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Chios has some of the most beautiful, crystal clear, pristine beaches in Greece. If you’re lucky you can have a beach all to yourself. I haven’t been to ALL of the beaches on the island – there are far too many – but I will tell you about the ones I have been to:
Mavra Volia (Μαύρα Βόλια)
Mavra Volia is tied for my favorite beach in Chios. This beach is perhaps the most popular on the island, with large black volcanic rocks and cool water. It’s located in southern Chios, a short walk from the harbor at Emporios. There’s plenty of parking near to the beach.
For a more secluded section, walk up over the rocks at the end of the beach to the right, and keep walking until you have your desired amount of peace and quiet. The water can get choppy at times, and it gets deep quickly at some spots.
Vroulidia (Βρουλίδια)
My other favorite beach in Chios is Vroulidia. It’s set on the southern tip of the island at the bottom of a cliff. The water is calm and comfortable, and the beach consists of small pebbles. It’s a long walk down, which means a long walk up, but it’s well worth it. You can find the way to the beach on the road from Pyrgi to Emporios.
At the top of the cliff, there’s a small parking lot and a canteen run by a very nice family where you can get some snacks and drinks for the beach or a souvlaki or kalamari meal to hold you over until dinner. The only annoying thing about this beach is that sometimes there are small biting flies. There is also a kind of dried seaweed on parts of the beach that seems to permanently stick to your feet.
Agia Dynami (Αγία Δύναμη)
Small pebbles and vivid shades of blue in the water make up Agia Dynami. There’s another part of the beach that is accessible only by swimming to it. It takes a good 15 minutes and you swim against the current so it can get tiring. The water is peaceful and the setting is serene. You can reach this beach from a turn-off at Olympi. There’s a small church at the end of the road that the beach is named after.
Elinda (Ελίντα)
Elinda is on the west coast of Chios and down a rocky road. It’s easy to miss the turn to this beach set in a natural bay. There are medium-sized rocks on the beach and the water is calm but gets deep quickly.
Trahili (Τραχήλι)
I didn’t actually swim at Trahili because of lack of time, but who wouldn’t want to be in this setting? I’m also an idiot and couldn’t find the turn, which is the cause of my lack of time. To be fair, I didn’t see any signs, either. Anyway, it’s on the west coast of Chios, between Elinda and Lithi. A medieval watchtower sits on the hill next to the beach.
Lithi (Λιθί)
You can find a few tavernas, beach bars, and cafés at Lithi, a popular sandy beach.
Salagona (Σαλάγωνα)
Salagona is a small pebble beach with calm water. It’s been gaining popularity according to some locals but I didn’t care for it. Take care driving because the road to it is pretty rocky.
Kato Fana (Κάτω Φανά)
A sandy beach that is a bit tough to reach on a very rocky road (I almost destroyed my rental car here!), but well worth it. The same road that leads to Agia Dynami splits off to go to Kato Fana.
At Kato Fana, you can find the Sanctuary of Apollo located near the beach. The temple dates back to the 6th century BC. Interestingly, there were Egyptian scarabs found during excavations. There’s also an early Christian church.
Karfas (Καρφάς)
Karfas is probably one of the most famous beaches on the island. It’s a very touristy place near Chios Town with many hotels and restaurants. If you like water sports, this is the place to be. The sandy beach is usually crowded but it’s good for families. Not exactly my thing, but it’s a fun place.
Komi (Κώμη)
Komi is another popular sandy beach in the southern part of Chios. It’s good for small children and families because the water remains shallow for a ways out. It’s crowded and there are hotels, restaurants and beach bars.
Agia Fotia (Αγία Φωτιά)
The twin beaches of Agia Fotia and Agio Yanni are a popular place for young locals, with a few hotels, tavernas, and cafés on the beach. You can find some water sports here as well. The beach has small rocks and the water gets deep quickly. It’s accessible via a windy road that turns off on the way to Kallimasia.
Agia Markella (Αγία Mαρκέλλα)
Agia Markella is located at one of the holiest places on Chios, the monastery and martyrdom spot of St. Markella, patron saint of Chios. The beach is made of tiny pebbles and there’s a taverna nearby.
More Info
For more information on these beaches and others in Chios, visit Chios.gr.
