Book a Flight to Lemnos from €39

Myrina: Capital and main port of Lemnos. Myrina includes two settlements, Tsas in Turkish Gialos (shore) and Androni in Romeikos Gialos, which are separated by a peninsula. On the Turkish side - the southernmost shore in Myrina - a maze of paths intersect almost the entire area of old houses and small neoclassical cafés with well-tended courtyards. Romeikos Gialos is undoubtedly the most attractive section of Myrina. Here you will find 19^th century mansions with façades clad in Lemnian ash-grey granite and stone-paved lanes that give it a unique air of nobility.

The Fortress: The Fortress of Myrina is the largest fort in the Aegean. It is an imposing castle dating back to 1186, with particularly high walls on the eastern and southern side and several towers.

Prehistoric settlement of Poliochni: One of the oldest prehistoric settlements in the Aegean, it is also thought to be the oldest organised city in Europe. Excavations revealed four consecutive settlements from different periods in history, one built on top of the other.

Ancient Hephaestia: It was the largest city in Lemnos in antiquity. It took its name from Hephaestus, since according to mythology this is where he kept his workshop and where he taught Lemnians the art of metalworking. The findings from the site indicate that the area was continually inhabited from the late Bronze Age to the Byzantine era. The restored ancient theatre of Hephaestia, dated to the Hellenistic period, is a particular point of interest.

Cabeirian Sanctuary: The Cabeiri were the sons of Hephaestus born to Kabeiro and are considered the protectors of metalworkers. The sanctuary, a complex of buildings where the Cabeirian mysteries were held, is located outside the walls of ancient Hephaestia, near Chloe. In the sea below the Cabeirium, you can visit the famous Cave of Philoctetes. Mythology has it that the Homeric hero had been taken there by his companions after being bitten by a snake in hopes that the Lemnian clay would heal him.

Archaeological Museum: The important findings from the excavations that have taken place on the island from time to time are on display here. The collections include pottery, household items used by the ancient Lemnians, tombstones, statues of deities, objects from the Cabeirian Sanctuary, military tools, coins from various historical periods, gold jewellery and others. 
Address: Romeikos Gialos, Myrina, Tel.: +30 22540 22990

Ecclesiastical Museum: Housed in the Metropolitan Mansion, its collection includes utensils, icons, vestments and other religious relics. Further on is the Metropolitan Church of Agia Triada with two lovely bell towers and built with funds from the Lemnian shipowners. It was erected on the site of an old wooden church where Metropolitan Ioakeim was hung by the Turks in 1870.

Panagia Kakaviotisa: This exquisitely lovely chapel of Panagia Kakaviotisa is located in Thanos, built under a rocky outcrop. The remains of one of the many church holdings on the island, it has been known since 1305. At that time, it came under the ownership of the Great Lavra Monastery, when its monks who lived on the nearby island of Agios Efstratios went to the chapel for protection against the Turkish raids.

Museum of Balkan Art: In their endeavour to capture the uniqueness of the island of Lemnos, major Balkan artists took part in the art symposia staged by the Kontias Cultural Association in 1999 and 2001. The result of this creative reckoning was the birth of the Museum of Balkan Art, an interesting collection of works by well-known artists from Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, FYROM, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Greece that found a home in a beautiful stone-built manor house that was purchased and renovated by the residents of Kontias with support from the Municipality.

Kontias: The most charming settlement on the island, a village of former shipowners, with half-ruined windmills, lovely stone-built houses standing as brilliant examples of local architecture and a distillery that produces ouzo.

Beaches: In Myrina, you can swim at the beach of the settlement of Romeikos Gialos or at Richa Nera. Nearby is the pristine beach of Avlonas with clear waters and fine sand. Two of the more popular beaches are Platy and Thanos, with igneous rocks and turquoise waters. Also lovely are the beaches of Agios Ioannis, Gomati, Nevgatis or Zematas, Fanaraki in Moudros with a colony of monk seals, Keros (good for windsurfing), Kokkina, Chavouli and Neftina. In the north, you will find the beaches of Agios Ermolaos, Kotsinas and Plaka, while the more isolated Parthenomitos is particularly beautiful.

