Chios is a large eastern Aegean island in Greece, best known for the mastic-producing villages of its southern half, and a rental car is the easiest way to see how spread out and varied the island really is. Most visitors land at Chios Island National Airport (JKH), a small single-runway field a few kilometers south of Chios Town, or arrive by ferry into the town's harbor from Piraeus or from Cesme on the Turkish coast a short crossing away. Picking up a car right at the airport or near the port means you can be on the road within minutes, with rental desks staffed by international and local operators rather than a single dominant brand.
From Chios Town, the island splits naturally into distinct driving zones. Heading south on the coastal road takes you toward the mastic villages - Pyrgi, Mesta and Olympi - fortified medieval settlements built inland and uphill as protection from raiders, reachable in roughly forty-five minutes to an hour depending on how many stops you make along the way. The roads narrow considerably once you leave the main coastal route, winding through terraced hillsides planted with mastic trees and olive groves, so a compact or small SUV suits the terrain better than anything oversized. Heading north instead brings you toward Volissos and the rugged, less-visited coastline, around forty minutes to an hour from town depending on conditions.
Driving is on the right, as throughout Greece, and fuel stations are concentrated near Chios Town, so it is worth topping up before heading into the southern villages or the northern hills where stations thin out. Roads are generally in reasonable condition on the main routes but can be uneven and cliff-hugging on the smaller village lanes, and summer heat and occasional dust from unpaved shoulders are worth planning around, particularly outside the peak tourist season on this quiet Aegean island.