Nea Moni is the greatest monument of Chios and one of the most important Byzantine buildings in Greece. An 11th-century monastery set high in the pine-clad mountains of the island’s centre. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its exceptional gold-ground mosaics, it combines masterpieces of Byzantine art with a moving memorial to the … Read more
Chios is a large island with a long, varied coastline and some of the least crowded beaches in Greece. From the dramatic black volcanic pebbles of Mavra Volia to sandy family bays and remote, clear-water coves. With around ninety beaches spread across the south, west and green north, the island rewards anyone willing to explore … Read more
The mastic villages of Chios, known as the Mastichochoria, are a cluster of medieval fortified settlements in the south of the island. Built to cultivate and protect mastic, the fragrant resin produced nowhere else on earth. With their maze-like alleys, defensive walls and, at Pyrgi, extraordinary black-and-white patterned facades, they are among the most distinctive … Read more
Chios is a large, uncrowded island in the northeastern Aegean, famous worldwide as the only place mastic is produced, and it offers a remarkable range of things to do. Medieval fortified villages, a UNESCO monastery, a castle-crowned old town, black-pebble beaches, mountain hikes and boat trips all sit on one island that mass tourism has … Read more
Planning a Patmos itinerary means deciding how days to spend and how to balance the island’s spiritual sights, beautiful beaches, boat trips and quiet villages. Two days cover the essentials, three to four give a relaxed, rounded visit. A week lets you swim widely. Hike, and hop to neighbouring islands, all at the slow pace … Read more
Patmos sits at the heart of a cluster of small, beautiful islands, so day trips and island hopping are among its great pleasures. Frequent ferries and fast catamarans link it with relaxed Lipsi, historic Leros, climbers’ Kalymnos and larger Samos, while small boats reach the near-empty islets of Arki and Marathi, making Patmos an ideal … Read more
Hiking in Patmos is a rewarding way to see the quieter, wilder side of this small holy island. Following old stone monopatia and marked trails between the towns, monasteries, chapels and remote beaches. A network of eight waymarked routes, most of them gentle, links the pilgrims’ path from Skala to Chora with coastal walks, hilltop … Read more
Patmos food is simple, seasonal and sea-facing, built on fresh fish and seafood, local cheeses, garden vegetables. Thyme honey and traditional sweets. Eaten in relaxed tavernas by the harbour, on hillside terraces and behind the beaches. For such a small island it has a rich and rewarding table, from humble grilled octopus to elegant, creative … Read more
The best time to visit Patmos is the shoulder season of late spring and early autumn, when the weather is warm and settled. The sea is swimmable. The island is lively without the crowds and prices of high summer. Patmos enjoys a classic Aegean climate of hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, so the … Read more
Patmos is a small island, but its beaches, villages and viewpoints are spread out and served by only a modest bus network, so for visitors a hire car or scooter is the key to seeing it freely. Renting a vehicle turns the scattered highlights, the remote southern beaches, the northern coves and the hilltop capital, … Read more