Lesbos

North-East Aegean Islands

Easily the largest of these North East Aegean islands, and the third-largest in Greece, Lesvos is better known to English speakers by its other name, Lesbos, from which we get the word lesbian. This came about because the poet Sappho was born here, in Skala Eresos, and so she was definitely a Lesbian although whether she was also a lesbian is much less certain. The island is more familiar to Greek people as a popular holiday destination and for providing the country with some of its best ouzo.

The Castle of Mytilini on Lesbos in GreeceThe Castle of Mytilini

The size of the island makes for a lot of variety, ranging from the busy port and capital, Mytilini, to quiet mountain villages, from bustling beach resorts to good birdwatching sites around Skala Kallonis. Lesvos has been a holiday island since at least Roman times as people have always been attracted by its beaches, forests and mountains. It actually has two highest points, with Mt Olympos 968m high in the south of the island, and Mt Lepetymnos exactly the same height in the north, though naturally there is rivalry between the local communities who both maintain that their mountain is actually a little higher than the other one.

See our page on Great Greek Poets for more on Sappho

Mytilini

The name of the main town, Mytilini, is also sometimes used for the island itself, a common Greek practice which can lead to confusion for foreign visitors, when boarding or disembarking from ferries. The town is not the most attractive of Greek island capitals, being noisy and rather industrial, but it does have its pleasant aspects and is worth at least a day of looking round before heading on to one of the many much more appealing towns and villages around the island.

Mytilini has its fortress, almost mandatory for harbours in these parts, the sprawling ruins here dating back mainly to the 14th century although the original castle here was founded in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian (482-565). It’s a good place to wander, to see the views and to escape the noise of the town for a while. 

A taverna on Lesbos in GreeceA Taverna on Lesbos

Mytilini Museums

Other escapes include three museums. The Byzantine Museum has a good collection of icons ranging from the 13th to the 18th centuries, but is probably more of interest to the specialist. The Archaeological Museum is housed in one of the town’s many Belle Epoque mansions and has some fine Roman and Greek mosaics, as well as prehistoric finds from the site of Thermi just north of the town. 

The most interesting museum of all is about 3km south of the town centre, in Varia. This was the home of the primitive Greek artist, Theophilos Hatzimihail (1870-1934), whose vivid works, full of life and the Greek spirit, are on display in the Theophilos Museum, a former school house. 

Driving signs on Lesbos in GreeceHave Fun When Driving on Lesvos!

Ayiassos

Of the rest of the island, the main attraction in the south is the lovely hill town of Ayiassos, with ancient houses, cobbled streets and the 12th-century Church of the Panagia Vrefokratoussa, a place of pilgrimage due to an icon allegedly painted by St Luke.

Eresos on Lesbos in GreeceEresos

Eresos

In the west of the island Eresos is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of the work, or just the reputation, of Sappho, and the beach at Skala Eresos is one of the best on the island.

Sigri on Lesbos in GreeceSigri

Further west still is the charming little village of Sigri, which remains unaffected by the small number of tourists who venture there each year.

Molyvos on Lesbos in GreeceMolyvos

Molyvos

No one should visit Lesvos without seeing the town of Molyvos, on the north coast. Its red-rooved houses cluster round a Genoese castle, and its cobbled streets are in many places completely shaded with vines, while below is a picture-postcard harbour.

Even prettier is the harbour just along the coast at Skala Sykaminias, which was almost designed with the picture postcard in mind, featuring as it does a lovely chapel perched on some rocks at the end of the jetty. It is an image of Lesvos that will remain forever with everyone who sees it.

Lesbos in GreeceLesbos

Getting to Lesbos

Flights to Lesbos
During the summer season there are charter flights from several European cities to Mytilini International Airport, including from London and Amsterdam. There are also seasonal flights on Minoan Air between Crete and Lesbos. In addition, there are several year-round flights to Lesbos within Greece. Aegean Airlines flies there from both Athens and Thessaloniki, Olympic Air flies from Athens to Lesbos, and Sky Express links Lesbos with Chios, Crete, Lemnos, Rhodes and Samos.

