The one to choose first
Classic Chios
Why this plan
The medieval south and the Byzantine mountain in a single loop, with lunch in a mastic village and a swim before the return.
The day, hour by hour
What time do you land?
09:30Chios Town quay
Passport control, collect the car, coffee on the waterfront. Do not plan anything tight into this first half hour.
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Passport control, collect the car, coffee on the waterfront. Do not plan anything tight into this first half hour.
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10:00Nea Moni
The eleventh-century imperial foundation in the mountains above the town, with mosaics of the first rank. The climb is winding; do it early while the light is good.
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The eleventh-century imperial foundation in the mountains above the town, with mosaics of the first rank. The climb is winding; do it early while the light is good.
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11:15Pyrgi
The xysta village: every façade scratched in black and white geometry. Walk the lanes off the square, not only the square itself. Lunch here.
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The xysta village: every façade scratched in black and white geometry. Walk the lanes off the square, not only the square itself. Lunch here.
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13:00Mavra Volia
Black volcanic pebble under the cliffs at Emporios, ten minutes from Pyrgi. Deep water and no shade — a swim, not an afternoon.
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Black volcanic pebble under the cliffs at Emporios, ten minutes from Pyrgi. Deep water and no shade — a swim, not an afternoon.
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14:15Mesta
The best preserved of the fortified mastic villages: a closed plan of vaulted lanes and one central tower church. Twenty minutes is enough to feel it; forty-five is better.
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The best preserved of the fortified mastic villages: a closed plan of vaulted lanes and one central tower church. Twenty minutes is enough to feel it; forty-five is better.
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15:15Back to the port
Return the car, walk the last stretch of the waterfront, be at control with time in hand.
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Return the car, walk the last stretch of the waterfront, be at control with time in hand.
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Back on the quay by 15:15
That leaves the last hour before a sailing at 16:15 for passport control and boarding.
That leaves the last hour before a sailing at 16:15 for passport control and boarding.
Before you plan around it
This plan assumes a car from the moment you land. Without one it does not work — take the South Chios or No rental car plan instead.
Be back at the quay a clear hour before the return sailing. Passport control, ticket collection and the queue for boarding all take longer than the walk suggests, and the boat does not wait.
This plan assumes a car from the moment you land. Without one it does not work — take the South Chios or No rental car plan instead.
Be back at the quay a clear hour before the return sailing. Passport control, ticket collection and the queue for boarding all take longer than the walk suggests, and the boat does not wait.