Where to stay on Chios Island?

Do you dream of discovering one of the Aegean islands? Here are some trails to choose where to stay on the island of Chios, one of the treasures of the archipelago.

A Greek tour, Macedonian, Egyptian, Roman, Byzantine or Ottoman, Chios is an island with multiple facets. All these civilizations left marks there, giving it this unique character. Since 1912 Chios has been attached to Greece. Located near the coast of Turkey, between Lesbos and Icarcia, she gave the world at least two great men: Hippocrates and Homer. The island offers a wide variety of landscapes and beautiful villages of character.

Not frequented by international tourists, it is the ideal place to spend a relaxing holiday, enjoy beautiful beaches and make beautiful walks. Moreover, the Greeks are not mistaken: they have made it one of their favorite places of farniente!

If tourism accommodation is rare in Chios, there is a beautiful offer of authentic accommodation. They are everywhere on the island, especially in the main city of Chios (sometimes spelled Chio). Let’s go together to discover the best places to stay on the island.

Chios

Do you like to have many services without having to swallow kilometers? So it is in Chios that you have to stay. A small town of about 25,000 inhabitants, it was almost entirely rebuilt in neo-classical style, after an earthquake in 1881. The citadel and its narrow alleys, with geranium-enriched houses, resisted. This is also the case of the Giustiani Palace, now a Byzantine museum.

The city also has an archaeological museum. From its port you can visit the island of Lesbos or go on a trip to Cesme in Turkey.

Vrontados

If you are looking for a quieter atmosphere, you can also find accommodation 6 kilometres north of the capital, in the small town of Vrontados. Most of the accommodations are located near the beach of Afani Nafti, from which we can see four small stone mills, similar to those found in Rhodes . The city is as a measles to the big rock of Daskalopetra, also known as the rock of Hormer.

If you go to Easter, you will have the opportunity to attend the famous fireworks war, a kind of competition that takes place between two rival churches. A wonderful show!

Karfas

Head south now to find a place to sleep on the island of Chios. If you want a seaside atmosphere and a place for swimming, it is near the beautiful sandy beach of Karfas that you need to look for a accommodation. In this place, the sea is shallow and particularly suitable for families with young children.

You will find mostly holiday apartments and rooms at home, most of the time in character houses.

Avgonima

If you have a car and look for calm to sleep, you can get away from the coast and go to the discovery of a beautiful fortified village: Avgonima. From there you can explore the sights of the surroundings: the monastery Nea Moni and its remarkable mosaics, the village of Olympi, dating from the 14th century, and its caves, or Pyrgi and its houses decorated with black and white motifs. The beaches are not very far away and you can enjoy the coves of the west coast, often deserted.

No worries to find accommodation on site, the offer is abundant and varied.

Agia Ermioni

Let’s go back to the coast, to stop at the small fishing village of Agia Ermioni. To welcome its visitors, it was able to build holiday accommodations in the local style. They fit perfectly into the village’s architecture and offer you the advantage of the proximity of a beach well suited to families.

Unless you prefer a room or apartment in the living room, for the pleasure of getting cocooned by guests who care about your well-being.

Kataraktis

By continuing the road south, we arrive in the village of Kataraktis, nestled between sea and mountain. The location offers beautiful walking opportunities, among olive trees and mastic trees. The production of the latter having declined a lot here, the village turned towards tourism and you will certainly find the ideal apartment to spend a relaxing holiday.

Several tavernas offer local seafood menus. The medieval heart was deserted after an earthquake, but you can admire ancient typical houses and a Byzantine church. Not far from there is also the monastery Panagia Rouxouniotissa.

Pyrgi

The main resource of the island, the one that makes its fame, is mastic. The shrub that produces it, the lentisque pistachier, is native to this island and has been classified as AOC for its incomparable virtues. Used as an essential oil or chewing gum, it particularly treats stomach pain. The production area is southwest of the island and Pyrgi is one of the 24 Mastihohorias , (villages of mastic). This pretty little town has a very special architecture, which it is worth to be protected. The houses are decorated with geometric or floral designs, in black and white, according to the Greek technique of xysta. They are connected to each other to form a compact set.

Here, you will find mainly small, character-style accommodations, to melt in the atmosphere.

Mesta

Another area of mastic culture, Mesta is located inside the land, southwest of the island. This is the best preserved medieval village in the entire island. Its houses are built next to each other, to form a wall of defense. The fortification thus formed became a citadel in the form of a Pentagon, a rare example in Greece. Inside, narrow alleys, sometimes crowned by arcs, form a labyrinth, in which it is pleasant to lose.

Again, you can stay in typical medieval houses.

Volissos

Beautiful red roof village, northwest of the island, Volissos is a charming place to stay on the island of Chios. Dominated by the tower and the ruins of the old medieval castle, the houses are hung on the hill and all offer superb views of the surrounding landscape. If you are a fan of ancient heritage, you will find it by walking around the streets: Agia Markella monastery, watermills and Byzantine churches are all in the very heart of the village.

Apartment in a house of character or cottage, you will easily find accommodation.