General Information & Reviews

Reviews

• lovech66 28 Jul 2011
  Chios means relaxing vacation

  I visited Chios two times in a row and the best thing I found about this island was that it has something for all tastes. Chios has four villages distinguishing for the small valleys and the water baths. If you ever get to visit the island, travel to Anavatos, a traditional village located at the centre of the island built on top of a rock made of granite.
  
  On the south side of the island, you will see the villages Pyrgi, Olymboi and Mesta, just beautiful medieval villages. If you look at them from a far distance, you would think that there are castles. These villages have retained their architecture whereas in Pyrgi, the so called "painterly village" boasts an impressive architecture where all the walls of the houses are painted with geometrical shapes of black and white. The beaches are perfect to swim in, with crystal clear waters and white sand. Try the amazing Mavra Volia in the south of the island, just perfect!
  
• gdf432 23 May 2010
  Explore deeper in the island

  Chios town can be quiet a put off with its busy traffic, untidy harbor and loud blaring music pounding from every bar in the area. But like most islands in the Aegean, the town is just a point of arrival, and if you explore deeper into the island, Chios can be quite a nice holiday destination with its deserted beaches dotting the entire coastline, mysterious walking trails, and charming fishing hamlets.
  
  The best thing I found about Chios was that the island has something for everyone. If you like the calm beach, head south, and if you like snorkeling, head north. I took a room in Agia Ermioni, rented a car and drove to Mastihochoria, the villages I had read so much about, and where the mastic trees have been grown for centuries to produce the sap, which has been used as a traditional remedy in the Mediterranean region for several illnesses.
  
  At one of the villages, I got to taste Souma, a traditional drink made from figs. The figs are sun dried on the roofs of houses, thrown into barrels with yeast and water to ferment, and distilled using traditional methods. Quite a potent drink, I must admit. I also had a few meals at some of the restaurants at the harbor side, right where the ferry arrives. I would gladly recommend it to anyone. Great food and great prices. Fried anchovies and shrimps, grilled sardines, and a variety of other fish sold by the kilo or per plate! Oh, and before I forget, there was this specialty dish of fried atherina which are perhaps, the smallest fish in the Mediterranean. It is mixed with onions and flour and deep-fried. A dish to die for!!
  
• Bill_K 10 Mar 2010
  Undeveloped in tourism

  The land of figs, olives and wine, Chios is truly a rural island. Only some spots of Chios are touristy (mostly Agia Ermioni and Karfas). The rest of the island is very calm and authentic. It doesn't look at all like other developed Greek islands that are full of tourists all summer. Chios is so large that even in high season tourists don't get concentrated. They are spread all over the island and explore its nice beaches, the perfect villages and the monasteries. Nea Moni and Agia Markella are two monasteries we met on our way. They are open in the morning but even if you go in the afternoon and ring the bell, the monk will open the door for you. For a foodie like me, Chios was also an experience to cherish. I got to indulge on some great Greek food in the numerous restaurants, tavernas and pita-diners. Tavernas can be found on little side streets, small ports and beaches. Eating out, I noticed, was an essential part of the local culture and eating was more a social scene with friends and family spending hours in a tavern talking, laughing and telling stories over a meal.
  
• francois_t 11 Feb 2010
  Nice rural scenes

  Chios is probably not an island for swimming, but the perfect place for spring traveling. There are some good beaches in Chios but the most interesting thing to do is sightseeing. Many villages, forests, small ports, churches are scattered all over the island and you discover something new in every turn, another beautiful view to enjoy. Pyrgi, Mesta, Olympi, Volissos, Santa Ermioni are all names that remind me of great places.
  
  We went to Chios last spring, a group of five, and with a rented car we explored every corner of Chios. Too early for swimming (late April), perfect for traveling in ease without sweating and feeling uncomfortable. Every village in Chios seemed to have a special architecture, small black and white designs on the walls (mostly in Pirgi) and some housed looked like fortresses! Haven't seen this architecture anywhere in Greece!
  
