€86
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Grecian Castle Chios
Enoseos Avenue, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€81
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Costa Point Chios
Leoforos Egeou 114, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€62
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
- ZenHotels.com
- €51
- Expedia.com
- €58
- Booking.com
- €59
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
City Point Chios
Tsitsekli 2, North Aegean Islands, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€57
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
- ZenHotels.com
- €46
- Expedia.com
- €53
- Trip.com
- €53
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
CityZen Rooms Chios
Kanala 3, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€48
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Pelineon Rooms
Omirou 9, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€73
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Seafront Studios and Apartments
31, Mitropoliti Panteleimonos Fostini, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€60
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
enδόtera chios apartments
12 Πλαταιών, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€94
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Homely Studios
Mitropoliti Panteleimonos Fostini 31, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€64
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Diana Hotel
92 Eleftheriou Venizelou Str, Chios
Bestprice price · Supplier: Nuitée/LiteAPI
€62
total 1 night
2 adults
OTA comparison · indicative only
…
OTAs may have different taxes, board and cancellation: no savings claimed.
Your next story starts here.