Ferries and Planes to Lesvos

Sailing to Lesvos

The best way to get to Lesvos is by ferry boat. The daily ship leaves Pireaus in the evening and arrives in Mytilini early the next morning.

The recommended boat is are the Mytilini which has bars, restaurants, lounges and is quite big though getting on in years.  First class cabins are about 100 eu for a double and many contain tv's if the prospect of a long ferry ride seems boring. Generally it's a relaxing and enjoyable trip and sailing along the coast of Lesvos and into Mytilini harbor at dawn is an experience you will always remember. It is especially exciting for kids. If you are arriving from the USA by plane its a great way to unwind and the fact that the boats generally leave in the evening make them catchable. The ferry Nissos Chios began service in 2008 and only takes about 8 hours to get to Lesvos. Some days it stops in Mykonos but you better check this with your travel agency. It leaves in the day rather than in the evening.

The ferries also stop in the port of Chios for an hour or so. Most people miss it because it is 4 am and they are sleeping, but on the return trip to Athens you can get off and walk around the town since you get there around 9pm. Just be sure not to miss the boat.

There is at least one boat a day leaving Pireaus for Chios and Mytilini , sometimes more.
Several days a week the ferry continues on to Lemnos , Kavala and Thessaloniki .

You can get to Syros from Mytilini every Monday at 4:00 pm on the Taxiarchis
You can get from Syros to Mytilini every Tuesday at 8:00pm.

In the  summer there is a boat that connects Lesvos with the Dodekanese islands and Samos and sometimes Ikaria. The company is Saos, based in Lavrion. They say that in 2008 there will be a ferry from Lavrion to Sigri!

There are also boats that originate in Rhodes that come to Mytilini run by Dane lines but you will have to ask a local travel agent on one of the two islands when it goes. It stops at most of the islands between Rhodes and Lesvos .

There are several boats a week between Mytilini and Avalik in Turkey . The schedule seems to change by the year, month, week or whatever. That means you need to contact one of the agencies in Lesvos and ask them if you want to get from Turkey to Lesvos.

For ferry information contact see Travel Agents or you can see the weekly ferry schedules at www.athensguide.com/greek-island-ferry-schedules keeping in mind they change every week. The best thing to do is book your hotels with one of the travel agencies and they can figure out the ferries and get your tickets for you.

Flying to Lesvos

There is a modern jet port with at least 4 daily flights to and from Athens. There are also daily flights from Thessaloniki and other points in Europe and Scnadinavia. The cost is around $60 each way. Mytilini airport is unique in that you can take a swim while you are waiting for your plane since it is right across the street from the beach. There are also some really nice seaside fish tavernas right down the street. Hahathakis Travel in Lesvos books direct flights from Europe to Mytilini!

For bookings to and from Athens see Travel Agents

For flights to Lesvos from the USA visit www.greeceflights.com

For flights to Lesvos from Europe or Athens see www.greecetravel.com/tickets or go to the page for Travel Agents

From the Port or Airport of Mytilini

Most people who book their trip to Eressos through an agency arrange to have a taxi transfer. Skala Eressos is almost two hours away from the airport or Mytilini town. Molyvos is about an hour. Vatera is under an hour and Plomari around half an hour. It is a beautiful trip and in a way even if you have rented a car it makes sense to take the taxi and get your car delivered to your hotel so you can enjoy the scenary, especially if you are getting off a long flight. You can contact any of the Lesvos Travel agencies about taxi transfers. If you are using an Athens agency they may not be as able to help you with this.

Rental cars can be delivered to the airport or the port. There is a bus terminal in Mytilini right by the small park on the waterfront (next to the government building and the theater). Backpackers can easily get from the ferry to the bus station. From the airport you have to take a taxi or the local bus. Buses all over the island are pretty frequent.

Getting from Venizelos International Airport in Athens to the Port of Pireaus or Back

If you arrive from abroad and you need to get to Pireaus to catch the ferry to Lesvos I recommend George the Famous Taxi Driver whose transfer rates are cheaper than the travel agencies. Plus if you have some time to spare, as some of you will, you can do a little tour of the city. For your return to Athens from Lesvos I also recommend using him to get to your hotel or the airport. When the ferries arrive in Pireaus there are usually just 3 or 4 taxis waiting for several hundred disembarking passengers. You will be very relieved to see a guy holding up a sign with your name on it. See his website at www.greecetravel.com/taxi

Ferry Pictures

This is the high-speed Aeolis Express, the first of three that can go from Pireaus to Mytilini in 6 hours. There are just seats. No cabins. They were coming to Lesvos but discovered they could make more money in the Cyclades.

This is the Mytilini,usually the winner of the best ferry in Greece contest held every year by Ethoplistis magazine. It's my favorite boat. Or it was. Its getting kind of old now and probably won't be around much longer.

The Theophilos used to sail between Germany, Sweden and Russia before it came to Greece. Its not one of my favorites.

The Sappho is one of the older ferries but it has been decomissioned which means it was sold to some country that doesn't care how old the boats are.

This is a first class cabin on the Mytilini or the Theophilos

This is first class deluxe. If you have the money go for it.

This is the first class lounge on the Mytilini. They actually have a no-smoking section. The restaurants on these ships are pretty good too.

The bars have cold beer, mixed drinks, snacks like potato chips, pistachios, sandwiches and of course ouzo.

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