Lesbos Island is located in the northernmost part of Greece’s Eastern Aegean Islands and is the country’s third largest island after Crete and Euboea. Mytilene is the capital of Lesbos, a mountainous island in the northeast of the Aegean Sea, very close to Ayvalık and Burhaniye. Lesbos, which is the hometown of many poets and writers from Greek antiquity to recent years, such as Alcaeus and Sappho, is also the birthplace of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha.
Lesvos is the Greek name of Lesvos, which consists of three main islands: Lemnos in the southwest and Lesvos and the small Agios Efstratios located in the middle of Lemnos. In Lesbos, one of the largest islands of the Aegean Sea in terms of surface area, towns such as Molivos, Petra, Plomari and Sigri are also frequent destinations for visitors to the island.
With the Visa on Delivery Application to the Greek Islands that Greece has recently launched, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who want to go to the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. With each passing year, Turkish tourists anchor on the Greek islands more and more wholeheartedly. The people of the island love the Turks very much. Tourism is an important source of income for them.
Lesbos, one of the most preferred among the Greek islands, can be reached by ferry from Ayvalık. During the high season between April and September, the two coasts are joined by ferries departing from both Lesbos and Ayvalık every day at 9.00 and 18.00.
The healing waters of Lesbos Island, an important holiday destination in the Northern Aegean with its modern accommodation facilities, natural and cultural beauties, are among the reasons for tourists interested in health tourism to come to the island. It is one of the wettest and greenest islands among the Greek islands.
Lesbos Island Travel Guide
Lesbos Island is a mountainous Greek island located in the north-east of the Aegean Sea. The island, which is close to Turkey’s Ayvalık and Burhaniye districts, is the third largest island in Greece after Crete and Euboea. Its capital is Mytilene. Lesbos, the third largest Greek island after Crete and Rhodes, is actually the capital of the island called Lesvos.
We call the island Lesbos, while Europeans and Greeks call it Lesbos. We took the name of the capital of the island and called the whole island by this name. It is also known as the Emerald Island because it is greener than other Greek Islands. The eastern shores of Lesbos, the hometown of the Greek national drink Ouzo, overlooking Ayvalık and Edremit Bays, are covered with olive and pine trees.
Lesbos, one of the oldest settlements in the Aegean Sea, has a population of approximately 100 thousand people. In Lesbos, whose long coasts with a jagged structure contain many surprises, two narrow-mouthed gulfs, Geras and Kalloni, extend into the interior of the island. The island is also important with its petrified forest ruins that are millions of years old.
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Due to its proximity to the Dardanelles, the island has been of great importance throughout history. The island, which developed greatly and was equipped with monuments especially during the Byzantine period, remained under Ottoman rule between 1462 and 1911. There are a few mosques, fountains, baths and architectural structures remaining from the Ottoman Period in Lesbos.
The island, which gained independence from Ottoman rule in 1912, was officially annexed to Greece with the signing of the Lausanne Peace Treaty in 1923. II. The majority of the people in Lesbos, which was under German occupation between 1941 and 1944 during World War II, make a living from agriculture, maritime and tourism.
Lesbos, which is also important as the birthplace of Sappho, one of the most famous female poets of the ancient period, as well as the philosopher Theophrastos, a student of Aristotle, is an attractive visiting point with the beautiful architecture of Mitilini on the coast and its Aegean view. Especially the magnificent dome of the Therapon Church is quite striking.
How to get to LesbosPlomari, Lesbos, Greece
LesbosMytilini, Lesbos Island
WHAT IS NEEDED TO GO TO Lesbos Island?
If you want to go to Lesbos Island, you must first obtain a Greek Islands Door Visa or Schengen visa or have a Green Passport. The gate is given to almost everyone without a visa. You can take a look at my informative articles about visas, What is a Visa, How to Get It and How Much Are the Visa Fees?
If you do not have a passport yet, read my articles on Passport Types and How to Apply for a Passport. When going abroad, you have to pay an international exit fee at the airport or border gates. To find out where you can go without a visa around the world, you can check out my blog post Countries You Can Visit Without a Visa.
To have a more convenient and productive Lesbos Island holiday, you can take a look at my blog posts on how to find a suitable hotel, visa/passport, and life-saving smartphone applications in the Travel Guide category.
HOW TO GET TO Lesbos Island
You can go to the island of Lesbos, whose original name is Lesvos, from Ayvalık. There are ferry services between Ayvalık and Lesbos at any time of the year. In addition to Turyol and Jale Turizm companies, the Greek company also organizes mutual flights. Periodic flights are also made from Akçay and Dikili during the summer. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours by ferry and 45 minutes by catamaran.
