Looking for the perfect holiday destination for this summer? Find out more about Chios, a Greek island with beautiful beaches, hot weather, lots of history and it’s crowded-free.
Greece is not short of stunning architecture, jaw-dropping coastlines and cuisine tasty enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Welcoming millions of visitors annually, Greece is a very popular European destination because of its picturesque beaches, unique islands, historic sites and delicious food. For that same reason, the streets tend to be packed with tourists, especially during summer with hotspots like Santorini and Mykonos regularly under the spotlight due to the sheer amount of people arriving every year.
But, there is one place that’s still very much a hidden gem. Located in the northern Aegean Sea, Chios is the fifth-largest Greek Island and the 10th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
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The island, while more remote, is known for its exports of mastic gum earning it the famous nickname of ‘the Mastic Island’. The uniqueness of Chios is also brought by a rare mastic tree, which is only grown in a few places in the world.
Despite its mastic draw, it has an array of beautiful beaches and medieval villages drawn together by labyrinth-like pathways. Tourists can either get on a flight direct from the UK or, anyone holidaying in the mainland can fly directly to it from Athens. Alternatively, you could take a ferry from Piraeus port in Athens. Ferry connections between Chios and other Eastern Aegean islands are available as well.
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EuroNews reports Chios is one of the European islands that has avoided mass tourism. It has been successfully done by “focusing instead on small, family-run pensions, converted stone houses, and preserving its cultural heritage.”
Some of its crowded-free villages include Pyrgi and Mesta, which have been barely reconstructed while maintaining the natural beauty of their crystal-clear waters and white sands. These tiny villages also have unique architectures from their history back to the Neolithic Age.
In terms of activities, Chios is the ideal place for history lovers. During your stay, you can learn about Greece’s medieval past by visiting the Nea Moni Monastery, a UNESCO World Site. For those who are more adventurous, there are also hiking and scuba diving activities around the island.
The cuisine in Chios is also excellent, with a variety of dishes for all taste buds. Some of their most popular ones include Avgokalamara (egg and calamari dish), Herisia Makaronia (Chios-style macaroni), Malathropitakia (cheese pastries), Kopaniste (local cheese), as well as seafood, with its main star being Vokaria (prawn pasta).
Other islands that are less crowded, in comparison to Greece’s most famous and visited areas include Euboea, Lesvos, Limnos, Samos and Ikaria. If you’re looking for a hidden gem that’s yet to be discovered, Chios is the perfect place to go before the crowds start to appear!