Essentials
- City
- Chios Town, Chios Island, North Aegean, Greece
- Population
- 51,000 (Island-wide), 27,000 (Chios Town)
- Internet Speed
- VDSL widely available at 50-100 Mbps; Starlink coverage is excellent across the island.
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major Greek banks include Piraeus, Alpha Bank, and National Bank of Greece.
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; locals use bottled water or public spring taps (fountains).
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Cosmote (best coverage), Vodafone GR, and Nova. Cosmote 'Free2Go' is popular for nomads.
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used; cards accepted in most shops. Local Alpha Bank is expat-friendly.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local real estate sites like Spitogatos.gr.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, POS terminals are mandatory in Greece, though small mountain villages prefer cash.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options range from €45/night to €1,200/month in the off-season.
- Budget Accommodation
- Chios City Inn (approx. €55/night) or traditional studios in Karfas.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kampos (historic mansions) or Mesta (medieval village experience).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Chios Town (Aplotaria area) for year-round amenities or Karfas for beach proximity.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Chios Hub (Pop-up/Community spaces near the Port); notice: dedicated commercial hubs are limited, most nomads use cafes.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Pura Vida (Chios Port) or Sueno (Karfas) for sea views and stable Wi-Fi.
- Networking Events
- University of the Aegean (Department of Shipping) hosts tech and maritime seminars.
- Social Events for Expats
- Chios Expats and Friends Facebook Group; meetups often occur at 44 Bar Coffee Shop.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt. Use local Radio Taxi Chios (+30 22710 41111).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Aegean Bikes (Chios Town) - Scooters from €15/day, e-bikes available.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mavra Volia (Black volcanic pebbles) in Emporios; Karfas (Sandy) is closer to town.
- Top Regional Airline
- Sky Express / Olympic Air (Aegean Airlines).
- Top International Airline
- Via Athens (Aegean) or seasonal charters from Germany/Netherlands.
- Highway Access
- EO Chios-Mestonta connects the north and south through the central mountains.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Port of Chios (Ferries to Piraeus, Lesvos, and Cesme, Turkey).
- Public Transport Passes
- Green Blue Buses (KTEL Chios); tickets range from €1.50 to €5.00 depending on distance.
- Regional Travel
- Daily ferry to Cesme, Turkey (20-30 mins) for around €25-30 round trip.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Skylitsio General Hospital of Chios (Elenas Venizelou 2).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Anima Yoga Chios (Chios Town) offers drop-in sessions for €12.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxygen Gym (Leof. Enoseos) - Monthly passes roughly €45.
- Laundry Services
- Self Service Laundry Chios (Near the Port/Aplotaria).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- e-food.gr (very active) and Box.gr.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mastelo (grilled local cheese) and anything flavored with 'Mastiha'.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- To Apomero (Kampos) – offers traditional vegetable-based 'ladera' dishes.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kronos (for traditional ice cream) and Mastiha Shop for local sweets.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aplotaria Street for local goods; Sklavenitis or AB Vassilopoulos for groceries.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Skroutz.gr (The Greek Amazon) for all electronics and personal items.
- Grocery Delivery
- AB Vassilopoulos online delivery (ab.gr).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Chios Town Port (Prokymaia) is lined with bars like 'Sueno' and 'Oz'.
- Local Brewery
- Chios Beer (Fresh Chios Beer) – widely available microbrewery.
- Wine Bars
- Kallikantzari (Mesta) for local Chian wines (Ariousios).
- Street Food Stalls
- Meat Hall (To Kreas) for gyros (approx €4.50).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pasta & Cuore (Italian) and various Sushi options in Chios Town.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Nea Moni Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage) and the Mastiha Villages (Mastichochoria).
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Chios Mastiha Museum (Pyrgi) – modern and architecturally stunning.
- Historical Sites
- Chios Castle (Kastro) and the medieval village of Anavatos.
- Religious Sites
- Agios Minas Monastery and the uniquely decorated churches in Pyrgi.
- Annual Events
- The Rocket War (Rouketopolemos) in Vrontados during Orthodox Easter.
- Cultural Districts
- Kampos district for its unique Genovese-influenced architecture.
- Theater Venues
- Omireio Cultural Center (Chios Town).
- Local Markets
- Open-air market near the main square (Plateia Vounakiou) on various mornings.
- Music Scene
- Live Rembetiko at small tavernas in the Castle area during weekends.
- Street Art
- The 'Xysta' of Pyrgi – geometric black and white hand-etched facades.
- Cooking Classes
- Citrus Museum & Memories (Kampos) offers seasonal workshops.
- Art Galleries
- Municipal Art Gallery of Chios (Chios Town).
- Historic Buildings
- The Giustiniani Palace within the Castle walls.
- Local Heritage
- Mastiha production (the only place globally where it grows).
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Pelinaio for serious hiking and endemic flora.
- National Parks Nearby
- Mt. Amani region (protected Natura 2000 environment).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Kampos bicycle route among the citrus orchards.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Agios Georgios Sikousis for a panoramic view of the Aegean and Turkish coast.
- Birdwatching Locations
- The wetlands of Kontari, near the airport.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Only permitted in designated beach BBQ spots; highly restricted in summer due to fire risk.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- ACS Courier and Geniki Taxydromiki (Chios Town branches).
- Tech Repair Services
- Germanos (Aplotaria Street) for mobile and laptop repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Chios Table Tennis Club (within the municipal stadium grounds).
- Language Classes
- Local private frontistiria (tutors) often offer Greek for foreigners.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Koraes Public Library (one of the oldest in Greece).
- Community Centers
- The Port Authority area/Main Square social spots.
- Gaming Lounges
- Inspot Chios (Chios Town) – PC gaming and high-speed fiber.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- OPAP Play (legal gaming machines) located in Chios Town.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €72,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €56,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,700 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €102,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €78,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €128,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €96,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 44%
- VAT
- 24% (Some islands have reductions, but Chios standard is 24% for most goods).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in line with EU anti-tax avoidance directives.
- Property Tax
- Yes, ENFIA (calculated based on location and size).
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% plus notary and lawyer fees (approx. 7-9% total).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 50% income tax reduction for 7 years for eligible foreign tax residents moving to Greece.