Lemnos has a very special place in my heart as it is the island where my dad grew up and where some of my family currently resides. From when we were little toddlers until grown adults, my Yiayia (grandma in Greek), would make my sister and I home home-cooked meals, take us to the port for a swim, and walk the Agora to shop. In a way, it was a second home to us, especially when we were able to stay in our dad’s childhood home. Being the ninth biggest island in Greece, there is a lot of ground to cover for sightseeing in Lemnos. From fresh seafood, soft sand beaches, windsurfing, local shops, and natural land formations, there is nothing this island doesn’t have to offer.
Number of Days to Stay: 5-6 Days
Expenses: $-$$$
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Where to Stay:
Myrina – Myrina is the capital and the main village in Lemnos. My family currently lives in the epicenter of the village, and it is honestly the best place to stay while visiting Lemnos. It may cost more to stay here than in other villages, but this is where most of the nightlife, restaurants, and shopping are located on the island. The village is walkable, and it is also easy to drive to different villages and beaches on the island. If you decide to rent a car, it may be difficult to find parking near your accommodation as the roads are tight, but there is some street parking on the main roads and parking lots around the village. This past summer, a one-bedroom and pull-out couch cost us about 65 euros a night, making it very affordable to stay. We have also stayed in hotels if our family couldn’t accommodate us due to traveling with a larger group. Below are hotels and rentals to stay in all around Myrina.
Platy – Staying in Platy village is a great option to choose an accommodation close to Myrina without the congestion. This village has great restaurants and bakeries to shop, and not to forget the amazing beach bars and tavernas along the shore. There are mainly apartments and studios to rent in this area, but there is one hotel that is beautiful and within walking distance to the beach. Below are some great options to stay in Platy:
Agios Ionnias – This is a great beach village to stay in if you want to avoid the crowds of Myrina and stay near the beach. It is also a great location to explore different parts of the island as well as being close to the city center.
Moudros: Moudros is about forty minutes from Myrina, and is the second biggest village to stay in Lemnos. My cousins live in this town, and we always take a trip to see them as Mudros is close to some of the best beaches on the island. The village is not as busy as Myrina, but it has many local shops, restaurants, and is known for its small fishing village. The accommodations here are a little more expensive, but most are renovated!
Thanos: Thanos is the village just past Platy and is a great place to reserve accommodation as the beach here is also beautiful and not far from the main city. Vacation rentals are very cheap here (apartments and full houses) and it is close to some of the main destinations on the island.
Where to Eat:
- Ennia Po’ chs, Lychna ($$-$$$) – My favorite restaurant in Lemnos. This restaurant takes a modern twist on traditional Greek food, and in my opinion, is the best restaurant on the island. Hidden in the small village of Lychna, the restaurant has gained so much buzz over the past few years that they are now taking reservations and are fully booked during peak tourism season. Expect to spend a little more money than your regular restaurant in Lemnos as it is more upscale. The octopus is my favorite dish on the menu and the fava dip is a MUST try!
- Romeo Restaurant, Myrina ($$-$$) – This is my favorite restaurant in Myrina when you want more of a traditional menu and would like a variety if options. Located right under the Lemnos castle, and is on the shoreline of the sea. You can sit more towards the restaurant or choose a table right along the water. My sister and I came here for a nice meal to have together before we left Lemnos. This is a great restaurant to have a romantic dinner with a date or a fancy family dinner.
- Psaroukles, Myrina ($$) – A family favorite to enjoy fresh seafood on the island. Located near Myrina Old Port, it is easy to miss this delish seafood restaurant as it is in a busy location with many other restaurants surrounding it. We had the Lavaraki (Branzino), which is my favorite fish to eat while in Lemnos. I recommend making a reservation in advance, as it is a popular spot to eat seafood right from the Limnian sea.
- George’s Taverna, Platy ($-$$) – You can eat at this taverna when you need a break from the sun during your beach day or at night for dinner. Every year we come here to have our favorite dish, spaghetti and lobster. You can order meals family style at George’s, making it the perfect establishment for big family gatherings.
