Welcome to Greece, the island of Chios.
You’ve probably heard of the Greek islands Santorini and Mykonos but did you know that Greek sovereign land includes 6,000 islands scattered about the Aegean and Ionian Seas? One of these lesser known islands is Chios, despite it being the fifth largest of the Greek islands.
My friends and I were fortunate enough to spend a week here after working at Oktoberfest for 2 months with Stoke Travel. Each year, at the end of the season, the company helps pay to send the festival crew on a thank you trip.
Well Oktoberfest wraps up after the busy season in Greece, so when we arrived- the island was empty of tourists!
So for one glorious week, we wandered and explored the island, feeling as if we were the only ones there.
Pyrgi: the “Painted Village”
All of the island is lovely, but my favorite discovery on Chios was the tiny mosaic village known as Pyrgi.
Located on the southern part of the island, Pyrgi is home to less than a thousand villagers.
All the buildings, churches and homes are painted with unique white mosaic patterns.
Walking around this little painted town feels like something out of a storybook. It is dazzling.
Peaceful and totally quiet in the off season….
If you’re there during the off season, you’ll experience open streets with little more than stray cats and dogs roaming about. Because Chios, like the rest of Greece, is filled to the brim with tourists in the summer months!
But it is relatively quiet in the fall and winter.
So you might only see the local people quietly hanging laundry or sitting in front of their shops.
Picturesque and charming!
Pyrgi is a photographer’s dream come true!
If you enjoy taking pictures, there are endless interesting buildings and angles to shoot. Intricate designs line every rooftop, wall and balcony.
No building is left unpainted!
Cute blue doors, pretty flower arrangements and intricately painted buildings….
The entire town is so idyllic, it’s hard to believe it’s real.
Bubble gum that literally grows on trees!
Pyrgi is one of the largest villages in Chios. And here, the locals farm a sticky, gum-like crop that Chios has been harvesting for over 2,500 years. You can chew this naturally occurring gum right off the trees!
So we pulled our van over to have a taste of this fresh, naturally occurring gum. We pulled it right off the trees, popped it in our mouths and chewed it the whole drive back to the beach. A very interesting taste!
Mavros Gialos aka “Black Beach”
This lesser known gem of the Greek isles is full of beautiful beaches.
But my personal favorite- the black beach, Mavros Gialos!
Other great Chios beaches include:
- Agia Dinami Beach: turquoise waters and white sands and very relaxing with no hotels or restaraunts around, tour the Olympoi Cave while you’re there
- Vroulidia Beach: located near Black Beach, this incredible beach has light PINK sand
- Komi Beach: a popular beach with hotels, restaraunts, deck chairs, water equipment rentals etc.
- Limnos Beach: nearby Volissos, an ancient village.
- Karfas Beach: bustling with activity, it’s the largest tourist resort on the island with bars, nightclubs, resorts etc. you’ll be able to get umbrellas, sun beds, and water sports equipment for rent.
- Agia Fotini Beach: beautiful blue waters and sun chairs available
- Agia Irini Beach: secluded area with no facilities of any kind, small white pebble beach , very peaceful and bearby the medieval villages of Mesta and Elata.
All of Chios is lovely but nothing quite tops the mosaic village of Pyrgi!
More on Greece: 10 TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO ATHENS
Ok I’m obsessed. My sister is planning on going to Greece in two years after she graduates and I’m sending her this link right now! Stunning.
Thank you for reading and sharing 🙂 She would love it here!!
Thank you for your sharing on the mosaic village of Chios in Greece, it looked like you were travelling by van around the island, and I am wondering whether you may have any recommendations on a beautiful place to stay while I plan a trip there this summer?