You can use sea and air to go to Lesbos Island from Greece. It is possible to reach the island by planes departing from Athens and Thessaloniki. The airport is located 8 km southeast of the center of Lesbos. There are also regular ferry services from Athens, Piraeus, Kavala and Chios to Lesbos Island. Transportation by sea is also provided on certain days from Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Rafina, Lemnos, Volos, Samos, Dedeağaç and Kymi.
⛴️ How much is an Ayvalık-Midilli Ferry Ticket? Turyol, Jale Tur and Jalem Tur companies sell Ayvalık-Midilli ferry tickets both online and through their offices. I always go back and forth with Turyol. The round-trip ticket fee is 30€ for adults and 15€ for children, but there is a discount of approximately 5€ for online purchases.
➡ Ayvalık-Midilli Departure Ferry Hours: The ferry departs at 09.00 on weekdays and arrives in Lesbos at 10.30. You can take this ferry with a vehicle. The ferry departs at 18.00 in the evening and reaches Lesbos at 19.30. As for the evening departure ferry, you board as a passenger without a car. Turyol Ayvalık phone ☎ 0266 3316700.
Turyol has an Ayvalık Midilli ferry service that departs at 14.00 on Fridays and reaches the island at 15.30. Turyol has a passenger-only ferry departing at 08.45 on Saturdays and Sundays, a car/passenger ferry departing at 09.00 and 14.00, and a passenger-only Ayvalık Midilli ferry departing at 18.00.
⬅ Midilli-Ayvalık Return Ferry Hours: Turyol The ferry departs from Lesbos at 09.00 on weekdays and arrives in Ayvalık at 10.30. You can only board this ferry as a passenger. Not with a vehicle. The ferry departs at 18.00 in the evening and reaches Ayvalık at 19.30. Vehicle to the evening departure ferry
You can ride with your car.
The Turyol ferry departs from Lesbos at 09.00 on Fridays, taking only passengers, and arrives in Ayvalık at 10.30. There are also Midilli Ayvalık ferry services departing from Lesbos at 12.00 and 18.00, and you can take them with your car or as a passenger. There is another passenger ferry that departs from Lesbos to Ayvalık on Fridays at 20:00.
Turyol offers a passenger-only ferry departing at 09.00 on Saturday, a car/passenger ferry departing at 12.00 and 18.00, and a passenger-only Ayvalık Midilli ferry departing at 20.00. On Sunday, Turyol offers a passenger-only ferry departing at 11.30, a car/passenger ferry departing at 12.00 and 18.00, and a passenger-only Ayvalık Midilli ferry departing at 20.00.
Click this link for Turyol scheduled ferry services. Tariffs can be changed according to season and density. It would be a good idea to check the dates of the day you plan to go. You need to buy round trip tickets. You can buy Ayvalık Midilli ferry tickets online.
Going to Lesbos by Car: Recently, the number of people going abroad by car for a more comfortable travel has increased. Those who want to go to Lesbos with their own car must reserve their ferry tickets at least 1 week in advance. This is the only way to prevent the possibility of not having space on ferries with limited vehicle capacity.
When entering Greece by car, Turkish citizens are required to declare an international driver’s license and green insurance (international insurance). Otherwise, it is not possible for Turkish vehicles and drivers to enter the islands.
Lesbos Car Rental: Renting a car in Lesbos will save you from both the international driver’s license cost and the green insurance fee, and the price you will pay for the ferry for your car will also be saved in your pocket.
Daily car rentals in Lesbos vary between 35-75€, and motorcycle rentals vary between 20-50€. Therefore, taking a ferry to the island and renting a car there seems to be a more suitable option.
For those who want to go from Ayvalık to Lesbos with their own vehicle, the ferry’s round-trip vehicle tariff is as follows: Motorcycle 30€, car 70€, jeep 100€, caravan 150€, pickup truck 150€, minibus 250€, bus 300€. .
Transportation within Lesbos Island: It is provided by KTEL buses (municipal buses), taxis and rental cars. Depending on the length of your stay on the island, you must rent a motorcycle or a car. Although the distances on the island seem to be close to each other, it is necessary to use narrow and rugged roads to reach the south of the island.
Although municipal buses operate regularly, there is no direct transportation to many points after a certain hour. KTEL buses go to Molivos, Plomari, Petra and Sigri from the island centre. Taxis are common but expensive compared to Turkish Lira.
WHERE TO STAY ON THE ISLAND OF Lesbos
🏡 Since there are few places to swim in the center of Lesbos, those who come to the island mostly stay in Molivos and Plomari. Frini Studios is where I stay every time I go to Lesbos. ✔︎ The apartment run by Hermes and his family has a very nice view. There are also very nice and clean beaches nearby. If Frini is full, check out the Olive Green Studios hotel in Plomari.