- Souvlaki.Gr, Myrina ($) – if you are craving a gyro or a souvalki on a stick, this is our go-to spot in Myrina. We usually get the Chicken Gyros and my mom’s favorite pork souvlaki.
- Manos, Myrina ($-$$) – Located at the end of Riha Nera beaches, Manos is a very well-known taverna for traditional greek food. You can also visit this establishment during the day for lunch while sunbathing at one of the beach bars in Riha Nera.
- Barbounaki ($$-$$$) – One of my favorite restaurants on the island! I ate there twice this summer. The restaurant looks like it was plucked out of Mykonos and dropped on the beautiful shores of Agios Ioannis. The dining area is built right on the water, and some table locations are set up in a cave. The food and service here were excellent, and nothing beats a romantic sunset dinner on the water.
- Taverna Kosmos, Myrina ($-$$) – One of my preferred taverna to eat by the castle. It has great seafood and traditional Greek dishes, and is easy to get to from shopping in the Agora. We usually eat here at least once when vacationing in Lemnos.
- Xrisafi Day Bakery, Myrina ($) – The best bakery in Lemnos. Open at all hours, the bakery has the best Tiropita and Bougasta in the village. Whether we eat there for a post-club snack or a quick takeaway, my mouth waters just thinking about how good the food is here. There are tables to sit in the square to enjoy your food, or you can take your meal to go in a “packeto.”
- Mood For Food, Myrina ($) – Another great takeout spot for gyros and souvlaki, but they also have other takeout options such as chicken and potatoes, and horiatiki salad (Greek village salad).
- O Sozos, Platy ($) – If you are looking for an authentic village dining experience with delicious homemade food, make sure O Sozos is on your list. You can view the cooks barbequing all the meat from your table and let the smells of fresh food take over while you wait for your main dish and snack on some meze.
- Giannakaros, Thanos ($-$$) – When it was time for lunch after sitting on the beach all afternoon, we headed up to Giannakaros for some meze. The food here was very fresh, and the dining area is so beautiful as it is shaded in grapevines dangling over a huge pergola and decorated with macrame. The cats here are also so cute and friendly.
Other Recommendations:
- Riza, Myrina ($$-$$$)
- Pezoula, Moudros ($$-$$$)
- Taverna Kalouditsa, Platy ($$)
- Grammofano, Myrina ($-$$)
- The Platanos, Myrina ($$)
- Ψαροταβέρνα, Myrina ($$)
- Covo Del Mare, Myrina ($$)
- Manos, Myrina ($$-$$$)
- Taverna ManTella, Sardes ($$-$$$)
- Sinialo, Myrina ($$)
- Sto Kastro, Myrina ($$)
- Opos Polia, Thanos ($$)
- Poseidon Ouzeri, Moudros ($$)
Vegetarian/Vegan Recommendations:
- There aren’t vegan-specific restaurants in Lemnos, but it is very easy to “veganize” most meals at restaurants that I have listed above, or order regular dishes that do not include animals or animal by-products.
What to Do:
Beaches
The beaches in Lemnos are absolutely breathtaking, with most of the shores being very shallow and having gorgeous, clear blue water. The water is usually warm, but as you swim out, it gets more refreshing. Recently, the organized beach bars have decided to have a minimum spend to ensure the sunbed, which varies between €15-20. You can order food and drinks that will cover the minimum spend. Below are some of my favorite beaches to lounge in the sun or have fun with water sports.
- Riha Nera – Walking distance from Myrina and one of the most popular beaches to go to when staying in the main town. When my sister and I did not have a car, we walked or biked to this beach almost every day. In the past five years, a lot of new beach bars have opened with music and nightlife. Below are some of my favorite beach bars:
- Amos: This beach bar is newer and has a great atmosphere. The sunbeds are nice, and there is a €20 minimum spend on food and drinks! At night, you can enjoy cocktails, and sometimes there is a DJ.
