Weekend 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 rampa

Tip: 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 gues

Tip: 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

Tip: 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

Tip: 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. E

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