Planning a trip to Hios
Visitor Information -- The Tourist Information Office, on 18 Kanari (tel. 22710/44-389), stocks free brochures, including maps; it's located on the second street from the north end of the harbor, between the harbor and the Central (Plastira) Square. In summer, it's open Monday to Friday from 7am to 2:30pm and 6:30 to 9:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm; the off-season sees reduced hours. Ask here (or at any travel agency) about free guided tours to some of Hios's major sites, sponsored by the island's government.
Another mine of information is Chios Tours, 4 Kokkali (tel. 22710/29-444; www.chiostours.gr). The office is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 1:30pm and 5:30 to 8:30pm. The staff will assist you with a room search, often at a discount.
Getting There
By Plane
Both Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines offer several flights daily between Athens and Hios. Contact Olympic Air in Athens (tel. 210-966-6666; www.olympicair.com) or Aegean Airlines (tel. 801/112-0000; www.aegeanair.com). Olympic also offers flights once or twice a week from Lesvos (Mitilini) and Thessaloniki. If you arrive by plane, count on taking a cab into town at about 15€ for the 7km (4 1/4-mile) ride.
By Boat
From Piraeus, there's one daily Hios-bound car ferry (8-9 hr.); there's also a daily connection with Lesvos (3 hr.). Three ferries weekly serve Limnos (9 hr.) and Thessaloniki (16-19 hr.), two ferries weekly to Samos (5 hr.), and one weekly to Siros (5 hr.). Check with Hios Port Authority (tel. 22710/44-434; www.gtp.gr) for current schedules.
Getting Around
By Bus
All buses depart from one of the two bus stations in Hios town. The blue buses (tel. 22710/23-086), which leave from the blue bus station, on the north side of the public garden by Plateia Plastira, serve local destinations such as Karfas, to the south, and Daskalopetra, to the north. The green long-distance KTEL buses (tel. 22710/27-507) leave from the green bus station, a block south of the park, near the main taxi stand. Six buses a day depart to Mesta, eight a day to Piryi, five to Kardamila, and four to Emborio, but only two buses a week go to Volissos and Nea Moni. Fares are 2€ to 7€.
By Car
Hios is a large island to explore, so I recommend a car. For advance reservations, try Pangosmio Rent a Car (tel. 2810/811-750; www.pangosmio.gr). On the scene, try Vassilakis Rent-A-Car at 3 Evangelos Chandrs (tel. 22710/29-300).
Have a Driver's License on Hios -- Anyone not carrying a driver's license from a country in the European Union must have an international driver's license to rent a car in Greece; but in most places, they will accept valid US and other national licenses. On Hios, however, car-rental agencies and the police tend to be strict about enforcing this. If you expect to rent a car on Hios, get an international driver's license before you leave your home country -- the police here do enforce this regulation. Relatively easy and cheap to obtain, it can be issued through national automobile associations.
By Taxi
Taxis are easily found at the port, though the taxi station is beyond the OTE, on the northeast corner of the central square. You can call tel. 22710/41-111 or 22710/43-312 for a cab. Fares from Hios town run about 25€ to Piryi, 30€ to Mesta, and 40€ round-trip to Nea Moni.
Bicycling/Moped
Hios is too large, and the hills too big, for most bicyclists; rent a motorbike, and if you're inexperienced with these, you're better off with a car.
Fast Facts
Commercial Bank (Emboriki Trapeza) and Ergo Bank are located at the harbor's north end, near the corner of Kanari. Both have ATMs and are open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 2pm, Friday from 8am to 1:30pm. The hospital is 7km (4 1/4 miles) from the center of Hios town (tel. 22710/44-301). Internet access is available daily from 9am to midnight at Enter Internet Cafe, 98 Aegeou (tel. 22710/41-058), at the paralia's south end. One hour online costs 5€. The post office is at the corner of Omirou and Rodokanaki (tel. 22710/44-350). The telephone office (OTE) is across the street from the tourist office, on Kanari (tel. 131). The tourist police are headquartered at the harbor's northernmost tip, at Neorion 35 (tel. 22710/44-427).
