Evia

Evia is the second-largest Greek island, stretching for more than 170 kilometres along the eastern coast of mainland Greece, but its sheer size makes it feel less like one destination than a collection of very different landscapes. Chalkida sits at the narrow Evripos Strait where the island almost touches the mainland, while north, central and southern Evia unfold into pine forests, high mountains, farming country, old villages and long stretches of Aegean coastline, with places such as Limni, Kymi, Agia Anna and Karystos each having a character of their own.

What makes Evia unusual is how much landscape is packed into one island: Mount Dirfys rises to 1,743 metres, dense forests give way to gorges and waterfalls, thermal springs bubble up around Edipsos, and the coast alternates between long beaches and dramatic coves backed by mountains. In the south, the terrain becomes particularly rugged around Mount Ochi and Cavo D’Oro, with the Dimosari Gorge and mysterious stone dragon houses, while the north is greener and more heavily forested — you can spend days moving between beaches, mountain villages, forests and seaside towns without ever feeling as though you’ve left the same island.

A whole island when one Greek island isn’t enough

Evia is a particularly strong choice if you want variety rather than a narrowly defined island experience. Greece’s second-largest island has around 680 km of coastline, mountains, dense forests, gorges, waterfalls, thermal springs, archaeological sites and an enormous range of beaches, from long sandy stretches such as Agia Anna to the dramatic, greener setting of Hiliadou. Northern Evia is heavily forested and known for places such as Limni, Drymonas waterfalls and Edipsos, central Evia brings Mount Dirfys and the Aegean-facing beaches, while southern Evia becomes more rugged around Mount Ochi, Dimosari Gorge, Karystos and Cavo D’Oro. That makes Euboea unusually good for someone who wants to combine beach time with hiking, villages, nature, thermal springs and cultural sights without having to leave the island.

The island is easy to reach — but enormous to explore

The defining trade-off with Evia is its sheer scale. It is connected to mainland Greece at Chalkida by two bridges, so unlike most Greek islands you can drive onto it without a ferry, and it is close enough to Athens to make even short trips practical. But its 3,684 km² area and mountainous geography mean that different parts of the island feel like substantially different destinations; driving from one end to another is not a minor excursion. The eastern coast can also be exposed and windy, particularly around the wild Cavo D’Oro, while some of the most beautiful beaches and natural areas require winding mountain roads or proper walking. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} In other words, Evia works exceptionally well if you are happy to explore a large island by car, but it is a poor choice if what you really want is a compact Greek island where you can stay in one village and casually walk everywhere.

Sources

visitgreece.gr – Evia | Second-largest Greek island, 3,684 km², 680 km coastline, bridges to mainland, mountains, forests, thermal springs, beaches, hiking and major destinations across north, central and south Evia
discovergreece.com – Evia | Beaches, forests, mountains, thermal springs, waterfalls, gorges, cultural sites and regional differences across northern, central and southern Evia
pste.gov.gr – Regional Unit of Evia | Approximately 110 beaches, mountain landscapes, forests, gorges and natural areas, special-interest tourism and major coastal destinations
visitgreece.gr – Cavo D’Oro | Strong winds and sea currents, rugged southern Evia, Natura 2000 environment, Mount Ochi, hiking routes and remote coastal landscape
discovergreece.com – North Evia | North Evia beaches, coastal settlements, thermal springs, nature and accessibility from Athens

Back to all Greek islands

The Greek Island Directory is a project of passion where a love of Crete, Data Integrity and Directories converge to create something truly special for users: Learn More.

Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by admin