Olive Press Hotel, Molyvos Hotel or Stone House are the places you can choose in Molivos. If you are going to stay in Petra, check out the Shining Star Petra hotel. In Lesbos center, you can stay at Hotel Blue Sea and Lesvion Hotel. Loriet Hotel and Mytilana Village Hotel, which are not far from the center of Lesbos, are one of the best hotels in terms of price/quality.
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Places to Visit in Lesbos Island 📌
Among the main places to visit on Lesbos Island are the small towns scattered all over the island. For these, car rental is a must. Among these towns, Molivos, Plomari, Eressos, Kalloni and Ayasos are frequently visited by visitors to the island.
In Lesbos, there are many historical centers to visit and see, as well as quiet and tranquil towns with an Aegean feel. In Lesbos, which hosts two award-winning museums of the country, the Roman aqueduct, Lesbos theater, Genoese castle and archaeological museum should be visited.
- Mytilini
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Places to visit in Lesbos
Mytilini (Lesbos Town) is the capital and main port of Lesbos. Located on the east coast of the island, opposite the Turkish coast, the town will be the first place you set foot on your way to the island. It was built in the form of an amphitheater among seven beautiful green hills lying behind the natural harbor where ferries departing from Ayvalık anchor.
While it consists of old neighborhoods and picturesque suburbs, Lesbos bears witness to the rich heritage of the island with its interesting structures and archaeological monuments. Old people say that the current state of the town reminds them of Athens in the forties. Magnificent mansions, stone architecture houses and impressive churches complete the picturesque environment of the city.
The new port, located in the southern part, welcomes ships coming from Athens and other Aegean islands. As soon as you set foot on the island, see Ermou Street running parallel to the harbor in Mytilini, where the Agios Therapontas Church stands out with its impressive dome, and Sappho Square, built in memory of the famous poet Sappho, who was born on the island.
The best place to witness local life and experience the shopping culture in Lesbos is the Old Bazaar. The Old Bazaar, where you can find antique shops, second-hand goods shops and food and beverage stores along Ermou Street, is the heart of the island. At the top of one of the hills is the Genoa Castle, one of the most valuable archaeological sites of the Middle Ages.
The Ancient Theater of Mytilene is a building that dates back to the Hellenistic Period. It is located on Hagia Kiriaki Hill, covered with pine trees, in the northwest of the island. If you want to go on foot, it will take half an hour, you will have to go uphill. It only takes 5-6 minutes by car. You can go there to see the exquisite view.
Nightlife on Lesbos Island comes alive with tourist activity in the summer months. In Mytilene, the central city of the island, the cafes and bars along the port and the promenade host live music and DJ performances. During the winter months, nightlife stops. It would be fair to say that Lesbos’ nightlife is dull compared to other Greek islands.
- Lesbos Archaeological Museum
Lesbos Archaeological Museum
Archaeological Museum of Mytilene
Lesbos Archaeological Museum (Archaeological Museum of Mytilene) has two structures: old and new buildings. Artifacts dating from prehistory to the Roman period are exhibited in the old building, which dates back to 1912 and is currently under protection, near the southern port of the center of Lesbos.
Established in 1999 and located close to the old building, the new building was established in a historical mansion with embossed decoration. The findings of the excavations carried out in the famous prehistoric town of Termi, as well as the column heads that are part of the famous Aeolic temples, are exhibited here. You can see finds from the ancient period of the island and the rich history of the island in the museum.
The museum can be visited 6 days a week, from Wednesday to Monday. It is open to visitors between 08.30-16.00 in the summer and 08.30-15.30 in the winter. It is closed to visitors on Tuesdays, January 1, March 25, May 1, December 25 and December 26. Lesbos Archaeological Museum entrance fee is 4€, student ticket is 2€. The museum can be visited free of charge on March 6, the last weekend of September, and October 28.
- Churches of Agios Athanasios, Agioi Theodoroi and Agios Therapon
pony churches
Located in the center of the island and standing out with its enormous, gothic-style bell tower, Agios Athanasios is an 18th-century structure. Agioi Theodoroi, one of the most valuable temples of the island, with relief scenes from the Old and New Testaments, and Agios Therapon churches, one of the most well-known structures of Lesbos, should also be seen.
Churches can be visited 6 days a week between 08.30-16.30, except Sunday. It is open to visitors between 13.00 and 16.30 on Sundays. There is no entrance fee.
