🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where they are
Oinousses lies in the North Aegean, about 2 kilometres off the northeastern coast of Chios and a few kilometres from the coast of Asia Minor. The cluster has one inhabited island and several smaller ones, such as Pasas. The ferry comes from the port of Chios in about an hour. There is no airport, so most people fly to Chios.
📍 Where Oinousses is
Oinousses lies in the North Aegean, just northeast of Chios and close to the coast of Asia Minor. The island is shown in red, and in green are Chios, where the ferry comes from, and Piraeus.
🗺️ The map of the island
The main island is long and narrow, with low hills under 200 metres, scrub and pines. The village, also called Oinousses, is on the south coast, around the harbour. There are also two small settlements, Kastro and Aspalathrokampos. The beaches are mostly west of the village and on the north coast. Locals call the island Egnousa, after the chaste tree, the ancient “agnos”.
🗺️ Map of Oinousses
Oinousses is a long, narrow, hilly island with many islets around it. The village is on the south coast, and most beaches lie west of it and on the north coast. To the east are Aspalathrokampos and the islet of Pasas. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Oinousses is for anyone who wants a quiet, well-kept island with a seafaring history. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- A well-kept village with captains’ mansions.
- The Maritime Museum and the story of the shipowners.
- Quiet beaches with clear water, close to the village.
- An easy trip from Chios.
- Almost no organised tourism.
👎 The cons
- Few rooms and few tavernas.
- Few ferries, and schedules change with the season.
- Very little going on outside summer.
- The beaches have no facilities.
⚓ The village and its seafaring tradition
The village spreads around the harbour and up the hill, with neoclassical mansions, churches and a square with cafés. Because the island had few resources, its people turned to the sea, and many shipowning families come from here. The island also has a Merchant Marine Academy. In the harbour stands the Oinoussiotissa, a bronze statue of a mermaid holding a ship in her hand.
The Maritime Museum, in the village, has ship models, paintings, navigation instruments and an old lighthouse lens. Next to the harbour is the historic church of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of sailors. Ask in the village about the museum’s opening hours, as they change with the season.
Captains’ houses above the harbour.
The lighthouse lens, around 1830.
Oinousses next to Chios.
Photos: NikoSilver (CC BY-SA 3.0), Konstantinos Koukopoulos (CC BY 2.0), NASA (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
🏖️ The beaches
Oinousses has many small beaches with clear water, without umbrellas or shops. Kakopetria is the closest to the village, and to the west follow Bilali, Fasoli, Apiganou and Fokia, reached on foot or with a few minutes’ drive. On the north coast, Katsika, Chochlakas and Chatzali are more remote and reached by dirt road.
- Kakopetria: the closest to the village.
- Bilali and Fasoli: small coves west of the village.
- Apiganou and Fokia: a little further, quieter.
- Katsika and Chochlakas: remote, in the north.
The beaches of Oinousses have no umbrellas or snack bars. Take water, food and shade, and leave the beach as you found it.
⛪ The monastery and nature
On the west side of the island is the Evangelismos Monastery, a convent built in the 20th century with a donation from a shipowning family. Ask in the village about visiting hours and dress modestly. Around the island, the islets and bays form quiet anchorages, and from the hills you can see Chios and the mountains of Asia Minor opposite.
🍽️ What to eat
The village’s few tavernas serve fresh fish, seafood and kid goat. Since antiquity the island was known for its wine, which is believed to have given it its name. Try spoon sweets too, and the mastic of neighbouring Chios.
📅 When to go
June and September are the best months, with a warm sea and peace and quiet. In August many islanders who live elsewhere return, and the village comes alive. In winter the island is very quiet and ferries are fewer.
✈️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane and ferry | About 50 minutes to Chios, plus a 1-hour ferry | Athens airport | From the port of Chios you continue to Oinousses. |
| Ferry to Chios | About 7 to 9 hours | Piraeus | Daily departures, often overnight. |
From Ioulianou 50, Piraeus is about 40 minutes by metro and the airport one hour on Line 3. On Chios, the ferry to Oinousses leaves from the town port, usually once a day. Check the schedules in advance, as they change with the season. Oinousses is easy to combine with Chios: see also our guide to Chios.
🗓️ Three days on Oinousses
The village and the museum
Walk around the harbour and up the alleys with the mansions. Visit the Maritime Museum and see the Oinoussiotissa at the harbour. Swim at Kakopetria and eat on the waterfront.
The beaches of the west
Walk west to Bilali, Fasoli, Apiganou and Fokia, and pick the one you like. In the afternoon go up to Kastro for the view of Chios.
The north and the monastery
Go to the quiet beaches of the north, such as Katsika and Chochlakas. In the afternoon visit the Evangelismos Monastery during visiting hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go for a day from Chios?
Yes, if that day’s schedule allows it. Check the return time in advance, as the ferry often makes only one trip a day.
Do I need a car on Oinousses?
Not necessarily. The village and the nearby beaches are within walking distance. For the beaches in the north, a scooter or a car helps.
Where should I stay on Oinousses?
In the village, which has a few rooms and guesthouses. Book early, especially in August.
How many days do I need?
One day is enough for the village and the museum. With two or three days you have time for the beaches and the island’s peace and quiet.
— Kathy
