Lesbos

Lesbos, also known as Lesvos, is a diverse island in Greece's North Aegean. Olive groves cover much of the landscape, stretching between beaches, traditional villages, and scenery shaped by the island's volcanic past. Its history, food, and traditions are just as much a part of the island's appeal as its coastline.

 

You can fly directly from London Stansted to Mytilene International Airport (MJT), a journey of around 3 hours 40 minutes. Jet2.com operates the route.

 

Mytilene, the island's capital, is set around a working harbour, with historic streets, waterfront cafés, the Archaeological Museum of Mytilene, and Mytilene Castle all worth exploring. It's a natural starting point for discovering the rest of Lesbos.

 

The north coast feels different to the rest of the island. In Molyvos, also known as Mithymna, narrow streets weave between stone houses below a Byzantine castle overlooking the Aegean. Nearby, the thermal springs at Eftalou sit beside the sea, with pebble beaches and open views across the water.

 

Away from the coast, you'll find the Petrified Forest of Lesbos, created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Fossilised trunks, roots, and branches remain preserved across the landscape, which forms part of the Lesvos UNESCO Global Geopark.

 

Around Kalloni Bay, wetlands, salt pans, and fishing communities shape the landscape. Aristotle is said to have studied marine life here in the 4th century BC, recording observations of the natural world and creatures of the sea in the bay. Today, the area is better known for Kalloni sardines, a local speciality often served as part of a traditional meze.

 

Food and drink are woven into everyday life on Lesbos. You'll find tavernas and kafeneia serving local olives, olive oil, and Ladotyri Mytilinis, a hard cheese traditionally stored in olive oil, alongside coffee and ouzo. The island's distilleries account for at least half of Greece's ouzo production, and the spirit has long been part of local culture.

 

Whether you're exploring hilltop villages, volcanic landscapes, olive groves, or waterfront tavernas, there's plenty to discover beyond the beaches.