General Information & Reviews

Reviews

• mail 22 Oct 2011
  An unusual destination in the Aegean

  Lemnos is not the conventional holiday destination. Wild and unspoiled, it has preserved a remarkable level of authenticity that would appeal to the inquisitive traveller.
  
  Nature and Landscape
  
  The island is of a medium size. It has a flat and monotonous landscape in the east and an increasingly dramatic one to the west. Trees are rare, the vegetation is mostly presented by bush and grasses, vineyards and scattered fig trees. Plentiful wildlife with lots of birds, both local and migratory. Hawks hunting for wild rabbits are a common view. Great flocks of all kinds of birds are observable in the lakes to the east- Aliki and Chortarolimni.
  
  History and monuments
  
  The island has a great history reaching back to the early settlement of the Aegean. Places of particular interest like the Kaveirion, Hephaestia, Koukonisi and Poliochni reflect truly remarkable milestones in history, but do not expect exciting architectural monuments. Older and newer windmills are scattered throughout the countryside bearing witness to the lasting agricultural tradition on the island.
  
  Traditional produce and cuisine
  
  From my experience, and to my surprise, Lemnos is not a top destination for seafood. Seafood of quality is hard to find and often lacks local character and authenticity. Still, do not despair, because the inland has much to offer! Starting with the local sort of wheat- producing a wonderful tasty yellow-colored bread. Lemnos has been exporting this yellow flour since ancient times and was famous with it. Next comes, of course, the great selection of equally famous local wines. Do not miss the Alexandrian Mosxato in all of its varieties. Authentic Lemnian meals like free-range rooster with flomaria (a kind of pasta made from the yellow wheat), traditional wild rabbit (the island nests a population counting millions) with onions, local pasta with molasses and cheese may be also hard to find- but the search is definitely worth it. The best place for local food I have found yet is Mantella tavern in the small village of Sardes, north of Myrina, a place entirely dedicated to traditional cuisine. Browsing the island, do not miss the excellent bee honey and, of course, the local fullmilk sheep yoghurt.
  
  Watersports and fun
  
  Strong constant winds make Lemnos a prefect windsurf destination. Keros beach is among the best places in the area. Cold currents from the Marmara Sea reaching Lemnos provide for a drop in water temperature that make the island less accomodating to snorkellers. Water is generally colder and less salty than the rest of the Aegean.
  Nudism is not very common. There are some dedicated beaches like the west part of Thanos beach, but unfortunately Lemnos is still not as welcoming for naturists as neighbouring islands.
  Expect no nightlife and wild beach parties. Lemnos is an island of peace and relaxation.
  
  Safety and services
  
  As in the most of Greece, Lemnos is, of course, perfectly safe. Getting used with the heavy military presence takes some time but it brings no more discomfort then the roar of the fighter-jets. Adequate medical service is provided in Myrina. Pharmacies in Myrina and Moudros are well stocked. Do not expect to be able to pay with a credit card, but you could easily find ATMs at every bank office. Gas stations are scattered throughout the island.
  
  If you have become used to a certain image of Greece, get prepared, Lemnos is an island like no other. It may take time to come to terms with its severe character and the dried out, monotonous landscape, but if you manage to find its hidden treasures, you will get rewarded!
  
• gjhote66 05 Aug 2011
  Place with great natural interest

  Lemnos is a small paradise with fishing villages, verdurous mountains, valleys and great beaches. Lemnos has many villages with great tourist development and others which are deserted. The land of Lemnos satisfies all tastes, there are beautiful coastal villages and others with rocky landscape. The first day in Lemnos was dedicated to a fantastic village called Myrina. The coastal road northern of Myrina led us to some of the best beaches with transparent waters and picturesque churches in Kaspaka, a stone-built village located on the top of a mountain. On your way back from the village, we stopped in Platy, a lively settlement with lovely square and traditional coffee shops. The road leads to Tigani bay with the small coves and the olive groves that reach the sea. Plaka is a beautiful coastal village with a strange characteristic. At the beach of the village there is a long strip of land which looks like a ship. This amazing cape is surrounded by white vessels and big walls. Just outside Plaka there is a church overlooking the Bournias bay. Lemnos will remain an unforgettable trip.
• johncar 24 Nov 2010
  Think to move there when retire

  I first visited Lemnos about 10 years ago and since then I go every couple of years. A lovely island, my idea of relaxing holidays! We usually stay in Plati to be close to the beach and the town.
  
  The western side of Lemnos is more developed and more busy, while the western side remains traditional and far from big crowds. Moudros is a great village to have fresh fish and the large port provides nice place to walk, especially at night with all those lights from the yachts and the fishing boats. If you stay out till the early hours, you will see the small fishing boats leaving the port and going to catch fish. So lovely!
  
