• Pyrgi – A village famous for its black-and-white geometric wall art (Xysta) and labyrinthine layout.
• Mesta – A perfectly preserved medieval village with stone alleyways and fortress-like charm.
• Nea Moni Monastery – An 11th-century UNESCO-listed Byzantine monastery with golden mosaics.
• Chios Town Castle – A historic seaside fortress that has protected the island for centuries.
• Emporios & Mavra Volia Beach – Volcanic pebble beaches with black stones and crystal-clear waters.
• Anavatos – A haunting stone “ghost village” perched on a cliff, once a refuge during war.
• Olympoi Cave – A massive stalactite-studded cave near the mastic villages.
• Vrontados – A picturesque town and the legendary birthplace of Homer.
• Daskalopetra (Homer’s Rock) – Said to be where Homer taught his students.
• Mastic Villages (Mastichochoria) – A group of fortified towns where the mastic tree resin is traditionally cultivated.

• Rent a Car – The island is big, and buses are infrequent. A car lets you see the hidden corners and mastic groves.
• Don’t Miss the Mastic Museum – Learn the full story behind the island’s unique resin and its uses.
• Try Local Spoon Sweets – Especially the mastic-flavored ones; they’re a Chios specialty.
• Buy Real Mastiha Products – From liqueur to gum and skincare, you won’t find these anywhere else in Greece.
• Explore Early or Late – Many historic sites (like Mesta or Pyrgi) are best experienced in the golden hours.
• Wear Water Shoes – Many of Chios’s beaches are rocky or pebbled.
• Bring Binoculars – Chios is a birdwatcher’s paradise, especially near the wetlands and mountains.
• Pack Layers – Nights can be cool even in summer, especially inland.
• Visit the War Memorial in Anavatos – A sobering yet essential stop.
• Try the Octopus – It’s a staple here, often sun-dried and grilled to perfection.

• Rocket War (Rouketopolemos) – Every Easter, rival churches in Vrontados “attack” each other with thousands of homemade fireworks—one of the world’s wildest festivals.
• Mastiha Festival (August) – Celebrates the mastic harvest with local food, music, and markets.
• Agia Markella Festival (July 22) – A religious pilgrimage to the patron saint’s monastery in Volissos.
• Carnival in Thymiana (February/March) – Costumes, music, and traditional dances with roots in ancient fertility rituals.
• Chios Music Festival (August) – Brings Greek and international artists to historic venues across the island.

• Only place in the world where true mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) grow naturally.
• The island was once ruled by Genoa, which explains the fortified villages and European flair.
• Home to one of the oldest merchant mariner traditions in the world.
• Chios was the site of a horrific massacre in 1822, which inspired paintings by Delacroix and international outrage.
• Nea Moni’s mosaics are considered masterpieces of Byzantine art.
• The smell of mastic fills the countryside—it’s woody, fresh, and distinctly Chian.
• Homer may have been born here, and Daskalopetra is believed to be his outdoor classroom.
• The island produces award-winning citrus fruits and ouzo.
• Black pebbles at Mavra Volia come from an ancient volcanic eruption.
• Chios is still undiscovered by mass tourism, making it a truly authentic Greek getaway.

What is Chios known for?
Chios is known for its mastic production, medieval villages, and epic Easter rocket battles. It’s also linked to Homer, features UNESCO heritage, and has some of the most unspoiled beaches in Greece.

Is the island a good destination for families?
Yes! Chios offers safe swimming beaches, interesting villages, and cultural experiences. Kids will love cave tours, boat rides, and seeing how mastic is harvested.

Is the island safe for tourists?
Very much so. Chios is peaceful, authentic, and welcoming, with low crime and warm hospitality. Solo travelers, couples, and families feel secure here.

Do you need a visa to visit?
If you're from the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you can enter Greece (including Chios) visa-free for 90 days. Others may require a Schengen visa—check local requirements.

What’s the best way to get to the island?
Fly into Chios National Airport (JKH) from Athens (daily flights), or take a ferry from Piraeus (Athens)—an overnight journey with beautiful views upon arrival.

