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Back to Chios (town)

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Voykit pocket guide · Greece

Chios (town)

Spend a half‑day in Chios town to see the medieval castle, Byzantine Museum and Korais Library; add a quick lunch and you’re done.

Chios town is the island’s main urban centre. Its historic core – the medieval Genoese Castle, Ottoman‑era mosques turned museums and the neoclassical Korais Library – fits within a compact walkable area. One half‑day covers the key sights; a full day allows a relaxed lunch and a visit to the Citrus Museum in Kampos.

AeginaAfandouAfissosAfytosAgia AnnaAgios EfstratiosAgios IoannisAgios Nikolaos, Chalk…Agios NikolaosAgios Thomas TanagrasAgios VlasiosAgriaAkrotiriAlexandroupolisChios (town)200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Greece
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Avoid
Jul–Aug (heat, limited bus service)
Stay
0.5 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
EUR
Money
Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
Daily spend
Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
Emergency
Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199
Plugs
Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
Tipping
Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
Water
Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
Toilets
Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.

Get in

By air

JKH · Chios National Airport
Bus or taxi 10 min to town centre

Typical fares

Airport → town centre, bus
about €2, 15 min (check)
Taxi town centre → Kampos
≈ €8–10, 10 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Town is walkable; municipal buses run hourly to the airport and Kampos. Taxis are available at the square.

See and do

Known for

  • Genoese Castle
  • Byzantine Museum (in former Ottoman Mosque)
  • Korais Library
  • Citrus Museum

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Mestabus from Chios town centre, about 30 min≈ 45 min

Sleep

Chios Chandris Hotel
4‑star, central, good for a night‑stay after a late ferry
Argentikon Luxury Suites
Historic estate in Kampos, upscale option

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryΣυγγνώμηsee‑gno‑mee
Thank youΕυχαριστώef‑ha‑ree‑STO
How much is it?Πόσο κοστίζει;PO-so ko‑STE‑zee
Where is the bathroom?Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;POO EE‑neh ee too‑a‑LE‑ta

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
  • Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
  • Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
  • Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
  • Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
  • Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
  • Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches

Scams and watch-outs

  • Bus timetables are reduced in winter; check the schedule (check).
  • Some museum opening hours vary seasonally; verify before visiting (check).

Chios town is generally safe; petty crime is low, but keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas and watch traffic when crossing streets.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Chios (town) yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Genoese Castle
  • Byzantine Museum (in former Ottoman Mosque)
  • Korais Library
  • Citrus Museum

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Chios (town)

Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση, παρακαλώ

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Chios (check address); other embassies in Athens.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/chios-town). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.