Getting to Lesbos, the large island in the north-eastern Aegean close to the coast of Turkey, is straightforward once you know your options. The two ways to reach the island are by air, flying into Mytilene International Airport, or by sea, taking a ferry to the port of Mytilene, the capital. Flights connect Lesbos with Athens and Thessaloniki year-round in under an hour and a half, while ferries link it with the mainland port of Piraeus, with Kavala and Thessaloniki in the north, and with neighbouring islands. There are also seasonal boat connections from Ayvalik on the Turkish coast.
This guide covers every way to get to Lesbos: flying, the airport, the ferry routes, journey times, connections from Turkey, booking advice and how to get around once you arrive.
Here you will find everything about how to get to Lesbos: flying into Mytilene airport from Athens and Thessaloniki, the ferry routes from Piraeus. Kavala and the islands, journey times and frequencies, the seasonal link from Turkey, tips on booking. How to travel around the island once you are there.
How do you get to Lesbos?
You get to Lesbos in two ways: by air, flying into Mytilene International Airport from Athens or Thessaloniki in under ninety minutes, or by sea, taking a ferry to the port of Mytilene from Piraeus, Kavala or neighbouring islands.
There are two ways to reach the island of Lesbos: by air and by sea. As one of the larger Greek islands. A considerable distance from the mainland in the north-eastern Aegean, Lesbos is well served by both, and the choice comes down to your budget, your schedule and whether you want to bring a vehicle.
Flying is by far the fastest option. With flights into Mytilene International Airport from Athens and Thessaloniki taking well under an hour and a half. Connecting the island to the wider network of international flights through those hubs. This is the usual choice for visitors short on time or coming from abroad.
The alternative is the ferry, which sails to the port of Mytilene, the island’s capital. From the mainland port of Piraeus near Athens, from Kavala and Thessaloniki in the north, and from neighbouring islands. Ferries take far longer but cost less, run through the night on the long routes and, crucially, allow you to bring a car. There is also a seasonal boat link from the Turkish coast.
For most visitors coming from abroad, the practical route is to fly into Athens. Then either connect straight onto a domestic flight to Mytilene or transfer to Piraeus for the overnight ferry. Both the airport and the ferry port lie right beside the capital, so onward travel into the island is quick and simple whichever you choose. Understanding these two gateways, the airport south of Mytilene and the port in the town itself, is the key to planning a smooth journey to Lesbos.
Where is Lesbos and its airport and port?
Lesbos lies in the north-eastern Aegean, close to the coast of Turkey.
Lesbos is the third-largest Greek island, lying in the north-eastern Aegean Sea, separated from the coast of Asia Minor in modern Turkey by only a narrow strait. This position, far from the mainland but close to Turkey, shapes how you reach it and explains the mix of long domestic routes and short international links.
The island’s gateway by air is Mytilene International Airport, named Odysseas Elytis after the Nobel-winning poet, which lies around eight kilometres south of the capital, Mytilene. It handles domestic flights year-round and seasonal international charter and scheduled flights in summer, and is a short taxi or drive from the capital.
The main port of the island is in the capital, Mytilene, on the south-eastern coast, where the ferries from Piraeus, the north and the islands dock right in the heart of the town. A second, smaller port at Sigri in the far west operates on certain seasonal routes. Both the airport and the main port are close to the capital, making arrival and onward travel easy.
How do you fly to Lesbos?
You fly to Lesbos into Mytilene International Airport, mainly from Athens and Thessaloniki. Airlines including Aegean, Olympic Air and Sky Express operate the routes year-round, with the flight from Athens taking around fifty-five to seventy minutes.
The quickest way to reach Lesbos is to fly into Mytilene International Airport. The main domestic routes are from Athens and from Thessaloniki, operated year-round by carriers such as Aegean Airlines. Its subsidiary Olympic Air and Sky Express, with flights a day in the peak season and a reduced schedule in winter.
The flight from Athens to Mytilene takes only around fifty-five to seventy minutes. Making it a very quick and convenient journey compared with the long ferry crossing. The flight from Thessaloniki is of similar length. Booking early, especially for summer travel, secures the best fares, as prices rise as flights fill.
To the year-round domestic flights, Mytilene airport receives seasonal international flights in summer. Including charter and scheduled services from different European cities, which allow travellers to reach the island directly. For most international travellers, however, the route is a connection through Athens or Thessaloniki onto a domestic flight.
How do you get to Lesbos by ferry?
You get to Lesbos by ferry mainly from the port of Piraeus near Athens, a crossing of around eleven to thirteen hours, usually overnight, with daily sailings in summer.
The principal ferry route to Lesbos is from the great mainland port of Piraeus, the port of Athens, to Mytilene. This is a long crossing of roughly eleven to thirteen hours depending on the vessel and the stops. The ferries usually sail overnight, so that passengers travel while they sleep and arrive in the morning.
