Evia (Euboia) is Greece’s second-largest island after Crete. It is known for its beautiful beaches, varied geographical sights, remote churches mountains, and wine regions. Its capital city of Chalkida is known for its archaeological sites and uniquely has a tide that shifts every 6 hours. One popular day trip from Evia is Skyros island.
Evia’s Beaches:
Chiliadou Beach
Evia has great beaches for every type of traveler, and the waters are clean and clear. The most famous is Chiliadou Beach, which has a sandy shore and small pebbles. It is known for its snack bars, restaurants, and taverns. Nearby to Chiliadou Beach is a series of caves as well as a small church to visit. It takes about 1 hour to reach Chiliadou Beach from Chalkida on a pretty mountain road.
Klimaki Beach
Klimaki beach also faces the Aegean Sea and is found on the eastern coast of Evia. It is known for its soft sand and calm waters, which are ideal for swimming because the area is protected from the wind by the high hills nearby. Unlike Chiliadou, Klimaki beach does not have as many services, so it’s good to bring your own lunch.
Agia Anna Beach
Agia Anna in northern Evia is another crowd favorite beach. It is less than 2 hours from Chalkida, the capital of Evia, and is famous for its clear blue waters. In this area, you will also find small shops and tavernas. Agia Anna’s campsites are close to the beach in a pine tree forest, and young people like to stay here because it is cheap. The nice part about Agia Anna is that the cars park far from the beach, so it feels like an island paradise.
Dimosari Gorge
For nature lovers and hikers, Dimosari Gorge is a must-visit because it has many kinds of plane trees, pears, and chestnuts. The trails near Dimosari take you to romantic villages, valleys, and waterfalls. Note that these trails are for the more adventurous because of the changes in terrain, but it is all worth it at the end when you can jump in the water.
Edipsos Thermal Springs
The Edipsos Springs are famous for their healing waters and were even mentioned by the philosopher Aristotle. The therapeutic waters are good for muscle issues and one popular sight of the area is the Thermae Sylla Spa, which dates to 1897.
Ancient Eretria
The ruins of the ancient city of Eretia are 20 kilometers to the south of Chalkida. The remains of the city date from the 9th century BC. In the ruins, you will find 2 grand palaces, ancient baths, temples, and beautiful mosaics. The most well-known feature of Ancient Eretria is its ancient theater that dates from the the 5th century BC and was built on an artificial hill.
Dragon Houses Of Evia
In the area of Styra on the southern end of Evia, you will find 25 mysterious stone houses that are ancient religious sanctuaries from over 2000 years ago. They are made with limestone slabs so that they blend in with the landscape, and historians wonder how the 10-ton roof stones were lifted into place without modern machinery. One of the most famous dragon houses is at the top of Mount Oche, and it is almost 3000 years old.
Karystos
Karystos is a town on the southern coast of Evia with beautiful beaches, delightful hiking routes, and access to some of Greece best natural beauty. In town, you will find seafood and local handmade paste which is some of the best in Greece. Just outside of town, you will find Mount Ochi and the famous dragon houses of Evia.
Karystos is also known for its flagstones, which are flat stones used for pavement. These stones have been used since antiquity, which is evidenced by the ancient Karystos marble quarries found in the nearby Karifeas and Marmari villages of Evia.
You might have seen these beautiful stones in your last stay in Greece, even if you haven’t been to Evia. In public streets all over Greece, both in picturesque villages in the Cyclades and quaint alleys in the Dodecanese, you will find flagstones from Karystos right under your feet. It’s still a common building material today in Greece for new villas and developments.
Evia Wines
The Evia wine area is about 2 hours north of Athens and is famous specifically for its white wines. White grapes make up 80% of vineyards in the area. Avantis winery is found in the village of Mytikas and is famous for its old grape presses from the 1930’s. Savatiano is generally the most popular and most widely-grown white grape.
Other grapes that are grown in Evia include the Assyrtiko, Aidaini, Athiri, Malagousia, Monemvasia, Savatiano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Trebbiano.
Wine Pairings
One ideal pairing for your Evia wine is fried zucchini (kolokithakia). Kolokithakia tiganita is a traditional dish served as a meze or on the side. The zucchini are fried in oil until gold and crisp. Sometimes they are served with a tzatziki dip, and they complement Evia wines well.
Food in Evia
Olives
Evia is known for its olive groves. Olives from the region, whether black, stuffed, with vinegar, or turned into olive paste, are known abroad for their high quality. They are sometimes matured in salted water. Naturally, Evia also has terrific olive oil.
Local Pasta
Chylopites and trachanas are 2 pasta dishes which are popular in Evia. You can find pasta here in just about any form, often served with meat and tasty sauces.
Loukoumades
Evia is famous for its sweets, and more specifically its loukoumades (fried donuts). The traditional way to prepare them is with honey and walnuts. The region is known for its honey and beekeeping traditions, so you will also find many shops with thyme honey, pine honey and also plum honey. Some of the villages where you can find the famous dessert are Kymi, Prokopi, Agios Georgios and Aidipsos. Loukoumades are of course also a popular treat for the kids.