  Spring in Chios is bloomy and very green. There is sunshine from 7 in the morning till 8 in the evening and in the countryside you will see farmers cultivating their land, people picking fruits from trees, tractors with products ready to see and other nice rural scenes.
  
• ivan_m 23 Jan 2010
  Come back over and over

  I go to Chios almost every summer. Once there, the island traps you and you want to come back over and over... It is not easy to forget the wild landscape, the beautiful beaches, the waterport in the town with the small lights at night and of course the great food...
  
  Chiosis not famed for the beaches, although Trahili and Mavra Volia are among the best in Greece. It is famous for the villages with the strange architecture, the small forests in between, the mastic trees in the south, the good-hearted people. Have a coffee in a Greek coffee shop in a village square under the plane tree, taste mastic sweet, buy cosmetics of mastic, take pictures of the mountains, see the Castle and the cave in Olympi, taste cheese pies.
  
  Last summer, we took the boat to Oinousses. This is a small island about an hour from Chios. It is a unique opportunity to see an isolate Greek island, although in summer it gets a bit frequented. If you have a passport, also take the boat to the opposite coast of Turkey and visit the historical town of Cesme and Izmir. Tour boats leave in the morning and return in the evening.
  
• agelikoni 30 Sep 2009
  Not miss Mesta and Komi

  We have visited Chios 2 times. Both times, we stayed there for about 15 days, and roamed the villages and the beaches, enough I think to be able to advise you now: Don't miss these 3 places: Mesta, Maura Volia and Komi.
  
  Mesta is a medieval village at the south of the island. All the houses are based on an old castle that still holds imposing over the years. As you arrive, you can easily realize that the newest houses are actually builded on the castle walls. Moving forward you will find one of the many wall gates to the inner castle. Following the small roads, it seems that you can get easily lost, but I would suggest you to actually try do that! You will discover some nice yards, small traditional shops and taverns and of course traditional houses (all the houses inside the castle keep their medieval architecture and they are actually occupied). Sadly you won't be lost for too long, usually the roads lead you either to the castle square or to another entrance. You can have some rest and greek food at the castle square. Being at Mesta feels like the time has stopped, like you have traveled hundred ages ago.
  
  Maura Volia which means Black Rocks is a beach, also at the south part of the island. A volcano explosion at the early years seems that dyed the whole beach black. Every single rock inside or outside the sea is black. These black rocks cover the beach all over the area. There is no sand at all. That's bad if you like the sand, but I think that the clean water and the underwater view will reward you. The beach is divided in 2 big bays.
  The first one is usually more crowed from the second one.
  
  Komi is the beach right next to Maura Volia. You need a car to get to Komi though. Komi is dorp, with houses, shops, bars and restaurants around the beach. The place is popular all over the island for its big and always clean beach. The bars on the beach are popular to the young people and crowed especially on Sunday. Most of the people already living in Chios are visiting Komi on their Sundays, so the place is getting extremely crowed on this day. Rest of the days, Komi is back normal, even quiet some days.
  
  Don’t forget to try mastic too!
  
• los45 26 Jul 2009
  Make a mapbook

  It took about 3 hours and 40 minutes to get to Chios from Norway. It is nice and very convenient that the Island has it own airport :)
  This was my second time on Chios, the first was two years ago, so I knew what to expect. It is so much history there and much to see. During the two times I have visisted Chios, me and my boyfriend has been driving around everywhere on a 4-wheel motorbike (ATV). We have been to most villages and many beaches.
  Best Villages: Volissos, Lagada, Mesta, Pyrgi
  Best Beaches: Emborios, Vroulidia. Lithi
  Pay attention on the road because the road to some places is track. Also put more signs, it's easy to get lost there. And it would be nice if someone make mapbook (not like the big maps you have to fold many times).
  Try the local dishes and have delicious meals in small sea taverns. I love greek food, especially the greek salad! I had it almost every day.
  
