Getting from Athens to Chios

If you are heading to Chios from Athens you are going to one of the most overlooked islands in Greece and one of the most rewarding. Chios sits just off the Turkish coast in the Northern Aegean, separated from Cesme by a strait so narrow you can see the lights of the Turkish shore at night. The island is famous above all for its mastic trees, which grow in the south of the island around the medieval villages known as the Mastichochoria and produce a resin found nowhere else on earth. The 11th century monastery of Nea Moni is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest Byzantine monuments in Greece. The painted village of Pyrgi, with its geometric black and white patterns covering every facade, is extraordinary.

Take the ferry

The Piraeus to Chios ferry runs several times a week year-round, taking around 8 to 10 hours. The overnight crossing is the practical approach if you want to travel by sea, arriving in the morning with the day ahead of you. Chios is also connected to Lesvos, Samos and other northern Aegean islands for onward connections.

Getting there by air

Both Athens and Chios have airports. Daily connections from Athens to Chios take around 50 minutes. This is the fastest and most practical approach for most travellers.

Your best option

Fly from Athens. The daily flight takes around 50 minutes and is considerably more practical than the 8 to 10 hour ferry crossing for most travellers. If you want to travel by sea the overnight ferry from Piraeus is a comfortable crossing and saves a night's accommodation, but flying is the right choice for most people.