Lagkada by the Harbor and Krikeli

Lagkada is a seafaring village on the northeastern coast of Chios, in Kolokythia Bay and 16 kilometers from Chios town. Water and the harbor provide a concrete frame for describing the village: the Krikeli River flows through Lagkada, and the Glyfos Canal forms its natural entrance. One side of the canal is lined with eucalyptus trees. If you first focus on location when planning your trip, you will find clear reference points here between the coast, harbor, and waterways.

Harbor, Coast, and Water

Along the entire harbor, there are mezedopoleia, ouzeries, and cafés where you can eat or drink coffee right by the sea. These types of establishments offer different ways to take a break at the harbor—from a meal to coffee by the water. Individual establishments may change.

Lagkada has no organized beaches. Fanaraki is a pebble beach at the eastern end of the beach by the harbor. If organized beach facilities matter to your travel decision, this distinction offers a helpful guide. The pebble beach and the waterfront establishments describe two different sides of the harbor area, without one replacing the other.

Maritime Craft and a Preserved Windmill

On the western side of Karydas, boats belonging to recreational fishers are still repaired at a small boatyard; this ongoing activity may change. The place is shaped by a specific repair trade, not just by its location on the water. On the eastern side of Lagkada stands one of the area's many windmills. Its main structure has been preserved. The windmills were used mainly to grind wheat—the preserved structure and its former function offer a glimpse into a different history of work from boatbuilding.

More Culture and Landscape Highlights on Chios

On Chios, Nea Moni is an important point of reference for Byzantine art. The monastery was built between 1042 and 1056, in the 11th century, and is considered an undisputed masterpiece of Byzantine art. The mosaics are also part of this cultural heritage: they are one of only three collections from the Middle Byzantine period preserved in Greece.

In Pyrgi, the permanent exhibition at the Chios Mastic Museum presents traditional knowledge about mastic cultivation. The outdoor exhibition brings the public into contact with the mastic plant and its natural habitat. The museum opened to the public in 2016. Art and agricultural knowledge thus offer two distinct themes to consider as you explore Chios.

Mesta and Pyrgi are also known on Chios for their distinctive architecture. Mesta is a medieval village preserved as a monument. It is laid out like a castle: the closely packed houses form a protective outer wall. In Pyrgi, the “Xysta” stand out—black-and-white geometric decorations on house façades. Because of its detailed façade motifs, Pyrgi is often called the “painted village.”

The Kampos combines a natural landscape with a history of settlement and agriculture, as well as distinctive local architectural features. Narrow roads wind between citrus groves and estates with high stone walls and are ideal for walks. Chios therefore offers a range of perspectives side by side: the art history of Nea Moni, the architecture of Mesta and Pyrgi, and the landscape of the Kampos.

The local features and broader Chios themes can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Nenita, Psara, Koini Ionia, Limnia, Chios, Avgónyma, Emporios, Vessa.

Go to the broader travel overview: Chios.