Last updated: September 2026
Lesvos holidays offer a genuine and relatively undiscovered Greek island experience. The third-largest Greek island, Lesvos (also known as Mytilini) sits in the eastern Aegean close to the Turkish coast and is one of the most fertile and beautiful islands in Greece.
Famous as the birthplace of the poet Sappho and the philosopher Aristotle, Lesvos is covered with eleven million olive trees – the most extensive olive forests in the Aegean – that produce some of the finest olive oil in Greece. The island’s diverse landscapes, from the dramatic volcanic terrain of the west to the fertile plains and beautiful beaches of the east, make it a rewarding destination for those seeking something beyond the typical beach resort.
Lesvos suits travellers who want a quieter, more authentic Greek island holiday, where history, nature and good food matter as much as the beach itself.
Mytilini (Lesvos Town) is a substantial, animated Greek city with a remarkable Byzantine castle, an outstanding archaeological museum and a vibrant kafeneion (cafe) culture. The town’s neoclassical mansions reflect the prosperity of the 19th century when the island’s olive oil merchants built elaborate houses along the waterfront. The Theophilos Museum houses an exceptional collection of naive paintings by Theophilos Chatzimichail, one of the most celebrated Greek folk artists.
The harbour itself is busy with fishing boats and ferries, and the surrounding streets are full of bakeries, ouzo bars and small museums worth a slow afternoon of exploring.
Molyvos (Mythimna) in the north is the most photographed village on Lesvos – a cascade of grey stone houses climbing a hillside to a magnificent Byzantine castle, overlooking a pretty harbour and good beach. The village has an excellent selection of tavernas and a wonderful atmospheric character. Anaxos nearby has a good long beach. Kalloni in the centre of the island is a large lagoon famous for its sardines and for birdwatching – Lesvos is one of the finest birdwatching destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.
Both Molyvos and Anaxos make excellent bases for exploring the rest of the north coast, with quiet coves and traditional villages within easy reach by car or bike.
The petrified forest of Lesvos, on the western part of the island around Sigri, is one of the most extraordinary geological wonders in Europe – a forest of ancient trees turned to stone 20 million years ago by volcanic ash, with perfectly preserved trunks up to 7 metres in diameter lying in the landscape where they fell millions of years ago.
A small museum at Sigri explains the geology in detail, and several marked walking routes allow visitors to see the fossilised trunks up close in their natural setting.
Lesvos is served by Mytilini International Airport (MJT), with direct summer charter flights from UK airports. Flight times from London are approximately three and a half hours. The island is also accessible by ferry from Piraeus (Athens) and from several other Aegean islands.
Car hire is the most practical way to explore Lesvos independently, since the island is large and its best sights are spread out. For peace of mind when booking, always check your holiday is ABTA protected.
| Airport | Mytilini International (MJT) |
| Main resorts | Mytilini Town, Molyvos, Anaxos, Kalloni |
| Highlight | The Petrified Forest; birthplace of Sappho; world-class birdwatching |
| Best for | Nature lovers, history, food, quieter authentic holidays |
| Climate | Hot and sunny June-September, mild winters |
| Flight time from London | Approximately 3.5 hours |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Language | Greek |
Search4Sun compares thousands of Lesvos holiday deals from the UK’s leading tour operators, with departures from local airports across the UK. For peace of mind when booking, always check your holiday is ABTA protected.
For last-minute Lesvos deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates.
Lesvos is famous as the birthplace of the ancient poet Sappho, whose lyric poetry is among the oldest surviving literature in the world. The island is also celebrated for its vast olive forests, its excellent ouzo (produced here in greater quantity than anywhere else in Greece), the petrified forest, and as one of the finest birdwatching destinations in Europe.
Lesvos is one of the top five birdwatching destinations in the entire Mediterranean region. Its position as a stepping stone on migration routes between Africa and Europe means extraordinary numbers and variety of species pass through in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). The Kalloni salt pans are particularly famous for flamingos, waders and gulls.
Lesvos is served by Mytilini International Airport (MJT), with direct summer charter flights from UK airports. Flight times from London are approximately three and a half hours. The island is also accessible by ferry from Piraeus (Athens) and from several other Aegean islands.
For beach holidays, June to September is ideal. For birdwatching, April and early May are the prime months when spring migration brings extraordinary numbers of species through the island. The olive harvest in autumn (October-November) is also a fascinating time to visit and coincides with warm weather and the olive press operations.
Search4Sun has been comparing UK holiday packages since 2005. We work with some of the best ABTA-registered operators.