There are daily sailings on this route in the summer high season, and a slightly reduced frequency in winter, operated by the main Greek ferry companies. Most of these ferries call at the island of Chios on the way. Others serve additional islands, so it is worth checking the exact routing and duration of each sailing when you book.
In the north of Greece, ferries also connect Lesbos with the ports of Kavala and, on certain services. Thessaloniki, which are more convenient for travellers coming from northern Greece or the Balkans. All these ferries carry cars, motorbikes and foot passengers, which is the great advantage of travelling by sea, letting you bring a vehicle to explore the large island freely.
Can you get to Lesbos from Turkey?
Yes, you can get to Lesbos from Turkey by a short seasonal ferry from the town of Ayvalik on the Turkish coast to the port of Mytilene.
Separated by only a narrow strait, there is a direct sea link between the two, which is one of the island’s distinctive features. Small passenger ferries connect the Turkish town of Ayvalik, opposite the island, with the port of Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos.
This crossing is short, taking roughly one and a half to two hours. It operates mainly during the summer season, with sailings times a week when demand is highest. It offers a convenient way to combine a visit to Lesbos with travel in the Aegean region of Turkey, or to reach the island from the Turkish side.
Travellers using this route remember that it is an international border crossing. Passports and the usual entry requirements apply. And schedules can vary from year to year and season to season. Checking the current timetable and any visa or entry rules in advance is essential, but for those in the area it is a quick and scenic way to reach Lesbos.
How long does it take to get to Lesbos?
Getting to Lesbos takes around fifty-five to seventy minutes by air from Athens, compared with roughly eleven to thirteen hours by ferry from Piraeus, usually overnight.
The time it takes to reach Lesbos varies greatly with the mode of travel, which is the main factor in choosing between them. By air, the flight from Athens to Mytilene takes only around fifty-five to seventy minutes. The flight from Thessaloniki is similar, so that flying gets you to the island in barely more than an hour.
By sea, the picture is very different: the ferry from Piraeus to Mytilene takes roughly eleven to thirteen hours. A substantial journey usually made overnight so that the long crossing passes while you sleep. Ferries from Kavala in the north are somewhat shorter, though still a matter of most hours across the sea.
The shortest sea crossing of all is the seasonal ferry from Ayvalik on the Turkish coast. Which reaches Mytilene in about one and a half to two hours thanks to the narrow strait between the island and Asia Minor. Weighing these times against cost and the bring a car is the key to deciding how to get to Lesbos.
What are the best tips for booking travel to Lesbos?
Book flights and ferries to Lesbos early for summer travel, when both fill and prices rise, and reserve car space on ferries well ahead.
The single most useful piece of advice for getting to Lesbos is to book early, especially for travel in July and August, the peak season. Flights into Mytilene are limited in number and fill quickly at busy times. With fares rising as they do so. Ferry cabins and car spaces on the popular Piraeus route also sell out ahead.
It pays to weigh the two options against each other for your trip: flying is far quicker and often reasonable in price if booked early, while the overnight ferry saves a night’s accommodation and lets you bring your own car, which is very useful on such a large island. If you take the ferry, reserving a cabin makes the long crossing far more comfortable.
Check the exact routing and duration, as certain sailings call at Chios or other islands and take longer. Confirm the current timetable for seasonal services such as the ferry from Ayvalik in Turkey and the summer route to Sigri, which do not run year-round. A little planning ensures a smooth journey to the island.
How do you get around Lesbos once you arrive?
You get around Lesbos best by hire car, as the island is large with its main sights spread far apart.
Once you arrive, the best way to get around Lesbos is by hire car, because the island is very large, the third-biggest in Greece. Its principal attractions. From Molyvos and the Petrified Forest in the west to the beaches and villages of the south and east, are spread far apart, with considerable distances between them.
There is a public bus network based in the capital, Mytilene, which connects it with the main towns and larger villages such as Kalloni. Molyvos, Plomari and Sigri. This is a useful and economical way to reach the principal centres. Services are less frequent to smaller places and outside the summer season, so timetables are worth checking.
Taxis are available at the airport, the port and in the towns for shorter journeys and transfers, but for exploring the island fully, seeing the Petrified Forest, the beaches and the scattered villages at your own pace, hiring a car or motorbike is by far the most practical and rewarding choice.
Car hire is available at Mytilene airport, in the capital and in the larger resorts, and booking ahead for the summer season secures both a vehicle and a better rate. Distances on Lesbos are real, with an hour or more between the capital and the far west around Sigri, so allowing enough driving time is wise when planning day trips. With your own transport you can reach the hot springs, the mountain villages, the Gulf of Kalloni and the quiet beaches that buses do not serve. Which is what makes hiring a car the natural way to enjoy this large and varied island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to fly or take the ferry to Lesbos?
