The tiny castle village of Mesta dates back to the Byzantine period, when its thick city walls protected residents from marauder attacks. Today this unique historical monument welcomes visitors and invites you to taste its delectable local wine, “Mestousiko”.

Housed in a cube-shaped modernist building, the National Science Museum is a great stop for families. Its interactive exhibits cover science, the environment, and the world around us, giving kids and adults alike a chance to explore, experiment, and spark some curiosity.

Tucked away in one of the back roads, this off-the-beaten path sight is definitely worth a visit - especially if you're a beer-lover. There are no organised tours, but the brewers are extremely friendly and will most probably offer you a sample or two of the wonderful Chios beer.

Further inland, in the southern part of the island, lie the so-called masticochoria (mastic villages). These well-preserved, fortified villages date from the 14th-16th centuries and were centres for the cultivation of mastic. Mastic is the sweet-tasting gum of the lentisk bush, which was exported all over the Mediterranean – and the area still produces around 300 tonnes of mastic every year. The most picturesque villages are Pyrgi, with its houses decorated in black and white geometric patterns called xysta Mesta, where towers and walls surround a baffling labyrinth of village streets as well as Olympoi and Vessa are all a worth a visit.