Car hire Chios

Introduction

Chios is the capital of the Greek island of the same name. Originally it was a strong fortress on the north side of the natural harbor, but much of it was destroyed during the earthquake in 1881. The center lies between the harbor and the medieval castle. Since 2011 the island of Chios is a municipality and the city of Chios a municipal unit.

Population

The city has almost 30,000 inhabitants, half of the total population of the island of Chios.

Location

Chios Town is located on the east coast with across the sea the city of Çeşme, on the Turkish coast. North of town lies the village of Vrontados, the birth place of the Greek poet Homer.

Economy

Chios' mastic (resin obtained from the mastic tree) is world-famous and for some time now a protected product name. The island also produces olives, figs, citrus fruit (mandarins) and wine. The inhabitants also earn money with shipping and tourism, although tourism on Chios isn't (yet) the mass tourism we see on many other islands in Greece. 

Airports

Chios Island National Airport is situated in the city's southern suburbs. It's easily reachable by rental car from the harbor via the coastal road (Leoforos Enossos) which leads directly to the airport.

Public Transport

Public transport is good, both in Chios town and on the rest of the island. The blue buses only run within the city; the green buses run to other destinations on Chios. There are also ferries to Çeşme (in Turkey), Lesbos and Piraeus (Athens's port).

Traffic and Parking

Chios Town is small enough to explore by foot, but a rental car is ideal to discover the (relatively large) island. Bear in mind that some roads are narrow and unpaved and you can also run into people or cattle. In summer months it can be difficult finding a free parking place in Chios town; it's best to leave your rental car on the parking lot of your hotel (most hotels offer this service).

Hotels

As said before (see Economy): there's no mass tourism on Chios like on some other Greek islands. Still, there's a good choice of accommodations. Most hotels and holiday resorts are located on the east coast, in and around Chios Town. But even in the smallest towns on the island you can always find a room in a basic guesthouse.

External Sources

For more information about Chios, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Chios
• Official website Chios
• Tourist Information Chios