Why should I buy a home in Evia? How does it rank compared to other destinations in Greece for me? In this article, we’ll take you on a tour of Evia with the help of Elena Sergeeva, travel blogger and entrepreneur in Greece with 32 years of travel experience in Greece.
Elena, Creator of Passion For Hospitality
About Elena
Elena Sergeeva is a travel blogger based in the Athenian Riviera. Her journey began in the frost-kissed landscapes of Russia, but in 1992, she moved to Greece, growing up on the shores of the Athenian Riviera. Her travels have taken her to far-flung corners of the globe, yet her heart always leads her back to Greece, where she has been based for 32 years.
Elena started working in 5-star hotels at the age of 18 and continued climbing the career ladder until she was 29. Over the years she had the opportunity to work for top Greek luxury hotel brands managing business development and foreign market opportunities in lucrative markets including Russia.
At the end of 2012, she quit her job and decided to become an entrepreneur, in order to run her business from anywhere in the world. Almost five years later, she reflects that it has been the best decision of her life.
You can find Elena on one of her 3 blogs:
Passion for HospitalityTravel Greece Travel EuropePassion for Dubai
About Evia
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.
Karystos
Karystos is one of the most popular towns in Evia, which was once famous for its ancient quarries and marble production. Karystos marble was used by the Greeks and Romans to build many of their characteristic columns and sculptures. Today, you can still visit the famous quarries here.
The town of Karystos is known for its neoclassical charm and its sea views of the Mediterranean. Also noteworthy is the Castello Rosso, which haspanoramic views of Karystos and is a short 4 kilometres from the town center.
Edipsos | Passion For Hospitality
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.
Thermal Springs in Edipsos
The thermal springs of Edipsos are some of the most famous in Greece and are about a two-and-a-half hours drive from Athens. This is supposedly where Hippocrates and Aristotle recorded the benefits of the healing waters and wrote about the rare microclimate of the area.
Today, you can enjoy the baths at the Thermae Sylla Spa & Wellness Hotel. It is one of Greece’s landmark hotels.
The history of Edipsos goes back all the way to the Roman Empire, when the baths were used to treat rheumatism, insomnia, nervous system disorders, blood circulation problems, circulatory disorders and skin problems.
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.
Edipsos | Passion For Hospitality
Rating Evia for Home Buyers
Rating Methodology
How did we decide what factors are most important for home buyers in Greece? To solve this challenge, we first asked our sales and legal team, who offer consultation and legal handling to dozens of clients (both those who do and don’t purchase a property). We then combined this data with a small survey of clients who ultimately purchased a home to find out their highest priorities.
Sea View
Evia has some of the most underrated sea views in all of Greece, with about 50 kilometers of coastline. The coastal areas of Evia are excellent for homes with sea views. Some popular areas to get a sea view in Evia are Karystos, Agia Anna, and Styra.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Direct Flights
From most European hubs, you can fly directly to Athens. To reach the island of Evia, you will need to rent a car and to drive north from Athens. The island is truly best explored by car since there is not a lot of public transport. To reach the capital of Evia, Chalkis, you will need about one hour by car from Athens.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Property Prices
Prices in Evia highly depend on the area where you buy a home. According to national averages from Spitogatos, average prices are 1200-1500 Euros per square meter.
Compared to other popular islands in Greece, like Mykonos and Santorini, prices in Evia are lower. For example, average prices in the Cycladic Islands are 3500 Euros per square meter, according to Spitogatos.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Internet Speed
Internet Speeds are available in Evia via Speedtest by Ookla. The average speed is 50 MBPS. Compared to other areas of Greece, this is average.
Rating: 8 out of 10
English Speakers and Expatriate Community
This area of Greece is not as well-known among tourists, who prefer the Ionian and the Aegean islands to Evia. So, it is unlikely that you will find English speakers in Evia.
Rating: 7 out of 10
