Lesbos is one of the most sacred islands in Greece, its landscape dotted with historic monasteries that are centres of Orthodox pilgrimage, art and learning. The greatest is the Monastery of Limonos near Kalloni, the largest on the island, founded in 1526, with its museums and a library of five thousand books. In the volcanic … Read more
Lesbos is a large and varied island, and the best way to see it is through a series of day trips, each exploring a different region or experience. From the capital Mytilene or a base in the north, you can drive to the Petrified Forest and the fishing village of Sigri in the volcanic west. … Read more
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain on Lesbos, a forested peak rising to 968 metres in the centre of the island, quite distinct from the famous mainland Mount Olympus. Also known as Profitis Ilias after the chapel at its summit, it towers above the traditional village of Agiasos. Whose old kalderimi paths lead up through … Read more
Mantamados is a traditional village in the north-east of Lesbos. Famous across Greece for the great Monastery of Taxiarchis and its miraculous relief icon of the Archangel Michael, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in the Aegean. Set in a valley of olive groves and pine forest around thirty-six kilometres from the capital Mytilene. … Read more
Lesbos is one of the great food islands of Greece, a fertile land of olive groves, vineyards, pastures and rich fishing grounds whose produce has shaped a distinctive local cuisine. It is the home of ouzo, the anise spirit that is Greece’s national drink, made at the historic distilleries of Plomari and drunk with seafood … Read more
The Gulf of Kalloni is a great, shallow bay at the heart of Lesbos. Almost enclosing the sea within the island and forming one of the most important wetlands in the Aegean. Its salt marshes, lagoons and salt pans make it one of the finest birdwatching destinations in Europe, drawing birders from across the world … Read more
Sigri is a remote fishing village at the western tip of Lesbos, a peaceful harbour set among the bare volcanic hills that hold the island’s famous Petrified Forest. Sheltered by the islet of Nisiopi and guarded by an Ottoman castle of 1746. It is the largest natural harbour on Lesbos, its name derived from a … Read more
Lesbos is one of the richest hot-spring islands in Greece. A volcanic land whose thermal waters are among the hottest in Europe and have been prized since antiquity for their healing powers. Its best-known baths are at Eftalou on the north coast near Molyvos, where mineral water of around 46 degrees Celsius fills a domed … Read more
The best time to visit Lesbos depends on what you want, but for most travellers late spring and early autumn are ideal. Late spring brings warm weather, wildflowers and thinner crowds, while September and October offer warm seas and the ouzo and olive harvests. July and August are hottest and busiest, best for a beach … Read more
Choosing where to stay in Lesbos matters, because the island is very large, the third-biggest in Greece, and its main areas lie far apart. The most popular bases are the north around the castle town of Molyvos and neighbouring Petra, with the island’s best tourism infrastructure and beaches. The capital Mytilene in the south-east. Convenient … Read more