Region
Chios
Spend 3–4 days based in Chios town; buy mastic, visit Mastiha Museum and Nea Moni, and take day trips to Mesta and Anavatos.
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More
Key facts · Greece
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Language
- Greek (Greek alphabet)
- Plugs
- C · F · 230 V
- Time zone
- EET, UTC+2
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Greece ↗Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Greece ↗Taking stones, pottery or other objects from archaeological sites is illegal; so is exporting antiquities without a permit.
- Greece ↗Do not photograph military sites or border zones; signs mark them.
- Greece ↗Acropolis tickets are sold for one-hour entry slots on the official Hellenic Heritage site (hhticket.gr); in peak season slots sell out days ahead, and you cannot enter outside your hour.
- Greece ↗Businesses must give a receipt (apodeixi) for every sale; ask for one, and do not accept a handwritten note in place of it.
Chios is famed for its mastic resin, scenic villages and historic shipping fleet. Stay 3‑4 nights in Chios town, sample mastic, visit the Mastiha Museum and the UNESCO monastery Nea Moni, and make day trips to Mesta and the medieval village Anavatos.
Where to sleep
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3-4 nights
- Base in Chios town, day trips to Mesta, Anavatos, Nea Moni
- Summer heat and sun make long cycling routes difficult; choose spring or autumn for biking.
- The 'Aipus bends' mountain road section needs extra attention when driving.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesta | Chios town | 20 min | check | Coastal village, known for mastic production. |
| Anavatos | Chios town | 30 min | check | Medieval Byzantine village on a hill. |
| Nea Moni | Chios town | 35 min | check | UNESCO monastery, requires modest walk. |
Bags between cities
check
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chios town | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | ok |
| Greece (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | Daily Olympic Air / Aegean flights; seasonal extra routes May‑Oct. | |||
| Piraeus (Athens) | Daily Hellenic Seaways; also from Lesvos, Samos, Kavala (summer). | |||
| Çeşme (Turkey) | Year‑round service, €23 one‑way, departs 09:30.Year‑round service, €23 one‑way, departs 9:30 AM. |
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Mastiha sweets | Chios town | Use local mastic; try at Mastiha Museum shop |
| Grilled souvlaki | To Mestousiko (Mesta) | Popular local grill |
Go next
Cesme (Turkey)
planned45 min boat from Çeşme
Day‑trip option across the strait
Lesvos travel guide
plannedFerry from Chios, ~1 h
Explore neighboring Greek island
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Nights suggested
- 3–4 nights
- Ways in
- 3 listed
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Chios
Loading…
Was this useful?