Cheap Flights to Chios

Identity

Built by Ionians before 1000 BC, shaped by Genoese traders

Chios Town was built by Ionians a little before 1000 BC, giving Chora — as it's also known — a history stretching back more than 3,000 years, and the island lays claim to being the birthplace of Homer. Its castle shows evidence of habitation from Hellenistic times through the Roman and Byzantine eras, before Genoa took control in 1346 under the trading company "Maona," ruling until 1566. Genoese rule turned Chios into a hub for mastic and fine wine, and historical accounts even suggest Christopher Columbus prepared for his voyages here, recruiting sailors within the fortified castle walls. Ottoman control followed until 1912, when Chios was liberated and joined Greece.

Quick summary

Don't miss

Mastic, a resin found nowhere else on Earth

Chios is renowned for mastic (mastiha), a resin obtained exclusively from mastic trees grown on the island — a Protected Designation of Origin product cultivated since the time of Homer and harvested entirely by hand. Recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, it's used today in pharmaceutical, dental and cosmetic products as well as in traditional flavoring and chewing gum, mainly exported to Arab countries and the Middle East. Chios also has a tradition of fruit preserves called "spoon sweets" — tangerine peel, bergamot, unripe pistachios or figs cooked in syrup — traditionally served to welcome guests.

Day trip

The Mastichochoria, fortified medieval villages

South of the island, the Mastichochoria — seven villages including Mesta, Pyrgi, Olympi, Kalamoti, Vessa, Lithi and Elata — were built between the 14th and 16th centuries with carefully planned layouts, fortified gates and narrow streets designed to protect against pirate raids. Nea Moni Monastery, an 11th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site in the island's central hills, was built with funds from Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX and epitomizes Chios's Byzantine heritage with mosaics of exceptional quality. Every Easter, the nearby town of Vrontados hosts the "Rouketopolemos" rocket war, an extraordinary spectacle unique to the island.

To discover

The Castle of Chios and the villas of Kampos

Built at the end of the 10th century by the Byzantine Empire and adjacent to the main port, the Castle of Chios blends Byzantine tradition with Genoese fortification — a still-inhabited medieval neighborhood surrounded by large walls. During the medieval period this walled town (Civitas Chii) was the center of the island's administration and military command. South of town, the Kampos district shows an architectural style found nowhere else in Greece: Genoese and wealthy Greek families built impressive villas here from the 15th century onward, set amid well-watered grounds planted with citrus orchards, a lasting mark of the era when citrus cultivation and silkworm raising were first introduced to the island.

Local gastronomy

Citrus orchards and mastic-flavored treats

Chios's food culture centers on mastic-flavored sweets and the citrus fruit grown in the fertile Kampos plain, a legacy of the Genoese who first planted these orchards. The Byzantine Museum, housed in a former Ottoman mosque within the castle grounds, tells the story of the island's Byzantine and post-Byzantine past through an array of artifacts, while the four restored Chios Windmills in the Tambakika district reveal an unusual history — built for the local tanneries rather than flour milling, a reminder of the island's role as a major leather production center.

Getting around & budget

A small, safe harbour facing Turkey

Chios's main port sits on the island's east coast, a small and safe harbour just off the coast of Asia Minor, south of Lesbos. Chios is the fifth-largest Greek island, of volcanic and limestone origin, about 30 miles (50 km) long and 8 to 15 miles (13-24 km) wide, traversed by mountains culminating in Mount Pelinaion at 4,255 feet (1,297 meters). Once you land, exploring the Castle of Chios's fortress grounds and streets, or venturing south to the Mastichochoria, is easily done by bus, taxi or rental car.

When to go

When to visit Chios?

Chios Airport

Gateway to the North Aegean

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Chios