Welcome to lovely Lesvos, Greece’s third-largest island and a culture-stuffed spot that’s guaranteed to capture your heart. It’s fairly untouched in comparison to some of its distant Greek island neighbours such as Santorini and Kos, so if you’re after peace and quiet, stunning scenery and rich and varied traditions, then Lesvos could be right up your street.
Don’t think there’s much to keep you busy here? Think again! Here are the top things to do in Lesvos:
- The Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production of Lesvos
- Molivos Castle
- Distilleries
- Skala Eressos Beach
- Molivos Harbour
- Petrified Forest of Lesvos
- Kalloni Salt Pans
- Roman Aqueduct
The Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production of Lesvos
Can’t resist dunking warm crusty bread into lashings of rich olive oil? Then why not learn all about its heritage and production right here on the island? At this fascinating museum, you can tour around a fully restored factory with expert guides and learn all about the olive oil process from tree to bottle!
See the old communal olive press which local people used for hundreds of years, before viewing different pieces of equipment as steam power and diesel engines came into operation. Then, head into the main building where you can learn about all the basic stages of olive oil production, including crushing the olives, compressing the pulp, and separating the oil from the water.
You’ll find the museum in the resort of Agia Paraskevi in the centre of the island and it costs €4 per person to enter.
Molivos Castle
If you fancy stepping back in time and peeling back the layers of Lesvos’ history, then make a beeline for this beautiful, Byzantine castle. This iconic structure is one of the most famous on the island and a sight you’ll see on most tourist postcards. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the best preserved fortresses in the Eastern Med.
It’s built high upon the ruins of the ancient city of Mithymna, so as you can imagine, the views from the top are nothing short of outstanding. And if you visit at sunrise or sunset, you’re in for a real treat! In the summer months, the castle hosts a variety of cultural events, including a classical music festival and theatre performances.
Visit a traditional Distillery
Love to sample the local tipple wherever you go? Then visit one of the many ouzo distilleries for a tasting session. Ouzo production has been at the heart of Lesvos for hundreds of years and over on the east coast, you can retrace history and learn all about its heritage and production.
After touring the distillery, take a seat in the dining area and sample a selection of ouzo with your expert guide. Before you leave, why not pop by the shop and pick up a bottle of ouzo to take home alongside some quirky, ouzo-themed souvenirs or even a bottle of an aromatic mastic liqueur?
Skala Eressos Beach
You’re bound to need a bit of R&R in between all this sightseeing and exploring, so pack your towel, sunnies and a good book because we’re off for a beach day! Not just any beach either, Skala Eressos Beach is one of the best on the island and holds Blue Flag status. It’s surrounded by gorgeous green valleys and volcanic rock that rises around it like an amphitheatre. Plus, the sand-and-shingle shore stretches for more than three miles, so there’s plenty of space to spread out!
Molivos Harbour
While away an afternoon bobbing in and out of shops, cafés and galleries at Molivos’ charming harbour. Mingle with the locals as they go about their day and grab a fresh coffee from a traditional kafeneio and watch the world go by. When you’ve ticked off the harbour, why not head down one of the many cobbled streets leading to the town and check out all the boutiques, jewellery shops and antique stores along the way?
At night, you can dine on fresh seafood dishes in one of the waterfront restaurants while enjoying the light reflections on the Aegean.
Petrified Forest of Lesvos
The history of this incredible site spans a whopping 20 million years after a volcano erupted and covered the whole of northern Lesvos in lava and ash. Parts of the trees in the petrified forest were essentially frozen in time, changing from wood to stone, and some still stand today. The roots and trunks are in all kinds of colours and sizes and the forest reaches all the way to the sea. Pieces of petrified trees can be found among the pebbles on the beaches of Sigri, around 10km away!
Kalloni Salt Pans
Calling all birdwatchers, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, this one’s for you. The Kalloni Salt Pans are right at the centre of the island and are an important stopover for thousands of migratory species. The whole site boasts an impressive variety of flora and fauna. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the pink flamingos, black storks and pelicans that call this place home.
The pans are free to roam around and explore, but make sure you bring bottles of water as there is no shade and it can get very hot in the summer months!
Roman Aqueduct
If you love a good photo op, then you won’t want to miss snapping some pics in front of this impressive structure. You’ll find the Roman aqueduct rising 600m into the sky around 6km from Mytilini Town, the island’s capital. It’s said to date all the way back to the 2nd century, when it was used to take water from a nearby lake back to the capital.
Posted: 19th Jul 2021. Updated: 6th Jun 2023.