Things to Do in Chios

A large Genoese and Ottoman fortress right in Chios Town, with thick stone walls, crumbling towers and a quiet interior full of houses and overgrown gardens. You can walk the ramparts for a view of the port and the Turkish coast.

🕐 Open 24 hours. The interior courtyard is accessible all day.

💡 Most of the castle is open to wander at any time, but the small mosque inside (the Kria Vrisi) is only open during festivals. Go late afternoon for the best light and fewer people.

A flat, agricultural area just south of Chios Town, dotted with old Genoese manor houses, citrus groves and narrow stone lanes. The mansions are mostly private or converted to guesthouses, but you can peer through gates and see the courtyards, arched

🕐 Open access (public roads). Some estates open for events – check local noticeboards.

💡 Start at the Kampos square (plateia) and walk south along the main road for 15 minutes. Many houses have informative plaques. Best in winter when the trees are full of oranges.

A black volcanic pebble beach on the south coast, with clear, deep water and dramatic cliffs on either side. It's not a sandy beach but the stones are smooth. There are no sunbeds or umbrellas – just you, the pebbles and the sea.

🕐 Open 24 hours. Best outside peak sun hours (11:00-16:00) to avoid the heat on the stones.

💡 Bring water shoes – the pebbles get hot by midday. Prefer a quieter spot? Walk 200 metres east to the next cove (Emporios beach). No facilities at Mavra Volia, so pack snacks and water.

An 11th-century Byzantine monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site, perched on a wooded hillside. Its main church is famous for rare, well-preserved mosaics of Christ and saints. The grounds are quiet and the views over the Aegean are spectacular.

🕐 Open daily 08:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 (summer); shorter hours in winter.

💡 The monastery itself is free but the small museum nearby costs €2 – worth it for the original artefacts. Dress modestly (no shorts or sleeveless tops for anyone).

A modern museum about the history, cultivation and uses of mastic gum, the resin that put Chios on the map. Located in the medieval mastiha village of Pyrgi, the building itself is a former factory. Exhibits include tools, dioramas and a short film.

🕐 Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon. Reduced hours in winter.

💡 Buy the combined ticket with the medieval villages for less than €10. Go early to beat the tour buses from Chios Town.