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By far, the best way to travel around Chios is by . You’ll have the freedom to make your own itinerary, stop wherever and whenever you want to, and go at your own pace! 

I rented a car during my trip to Chios and found the driving very easy — there were practically no other people on the road (during a weekend in May, no less!). Parking was also super convenient, and every small village and town that I visited had free municipality parking.

There is a network of buses that go to the main parts of the island, but the departures are sporadic and there is limited (or no) service on the weekends.

You can check the current bus schedule on Chios’ official website or stop by the Chios Bus Station (the employee was super friendly and helpful when I stopped by to ask a few questions :)). 

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To make it easier to navigate, I’ve split this into two sections — what to do in Chios center, and what to do on Chios island (i.e. outside of the city center).

I highly recommend renting a car (even for 1 day!), as you’ll be able to see much more of the island. Let’s check it out. :) 

— The best way to start your trip to Chios is by getting acquainted with its atmosphere — and what better way than with a nice stroll around the port?

Chios’ port is shaped like a C and is about 1.2 km (0.75 mi) from one end to the other. As you meander around the promenade, you’ll see bustling restaurants, chic cafes, and maybe even a ferry or two swimming into port. 

Now let’s get to the main tourist attractions in Chios!

— When you read the title, you might picture a typical castle with high walls, multiple towers, and a moat (just like I did 😁).

However, Chios Castle is a bit different — it’s not a castle in the traditional sense of being a purely defensive structure! Instead, it has a neighborhood living within the castle, and parts of the original structure (like the castle walls) have stayed intact. When I was walking around the area, a local said that the local community has been living inside the castle for hundreds of years! 
Click here for the location of Chios Castle’s main gate →

Located near Chios Castle’s eastern wall is another historical remnant — the Ottoman Baths! 

This complex of small rooms was restored in 2012 and is one of the best-preserved pieces of architecture in Chios. Best of all, entrance is free and there are small information placards that talk about the function of each room. 🙂

The hammam is open from 8:30 AM to 3:30PM every day except Tuesdays. Click here for location →

There are 6 museums in Chios, and 3 of them are located in the city center!

If you have time, I also recommend taking a leisurely 25-minute walk to the Chios Windmills. These iconic structures are a symbol of Chios and are especially beautiful during sunset. :) 

While there were about 10 or so windmills originally, only four have been restored (the ones in the photo). Each windmill has 2 storeys and were used for storage. Click here for location →

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Besides windmills and mastic, Chios is also famous for its fragrant citrus groves! The Kambos area is especially known for its citrus, and back in the day, there were nearly a dozen companies that engaged in citrus cultivation.

While most of those companies are long gone, one particular family keeps the tradition alive — so much so that they’ve even opened the Perivoli Citrus Museum! Although small, the museum takes you through the history of Chios’ citrus trade, with exhibits that talk about each of the citrus breeds, cultivation tools, packaging, and production. There’s also an interesting documentary that plays on a loop and has interviews with some of the locals that participated in citrus production on the island.

After exploring the museum, be sure to stroll through the citrus grove outside and then enjoy a citrus-flavored drink or snack (there are dozens to choose from!). My personal favorite was the Kampos mandarin juice, but you really can’t go wrong here. :) 

Entrance to the museum costs 3 EUR, and the museum is open from 10AM to 9PM on weekdays, and 10AM to 10PM on Saturdays and Sundays. There is also a neat little gift shop inside with jams and other citrus products. If you want to take it a step further, you can also book an Orange Farm Trip & Tasting private tour, where you’ll get to meet the owner of a local citrus farm and collect your own oranges! 

After tasting Chios’ amazing orange juice, let’s move onto another famous export: Chios mastic! Mastic is a type of resin obtained from the mastic tree, and is so closely tied to the island’s identity that it’s even nicknamed ‘tears of Chios.’ 🥲

If you want to know more about this unique resin, I highly recommend a visit to the Chios Mastic Museum. The museum is such a masterpiece in every aspect, from the beautiful architecture to the well-thought out exhibits, layout, and even gift shop! You can tell they really put a lot of thought and love into creating the museum. :) 

Ah right, where was I? The Chios Mastic Museum offers an interesting trip through the history, significance, and cultivation of mastic. The exhibits are so well-done, with beautiful photos, interesting tidbits, and additional artifacts (maps, authentic costumes, product packaging, etc.) 

My favorite part was the outdoor garden, where you can see the actual mastic trees and each stage of production. 

Entrance to the Chios Mastic Museum costs 4 EUR, and the museum is open daily except Tuesdays. 

Travel tip: the gift shop literally has every mastic product known to humanity, from face creams to gum, soap, candy, books, and the list goes on. 😅

I’m not done with mastic yet — in fact, I’m just getting started! ;) 

As I mentioned above, mastic production was (and still is) one of the most important agricultural practices in Chios. In fact, the southern part of Chios is the only region in the world where mastic is produced!

