Book a Flight to Mytilene from €38

Stately Mytilene: Stretching on a semicircular plan on seven hills, Mytilene is an island metropolis with vibrant spiritual and commercial life. Walking in the alleys of the island's capital, to the district named “Sourada”, you will admire traditional architecture on the well-preserved neoclassical buildings of the19th century, reviving scenes from eras past. Cobbled Ermou street, is the commercial centre of the city, while many beautiful mansions and shops are located on the city quay.

Byzantine Castle: The majestic castle, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, dominates the east side of Mytilene, in front of the port. It was built by Byzantine emperor Justinian, on ancient ruins. Today it survives in good condition, it is open to the public and used for cultural events.

Ancient Theatre: It is located on the pine-clad hill of Agia Kyriaki. It is considered to be one of the largest theatres in antiquity, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators and excellent acoustics. 

Roman Aqueduct: At a close distance to Mytilene, in Morias area, on the verdant hill slope, you can see part of the 170m long impressive arcade of the Roman Aqueduct. One of the most important infrastructure projects in antiquity, the aqueduct was built by Romans for the transfer of water form the springs of mountain Olympos to the city of Mytilene, a distance of approximately 26 km.

Old and New Archaeological Museum: In the old building of Mytilene museum you can see important artefacts (pottery, coins, mosaics, etc.) while the new museum accommodates an exhibition on the everyday habits of the island residents, from the 7th century to the Roman period. 
Old Museum - Address: 7, Arg. Eftalioti Street, Mytilene, New Museum - Address: Ogdois Noembriou Street, Mytilene. 

Theophilos Museum: Self-taught painter, Theophilos Hatzimihail, is the main representative of 20th century Greek folk art painting. The museum, founded by famous art critic Stratis Eleftheriadis, includes 86 of his paintings. 
Address: Vareia, Mytilene

Eleftheriadis (Tériade) Modern Art Museum - Library: A true gem-museum, it includes an excellent exhibition of the so-called “Great Books”, original works of art, numbered and signed by each one of the artists, with whom famous art critic Stratis Eleftheriadis worked with. In the museum halls, you will also see works by famous foreign and Greek artists, medieval manuscript copies and paintings by Greek artists such as Theophilos, Tsarouchis, Kanellis, Rorris and others. 
Address: Vareia, Mytilene. Tel: +30 22510 23372

Municipal Art Gallery: The Municipal Art Gallery is housed in Halim Bey's old three-storey mansion, in the area of Epano Skala. It has one of the most important collection of works, signed by artists such as Tsarouchis, Gounaropoulos, Protopatsis, Picasso, Moralis, Fassianos, Botsoglou, etc. 
Tel.: +30 22510 48002

Giorgos Iakovidis Digital Museum: One of its kind, this original Museum at Hidyra of Lesvos - the painter's home town - is the first fully Digital Art Museum in Greece, highlighting the life and work of the great Greek painter, through a wide range of digital screening and interactive systems. 

Petrified Forest Park: Thousands of visitors flock to remote Sigri every year to admire an incredible work of nature. The result of the intense volcanic activity of the island and with an age of 20 million years, the Petrified Forest is a frozen world of amazing colours, a picture coming from the distant period of the Pleistocene. The Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage monument, stretches over an area of 286,000 sq.m., where hundreds of standing or fallen trunks are scattered. The exceptional Petrified Forest Museum of Natural History also operates in the area. 
Information: www.petrifiedforest.gr 

Villages: A large island with rich history and tradition, Lesvos has beautiful towns and villages that worth your visit. 

Molyvos: One of the most beautiful villages in Greece. With its mazy cobbled alleys and its stone mansions, the village oversees the big blue of the Aegean sea, under the shadow of its imposing castle. 

Eressos: On the west side of the island, the land of Sappho, impresses with its vast beach, the rich nature and the beautiful Theofrasteio school. 

Sigri: in this village, apart from the unique Petrified Forest, you will also see the Ottoman Castle and Nisiotis small island, where you can get by boat to admire the Lighthouse, the chapel of Agios Georgios and the petrified trunks resting at the bottom of the sea. 

