7 Best Sights in The Northern Aegean Islands, Greece

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 will see artifacts and photographs of village life and learn about the tumultuous history of the island, including times when hoarding even a sliver of mastic gum was a crime punishable by death.

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 crystal clear. A bonus for swimmers and snorkelers is the bountiful sea life that flourishes on the rocky shelf just below the surface of the sparkling waters. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The Kambos district is famed as one of the most fertile orchard regions of Greece—orange and lemon groves set behind stone walls are almost given the status of museums and landmarks. It is only fitting that the owners of the Perleas Mansion hotel have opened this especially 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 handsome, centered on a farm where English-language placards explain the layout and workings of a historic citrus estate, and sturdy stone barns and houses are set with putty-green window shutters. The bucolic grounds are replete with a folkloric-painted watermill, grazing animals, and a picturesque arbor.

This popular beach fronts a large bay, and its golden sands and shallow, warm waters make it a good spot for young families. Many tavernas and hotels line the built-up shoreline, and there is a bus service to and from town. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming.

Discover how the nearby Petrified Forest was created in this interesting museum whose exhibits are scrupulously labeled and clearly laid out. The museum's own patch of the forest transports viewers 20 million years back in time to violent volcanic eruptions. Alongside the giant sequoia trunks there are also unique fossils of animals like the Deinotherium, an early ancestor of the elephant, and tiny vegetation remnants preserved on volcanic rock that resembles delicate Zen art.

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 are all delightful places to lounge and swim, and are well supplied with sun beds and concessions. The stretch is to be avoided when the summertime meltemi (northern winds) blow, unless you are a windsurfer. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This long stretch of sand could in itself put Lesvos on the map for beach lovers, yet it is 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 wind-free, and swimming is good for water enthusiasts of all ages. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.