Lesbos


Lesbos is the third biggest Greek island. It has an area of 1630 square kilometres and is situated just off the Turkish coast in the Eastern Aegean. Approximately 84.000 people live there.

In the ancient world the island was an important cultural centre. Well known artist and philosophers lived here; most famous of them all was Sappho. Her poetry was praised throughout antiquity and remains famous and admired until today. She has to be considered one of the most influential poets of Ancient Greece.


Sappho was born and raised on Lesbos. Her poetry was somewhat special. Her favourite topics were love and passion. That is hardly unusual for a poet but Sappho's narrator would normally admire another woman. Especially by Ancient Greek standards that was unusual. The word lesbian in fact derives from the islands name and that's mainly thanks to Sappho.
 

The islands capital is Mytilene. The rather pretty port is located there as well. It is a relatively big city (40.000 people) and pretty busy. The main tourist attraction is the Byzantine Castle. It is one of the biggest in all Greece. Interesting are the Archaeological and the Theophilos museum.


Quite interesting is Molyvos (ancient Mythymna). It is the second biggest town on Lesbos and popular for several reasons. It is situated in the northern part of the island. Nearby is a rather popular beach. Most impressive is the Genoese fortress.

Vatican Museum Tickets, prices and information

Another place you may want to visit on Lesbos is Eresos. Sappho was born there and that made it popular especially with Lesbian tourists.

Most of the rooms for rent you would find in Mytilene and Eresos.

There are daily ferries from Lesbos to Piraeus (Athens port) and a frequent connection to Chios and Lemnos. Twice a week you get a boat straight to Thessaloniki.


By plane you can get there 2 to 5 times a day with Olympic Airways (depending on the season) there also is a daily flight to Thessaloniki and Chios. Lesbos has an international airport. During summer you should be able to get a direct flight from the UK.

Public transport on Lesbos is pretty good. Frequent busses connect the capital with every corner of the island. There are local busses in Mytilene itself.


 

Greece Island
German Version
General Info
  Transport Greece
  Accommendation Greece
  Greek Food
  Greek Drinks
  Money Greece
  Information Greece
  Media Greece
The Islands
 Cyclades
  Santorini Island
  Thira Perissa Kamari
  Naxos Island
  Naxos Chora Apollonas Tragea
  Small Cyclades
  Paros Island
  Ios Island
  Amorgos Island
  Mykonos Island
  Tinos Island
  Andros Island
  Syros
  Anafi
  Antiparos
  Sikinos
  Folegandros
  Milos
  Sifnos
  Serifos
  Kythnos
  Kea
  Dodecanese
  Rhodes Island
  Kos Island
  Karpathos Island
  Kasos Island
  Halki
  Symi
  Tilos
  Nisyros
  Astypalea
  Pserimos
  Kalymnos
  Leros
  Patmos
  Arki
  Lipsi
  Kastelorizo
  Crete
  North Aegean
  Samos Island
  Chios Island
  Fourni
  Psara
  Inousses
  Lesbos Island
  Samothrace
  Thasos
  Icaria
  Lemnos
  Ionian Islands
  Corfu Island
  Paxos
  Lefkas
  Kefalonia
  Ithaka
  Zakynthos
  Kythira
  Saronic Islands
  Sporades
  Skiathos Island
  Skopelos Island
  Alonissos Island
  Skyros Island