Lesvos
Discover Lesvos
Lesbos (Λέσβος), or Lesvos, is the northernmost of the East Aegean Islands of Greece, projecting out of the Asia Minor mainland. It is a birthplace of numerous poets and writers since the Greek antiquity. The island of Lesbos continues to inspire, through this cultural heritage, its natural beauty, and its easygoing lifestyle expressed by its people as a familiarity towards all its visitors.
Taste of Lesvos...
The island offers a variety of seafood with reasonable prices. Also the sweets of the island and the local spirit "Ouzo" are quite an experience. Coffee is the most available drink on the island, even more than water. Prices from €1-5. Alcohol is sold at every Coffee shop in every village or bars in the capital Mitilini near the wharf where the ferry will drop you off. Almost all major hotels serve alcohol as well. Price: €3-12. Lesbos is famous for its ouzo. Plomari is particularly well known for it and hosts multiple famous ouzo distilleries. Lesvos is one of several Greek islands struggling with the arrival of thousands of refugees from nearby Turkey. In September 2015 the capital of Lesbos was hosting 17,000 refugees alone.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe island is served by Odysseas Elytis (Οδυσσέας Ελύτης) airport, named after the 20th century poet, and located in the far South-East of the island, around 8 km South of Mytilene. Flights run regularly to/from Athens, Thessaloniki, Chios, Lemnos and Crete. Internationally, the island is a popular holiday destination so is served by regular charter flights. Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines provide daily scheduled services from Athens. Local bus that serves airport from Mytilene: Astiko KTEL, timetable, approximately hourly departing from Sappho square (Plateia Sapfous, Πλατεία Σαπφούς) Ferries sail from Piraeus, the port for Athens on the Greek mainland, taking 8-9 hours to Mytilini via the island of Chios. Nothing much to see on the way except the sea, so you might prefer an overnight sailing. Operators are Hellenic Seaways and Blue Star Ferries. Car ferries from Ayvalık on the Turkish mainland take 90 min. Turyol is the ferry line: in 2022 a one way adult ticket was €20, return €30....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Local buses run on the island to the bigger villages on the island. You can buy tickets in the bus. The major bus stop and information station is in Mitilini. Taxis are cheap and the taxi drivers are obliged to use the meter. Taxis based in Mitilini are yellow. Taxis not based in Mitilini are grey-coloured. Taxis can be used for local transportation, transfers and excursions, but also for emergencies. A good way to see the island is to rent a car or a scooter. A local, good quality and affordable car rental place, Auto Moto, can be found at the airport, and many more car rental places at and around Kountouriotou Street at Mitilini's harbourfront. Recommended if you are a confident driver! The locals drive pretty fast, but usually obey the traffic rules. The roads are generally quite good, and even the mountain roads not too challenging. The island offers nice hiking routes between the villages. The hiking maps are available in tourist offices.
Where to Stay
Lesvos is one of several Greek islands struggling with the arrival of thousands of refugees from nearby Turkey. In September 2015 the capital of Lesbos was hosting 17,000 refugees alone.
Language & Talk
Greek is the main language but many, especially younger people, know English as a second language. Most signs are bilingual or even English-only, but usually spelling follows a transliteration of the place is pronounced in Modern Greek, so it can be a little hard to recognize. The island is served by Odysseas Elytis (Οδυσσέας Ελύτης) airport, named after the 20th century poet, and located in the far South-East of the island, around 8 km South of Mytilene. Flights run regularly to/from Athens, Thessaloniki, Chios, Lemnos and Crete. Internationally, the island is a popular holiday destination so is served by regular charter flights. Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines provide daily scheduled services from Athens.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Lesvos is one of several Greek islands struggling with the arrival of thousands of refugees from nearby Turkey. In September 2015 the capital of Lesbos was hosting 17,000 refugees alone.