Chios. A journey that tastes of citrus, with the aroma of mastic

From the deck of the ship, Chios emerges before you: earthy, fragrant, and full of contrasts. Greece’s fifth-largest island is a place blessed with rare beauty and a unique identity, unlike anywhere else in the Aegean. Seafaring, mastic, and citrus fruits have sculpted it on its journey through time, shaping what Chios is today. Explore it and discover its rich nature, staggering history, and wonderful medieval villages, in a fascinating journey full of authenticity, culture, the scent of Chian mandarin, and the sea.

North Aegean

Route information

Distance

42km

Estimated duration

From a few hours to full day, depending on the number of stops and visits.

Difficulty level

Easy

Route type

Road

Route Category

Linear

When to go

Chios is a destination for every season. The summer offers cool dips in the sea at more than 90 beaches, along with festivals and exhibitions that frame its dynamic cultural life (Chios Music Festival, DEO, etc.). Autumn’s mild temperatures make it the best time to go hiking on its extensive network of trails. From September to early October, you also have the opportunity to see the mastic growers at work, collecting mastic in the fields. Winter offers delightful walks through the medieval villages, while in spring, nature presents a spectacle for all the senses, centred on the blossoming orchards of the fragrant Kampos.

01
Hora: A first taste of Chios
Your exploration of Hora starts in the town of Chios. On the Prokymaia (Promenade), let your gaze soak in the view of the port with its sailing boats, small fishing vessels, and passenger ships. In Aplotaria, the town's commercial pedestrian street, and the surrounding alleys pulsing with life, the intoxicating aromas of mastic and Chian mandarin fill the air. Here you will purchase the most delicious gastronomic souvenirs: ypovrichio (a thick, sweet paste served on a large spoon plunged in a tall glass of cold water), loukoumi delight, masourakia (fried sweet pies filled with almond or mastic ipovrichio), mandarinakia (raw almond sweets made with fresh Chios mandarins), amygdalota (almond paste sweets), handmade marmalades, and spoon sweets. After the sun sets, enjoy signature cocktails at one of Hora’s atmospheric bars, where they utilise local raw ingredients such as mastic, citrus fruits, herbs, and Chian spirits.
02
Kampos: History, mansions, and fragrant orchards
As you leave the town behind, the route will lead you to Kampos, which has been designated a historic site by the Ministry of Culture. This unique collection of estates, with it impressive mansions and fragrant orchards, once sent Chian citrus fruits to the far corners of the world. Its labyrinthine alleys, that barely fit a car, contain high stone walls that hide incredible gardens, majestic villas, manganopigada (water-drawing systems) that are works of art, marble staircases, and pebbled courtyards.
03
Citrus Museum
Touring by bicycle is the best way to explore this earthly paradise. Precious details of the multifaceted history of Kampos are revealed at the Citrus Museum. Here you will see the famous wrapping papers – works of art in their own right – used to wrap the fruit for export, and you’ll learn about the local architecture and the impressive manganopigada irrigation system. The museum is housed in a visitable 19th-century mansion, while a café operates on-site – is there a better way to bid farewell to Kampos than quenching your thirst with a glass of refreshing mandarin juice?
Address: Perivoli multipurpose venue, 9-11 Argenti St, Kampos, Chios Tel.: +30 22710 33202
04
Chios Mastic Museum
No trip to Chios is complete without a tour of the 24 Mastichochoria (mastic villages), the source of the island’s white tear, mastic. The mastic tree (skinos) is also cultivated elsewhere in the Mediterranean, but it only sheds tears here, in the south of the island, producing its most famous product. At the Chios Mastic Museum, there is so much to learn much about the historical, cultural, and economic value of this unique PDO product, which has shaped the society, architecture, and natural environment of the entire region since the era of Genoese rule.
Address: Pyrgi, Rachi location, Chios Tel.: +30 22710 72212
05
Pyrgi
Start at Pyrgi with its famous xysta, unique geometric motifs that decorate the façades of the houses, a craft passed down from generation to generation.
