Chalkida is the easiest island escape from Athens: no ferry, no tickets, just a bridge. The capital of Evia sits right where Greece's second-largest island almost touches the mainland, about an hour from the city. Come for the strange tides, stay for a castle with a view, a waterfront that never sleeps and some of the best seafood mezedes in the country.
Indulge in the perfect getaway, just one hour from Athens. Stay in one of our selected seaside hotels and enjoy easy access to Chalkida’s best sights, beaches and tavernas.
Make the most of your time in the city of the Evripos on a guided walk through the old Kastro quarter, from Venetian and Ottoman landmarks to the historic synagogue. Then climb to Karababa Castle for panoramic views over the city, the strait and its two famous bridges.
As the sun sets, stroll along the lively waterfront and watch the “crazy waters” of the Evripos change direction beneath the old bridge. End the day with fresh seafood and ouzo by the sea.
Chalkida, the gateway to Evia, is the city where even the sea can’t make up its mind. The waters of the Euripus Strait famously change direction several times a day, a mystery that has puzzled visitors since antiquity. From the Ottoman-era Karababa Castle watching over the strait to the Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi and the old Jewish quarter, its history is layered like nowhere else. Because of its waterfront charm, its easy reach from Athens, and maybe its fresh seafood and ouzo by the sea, Chalkida is one of our favorite escapes.
Evia calls to people in its own quiet way. Life here moves with the rhythm of the tides: evening strolls along the promenade, fishing boats gliding under the old bridge, long tables of friends sharing meze as the lights come on across the water. Island soul meets mainland ease, and the result is the effortless, sun-warmed spirit we know as the Greek way of life.
