Hugging the coast of Turkey, Lesvos island (Lesbos) is the third largest Greek island of Greece and occupies a massive 1600 square kilometres or more. It’s also extensively inhabited with a population exceeding 100.000. Centre of the Greek ouzo industry and home to major farming interests, Lesvos island is one of those places that doesn’t really need tourism but, nevertheless, has found it. Major resorts are few and far between and good sand beaches are heavily outnumbered by pebbled ones. This is an island where you’ll undoubtedly need to travel quite extensively if you intend to see all that it has on offer. More volcanic and barren than some of the other Eastern Aegean islands, there are still extensive fertile areas and significant pine forests.

Lesvos island is also peppered with pleasant villages with Molivos (Mithymna) in the very north of the island a significant and picturesque (even if possessing a somewhat “reconstructed” feel) tourist destination. The legend of the tragic female poet, Sappho, means that the west coast village of Eressos – once her home – is now something of a place of pilgrimage for members of the feminist and lesbian communities (also no doubt attracted by the more than reasonable beach at nearby Skala Eressou!).

Mytilini (Mytilene), Lesvos island’s east coast capital and port (by which name the island is also frequently known), is extensive if somewhat fly-blown. Most people use it only for overnight sojourns when transport dictates the need for a bed close to the harbour. Some tender loving care could improve it significantly and it has enough historical trappings to guarantee a more prominent stake in the island’s tourism, should it choose to make the effort. In the meantime it remains the Lesvos's transport hub and principal commercial centre. Ferry services are reasonably extensive, with good coverage from Piraeus and a number of the Aegean islands. Scheduled internal flights from Athens and Thessaloniki are also pretty frequent. In fact you can even island hop by plane to near neighbours such as Chios and Limnos. Charter flights are more unpredictable. There are some from European destinations but they tend to be relatively infrequent. You can also journey onwards to the Turkish mainland by ferry for a flying visit, if desired.

Once on Lesvos island, most people escape from Mytilini reasonably speedily but you need to be aware that the resorts can be from 15 minutes to 3 hours away by (slow) road from the capital. This may make independent transport a sensible proposition. Plus, it also gives you the opportunity to explore the historical and cultural links at leisure. There are bus services but you’ll gain much more flexibility from car or bike hire. There are Byzantine and classical sites to inspect but most of the island’s available history is from the medieval period onwards. And to see all the sites, you will find yourself travelling extensively around this large island. Try and take in Molivos in the north and perhaps indulge in some of the west coast beach areas such as Petra, Sigri and Skala Eressou. Don’t miss a visit to the hill village Agiasos or, if the urge to visit ouzo distilleries overtakes you, you can always head south to Plomari!

Lesvos hotels
Find the best deals on hotels in Lesvos Greece. Compare prices, check availability and read honest hotel reviews.
We also list facilities and show photographs.The latest uptodate information on hotels in Lesvos, Greece together with the best possible rates and real-time availability status, instant confirmation as well as great deals and specials on last minute reservations.
Greece hotels
Save on Greece and Greek islands hotels online. Instant booking at very low rates. Search over 3000 Greece hotels.
Check prices & availability and choose hotel facilities. Book with confidence with Bookings, Europe's premier online hotel reservation company