- Aposperos: This beach bar was just recently rebranded and recreated. Like Amos, the atmosphere gives a Mykonos vibe at a very affordable price. There is also a €20 minimum spend on food and drinks per sunbed, and you can eat at the tables near the bar area. At night, this also becomes a nightlife spot to grab cocktails and listen to a local DJ.
- Keros Beach – This beach is famous on the island for its windy beach, making it a windsurfing and kitesurfing playground. It is an organized beach; you can lie out in the sun and enjoy time in the water while sipping on a cappuccino freddo and munching on some of the beach bar snacks! Many tourists flock here every summer for the water sports and shallow waters. There is a surf club located on the beach called Surf Club Keros for people to stay in, which includes dining and excursion experiences. If you are looking for a day filled with water sports and swimming, this is the beach to check out.
- Agios Ioannis – One of the more unique beaches in Lemnos, located north of Myrina near the village Kaspakas, some say that the long sandy shoreline forms the shape of a heart. The beach is surrounded by volcanic rock and has a beautiful view of the mountains. There is an organized beach bar and taverna to grab food and chill at the beach.
- Evagti Beach – This beach is great for families and for doing some water sports. It is also one of the biggest beaches in Lemnos! You can reserve beach chairs to rent as well as order food and drinks from the beach bars. I would travel here if you want to avoid the crowds of the more popular beaches. When we visit Evagti beach, we usually go to the Karavi Beach bar.
- Thanos Beach – Another popular and sandy beach to visit in Lemnos, this one is also an organized beach with rentals and music to listen to while doing some R&R! The water is also very shallow, making it safe for kids to swim. The beach bar, Costa Costa, is at the far end of Thanos beach and is the popular beach bar to go to as it has a great atmosphere and a great taverna to dine at.
- Zematas Beach – One of the more remote beaches in Lemnos, this is a great beach to visit if you want to avoid the crowds, watch a great sunset, or spend the day at the beach before you go visit the salt flats and other historical locations in Lemnos. You must walk a dirt path before you hit the sand and beautiful blue water. There are only two beach bars for rentals and food, which I believe helps preserve its natural beauty.
- Platy Beach – Only a fifteen-minute drive from Myrina, Platy is very popular for its organized beaches and tavernas along the water. Here you can rent sun beds, enjoy the shallow waters, and listen to some peaceful music. Some of the best tavernas to grab lunch (or dinner) are within walking distance of each beach bar.
- Myrina Port Beach – This beach is not organized as it is part of the old port in Myrina, but it is one of my favorite beaches because of the scenery. You can walk many feet out into the water, and it will still only be up to your hips (I am one of the shorter girls, standing at only the height of 5’3) and get a beautiful view of the castle. My Yiayia used to take us to this beach when we were toddlers to swim and have a fun day at the beach, as it was only a five-minute walk from her house. We usually bring sandwiches and snacks to eat, but restaurants are within walking distance to grab a bite of food if you’d like.
- Megalo and Mikro Fanaraki – Megalo and Mikro Fanaraki (Big and Small Fanaraki) are two beaches just outside the village of Moudros. These two beaches are famous for cliff jumping, cave exploring, and tranquil blue water. My family and I go to Mikro Fanaraki every year to visit our cousins and enjoy the beach a bit more than Megalo Fanaraki. There are beach chair and umbrella set rentals, and a small beach bar to get snacks and drinks. Megalo Fanaraki has more organized beach clubs, as the beach has a bigger swimming area. I highly recommend checking out one, if not both, beaches, but make sure to arrive early as the rentals are reserved quickly!
Havouli Beach – My first time visiting this beach was last summer, and I truly have never seen more beautiful water in Lemnos! It was calm, shallow, and so refreshing to swim in! It is an organized beach, so you can expect to rent sunbeds, an umbrella, and get food from the snack bar. Havouli became an instant favorite in my family, and I can’t wait to return.
Agios Ioannis Beach – This long stretch of beach is very popular for families, and it is very shallow and has an organized beach bar named Raratonga Beach Bar. We loved the food and the music here, so we came back twice this past summer, and it was very close to Myrina! The cliff formation viewed from the shore is the showstopper at this beach!
