Therma

Therma — full name Therma Loutra, "thermal baths" — sits on the north coast about 15km from the port, and is the busiest of the island's villages through summer, with tavernas and bars running late and music breaking out most nights.

The thermal waters, rich in sulfur, magnesium, and calcium, emerge naturally warm from Mount Saos and have a long-standing local reputation for easing rheumatic and skin conditions. The village itself is shaded by plane, tamarisk, walnut, and chestnut trees, a cooler and greener feel than the coast.

Therma is also the practical base for reaching Gria Vathra, the Fonias hike, and the ascent of Mount Saos — if you're staying overnight on the island rather than doing a single day trip, this is the natural place to base yourself.