6 Best Sights in The Northern Aegean Islands, Greece

The Chios Mastic Museum

Fodor's choice
The mastic shrub has dominated Chios life, economy, culture, and destiny for centuries, and its role is explained in depth in well-designed exhibits in a stunning glass, stone, and wood pavilion overlooking a wide sweep of mastic groves. Aside from learning about how the valuable resin is cultivated and processed, you'll see artifacts and photographs of village life and learn about the island's tumultuous history, including times when hoarding even a sliver of mastic gum was a crime punishable by death.

Agios Isidoris

The beach strip just east of Plomari is backed by low-key hotels and tavernas. Though the setting is hardly remote, the sea washing onto the long stretch of golden sand is sparkling clean. A bonus for swimmers and snorkelers is the bountiful sea life that flourishes on the rocky shelf just below the surface of the turquoise waters. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Citrus Museum

The Kambos district is famed as one of the most superlatively fertile orchard regions of Greece—orange and lemon groves set behind stone walls are given the status of museums and landmarks. It is only fitting that the owners of the Perleas Mansion hotel have opened this beautifully fragrant estate to showcase the history of citrus products on the island and entice visitors with a shop and delightful café selling citrus-inspired sweets. The estate buildings are gorgeous, centered on a farm where English-language placards explain the layout and workings of a historic citrus estate, and beautiful stone barns and houses are set with hunter-green window shutters. The fragrant grounds are replete with a folkloric-painted watermill, grazing animals, and an exceedingly picturesque arbor. Call in advance to check visiting hours as they can vary, sometimes dramatically.

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Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest

Discover how trees in the nearby Petrified Forest became so in this museum whose exhibits are scrupulously labeled and clearly laid out. There are also unique fossils of animals like the Deinotherium, an early ancestor of the elephant, and vegetation preserved on volcanic rock that resembles delicate Zen art.

North Coast Beaches

Lemonakia, Tsamadou, and Tsabou all are just a few minutes' drive from one another, forming a continuous string of sand and pebbles separated by pine-clad headlands. They're all delightful places to lounge and swim, and well supplied with sun beds and concessions. The stretch is to be avoided when the summertime meltemi (northern winds) blow, unless you're a windsurfer. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Vatera Beach

This long stretch of sand could in itself put Lesvos on the map for beach lovers, yet it's often easy to find a patch all to yourself—the farther east you drive or walk from the settlement of Vatera, the more remote the setting becomes. The curving, southern exposure is idyllic, and swimming is good for water enthusiasts of all ages. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.