Ferries to Lesbos
There are regular ferries between Lesbos and Piraeus, for Athens, with a journey time of 11-12 hours. There are also ferry connections between Lesbos and other Aegean islands including Chios (about 3 hours), Lemnos (30 mins) and Samos (about 90 mins). Occasional ferries also connect Lesbos with the Greek mainland ports of Thessaloniki (11-12 hours) and Kavala (10-11 hours).

Blue Star Ferries also call in at Lesbos on their Thessaloniki-Piraeus route, enabling you to island-hop to some of the North-East Aegean and Cyclades islands on the same route.

Ferries in Greece

Ferries in Greece has an excellent and very thorough website where, in addition to checking ferry schedules and times, you can also book tickets and get lots of useful information about travelling by ferry in Greece.

Where is Lesbos?

Google map showing location of Lesbos in Greece(c) Google Maps

Where to Stay on Lesbos




Other North-East Aegean Islands pages

  • Thassos is in the North East Aegean and on this page from the Greece Travel Secrets website you can also see information about flights and ferries to Thassos.

    Thassos in the North East Aegean Islands of Greece

    Thassos is in the North East Aegean and on this page from the Greece Travel Secrets website you can also see information about flights and ferries to Thassos.

  • The A-Z Thassos travel guide, including Kavala and Philippi, is newly updated for 2022 and is the most comprehensive guide to Thassos available.

    Thassos Travel Guide

    The A-Z Thassos travel guide, including Kavala and Philippi, is newly updated for 2022 and is the most comprehensive guide to Thassos available.

  • Samothraki (Greek) or Samothrace (English) is a small island in the north-east Aegean Sea with the closest Greek islands being Thassos and Lemnos.

    Samothraki

    Samothraki (Greek) or Samothrace (English) is a small island in the north-east Aegean Sea with the closest Greek islands being Thassos and Lemnos.

  • Samos is in the NE Aegean islands of Greece with attractions including Heraion and Pythagoreio, and this page tells you what to see and how to get there.

    Samos in the NE Aegean Islands of Greece

    Samos is in the NE Aegean islands of Greece with attractions including Heraion and Pythagoreio, and this page tells you what to see and how to get there.

  • The North East Aegean Islands include Lesvos, Thassos, Chios, Samos, Fourni, Ikaria, Limnos, Samothraki and here are tips on ferries, flights and what to do.

    North East Aegean Islands

    The North East Aegean Islands include Lesvos, Thassos, Chios, Samos, Fourni, Ikaria, Limnos, Samothraki and here are tips on ferries, flights and what to do.

  • A visit to the Museum of Samos Wine to learn about the muscat grapes that produce the best dessert wines in the world and also the Greek spirit, Metaxa.

    Museum of Samos Wine

    A visit to the Museum of Samos Wine to learn about the muscat grapes that produce the best dessert wines in the world and also the Greek spirit, Metaxa.

  • The island of Lemnos (or Limnos) is in in the North East Aegean Islands and on this page you can see information about flights and ferries,

    Lemnos or Limnos in the North East Aegean Islands of Greece

    The island of Lemnos (or Limnos) is in in the North East Aegean Islands and on this page you can see information about flights and ferries,

  • Ikaria (or Icaria) is an island in the North East Aegean Islands of Greece between Samos and Mykonos and is truly one of Greece's travel secrets.

    Ikaria

    Ikaria (or Icaria) is an island in the North East Aegean Islands of Greece between Samos and Mykonos and is truly one of Greece's travel secrets.

  • The Greek island of Chios or Hios is a large island in the North East Aegean close to the Turkish coast, south of Lesvos and north of Samos, and famous for its mastic trees.

    Chios

    The Greek island of Chios or Hios is a large island in the North East Aegean close to the Turkish coast, south of Lesvos and north of Samos, and famous for its mastic trees.

  • The best things to do on Thassos in the North East Aegean islands of Greece include its beaches, mountain hikes, and visiting its ancient archaeological sites.

    Best Things to Do on Thassos

    The best things to do on Thassos in the North East Aegean islands of Greece include its beaches, mountain hikes, and visiting its ancient archaeological sites.

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