There are a few reasons why. First, resin has been produced ever since antiquity on Chios island, and farmers have been cultivating only the best trees over hundreds of years. Likewise, cultivation techniques have been passed down through generations. 

Finally, the climate in the south of Chios has mild winters and dry summers, which is perfect for the mastic trees to produce the resin. Attempts to cultivate mastic trees elsewhere have largely been unsuccessful due to these three reasons. 

As you can tell, mastic production was very important to the island — so much that special ‘mastic villages’ called Mastihochoria were established all over the southern region! These villages were established by the Geonese to house the mastic farmers and their family members, and were built with fortified walls and narrow streets to deter invaders. 

There are actually more than 20 of these villages, but the four most famous mastic villages in Chios are Armolia, Pyrgi, Mesta, and Olimpi. Best of all, they’re only a short 20-minute drive from start to finish, and are each unique in their own way! 

Let’s take a look at each village. :) 

If you’re driving from Chios center, Armolia is most likely going to be the first village you visit. Cozy and compact, Armolia is famous for its ceramics, pottery, and jugs — it’s hard to miss the terracotta jugs that greet you near the entrance to the village!

The village is very walkable and easy to navigate. I spent around 30 minutes strolling around the side streets, enjoying the beautiful flowers, and marveling at the traditional stone house. 

Sometimes nicknamed the ‘Chios painted village,’ this is perhaps the most famous mastic village on the island! Pyrgi gets its fame from its beautiful xysta, which are black and white geometric patterns found on many buildings in the village. 

The geometric patterns vary by house, but you’ll typically see zig zags, circles, flower motifs, and squares. What really amazed me was that the paint is made by taking the black sand from nearby beaches, like Mavro Gialos or Mavra Volia (which I talk about in the Beaches section)! 

Pyrgi is one of the largest mastic villages, and you could easily spend an hour or two walking around and admiring the unique geometric patterns. 

You’ll instantly notice one thing when entering Olimpi (also spelled Olympi) — how quiet it is! Well, that and the beautiful art scattered around the village. :) 

The streets of Olimpi are remarkably peaceful and quiet, and that’s because there are less than 200 people who permanently reside in the village. Just like the other towns in the area, it was a mastic village and still has the original layout. 

Like I mentioned in the beginning, you’ll also find fun and interesting pieces of art all around Olimpi. In 2017, the locals wanted to revive the abandoned houses in the village and decided to paint the doors and windows. There are dozens of ‘slice of life’ paintings by local artist Babis Kiliaris — try to see how many you can find! 

If you’re interested in seeing one of the most authentic and best-preserved mastic villages, then definitely check out Mesta. It has all of the hallmarks of a traditional medieval village, including narrow alleys, a maze-like layout (we got lost for a good 20 minutes trying to find our parked car!), and impressive fortified walls. 

Mesta is centered around the Church of Michael and Gabriel (conveniently located in the heart of the village), while the four towers strategically placed along its perimeter served to ward off pirate raids.

Perhaps the most popular cave in Chios, Olympi Cave is an amazing natural formation that’s well-worth a visit during your trip around the mastic villages (it’s just 6 km / 10 minutes from Olimpi village). 

The cave has a maximum depth of around 55 meters and is rumored to have the most stalactites and stalagmites per square meter of any cave in the Balkans. Interestingly, the oldest stalagmite is about 230,000 years old, and the cave is still forming them to this day! 

The cave is open every day (except Mondays) from 11AM to 5:30 PM during the summer and fall (May to November). A 20-minute guided tour is included in the ticket price. 

Greece has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and one of them can be found on Chios! 

Technically, Nea Moni shares this title with two other monasteries found in other parts of Greece (the official inscription in UNESCO is “Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios”) —but all three were chosen because they are excellent representations of Byzantine architecture and mosaics. 

The monastery was founded in the beginning of the 11th century and is especially famous for its intricate (and well-preserved) mosaics. There are 14 scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, as well as mosaics of saints, gods, angels, and other similar themes. 

The monastery is divided into two parts: the main area is open from 8AM to 7PM every day, and there is also a small museum that works from 9AM to 1PM (closed Tuesdays). Guests should dress respectfully when visiting the monastery — there are complimentary shirts and long skirts you can borrow near the entrance. :)

Like other Greek islands, Chios has dozens of beautiful beaches and clear waters. Here are some of the must-visit beaches in Chios: 

— My favorite! This is the most famous of all beaches in Chios thanks to its crystal clear waters and black pebbles that formed from a volcanic eruption — the pebbles create a cool contract effect with the clear blue waters. :) 

— Located at the south tip of Chios island, Vroulidia Beach is hidden in a secluded cove and known for its crystal-clear waters and peaceful atmosphere without the crowds. There’s also a cafe near the entrance in case you get hungry. 

— Incredibly clear waters that make it perfect for snorkeling!

  — Perhaps the most popular beach among tourists and families, Limnos has a nice stretch of sandy beach with loungers and umbrellas. 

