Chios, Greece

Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea seven kilometres off the Turkish coast. Chios is also the name of the island's main town and administrative centre, although it is often referred to locally as Chora.

Chios island is full of beautiful beaches and many attractions including villages, monasteries, museums and the Koraes Library. Walking around the town and the narrow streets of the villages, or attending the local folklore festivals and cultural events is also a great way to discover the spirit of Chios.

One of the island’s major attractions is the World Heritage listed Nea Moni Monastery, built in the 11th century. It is located in the hills about 15 km’s from Chios.

Things to See & Do

* Nea Moni Monastery
* “Mastic” villages
* Town Bazaar
* Chios old quarter
* Chios beaches

General information

Cruise Season – Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language – Greek
Land Area – 904 km²
Population – 55,000 approx
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code – 0030

Port Location – Cruise ships dock at the port in Chios, which is located in downtown Chios.

Transport Links – Domestic flights run from Athens all year round; about 4-6 per day. In the summer time there are flights from Thesalloniki and Rhodes 2-3 times a week. There are Charter flights available and direct flights to Chios from some major European capitals.

You can take the boat from Athens once a day (twice a day in the summer) from NEL Lines or Hellenic Seaways or Kabala (operational only in the summer). There is also regular trips from Samos and Lesvos all year round. You can also come by boat from Cesme (Turkey} with a once a day all year round service.

Rental cars, motorbikes and bicycles are available for getting around the island. You can also bring a car by ferry to the island.