Should I rent a car on the island?
Absolutely. Chios is large and spread out. A car or scooter is the best way to explore beaches, mountain villages, and mastic farms at your own pace.

Is the island wheelchair accessible?
Partially. Some hotels, museums, and beaches offer accessibility, but many medieval villages and historic sites have narrow or uneven paths.

What are the island’s most famous landmarks?

• Nea Moni Monastery
• Mesta and Pyrgi Villages
• Mavra Volia Beach
• Daskalopetra (Homer’s Rock)
• Anavatos Cliff Village

What are the best beaches on the island?

• Mavra Volia – Black-pebble beach with dramatic water clarity.
• Komi Beach – A long, sandy stretch perfect for families and beach bars.
• Agia Fotini – Great for swimming and snorkeling.
• Lithi Beach – Laid-back with tavernas right on the sand.
• Glaroi Beach – Secluded and surrounded by wild beauty.

What’s unique about Chios’s wildlife?
Chios is a migratory bird hotspot, with wetlands and hills full of life in spring and autumn. Its mastic forests also support unique biodiversity, and the waters are home to dolphins, seals, and sea turtles.

What traditional foods should you try?

• Mastiha liqueur and sweets
• Spoon sweets (especially sour cherry and quince)
• Grilled octopus and sardines
• Fava dip and mastic-flavored bread
• Chian citrus preserves and marmalade

Can you drink tap water?
In Chios Town and most villages, yes. Tap water is safe, but many locals still use bottled water for drinking out of preference.

What’s the nightlife like?
Chios has a more relaxed nightlife scene—think wine bars in Pyrgi, ouzo by the harbor, and live music under the stars. In summer, Chios Town gets lively with late-night cafés and beach parties.

How can I stay connected to the internet?
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, tavernas, and cafés. SIM cards from COSMOTE or Vodafone are also easy to buy for mobile data.

What souvenirs should you bring home?

• Authentic mastiha products – gum, oil, liqueur, soap
• Local ceramics and textiles
• Handmade olive oil or beeswax candles
• Traditional sweets and citrus jam
• Artwork from Pyrgi’s Xysta-inspired designs.‍

• Homer – Though debated, many believe the legendary poet was born or taught on Chios.
• Dionysios Fragistas – Renowned Greek philosopher and writer born in Chios.
• Adamantios Korais – Influential figure in modern Greek enlightenment, born in Smyrna but raised with Chian roots.
• Michael Livanos – A shipping magnate and one of the "Big Three" of Greek maritime tycoons, born in Chios.
• Nikolaos Skoufas – One of the founding members of the secret society Filiki Eteria, linked to Chian revolutionaries.
• George Psychoundakis – WWII resistance fighter and author who had deep family ties to Chios.
• Aikaterini Panagopoulou – Cultural philanthropist and sponsor of Chian festivals and arts.
• Andreas Syngros – Banker and benefactor; his family owned land and businesses on Chios.
• Fotis Kontoglou – Byzantine artist and writer who visited and painted in the churches of Chios.
• Leon Melas – Greek lawyer and politician known for defending Chian independence during Ottoman rule.

• Homer’s Odyssey (documentary) – Several sequences filmed at Daskalopetra and Chian coastlines.
• To Nisi (The Island) – Although set on another island, its tone and visuals were inspired by Chios’s medieval villages.
• Greek Island Escapes (BBC) – A special on lesser-known Greek islands featuring Mesta and Pyrgi.
• Lost Villages of Europe – Anavatos was featured as a haunting example of abandoned historical settlements.
• Greece from Above – Aerial drone scenes over Chios Town and Nea Moni included in this travel series.
• My Greek Odyssey (TV series) – Season 4 includes segments filmed in Chios, focusing on mastiha and medieval heritage.
• Chios Documentary (ERT) – National Greek TV special about the 1822 Massacre and local recovery.
• Flavors of the Aegean – Food travel series highlighting Chian sweets, spoon preserves, and seafood.
• Mediterranean Blue – Environmental docuseries that includes mastiha farming and sea turtle conservation in Chios.
• Delacroix’s Greece – Documentary exploring the massacre of Chios that inspired the artist’s famous painting.