Alyki Wetland: One of the sights not to miss on the island are the flamingoes that inhabit the 650-hectare wetland of unique natural beauty bordered by three lakes: Alyki, Chortarolimni and Asprolimni. Many migrating birds stop off in the area for the winter. About 5,000 flamingoes, kestrels, grouse and other migratory birds make for a very impressive sight.

Sahara of Lemnos: A fascinating element of the environment in Lemnos are the sand duties, which can be seen in the north-west part of the island about 3 km from the village of Katalakos. This expanse of sand is referred to by the locals as "Thick Beaches". Access to the area is only possible on foot from Gomati beach, heading south-west. The spectacle is quite impressive, as the small forest of wild olives abruptly turns into a landscape of thorny burnet, asphodels and sand dunes with the fine reddish sand creating a miniature Sahara in the heart of the Aegean.

Spa tourism: The organised spa in Therma, at the foot of Profitis Ilias Mountain, offers an excellent opportunity for rejuvenation through the power of the earth and nature. The ancient spring is located at the edge of a large geological rift in the ground, where the water gushes up at 44^oC all year round. A hammam first operated here in 1730, but nowadays the facilities have undergone a radical facelift and now feature modern tubs where you can enjoy some hydrotherapy, or submit to a relaxing massage and other beauty treatments.

Despite its rocky landscape, Lemnos is a fertile island, with products of exceptional quality. One of these is the cheese known as "salamoura", as well as "kalathaki", which is cheese aged in baskets made of green sedge grass. It is also worth trying the pure and healthy halva, made of processed sesame without added chemicals or preservatives. For wine lovers, Lemnos is famous for its fine Alexandria Moschato grape variety grown on the island and used to make an award-winning mellow wine that is one of the best in Greece. A red variety known since antiquity as "Lemnio" and now marketed as Kalampaki was recently added to Lemnos' special wine collection. A tour of one of the open wineries on the island would be a great way to get to know the local labels. Note that in Myrina, you will also find excellent woven items and jewellery.

Soft flomaria (local pasta), aromatic pies with greens and pumpkin, delicious Venizelika chocolate fondants and samsades pastries, mouth-watering katimeria pancakes and select salt-cured fish are just some of the dishes you should try when you visit this lovely island "beloved by all", to paraphrase Homer who was very fond of it. You will find excellent restaurants and meze cafés in Myrina and at most seaside settlements. Despite its quiet nature, Lemnos does not lack for tasteful bars, most of which are concentrated in picturesque Myrina.

• Athens Festival: Every summer Athens organizes a very important festival, with a wide range of performances and events, staged at the Herod Atticus Odeon, the ancient theatre of Epidaurus and other venues in the city centre. Major Greek and foreign productions featuring famous artists from all over the world are staged at these historic locations, offering unique cultural experiences.
  Information: www.greekfestival.gr
• Premiere nights: Athenian movie-lovers have their own film festival, staged every autumn, with fascinating first screenings and special tributes staged in various venues around the city centre.
• Rockwave Festival: This major music event is held every summer in Terravibe Park, in the Malakassa district, featuring top names in international rock.
  Information: www.rockwavefestival.gr
• Technopolis: You should try to catch some of the events staged all year round at the Technopolis in Gazi. The emphasis is on big concerts and performances organized each summer, like the superb City of Athens Jazz Festival.
  Information: www.technopolis-athens.com

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines lands at Lemnos "Hephaestus" National Airport. Though rather small, the airport has one of the largest runways in the Balkans, along with duty-free shops, a restaurant and café, a foreign exchange desk and a car rental agency. The airport is located 22 km east of Myrina. You can get around by KTEL regional bus, by taxi or by car.