Plomari: Home-town to ouzo and soap, the picturesque port of Plomari stands out for its street planning, its beautiful alleys, the large beach, the impressive industrial ruins and the distilleries producing the famous Plomari Ouzo. 

Other villages: In the bay of Kalloni, stretches the picturesque fishing village Vatera, while perched on the slope of mount Olympos, beautiful Agiassos impresses visitors with its unique architecture, its lush vegetation and running waters. 

Agios Raphael Monastery: Hidden in the slopes of Karyes, above Thermes, stands the imposing Monastery of Agios Raphael, one of the most important spiritual centres on the island and in Greece. The great radiance of the Monastery is also enhanced by the spiritual personality of Mother Superior and untired writer, Evgenia Kleidara who has been awarded more than 400 prizes and medals by institutions such as the University of Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Princeton. Today, in this great monastery you can see the main Church, the Katholikon of the Monastery to honour Saint Raphael, an art gallery of Greek painters and a showroom with books by Mother Superior Evgenia. 

Beaches: The beaches of Lesvos are so many and different to suit every taste. Near town, there is Tsamakia organised beach. Take a swim in deserted Agios Ermogenis. In the area of Thermi, the pebbled beaches of Skala Mystegnon and Skala N. Kydonion, the organised beach Kanoni and the beach at Petali, stand out. Around Sigri there is the local organised Sigri beach as well as the reclusive beach of Faneromeni. Skala Eressou, with its endless sandy characteristics is one of the most famous beaches on the island, while in Polichnitos, there are the organised beaches of Vateron, of Skalas Polichnitou and of Nyfida. In Molyvos you will see the vast beach of Eftalous and in the bay of Geras you can visit the beautiful beach of Tarti.

A large island with intense lifestyle, Mytilene has a rich market, where you can find anything. However, the island is famous for its pure products. Virgin olive oil, among the best in Greece, cheese, ouzo, wine and honey. Furthermore, local women associations prepare handmade sweetened fruit in syrup, liqueurs, cookies and biscuits. At Ermou Street, in the city centre, you will find most of the shops as well as the central Market for fruit and fish.

The cuisine of Mytilene is one of the most famous in Greece and can satisfy even the most demanding pallet. Stuffed lamb, spicy meatballs in red sauce, onion dolmades, courgette flowers, onion pies, giouzelmedes, home made pasta and sardines baked in vine leaves, are only some of the most delicious dishes of Lesvos cuisine that are worth tasting. Fanari is where you will find most ouzo tavernas and the best spot to enjoy the view of Mytilene port, while you will also find some excellent tavernas in Molyvos. Night-life in Mytilene and the other resorts of the island, such as Molyvos and Eressos, is vivid and interesting.

• Expo Aegean: Many events and exhibitions feature in the cultural life of Mytilene, with various concerts and shows held on many spots of the island, all year round.  Do not miss in summer 2015, the great commercial, tourism and cultural fair Expo Aegean, held for the third year in the port of Mytilene. 
• The feast of Panagia Petra: A 40m high, steep rock, crowned by a strange building emerges in the middles of the valley, near the village of Petra, on the north side of the island. It is worth climbing the 114 steps leading to the church of Panagia Glykofilousa in Petra, a very special church with an amazing view, that attracts many pilgrims in the day of the Assumption, on 15 August every year. 
• The Sardin Festival: The typical festival to honour fishermen is held every summer, in early August in the municipality of Geras of Lesvos, at the cove of Pyrgon Mesagrou. Traditional dance, good cheer and summer mood complete the festive atmosphere. 
• Ouzo Festival: The perfect excuse to try the favourite Greek drink where it is produced! Every year, in late July, ouzo producers offer their famous drink to the festival, which is held in the area of Epano Skala.

Transportation from the Airport

Aegean Airlines lands on “Odysseas Elytis” airport of Mytilene. This convenient airport has duty free shops, cafés and car rental agencies. Mytilene airport is located at an 8km distance from the city. For your transportation you can take a taxi or the local bus services that connect the airport with many parts of the island.