- Molivos
molivos pony
molyvos
Lesbos Molivos Castle
Molivos Castle
Molivos is a coastal settlement located at a point overlooking the entrance of the Gulf of Edremit in the north of Lesbos Island. It is the most popular tourism center of the island with its blue flag beach along the coast, its historical castle, narrow, charming cobblestone streets, and family-run traditional Greek taverns. Lesbos is a place that should definitely be on your list of places to visit.
Molivos Castle is one of the top places to visit due to both its view and historical importance. It was built on the ruins of the ancient Mithymna Castle in the 13th century. On a hill overlooking the island
Don’t worry about going up to the castle. If you have a car, you can go up to the castle gate. If you don’t have a car, it will be a bit tiring. It was built by the Ottomans in 1757.
The view of the castle is as worth seeing as the castle itself. There is also a cafe where you can relax. Sit in the cafe where you can watch Molivos from a bird’s eye view and enjoy the view with a coffee. The castle can be visited 6 days a week, from Wednesday to Monday. Molivos Castle entrance fee is 2€, student ticket is 1€.
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Most travelers stay in Molivos on their trip to Lesbos. I prefer Plomari more.
- Plomari
Plomari
Plomari
Plomari is the second largest town on Lesbos, located 40 km south of Lesbos, the capital and main port of the island. I have always stayed in Plomari in all my trips to Lesbos Island so far. The town, which has a population of 4000, most of whom are engaged in tourism and trade, was established in the form of an amphitheater among the lush green hills around the natural bay with a magnificent view of the Aegean.
It is quite picturesque with its beautiful houses lined up like terraces on the hillside, colorful gardens, narrow streets and churches. Stay in Plomari to experience authentic Greek rural life. There are some traditional taverns and nice cafes in the shade of trees in the small squares around the village. If you walk through the inner streets of the village, you can admire the old mansions and traditional architecture.
Plomari has magnificent beaches where you can enjoy the clear waters of the Aegean Sea and the sun. Frankly, the clearest sea I saw on the island was in Plomari. In the east is Ayios Isidoros, the sandy and longest beach of the region, and in the west is the beautiful pebble Ammoudeli. Tarsanas, a small beach to the east of the marina, Melinda, 6 km away from Plomari, are your main options for swimming near Plomari.
Plomari is also famous for its excellent local ouzo production and high-quality olive oil. Plomari has two ouzo museums created by Ouzo Barbayanni and Ouzo Isidoros Arvanitis, two of the most famous ouzo brands. The Soap Industry Museum in Isa Mesa and the Folklore Museum in the center should also be visited.
In addition to its natural beauty, Plomari has a rich cultural and musical tradition. The people are very warm and hospitable. You can easily chat with Plomarians in cafes and restaurants. There are many restaurants in Plomari where you can taste traditional local recipes and fresh fish accompanied by the famous local ouzo.
Among the delicious appetizers you can taste, don’t forget to try loul’délia (fried zucchini flowers), pastés sardéles (salted sardines), sfougáto (fried eggs and zucchini), and fasólia. All of the dishes are prepared with inexpensive local ingredients, highlighting the history and culture of a poor village that produces high-quality food from humble produce.
If you are looking for a souvenir, you can buy Plomari Ouzo, the most famous on the island. Several brands have been creating Greece’s most popular ouzo since the first decades of the 19th century. It is said that what makes Plomari’s ouzo so special is Plomari’s fresh water and the high-quality anise produced nearby.
Plomari olive oil is also a good gift option. Plomari olive oil is made with olives collected by the local people from olive trees in the Plomari region every winter. Other local products where you can find Ladotyri cheese and various dairy products, olives and handcrafted souvenirs.
- Aqueduct of Moria
pony attractions
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Moria Aqueduct (The Roman Aqueduct) is a unique aqueduct from the Roman period located in Moria, 6 km from the center of Lesbos. The water resources of the Hagiasos region were carried to the center of Lesbos through these aqueducts. The arches, consisting of 12 columns carved from gray marble quarried from a nearby quarry, are worth seeing, although they are a bit difficult to find.
There is no entrance fee to see the well-preserved Roman Arches. There is no limitation on visiting hours.
- Geras bay
Mr Gera
Geras Beach
Geras Bay is one of the most romantic and surprising areas of Lesbos. The bay is surrounded by pine trees and fascinates its guests with its crystal clear waters. Geras is located 12 km from the center of the island. Be sure to visit the Agios Nikolaos Church in Geras, which also serves health tourism with its hot springs around the beach.
You can also swim in small bays such as Cafi, Gialiotissa and Ligonari.
