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Chios airport (JKH) is small and very close to town: it sits in the Kambos area about 3 km south of Chios Town, a few minutes by taxi from the harbour where ferries from Çeşme and Piraeus dock. City buses stop outside and taxis use a rank by the terminal. The catch is getting there: we found no nonstop flights to Chios from the UK, Germany, Austria or Switzerland, so most visitors fly via Athens or come in through İzmir and the ferry from Çeşme.
Winter closure: the airport is closed to scheduled flights from the evening of 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 for runway works, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority’s NOTAM as reported by the Greek press. During that time Chios is only reachable by sea. Details and sources in our news report. On 3 November 2026 Attica Group (Blue Star Ferries) said it will keep its October schedule to Chios and Lesvos for one more month; what applies after that had not been announced (our report).
Short answer
- Distance: about 3 to 3.5 km to Chios Town, according to aviation and airport directories. The ferry port is in the town centre.
- City bus: the urban KTEL (Astiko KTEL Chiou) publishes an airport timetable among its lines, with winter times valid from 6 September 2026. It does not show fares online.
- Taxi: there is a taxi rank at the airport. Undated directory and guide figures put the ride into town at roughly €7–10; we found no official fixed fare.
- Car hire: Hertz is listed at the airport; other firms work from the airport or deliver from town. A car is the practical way to reach the mastic villages in the south.
- Flights: domestic routes, mainly from Athens and Thessaloniki, plus Sky Express links to other Aegean islands. Your Schengen passport check happens at your first EU airport, usually Athens.
- Alternative: fly to İzmir and take the ferry from Çeşme, which runs all year with a reduced winter pattern.
Flights to Chios
Compare airline fares in one search on Booking.com Flights. Check the baggage allowance and connection times before you book.
Where the airport is
Chios Island National Airport, also known by the name “Omiros” (Homer), is government-owned and run by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, not by Fraport Greece. It lies on the east coast in the Kambos area, south of the town. The Acukwik aviation directory gives the distance as 3 km south of town, and the Greek directory All Over Greece gives 3.5 km, about seven minutes by car.
Because the airport is so close, Chios Town, Kambos and the beach resort of Karfas are all a short drive away.
| From the airport to | Distance from town (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chios Town and ferry port | about 3–3.5 km from the airport | taxi or city bus |
| Kambos | about 6 km from the centre | the airport lies on its edge |
| Karfas | 7–10 km from town | sources differ |
| Nea Moni | about 11 km from town | car or taxi |
| Pyrgi | about 24 km from town | KTEL bus or car |
| Mesta | about 35–36 km from town | KTEL bus or car |
| Volissos | about 38 km from town | car recommended |
Village and beach distances are measured from Chios Town by Greeka and our Chios travel guide. For the south of the island, the airport is already a little way along the route.
Who flies to Chios
According to Wikipedia’s airline table, Aegean Airlines flies from Athens, Olympic Air from Thessaloniki, and Sky Express from Athens, Thessaloniki, Lemnos, Mytilene, Rhodes and Samos. All Over Greece describes the airport as handling domestic flights only. We could not see an airline list on an official airport page, and we found no UK or German-speaking nonstop route to Chios in any airline source. See our flights guide.
City bus
Chios has two bus networks. The city buses, run by Astiko KTEL Chiou, cover the town area; the intercity KTEL, which calls itself the Green Bus Station, serves the rest of the island. The city bus company lists an “Airport” (Aerodromio) timetable on its website next to its North, South and Hospital lines, with timetables valid from Sunday 6 September 2026. All Over Greece says the city buses stop in front of the airport on regular routes.
- Times: shown on the city bus website and in printed form at the company’s station on Dimokratias Street in town. We could not read the airport times through our checks, so look them up before you fly.
- Fares: the company announced new fares from 11 March 2026 but does not list the amounts on its website. Ask the driver or at the station.
- For the villages: the intercity KTEL leaves from the port area. Its ticket office is in the passenger waiting room at Chios Port, where a printed timetable is available. Many village lines run only once or twice a day, as our Chios travel guide explains.
With luggage, the bus is mainly worthwhile if you are staying near a city bus stop in town.
Taxi
All Over Greece says the airport has a designated taxi rank, with taxis available during airport operating hours, and estimates about €8 to the town centre. MileHacker gives €7–10. Neither source is dated, and we found no official fixed fare.
For longer trips, our Chios travel guide cites published fare guides (as of October 2026) of about €10–15 from town to Karfas and roughly €30–50 to Pyrgi or Mesta. Uber and Bolt are generally not available on Chios, and drivers mostly expect cash. Agree the fare or check the meter before you set off. If you land on the last flight of the evening, ask your hotel to book a taxi.
Car hire
All Over Greece lists Hertz at the airport. MileHacker says international firms such as Hertz, Avis and Sixt, as well as local agencies, operate at the airport and in Chios Town. We found no published desk opening hours, so book ahead and give your flight number.
For a stay in town, you can manage without a car. For the mastic villages of Pyrgi and Mesta, Nea Moni, Anavatos and the beaches of the south and west, a car makes the biggest difference, because village buses are few. If you plan to take the car across to Turkey, read taking a car to the Greek islands first.
Car hire: Chios Airport (JKH)
DiscoverCars compares offers from several rental companies in one search. Check the pick-up point, deposit and insurance terms before you book.