• sam57 17 Jun 2009
  Be careful on the road

  There are so many things to do in Chios in order to see all the island. You will find so many museums, castles, ancient sites, monasteries and lovely villages. Beaches on Chios are not the best in Greece, mostly because they are pebble and access to them is not easy. Roads are not good in Chios and you have to drive slowly and carefully. The Greek drivers will klaxon at you but do not pay attention (they always do that and it is very irritating!). Just go aside and continue your way. Always have a map, roadsigns are not adequate and if you meet a local while driving, ask him if you are goinf at the right direction. You can't imagine how easy it is to get lost. Avoid driving at night, rarely there are lights in the roads.
  
• anny3 12 Jan 2009
  Five days were not enough

  My trip to Chios was quite short, in fact. Only 5 days, which would be fine for another island but for Chios they were enough to see only the basic things. We spend most of our time in the Town and went for a visit to Pyrgi and Olympi. The cave close to Olympi was excellent, really imposing but a bit frightening, too. Pyrgi was a nice village with incredible designs on the walls. I had the best meal on Chios in the square of Pyrgi. I didn't go to beaches because it was April when we travelled and it was still a bit cold. However, the locals told me that the best are Trahili and Karfas.
• pepitder 17 Sep 2008
  Explore the island

  I discovered Chios on the Internet. When I went, I discovered a gorgeous island that I particularly loved for its lack of tourists. Everything was excellent there. Mavra Volia the best beach. Rent a car and explore the island to see all its beauties. Any of the bars along the waterfront in Chios town is great for a drink. Take my advice and go for a day or two in Cesme, Turkey.
• jozef.tibos 24 Apr 2008
  Many delays

  In September 1995, my wife and I made a combination trip: one week in Chios and one week in Lesvos.
  After the first week, we were brought to the port of Chios to take the ferry to Mytilini in Lesvos at 04h00 in the morning.
  We waited and waited, and at last, at 08h00, there came the ship. It had been delayed due to a bomb alert on board a ship in Rafina. After the week in Lesvos, we went back home by plane, via Athens. There we had an Olympic flight to Brussels, also early in the morning. About 15 minutes after the take-off, the plane took a sudden dive to land on Corfu airport, where we spent 4 hours in the transit zone (tired, nothing to drink, nothing to eat), while police dogs searched our plane and luggage. Reason: just after tyhe take-off, the crew had received a radiomessage that there was a bomb on the plane.
  This is a true story that we will always remember....
  
• olgapet 23 Apr 2008
  Visit Pyrgi and Oinouses

  Chios is a big island that you need a lot of days to explore. I was't actually impressed by its beaches, they were most pebbled or windy. But I really enjoyed the mountainous landscape. Definitely visit Pyrgi, it is the most unique village I've been to. Also if you have a couple of days to spend, go to Oinouses. It is a small island to the opposite coast, close to Turkey. It doesn't have many sights to see, but it is the suppreme quiet and relaxing island, with only a handful of permanent residents.
• angela_m 04 Feb 2008
  Quiet nightlife

  I visited Chios for the first time last September and, although sometimes I would wish for more wild nightlife, in overall I had a nice time during my holidays. We came to Athens by plane and then went to Chios by boat. My sister, who passed her previous holidays there, recommended this island to me. I have to say that the beaches were great: clean and absolutely safe; my favorite beach was Vrontados. We rented a room in Pirgi and hired a car to be more comfortable and not depend on buses, which by the way do not work in the night. As for archeological sites and museums, we visited only the Folk Art Museum in Pirgi, because we are not very fond of history. I personally prefer swimming, eating delicious fish dishes and drinking ouzo to visiting museums! If you are looking for nice beaches, great food and calm nights, go to Chios! If you are looking for crazy dancing, go somewhere else!
• Johan_A 17 Jul 2007
  Great villages and clean beaches