Activities
- Take a Boat cruise around the island – If weather permitting, this is a great way to see the island and swim in waters that are only reachable by boat. While on the boat, you will stop at different parts of the island to swim as well as to have drinks and lunch. This was one of our favorite activities to do in Lemnos, one of the years we visited, since we didn’t have a car to explore the massive island.
- Hike to Panagia Kakaviotissa
- Visit the Ancient Ifestia amphitheater
- Visit Seal Cave at Mikro Fanaraki (also cliff jumping)
- Explore volcanic rocks at Faraklou Geological Park
- Windsurfing at Keros Beach
- Visit Ancient Poliochni ruins
- Explore the sand dunes of Pachies Ammoudies (sand boarding excursion)
- Visit Moudros Fishing Village
- Explore Windmills across the island
- Wine and cheese tasting
- Visit the Aliki Salt Flats
- Caves of Philoctetes
- WWI Battle of Gallipoli Military Cemetery
- Churchill House in Portianou Village (near the WWI Cemetery)
- Waterfalls at Agios Ioannis
- Visit Cape Falakro
- Visit Agia Paraskevi Church, Myrina
- Horseback Riding at Kalliope Village
- Shop in Myrina Agora
Nightlife
- Karagkiozis Bar (Myrina) – This famous bar on the island has been open for many years (my dad and mom partied here all the time when they met in the 80s). You can find tourists and locals grabbing a drink here all throughout the day and night as it is the popular spot to meet for drinks on the island, and one of the few that has a DJ or live music. There is outdoor and indoor seating, and if there is a popular sports competition (Olympics, World Cup, Euro Cup, etc) or game on television, they will have it playing on a projector screen inside the establishment.
- Skala Beach Bar (Kallithea)– Closer to Moudros than Myrina is a beach bar called Skala where you can enjoy some cocktails and music right on the beach! It has great tunes, cocktails and many areas to sit in such as water bungalows, high and low top tables in the sand, and seating near the bar. If you want to dance and listen to music without being in a packed club, Skala is a great option!
- Aposperos Beach Bar (Myrina) – Like many beach bars in Lemnos, you can lounge in the sun during the day and return at night for drinking, dancing, and listening to music. Most of the bars here will play a mix of pop and rap (Greek and American) unless they have a promotional night when there is a DJ.
- Ammos (Myrina) – Down the street from Karagkiozi’s and just before Aposperos is yet another beach bar turned cocktail bar during the evening. There is a Dj that will spin American and Greek music, and customers can sit at the tables, the bar or walk around.
- To Sokaki Cocktail Bar (Myrina) – My favorite cocktail bar in Myrina! The servers are very kind and their mixtures come in elaborate cups! The bar is in the middle of all the shops, so you can stop here for a quick drink or after you are done shopping. There is limited seating outdoors, but plenty inside and at the bar. My favorite part about this bar besides the drinks are the decorations inside.
- Kinky Club – The only real club on the island that is right outside Myrina, Kinky is the spot to be Friday through Sunday. From late night to early morning, you will find anyone, any age who wants to party here. Whether you reserve a table or walk around the dance floor, you will have a great time here. Throughout the summer they will sometimes have themed parties (one year they had an inflatable pool you could swim in). There is also a cage above the bar that people can come and as they please with a pole in the center to dance (I remember the first time coming to Kinky and thought it was a wild concept, but it is actually very fun!) The DJ plays a mix of music from dance, American-pop and rap, Greek pop and rap and everything in between. You want to make sure you are spending the weekend in Lemnos because this outdoor club is unique, and you won’t find anything else like it in Greece.
- Isalos Bar (Myrina) – A great cocktail bar by the water in Myrina near all the seaside restaurants and the castle. This bar has a great drink list and plays modern, old Greek or American music. My sister and I would hop between this bar and Karagkiozi’s as they are walking distance to one another. Sometimes it is a hit or miss depending on the music they play and the day of the week.
