10 of the best things to do on the island of Lesvos, Greece

The Greek island of Lesvos (also referred to as Lesbos) is located In the North East Aegean sea and is the third-largest island in Greece.

It’s not well-known particularly in the UK and so ideal if you want an authentic Greek holiday without the crowds.

The Mytilini Strait separates the island from the mainland of Turkey.

Lesvos is a perfect Greek island destination to explore when hopping around the islands of Greece.

Full of rich history, locally grown fresh produce and stunning coastal walks, the island of Lesvos has a lot to offer visitors all year round.

The island of Lesvos is widely known for being the home of popular poet Sappho, from whose association with homosexuality the word lesbian derives its modern meaning.

Making the island a popular destination for the LGBTQ+ community.

Real Lesvos have hand-picked the best accommodation and pulled together lots of useful information on the island. They also offer a fantastic in-resort concierge service to help you make the most of your stay.

Here are my top 10 suggestions of what you should do on the island of Lesvos:

1. Explore the Castle of Molyvos

The Castle of Molyvos is a great historical monument that stands tall on the island of Lesvos.

The castle is open for visitors and is one of the most well-preserved castles to be found in the Mediterranean.

It’s worth spending some time here exploring the site and learning about the history.

The castle is also a popular cultural hub for the island and hosts many festivals, music concerts and cultural events throughout the year so it might be worth checking out if any performances are being held here during your visit to the island.

It sits above the traditional, picturesque village of Molyvos and the cobbled streets here are worth a visit too, you’ll find lots of traditional cafes and tavernas to stop for refreshment and gaze out at the beautiful views.

2. Stop by Panagia Glykofilousa

At Panagia Glykofilousa, in the small town of Petra you can follow the flight of 114 steps up to the top of the rock where you will find a beautiful Church and courtyard, which offers a scenic viewpoint overlooking the coast, mountains and Rabbit island, so it’s worth the trip to the top.

It’s a place of pilgrimage for many Greeks particularly on the 15th of August for the celebration of the assumption of Mary.

3. Relax at the Eressian Hammam spa

After a long day of exploring the sights around the island of Lesvos, why not relax at the end of the day and try a traditional Hammam experience at the Eressian Hotel Hammam & spa.

This location is a quiet sanctuary of wellbeing in the heart of Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho.

Relax and enjoy the steamy heat of the traditional Hamman baths whilst your body can experience cleansing and purification from the process.

4. Chill on the beach at Agios Isidoros

Make sure you reserve a few days on your trip to Lesvos to relax on one of the many beaches on offer across the island.

I would recommend Agios Isidoros as the perfect beach in Lesvos.

With its pebble stone beaches and crystal clear Aegean waters, it’s an ideal beach to chill for a day or two.

It’s got tavernas nearby and sun loungers and shade.

There are many beautiful coves to explore along this stretch of coastline too.

See the beaches section on Real Lesvos for more information.

5. Walk around the Petrified Forest of Lesvos

The Petrified Forest of Lesvos is a petrified wood forest on the island of Lesbos, Greece.

It’s a UNESCO Global Geopark and well worth a visit.

The forest was formed from the fossilized remains of plants and trees, which can be found in many localities on the western part of Lesbos Island.

Here you can find some walking trails and routes to explore the area.

Bring water in summer as there’s little shade and it can get very hot.

6. Discover ancient history at New Archaeological Museum Mytilene

The New Archaeological Museum in Mytilene is small but charming, you could easily spend a few hours taking in the details of each display on show.

The highlight of the museum is the breathtaking mosaic floors that can be found around the building and are commonly found across homes in Mytilene.

Make sure you check out the photography in the display that helps explain how the mosaics were removed from the original locations.

Also worth checking out are a collection of ceramics on display from local artists from the island.

Mytilini is the capital of the island and is worth exploring too, for its castle, beaches, architecture and restaurants.

7. Stop by the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest

Also located in the Petrified Forest region of Lesvos is the Natural History Museum.

It is a geological themed museum located within the village of Sigri.

Set up in 1994, and recently refurbished and modernised the museum as an educational hub for the preservation of the petrified forest of Lesvos.

Discover many of the amazing interactive exhibition stations around the museum, which is full of useful information and learning opportunities.

Be sure to also check out the museum cafe that offers stunning views of the Petrified Forest.

8.Hike around the Northern foothills of Mount Skotino

Make the most out of the incredible foothill paths that can be found around the island of Lesvos.

For those looking at doing a moderate half-day of hiking around the island, I would recommend the Petra – Lafionas hiking trail.

11KM in length and will take you up to Mount Skotino offering breathtaking scenic coastal views and is accessible all year-round.

Or if you prefer a coastal trek then try walking from Petra to Ambelia via Anaxos.

9.Learn about olive culture on the island at the Industrial Olive Production museum

Learn about the adoption of the industrial phase of olive production and how it transformed olive oil on the island of Lesvos at the Industrial Olive Production museum.

It’s said that there are over 11 million trees on Lesvos – that’s 122 trees per inhabitant!

The museum focuses on the mechanical machinery heritage that transformed Olive oil in the region and around Greece and looks deeper into the architectural, social and cultural context of the time and how the machines helped change everyday life.

And of course, on Lesvos, you can sample this liquid gold with every meal!

10.Make a visit the Barbayannis Ouzo Museum

The island of Lesvos is famous for its quality of Ouzo production.

And what better place to learn all about this than at the Barbayannis Ouzo Museum.

Here you can learn about the production process, the history of Ouzo on the island and what ingredients go into the making of Ouzo.

Before you leave, make sure to pick up a bottle or two of Ouzo to bring a taste of the island back home with you.

Drink it over ice like the locals do, accompanied by some delicious local meze (small plates).

Thank you for reading my travel guide to the island of Lesvos

Thank you for passing by and reading my blog all about what to do on the Greek island of Lesvos.

Lesvos is a relatively unknown and unspoilt Greek island, it’s well worth a visit if you love authentic Greece!

Real Lesvos offer a fair deal to suppliers and they are passionate about supporting the local people so if you believe in sustainable tourism too then check them out.

I hope you find this list of places to visit useful.

Have a wonderful time on your next trip visiting the islands of Greece.