Daily Lesvos Tours from Turkey
The third largest island of Greece, facing Ayvalık: the castle and harbour of Mytilene, the hilltop village of Molyvos, a forest of stone trees and the home of ouzo. Send us your dates and we will plan your day on Lesvos.
Tours on Lesvos
We are preparing our day tours on Lesvos. Send us your dates and the number of guests, and we will plan your day on the island with the ferry from Ayvalık and a guide if you wish.
Lesvos in pictures
Mytilene and its castle, Molyvos, Petra, Agiasos, Plomari and Skala Eresou.
Photo credits
Wikimedia Commons: Timeheritage (CC BY-SA 4.0), Kalogeropoulos (CC BY-SA 3.0), Katsiaryna Naliuka (CC BY-SA 3.0), Mike Peel (CC BY-SA 4.0), Rosa-Maria Rinkl (CC BY-SA 4.0), Catlemur (CC BY-SA 3.0), Tryfon Manolis (CC BY-SA 4.0), Rosa-Maria Rinkl (CC BY-SA 4.0), Tromios at Greek Wikipedia (CC BY 2.5), CoStef at English Wikipedia (Public domain), Aleksei m (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ferry from Turkey to Lesvos
Ayvalık → Lesvos · Dikili → Lesvos
Ferries to Lesvos leave from Ayvalık and, in season, from Dikili, and arrive at Mytilene. The crossing from Ayvalık takes about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the boat. Sailing days and times change by season, so tell us your dates and we will confirm the crossing for your trip.
Why visit Lesvos?
Lesvos, also known in Turkish as Midilli, is the third largest island of Greece. It is a big, varied island of olive groves, pine forests, hot springs and fishing villages, with a long shared history with Ayvalık across the water.
Lesvos is the island of the poet Sappho and of ouzo, which is distilled in Plomari and other villages. In the west lies a forest of fossilised trees about 20 million years old, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark. Because the island is large, a day trip from Turkey works best with a clear plan: Mytilene, or Mytilene and one more area.
What to see in Lesvos
Ferries arrive at Mytilene, in the south-east. Agiasos and Plomari are about 25 to 40 km away, Molyvos and Petra about 60 km, and Sigri with the Petrified Forest more than 90 km, so they are better for a longer stay.
Mytilene and its castle
The island capital and port. On a pine-covered hill above the harbour stands one of the largest castles in the eastern Mediterranean, built by the Byzantines, the Genoese Gattilusi family and the Ottomans.
Church of St Therapon
The large domed church near the harbour of Mytilene is the symbol of the town, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Teriade and Theophilos museums
In Varia, just south of Mytilene, the Teriade Museum shows books illustrated by Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and other artists, and the museum next door shows the paintings of the folk artist Theophilos.
Molyvos
Also called Mithymna, a village of stone houses climbing a hill to a castle, above a small fishing harbour. It is the most photographed place on the island.
Petra
A seaside village near Molyvos, with the church of Panagia Glykofilousa built on top of a tall rock, reached by more than 100 steps.
Petrified Forest
In the west of the island, near Sigri, fossilised tree trunks about 20 million years old, preserved by volcanic ash. The Natural History Museum in Sigri explains how it happened.
Agiasos
A mountain village on the slopes of Mount Olympus, with a famous church of the Virgin, cobbled lanes, potters and woodcarvers.
Plomari
A coastal town in the south, the home of ouzo. You can visit a distillery and its museum.
Skala Eresou
A long beach in the south-west, near ancient Eresos, where Sappho was born.
Monastery of Taxiarchis, Mantamados
A much-visited monastery in the north-east, known for its icon of the Archangel Michael.
Arriving on Lesvos by ferry from Turkey
Ferries from Ayvalık arrive at Mytilene after a crossing of about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the boat. In season there are also sailings from Dikili. Sailing days and times change with the season, and in winter there are fewer boats.
Bring your passport. Greece is in the Schengen area, so check whether you need a visa before you travel. Tell us your dates and we will confirm the ferry and plan your time on the island.
Where to stay in Lesvos
Choose your area by the holiday you want. Here are some well-known hotels in each area. Prices are on request: send us your dates and we will check availability.
Mytilene
The island capital, close to the ferry from Ayvalık, with museums, cafés and the castle.
- Theofilos Paradise Boutique Hotel · price on request
- Lesvion Hotel · price on request
Molyvos
The picturesque north, with the castle, the harbour and beaches nearby.
- Hotel Olive Press · price on request
- Delfinia Hotel · price on request
Petra
A seaside village with a long beach, a few kilometres from Molyvos.
- Clara Hotel · price on request
Skala Eresou
A relaxed beach village in the south-west, far from the crowds.
- Aeolian Village · price on request
Where is Lesvos?
Lesvos is a large Greek island in the north-eastern Aegean, opposite Ayvalık and Dikili on the Turkish coast.
Lesvos questions and answers
How do I get to Lesvos from Turkey?
Ferries to Lesvos leave from Ayvalık and, in season, from Dikili, and arrive at Mytilene. The crossing from Ayvalık takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
Can I visit Lesvos on a day trip from Ayvalık?
Yes. A day trip gives you time for Mytilene and its castle, and with a tour also for a village such as Agiasos. Molyvos and the Petrified Forest are far from the port and better on a longer stay.
Do I need a visa to visit Lesvos?
Greece is in the Schengen area. Depending on your nationality you may need a Schengen visa. Bring your passport for the border check.
Do you offer tours on Lesvos?
Yes, on request. Send us your dates and the number of guests, and we will prepare a day tour on Lesvos for you.
What is the Turkish name of Lesvos?
In Turkish, Lesvos is known as Midilli, from Mytilene, the name of its capital.
Plan your Lesvos trip
Send us your dates and the number of guests. We will check the ferries and reply with your full plan.