  Hello, I'm Johan Asbj and I'm Norwegian. I'm 63 years old and I've visited up to 15 countries. I arrived on the island by Plane with Aegean. I have relationships with the place (ancestors, friends) and also friends recommended it, so I decided to go. I've been there many times, and I really like the place. I enjoyed the weather that gave us the chance to wonder around in the area. The beaches are very clean and my favorite one is Lithi. I also visited some villages, and I thought they were very nice. My favorite village is Pirgi and the best activity is to walk between villages. That way you can actually see everything and enjoy real Greece. I didn’t go to clubs or bars, because I wasn’t interested in doing so. I went to taverns though, and I really liked the food there. My favorite tavern is near Sun Rise in Ermioni. I very much enjoyed this vacation, and I’d definitely recommend it to others.
  
• D_Borrell 05 Jun 2007
  I really like this place

  Hello, I'm Dennis Borrell, from England and I'm 60 years old. I've visited more than 30 countries and in the summer of 2006 I visited Greece and the island of Chios.
  I arrived on Chios by boat. The trip was very good with no delays.
  The reason I went to Chios is that I have relationship with the place like ancestors, and friends there, so I wanted to pay a visit.
  I love Greece and everything about it. The weather was perfect, so I enjoyed wandering around in the area, my accommodation was within walking distance from the town and the beach. The name of the area I was staying was Karfas. I hired a car to go and see everything as I like exploring, and once again I discovered that I really like this place and also I like the fact that it is very clean.
• matias 28 Sep 2005
  All the beauties of Chios

  I really like Chios;
  
  I went there three times since 1996 and I plan returning and, who knows, maybe buy a house sometime.
  
  One of my favourite beaches are Daskalopetra (with sand and pebbles), Mavra Volia (with black pebbles and azure waters), Lithi (I saw the most wonderful sunrises from there) and Vroulidia (with sand and emerald waters); the famous Karfas Beach has smooth sand but, being the biggest tourist resort of the island, it is always crowded.
  
  As for the villages of Chios, there are many and all are beautiful. Karyes, for example, offers a breathtaking view and has the best spring water of the island. Particularly beautiful are the Mastichoria (Mastic Villages) with there medieval, wonderful houses and there narrow, cobbled alleys. Pyrgi is the most original because the facades of every house is superbly decorated by geometrical shapes of Italian style (for that reason it is called the painted village).
  
  So if you have the chance to go to this magnificent island try to visit every place I mention and even more?you will be amazed.
• lolo 05 Sep 2005
  Chios, a particular island

  Chios is a particular island with a particular beauty; it is a verdant paradise which, despite the rising tourism, is keeping jealously its traditions, authenticity and character.
  Firstly, the architecture of the island is one of its greatest assets; it is a blend of Turkish, Arabic, Italian and Byzantine influences which are forming a particular, interesting and charming image.
  Secondly, Chios is verdant, full of lush vegetation and ground water, which is increasing the beauty of its landscape.
  Thirdly, its beaches are superb, with sand or pebbles of all colours and the waters are clear, varying from turquoise to deep blue or emerald. And last but not least, Chios is one of the only producer of mastic which is very healthy (it is used in various beauty products) and, above all, very tasty.
• sonia 27 Jul 2005
  Chios: A pleasant surprise

  I went to Chios with my husband and my two daughters last July.
  
  We didn?t really know what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised. This island is part of the north-eastern Aegean islands and is very close to the Turkish shores; and we could feel this proximity to Turkey within the architecture of the island. Very beautiful!
  We stayed in the capital, Chios Town, which is a modern and well-equipped town with a traditional, old part (in the heart of the town) which is very charming.
  We also visited the so-called Mastic Villages (can?t remember the name in Greek) which are extremely beautiful and authentic.
  My girls loved the beaches and the waters of Chios and all the traditional pastries and sweets produced with the mastic of the island.
  I recommend this island to anyone (with or without kids); but you have to rent a car otherwise you will miss everything because the island is large and has so many sights, villages and beaches to discover.