- Nefeli Café (Myrina) – I have only been to this café a handful of times, but it has a fantastic view of the castle and ocean, especially during sunset. You can also grab dinner, drinks, and coffee at this establishment.
- Red Rock Beach Bar (Kaminia) – My family and I haven’t been to this beach bar during the evening, but we are itching to go as they hold many events during the summer (They had a Full Moon event this past summer that looked very intriguing). From the reviews, it looks like a fun spot to grab some drinks and be on the beach during the evening. If you decide to stay in Moudros, you’re in luck as it is not too far of a drive, but more than a forty-five minute drive from Myrina.
Transportation:
Getting To Lemnos
Airport- My family and I have only ever traveled to Lemnos by plane, as it is only a forty-five-minute flight from Athens. The plane is very small, with about twelve to thirteen rows of two seats on each side of the plane, and runs on propellers (a little frightening but very cool!) Over the years, the prices have increased to two to three hundred euros for a round-trip ticket as the island has gained popularity, and limited flights are coming in and out. The airport is in the center of the island and is about thirty minutes from Myrina. This past summer, you had to book in advance to secure a round-trip flight, especially back to Athens, otherwise you would have had to take the ferry. In my opinion, this is the best way to get to Lemnos, especially if you have limited time for traveling, as the ferry takes much longer to arrive on the island.
Ferry- The ferry to Lemnos is a long journey from Athens. Lemnos is in the northern part of Greece, resulting in the travel time for the fast ferry sailing for nine hours, while the regular ferry could take up to thirteen hours. All ferry tickets can be booked on seajets.com and are easy to use (Please note: all ferry times are in military time). Another website I have booked a ferry ticket on is directferries.com, but I suggest booking right from the source if it is your first time. Just like the ferries that sail around the Cyclades and the Ionian Sea, while aboard the ferry, you may purchase bakery dishes, sandwiches, snacks, coffee, beverages, and alcohol. Depending on the weather, you can go to the top deck of the ferry to get some fresh air (or for a smoke break) and check out the port the boat is docked in for a moment before departing to the next island. The port in Lemnos is in the main town, which makes it easy to grab a taxi and head to your accommodation once you have arrived.
While in Lemnos
Public Transportation – There is little to no public transportation in Lemons, as the bus only runs two times a day and leaves from Myrina with very limited stops. You are better off calling a taxi or renting a vehicle to explore the island. Most of the villages on the island are walkable and easy to get around on foot.
Taxi/Uber/Private Car Service – Most of the taxis on the island will hang around the port and the main village to get you to and from your destinations. During the day and up until midnight, it is very easy to get a taxi, but after midnight,t it will be very hard unless you book a pickup in advance.
Renting ATVs/Cars/Scooters – The best spot to get a rental ATV, scooter or car is in the Chora, or by the port, as that is where most of the crowds are when they arrive on the island or at the airport. Since Lemnos is one of the biggest islands and a lot of the beaches and attractions are far apart, I highly recommend renting a vehicle to explore the island. Some of the roads in Lemnos, particularly through the villages, are narrow, so it is best to rent as small a car as possible. Scooters and ATVs are preferable, but if you are traveling long distances, be prepared to fill up your gas more often than usual if you are staying in the main towns.
If you are looking to go to Greece and want a true, authentic Greek island experience, Lemnos is one of the best options. The affordable, charming island has a lot of history, countless beaches, and remarkable locations to visit. Whether you want to lounge on the beach, hike the mountains, visit museums and historical sites, eat the freshest foods, or dance the night away, Lemnos has it all. I do regret not visiting more often when I was younger, but in hindsight, it helped me appreciate all the island has to offer while visiting as a young adult and traveling to other Greek Islands. The past couple of years that my sister and I visited, we were able to discover all the island has to offer and have even made friends who live around the world, whom we only get to see when visiting Lemnos. There is no place like home, and I am so happy that I can call one of the most beautiful, gated kept islands in Greece, my second home.
Love Always,
Lemnos