Whether it is better to fly or take the ferry to Lesbos depends on your priorities of time. Cost and whether you want to bring a car, as each option has clear advantages. Flying is by far the faster choice, with the flight from Athens into Mytilene International Airport taking only around fifty-five to seventy minutes. Compared with the eleven to thirteen hours of the ferry crossing from Piraeus. If your time is limited or you are coming from abroad with an onward connection, flying is usually the sensible option, and fares can be very reasonable when booked early.
The ferry, on the other hand, has its own strong advantages: it is generally cheaper, especially for families or groups. It sails overnight so that you save the cost of a night’s accommodation and travel while you sleep, and, most importantly, it carries cars, motorbikes and other vehicles. Because Lesbos is such a large island, with its main sights spread far apart, bringing your own car by ferry, or being able to load a vehicle, can make exploring the island far easier and can work out economical overall. Many travellers therefore fly when they intend to base themselves in one area or hire a car locally.
Take the ferry when they want to bring their own vehicle or are travelling as a group on a budget. In short, choose the flight for speed and convenience. The ferry for economy, the overnight saving and the freedom of bringing a car. Weighing these against each other for your particular trip to decide which suits you best.
How often do ferries run to Lesbos?
Ferries run to Lesbos daily from the mainland port of Piraeus during the summer high season. With a slightly reduced frequency in the winter months, giving reliable and regular access to the island throughout the year. The main route from Piraeus to Mytilene, operated by the principal Greek ferry companies, typically has at least one sailing a day in summer. Most of them departing in the evening and crossing overnight to arrive the following morning. Most of these ferries call at the neighbouring island of Chios on the way, so the exact duration and routing can vary from one sailing to another.
To the Piraeus route, ferries connect Lesbos with the northern mainland ports of Kavala and, on certain services, Thessaloniki. Which are convenient for travellers coming from northern Greece. There are links with multiple neighbouring north-eastern Aegean islands. During the summer months, the seasonal passenger ferry from the Turkish town of Ayvalik to Mytilene also operates times a week, offering a short international crossing. Frequencies on all these routes are highest in July and August, at the peak of the season. Drop noticeably in spring. Autumn and especially winter, when certain seasonal services stop altogether. For this reason it is always wise to check the current timetable for your travel dates well in advance.
Particularly if you are travelling outside the summer season or relying on a specific connection. To book ahead for the popular summer sailings, especially if you need a cabin or space for a vehicle.
How do you get from Mytilene airport to the town?
You get from Mytilene International Airport to the town of Mytilene, the island’s capital, very easily, as the airport lies only around eight kilometres south of the town, a journey of roughly ten to fifteen minutes by road. The most common way to make the transfer is by taxi. Taxis wait outside the terminal to meet arriving flights. Offering a quick and direct ride into the capital or onward to nearby accommodation. Most visitors arriving on Lesbos also pick up a hire car at the airport itself, where the rental desks are located.
Which is the ideal choice for those planning to explore the large island independently, since it removes the need for a separate transfer and gives immediate freedom to drive wherever they wish. Public bus connections between the airport and the town are limited and less reliable than a taxi or a hire car. Most travellers rely on one of those two options for the short journey into Mytilene. Because the distance is so short, the transfer is inexpensive and quick whichever way you choose. From the capital you are then well placed to continue by ferry, bus or car to other parts of the island.
Whether you are heading to a hotel in Mytilene, catching an onward connection or setting off to explore. The closeness of the airport to the capital makes arriving on Lesbos simple and stress-free. Is one of the conveniences of flying to the island rather than taking the long ferry crossing.
Which airlines fly to Lesbos?
The airlines that fly to Lesbos into Mytilene International Airport are principally the Greek carriers Aegean Airlines. Its subsidiary Olympic Air. Sky Express, which operate the year-round domestic routes connecting the island with Athens and Thessaloniki. These airlines run flights a day on the busy Athens to Mytilene route during the summer high season. With the flight taking only around fifty-five to seventy minutes. Maintain a reduced but reliable schedule through the winter, so that the island remains accessible by air all year round. Thessaloniki is also linked to Mytilene by these carriers. Which is convenient for travellers from northern Greece and for connections from the Balkans and parts of Europe through the Thessaloniki hub.
Beyond the year-round domestic network, Mytilene International Airport, named Odysseas Elytis after the island’s Nobel-winning poet, receives seasonal international flights during the summer months. Including charter and certain scheduled services from different European cities, which allow certain visitors to reach Lesbos directly without connecting through Athens. For most international travellers, however, the usual way to reach the island by air is to fly into Athens or Thessaloniki on an international flight and then connect onto one of the frequent domestic services operated by Aegean, Olympic Air or Sky Express.
Booking early is strongly recommended to secure both availability and the best fares, particularly for travel in July and August when the island is at its busiest.