Giustiniani Apartments

Set in a historic stone building dating back to 1830, Giustiniani offers stylish accommodation in a convenient yet relatively quiet location close to the town centre. The building stands in a small side street just 50 metres from the Municipal Gardens (which are due to reopen in the autumn of 2025 following extensive re-landscaping works), and just a 10-minute walk from the harbourside and the walled castle area.

Named in honour of Chios's last Genoese rulers, the building originally served the needs of the Catholic bishopric on the island (the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Nicholas is just around the corner, although its modest size is more akin to a chapel). After painstaking renovation, it reopened in 2023 as holiday accommodation offering a choice of eight rooms, studios and apartments. Whilst the exterior retains the graceful proportions and distinctive geometric patterns typical of the island's architectural heritage, the interiors are strikingly modern, with clean lines, contemporary furnishings and open wardrobes lending the rooms a bright and uncluttered feel. All benefit from air-conditioning, free WiFi, Smart-TVs, safe-boxes, mini-fridges, tea-and-coffee-making facilities and rather smart shower rooms with hydro-massage showers, hairdryers and bathrobes.

The Standard Rooms come with a choice of twin or double beds and are located on the lower ground floor, with the lower edge of their windows at pavement level. The middle floor contains the studios. Deluxe Studios are 27 square metres and have a queen-size bed and a compact kitchenette unit with a small ceramic hob. The Superior Studio is 45 square metres and would more accurately be described as a suite, as it consists of a living room with sofa bed and a separate bedroom with queen-size bed, as well as a galley-style kitchenette with large fridge freezer and a shower room with a combined washing machine/tumble dryer. Top of the building and top of the range is the Deluxe Apartment under the eaves, comprising a living room with open-plan kitchen and a bedroom, both with sloping ceilings, as well as a private 45-square-metre terrace with its own outdoor hot-tub.

Your hosts are available for any advice or assistance in the reception area between 7 am and 7 pm. Although there is no restaurant or breakfast room on site, a continental breakfast is included in your stay and will be served in your room each morning. Weather permitting, you may also opt to take this in the cosy garden courtyard.

Part of the appeal of staying in Chios Town is that you have an almost inexhaustible selection of local restaurants and bars within easy walking distance, as well as shops catering to all the needs of both the islanders and holidaymakers. The nearest beach, the pebbly town beach, is approximately 25 minutes' walk away, whilst just over half-an-hour's walk in the opposite direction takes you past the iconic windmills to Agia Paraskevi beach. Alternatively, you may prefer to make use of the local buses to visit the more attractive beaches of Karfas to the south or Daskalopetra to the north. There are also two longer-distance bus routes, enabling you to visit the medieval Mastic Villages and other parts of the island, but as these operate less frequently, make sure you consult the timetables to plan your trips accordingly.