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Chios Travel Guide: Mastic, Monastery, and Villages

Short answer: Chios is the mastic island of the Aegean; it stands out with the Mastic Museum, Nea Moni Monastery, Chios Castle, the mastic villages of Pyrgi–Mesta–Olympi, and the beaches of Karfas–Mavra Volia.

The island requires a car; distances between villages and beaches should be planned ahead.

Build your trip on three pillars

Most travelers split their days between Chora–museum, mastic villages, and beaches. Nelerimeshur features 18 published spots. Chios main page · What is Chios famous for?

Castle, Nea Moni, museums

Chios Castle is the historic core near the port. Chios Castle.

Nea Moni Monastery is a well-known Byzantine monastery with UNESCO status. Nea Moni Monastery.

Chios Mastic Museum is the main narrative of the resin culture. Chios Mastic Museum.

Citrus Museum along with Kampos and Anavatos are complementary stops. Citrus Museum · Kampos · Anavatos.

All historical places: Chios — historical places.

Mastic villages

Pyrgi, Mesta, Olimpi, Avgonima — for black-and-white sgraffito facades and medieval streets.

Beaches

Karfas Beach, Mavra Volia, Agia Dynami Beach, Paralia Komi, Broulidia Beach.

List: Chios — beaches.

Sample itinerary framework

Day 1: Castle + Mastic Museum + Chora.

Day 2: Pyrgi–Mesta–Olympi.

Day 3: Nea Moni or a beach day.

Field note

Streets in the mastic villages are narrow; consider parking your car outside the village. Mavra Volia features pebbled/volcanic shores—water shoes will come in handy.