- Skala Eressos Beach
Skala Eressos Beach
Skala Eressos
Skala Eressos Beach is a more secluded and exquisite beach than the other beaches of the island. It is located in the western part of Lesbos, in the village of Eressos. A village said to have attracted poets and philosophers since ancient times. The legendary Sappho, one of the first known female poets and priestess of the Aphrodite cult, was born here. In her honor, the Women’s Festival is held in Eresos every September, attracting feminists from all over the world.
If you come here from Molyvos, transportation takes more than 1 hour due to the winding roads winding between the hills. Park your car at the beginning of the street leading to the beach.
There is a free parking lot for you to park. There is a very sweet street leading from the parking lot into the market, you can wander there. Skala Eressos, lying in front of the village of Eressos, is the most beautiful bay of the island.
Blue Flag award-winning beach, ideal for a sea holiday. It is a small town with a market, small fish restaurants, taverns, hostels, patisseries, pharmacies and souvenir shops. Skala Eressos Beach is 4 km long and has a wide sandy beach, but the beach is narrow in the area where the facilities are located. While the beach at the end close to the port has large stones, the other parts have fine sand.
The entrance is generally stony and gets deep immediately. Some places are shallow. The sea is quite clear, it is a little cool at the beginning of summer and after summer. There are showers along the beach. The parts of the beach close to restaurants and resorts are a bit crowded. There are no sun loungers or umbrellas in the area where the venues are located. The rocky area at the western end of the beach is suitable for snorkeling.
This right end of the beach is quite deserted. For your information, the 200-300 meters at the westernmost end of the beach are generally used by nudists. There is no need to exaggerate the beach, but if you like the sea, seclusion and peace, you will like it. In this region, which attracts great interest from homosexuals, you can also visit the settlements from the ancient periods of the island.
- Sigri Village and Fossilized Forest
Sigri Village, Lesvos
Sigri Village, Lesvos
Sigri Stone Forest
Sigri Stone Forest
Sigri is a small fishing village located in the west of the island, 93 km away from Lesbos. It was built on a small peninsula. Its name comes from the Latin word ‘securo’, which means safe. Located at the southwestern tip of the island, just 26 km from Skala Eressos, Sigri is home to a number of natural phenomena and monuments.
Colorful fishing boats are anchored along the shores of the village. There are many venues and taverns along the beach in the village. Wander around the cobblestone streets of the village. Sigri Castle, located in the village, was built by the Turks in 1757 to protect the port of Sigri. Sigri is also a port used as a destination for ferries coming from the Greek mainland.
Ferries to Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Lavrio and Kavala depart from here. Try to also see the Sigri Fossilized Forest, a unique work of nature in the region between Sigri and Eresos in the western part of Lesbos. If you are going from Molyvos, you pass Petra and go on very winding and bumpy roads. It is located at the entrance of Sigri.
Sigri Nature and Fossil Museum is an invaluable asset in terms of paleontology, geology and environment. As a result of volcanic activities that occurred in the northeastern region of the Aegean approximately 20 million years ago, volcanic substances covering the oak and redwood forest surrounded the plants, causing the flora of the region to become perfectly fossilized.
Some examples of the pieces found in the forest are collected in a small museum. Entry fee is 5 Euros per person. Various living and tree fossils and petrified plants are exhibited in the museum. If you have some time left for a trip to Lesbos, you can include this interesting natural formation and Sigri Village, which has been protected since 1985, in your travel plan.
WHAT TO EAT IN Lesbos Island
🥘 Lesvos cuisine has the taste and imagination of the dishes on the Turkish coast, and the aroma of Anatolian herbs and spices, and is light. It is possible to see the rich diversity of Aegean cuisine in Lesbos. You can taste seafood specialties, delicious herbs with olive oil, as well as alternatives from world cuisine.
Taste the famous Kalloni sardine in Lesbos. It is made by selecting the smallest sardines right out of the sea, pressing them in a bowl with coarse salt, and is consumed as an appetizer. An important element of Lesbos cuisine is olive oil. Olive oil adds a wonderful flavor to salads and all olive oil dishes, and is outstanding on grilled fish.
Lesbos is also famous for its cheese products made from goat and sheep milk. Kashar and gruyere cheeses gain a perfect flavor with the generally soft feta, mitzithra and anthotiro Lesbos honey. If you want to buy ouzo, which the locals call raki, which is synonymous with the island, choose the 100 percent distilled ones. For dessert, you can try gemata, a type of almond made with rosewater.
If you are staying in Plomari, you can choose Sunset Restaurant. Joe Bar, also located on the beach in Plomari, is also great for breakfast and lunch.
Lesbos Island, the pearl and green island of the Aegean, is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations with its historical and natural beauties, as well as its wonderful beaches and delicious island cuisine.