06
Olympi
Continue to beautiful Olympi, another fortified medieval hamlet, and walk through the narrow streets with their vaulted stone arches. The traditional kafenia and tavernas of the hamlets offer authentic Chian flavours, passed down through generations: ouzo and mastic liqueur, souma (a spirit made from distilled grape marc), pastelaries (dried figs stuffed with whole almonds, roasted sesame seeds, and cinnamon), cherisia makaronia (handmade pasta), and local cheeses.
07
Mesta
Make sure you take a satisfying walk through the best-preserved tower village of Chios, Mesta. The emblematic church of the Pammegistoi Taxiarches is impressive, with its rare iconostasis, an excellent example of Chian woodcarving. On Clean Monday (Ash Monday), visit Mesta or Olympi to witness the custom of the Agas: it is a satirical trial where fun, jokes, street theatre, and a festive atmosphere take centre stage. If you have more time at your disposal, you should visit Thymiana, Kalamoti, Kallimasia and Armolia, famous for its ceramics.
In August, don't miss the Mastic Festival, which has become an institution, held in a different mastic village each year, featuring dancing, music, traditional food, and, you guessed it: mastic!
08
Vrontados
Chios may be the land of mastic, but it is also an island of seafarers. From antiquity to the present, Chian sailors, captains, and shipowners have ploughed the world’s seas, leaving an indelible mark on Greek maritime tradition. Discover the link between the land and the sea at Vrontados, where the monument of the Unknown Sailor pays tribute to the Chians who travelled on ships, across oceans, to the most distant ports.
09
Kardamyla
Further north, in the seaside hamlet of Marmaro in Kardamyla, the statue of the Kardamylitissa stands out: A woman anxiously waiting for the ship carrying her loved ones to appear on the horizon. A deeply moving figure that summarises the island's relationship with the open sea.
The neighbouring island complex of Inousses also boasts a great maritime tradition. On the only inhabited island of the complex, Egnoussa or Inoussa, with its imposing captains' houses, lacy coastline, and pristine beaches, time flows slowly. Visit the Oinoussian Maritime Museum with its stunning collection of ship models and paintings, featuring Inoussian steamers and sailing ships. From Chios, you can also reach the heroic island of Psara, a symbol of resistance during the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Ferries run year-round from the main port of Chios, while in the summer season, Psara is also connected to the port of Volissos (Limnia). The statue of the Glory of Psara stands proudly on the hill of Mavri Rachi, while the island holds many more surprises: countless small sandy and pebbled coves for swimming, walks in the picturesque settlement, and the most delicious lobster pasta! Psara remains one of the best places for lobster in Greece, and its small tavernas serve the king of the shellfish in delectable recipes. Travel from Chios to Inousses and Psara During the winter season, Psara has links to the port of Chios every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (departure from Chios at 15:00, arrival at Psara at 19:00), and every Friday and Sunday (departure from Chios at 19:00, arrival at Psara at 23:00). During the summer months, routes are added from the port of Limnia every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (departure from Limnia at 09:00, arrival at Psara at 10:30), with same-day return to Limnia (departure from Psara at 18:30, arrival at Limnia at 20:00). Information: Psara Port, tel. +30 22740 61336. During the winter season, Inousses has links to the port of Chios every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday (departure from Chios at 14:00, arrival at Inousses at 15:00), Wednesday and Friday (departure from Chios at 12:00, arrival at Inousses at 13:00), and Saturday (departure from Chios at 11:00, arrival at Inousses at 12:00). Information: tel. +30 2271 041390. In the winter months, there are also itineraries from Langada from Monday to Friday (departure from Langada at 07:10 and arrival at Inousses at 07:30). On Friday, an additional route is added at 15:20 from Langada, while on Saturday, the route departs from Langada at 10:00. Information, tel. No 6832346706. The same vessel also operates as a sea taxi, performing private trips on demand.