—Some 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) north of Chios, Glaroi’s claim to fame is its cold waters (even during the summer!) and beach parties. 

Have you seen a church more picturesque than Saint Isidore’s Chapel? 😍 This small but absolutely gorgeous church near the water was built around the 18th century in honor of Saint Isidore, one of the patron saints of the island. 

Located in the northwestern part of Chios, this somewhat well-preserved Byzantine castle is located some 200 meters above sea level and offers excellent views of the surrounding bay.  

— This deserted village sits at the top of a cliff and offers a glimpse into Chios’ past. Originally built as a military city, the village was abandoned in the late 1800s yet still retains many interesting buildings (including the Church of Taxiarhis). 

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— Run by the sweetest and friendliest owner! Everything on the menu is amazing (seriously, you can’t go wrong) and the portions are great. Since it’s right next to the airport, you can stop here before or after your flight. :) 

— If the name sounds familiar, you’re right — it’s run by the same people who own My Cafe. 🥰 This well-designed cafe is centrally located (right along the harbor!) and the barista makes an amazing latte. Don’t forget to check out the second floor, which doubles as a seating area and a boutique store with local designers! 

— A unique experience that you need to have in Chios! This restaurant is run by a local couple and there’s no menu — you simply answer a few questions and the owners cook up a meal for you. :) There is a catch, though: the restaurant is open for only 4 hours, so be sure to get there early! 

— A fast-food style restaurant that specializes in — you guessed it — chicken. The burger and souvlaki are amazing. 🤤

— Delicious burgers and European dishes. Make sure to go early, as it gets really popular in the evenings.

— You know how they say that the best food is located in the most unassuming places? That’s how I feel about this hole-in-the-wall restaurant, which arguably has the best gyros in Chios. :) 

— A perfect stop if you want to try Greece’s meze (appetizer) culture. 

— Located in a quiet side street, this cool restaurant features a huge menu with tons of healthy options, huge breakfast portions, and smoothies.

— The address for ice cream! The design, the taste, and the service were all excellent! I recommend getting a cone here and casually strolling the adjacent pedestrian street (Aplotarias) while enjoying the taste. :) 

— Not a restaurant, but I couldn’t not mention this cute souvenir shop – it’s run by sweet older lady who helped us pick souvenirs and even told us about history of the products!

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— The absolute sweetest family-run hotel right on the waterfront! I stayed here for 3 nights and loved every moment. The owners were so friendly and helpful, and my room had a gorgeous view of the coast (every evening I watched the ships and ferries sail into the harbor :)) 

— One of the most authentic places in Chios center is Agora Residence — it used to be the residence of a well-known family that made their wealth in the citrus export business! Although the building is historic, the rooms were recently renovated and have all the modern comforts you could want. 

— Another cute stone house in Chios center, this hotel is family-owned and perfectly located — everything is within a short walk! Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Archontiko Frideriki Luxury Apartments — Want to feel like a Chios prince or princess? This option is for you! ;) This gorgeous property looks more like a castle than a house, and best of all, it’s just a 10-minute walk to Chios center. It’s also an excellent option for large groups and families, as it can hold up to 7 guests. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Almeta Suites — Prefer the convenience of an apartment? Almeta Suites is a great choice. This modern, spacious, and comfortable aparthotel offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with everything you need (kitchen, washing machine, and more). Perfect for larger groups and families! Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Urban Apartments — Another fantastic aparthotel option with a chic design and one-, two-, and three-bedroom options. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Castrusso Castle — … And one final apartment option! This one is located within the walls of Chios Castle and features a beautifully-restored building. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Xista Manor House (Pyrgi) — This is one of the most unique hotels in Chios, as it’s a genuine Pyrgi-style home! From the building to the decor, everything is authentic and local. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Chrisyis (Pyrgi) — Another amazing accommodation in Pyrgi is Chrsyis, which is literally inside a stone house! This two-bedroom house has the traditional Pyrgi xysta design and feels as if you’re living inside a museum. Best of all, the price-to-quality ratio is fantastic! Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Avgoustinos House (Pyrgi) — If you prefer something a little more modern, no worries — this beautifully modern and minimalistic apartment is also located in Pyrgi! Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Lida Mary (Mesta) —  Located in the mastic village of Mesta, this lovely castle house still retains many of its original medieval features, along with modern furnishings and comfortable amenities (some suites have kitchens!) Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Amimaya Apartments (Emporios) — Newly renovated rooms, a peaceful atmosphere, and close proximity to the beach make this a great choice if you want to stay in southern Chios. * Be sure to book the studios if you want modern rooms, as the apartments are in another (older) building. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →

Almiriki Chios Rooms & Apartments (Lithion) — This amazing property has a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, rooms, and suites — all located on the beach! Besides its location, the property also has a swimming pool, three on-site restaurants, and complimentary sun beds. Book via Booking.com → | Agoda →