Private transfers
Transfer companies offer pre-booked rides from Chios airport, and some hotels arrange pick-ups. We found no GetYourGuide transfer for Chios airport that we could check. Given the short distance into town, a taxi from the rank is usually the simplest choice; a pre-booked car is worth it mainly for a late arrival or a large group.
Comparison of options
| Option | Chios Town and port | Karfas, Kambos | Mastic villages | Late arrival | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City bus (Astiko KTEL) | yes, check timetable | partly, check lines | change to intercity KTEL | depends on timetable | lowest |
| Taxi | yes, a few minutes | yes | yes, expensive | during airport hours | low to town, high to villages |
| Private transfer | yes | yes | yes | yes, if pre-booked | medium |
| Hire car | yes | yes | yes | book ahead | depends on days |
Chios airport or İzmir plus the ferry
Without a nonstop flight, the choice is between flying via Athens to Chios, or flying to İzmir and crossing from Çeşme. İzmir has more international flights, and the ferry crossing takes roughly 20 to 45 minutes depending on the boat. Allow for the road from İzmir airport to Çeşme: Havaş runs a bus between the airport and Çeşme bus station, which Havaş gives as about 100 minutes. See İzmir airport transfers and the Çeşme to Chios ferry page.
Izmir Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer from/to Cesme
Private car between İzmir airport and your address in Çeşme, with meet and greet and child equipment listed; useful if your flight does not fit the ferry or Havaş times.
Check price & availabilityIf you go this way, you also need to plan for Turkish entry rules on arrival and Schengen checks at Chios port.
Straight from the airport to a ferry
Chios Port is in the town centre, about 3 km from the airport, so even a short connection is possible by taxi.
To Turkey
- Çeşme: as of October 2026, Ertürk’s car ferry Apostolos S. leaves Chios at 08:00 on most days until 31 October, then mainly on Fridays and Saturdays until late November (plus Tuesday and Wednesday 3–4 and 10–11 November). Its fast boat leaves at 18:00 until 24 October and 16:30 from 25 October. Tilos Travel’s Sea Star Makri leaves at 18:15 daily until 24 October. Ertürk lists sailings until 30 September 2027, daily from 30 April, with no fast boat from 11 January to 11 February (checked 29 October 2026), and Turyol until 30 September 2027 (checked 24 October 2026); in December and January Apostolos S. leaves Chios at 08:00 on Fridays and Saturdays (not 25 December; checked 30 October 2026), and on other days boats leave Chios only in the afternoon. See Chios to Çeşme ferry for fares and entry rules, the Çeşme travel guide and where to stay in Çeşme.
From 25 October 2026 Turkey is one hour ahead of Chios. For a short visit, see the Chios to Çeşme day trip.
To other Greek islands
Blue Star Ferries links Chios with Lesvos, Samos, Ikaria and Piraeus all year, with fewer sailings outside June to September. Plan routes with the ferry route planner or read island hopping from Turkey.
Where to stay near the airport and port
Chios Town is the natural base for a short stay, and Kambos, right next to the airport, suits a quieter stay with a car. One option in each, from our where to stay in Chios guide:
Chios Chandris
Chios Town
- Ferry port: on the harbour front (Prokymea)
- Best for: couples / families / first-timers
If your transfer ends in Chios Town: on the harbour front, with free parking for a hire car.
Archontiko Riziko
Kambos
- Ferry port: about 6 km from the port
- Best for: couples / character stay
In the Kambos estates about 6 km from the port; plan on a hire car or taxi.
Entry checks (EES)
Chios is in the Schengen Area. On a domestic flight from Athens or Thessaloniki there is no passport control at Chios: if you come from outside Schengen, for example from the UK, your border check, including registration in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), happens at the airport where you first enter the Schengen Area. EES has been fully in force since 10 April 2026. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
You will meet EES at Chios port if you arrive by ferry from Çeşme as a non-EU traveller. See EES and ETIAS for Greek island–Turkey trips.
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FAQ
How far is Chios airport from Chios Town?
About 3 to 3.5 km, south of the town in the Kambos area. A taxi takes only a few minutes.
Is there a bus from Chios airport?
Yes. The city bus company Astiko KTEL Chiou lists an airport timetable, valid from 6 September 2026 for the winter. Fares are not published online, so ask the driver.
How much is a taxi from Chios airport into town?
Undated guides put it at roughly €7–10. There is no official fixed fare that we could find, and drivers mostly expect cash.
Can I fly directly to Chios from the UK or Germany?
We found no nonstop route in any airline source. The usual options are a connection via Athens, or a flight to İzmir and the ferry from Çeşme.
Can I take the ferry to Turkey on the day I land?
Usually, if your flight arrives before the afternoon departures to Çeşme (16:30 or 18:00 with Ertürk, depending on the date, as of October 2026). The port is about 3 km from the airport. Allow time for passport control.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Chios Island National Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Acukwik: LGHI Chios airport information (accessed Oct 2026)
- All Over Greece: Chios Airport (Greek) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Astiko KTEL Chiou (city buses) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Astiko KTEL Chiou: timetables (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Chios (intercity buses) (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Chios: information (accessed Oct 2026)
- MileHacker: getting around Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka: Chios villages and distances (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka: Chios beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines: Çeşme–Chios timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel: 2025–2026 Aegean islands sailing plan (accessed Oct 2026)
- Havaş: bus services (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Chios to Samos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Lesvos (Mytilene) to Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times: Greece returns to winter time on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Izmir Airport 1-way private transfer from/to Cesme (accessed Oct 2026)
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