Northern Aegean
Psara
A heroic island almost entirely destroyed in 1824 — and still quietly rebuilding.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
Jun – Sep
From Athens
Ferry only
In pictures
Psara
Psara carries one of the most dramatic stories in Greek history. In June 1824, an Ottoman fleet of 160 ships descended on the island — then a prosperous maritime community of approximately 30,000 people — and killed most of the population in a single day, in direct retaliation for the island's central role in the Greek War of Independence. The national poet Dionysios Solomos commemorated the massacre in a celebrated elegy: "On the Black Ridge of Psara, Glory, walking alone among the desolation..." Today around 400 people live on the island, which has good beaches, a quiet beauty, and an atmosphere coloured by the enormity of what happened here. The Black Ridge (Mavri Rachi), the headland from which Solomos's poem takes its image, is still visible above the main village. Accessed from Chios by infrequent ferry, visiting feels like an act of historical attention as much as tourism.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Very limited facilities and infrequent ferry connections from Chios.
Where it sits
Northern Aegean, Greece
Psara — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Psara? +
- The best months to visit Psara are June to September. It's very quiet, even in August, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Psara from Athens? +
- Psara has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Psara good for couples? +
- Psara is more about scenery than swoon — better for active or family trips than honeymoons.
- Is Psara good for families with kids? +
- Psara is a solid family option, though you'll want a car for the best beaches.
- Is Psara expensive? +
- Psara is one of the cheaper Greek islands.
- Do you need a car on Psara? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Psara. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Psara? +
- Very limited facilities and infrequent ferry connections from Chios.