  Keros and Zemati are amazing beaches with soft sand, but a bit far from popular resorts. If you practise windsurfing, then you will love Keros! Zemati is a bit more difficult to access, which is why it doesn't have many tourists. Lemnos is plenty of archaeological sites if you love history. Mythology says that this was the land of Amazons, the fierce women who lived in a female community and only mated with men for reproduction. My favourite site on Lemnos is Kavirio, where some ancient rituals would take place. Right under Kavirio, there is a lovely sea cave covered by rocks. Do not miss that, it is an amazing place and has so much energy!
  
  Another great spot to visit is the Castle of Myrina, particularly on sunset time. Sometimes, I'm thinking about moving to Lemnos when I retire, but we still have time for that!
  
• b_left 19 Mar 2010
  Golden sand and volcanic landscape

  Golden sands with sparkling water, and a volcanic landscape of low mountains and verdant plains have turned Lemnos into this amazing island. I hadn't heard about it until some friends vacationed there and we saw the amazing photos they brought back home. Lemnos is a long trip from Athens. The ferry needed 16 hours to go, but we had cabins and the hour flew. We love travelling by ferry and there wasn't a matter of time in our vacations, so...
  
  We stayed for 10 days in Lemnos, in a studio right on the beach of Plati. We spend all morning at the beach, lunched at the fish taverns and in the afternoon we traveled all the island with our rental car. Climbing up the Castle in Myrina was a nice experience, but go in the evening or you get totally sweat. Around the castle, there live some lovely deer and the locals feed them. They will not harm you but you also not scare them.
  
  Moudros is a picturesque village but you have to cross all the island to get there. By the way, better signs are needed in the roads and more lights. We found it very dangerous to drive in the countryside after sunset because there were practically no lights. Delicious taste of Lemnos are a local bitter cheese (with strange name), honey and wine.
  
• zucca 27 Nov 2009
  Delicious traditional products

  Lemnos is a very traditional island and definitely unspoiled by tourism. There are tourist places and beaches to visit, like Riha Nera and Keros, but still, nothing comparable to the tourist islands with the masses of tourists and the extremely crowded places.
  
  Lemnosis popular for its traditional products and especially for a Lemnian cheese, called Kalathaki, which means basket in Greek, because of the cheese setting inside this basket and keeping that shape after. This cheese is very tasty and popular, maybe because it nearly tastes like feta. Other popular products of Lemnos are thyme honey, wine and a traditional made pasta. We tried them all while we were there and also took some honey and kalathaki cheese for home.
  
  For nature lovers, don't miss the lake at the northeast of the island. There are 3 lakes in total that offer a home to many rare species of birds of passage. Most remarkable of all is the group of pink flamingos that visit the lakes each year. Not a very usual sight in Greece.
  
• stephbr 31 Jul 2009
  Impressive geography on north

  We arrived in Lemnos by plane on a Monday night and it was difficult to get a taxi. Why is that? I think taxis must be there when the plane lands and not wait for a taxi to go and come back to the airport.
  
  Stayed 5 days in Lemnosand still couldn't see the whole island. It was very big. It had beautiful sandy beaches, not crowded not much isolate, just perfect. We stayed in Plati in a small, lovely complex and the lady owner made the best cheese pie I have tasted in Greece! We rented a car for three days and went in the inland and the northern side.
  
  On our way, we found a lake with flamingos, some traditional villages and abandoned churches in the middle of nowhere and what strikked me the most was the geography in Cape Faraklo: so wild, so unlike Greece with the flat hills and the light green bushes. The care was almost frightening but still very impressive and beautiful.
  
  In Myrina, hike up the castle and take a walk in the gift shops. In Moudros, have fish in the fish taverns. Swim in Keros, Riha Nera and Plati. They have very soft sand and clean water.
  
• joankam 14 May 2009
  Best for its ancient sites and landscape

  What I most liked in Lemnos were the ancient sites. The island is full of history and you can see its traces all over it. The Castle of Myrina was wondeful to explore and so was the site of Ifestia. I didn't like much Poliochni ancient town, altough it is the oldest town in Europe!
  
  What you will also find impressive is Cape Faraklo on the northern side of Lemnos. This is of the most strange geological formations I have seen, you will definetey get impressed. Have in mind that we rented a car to get around, otherwise we wouldn't have seen anything than Myrina and Moudros.
  
  Beaches on Lemnos are nice, not that impressive as in other islands (such as Lefkada or Kefalonia), but they are clean and have lovely taverns around. I suggest Riha Nera and Keros for swimming. These beaches are the busiest of Lemnos, so if you are looking for quiet, better pick another coast.
  
• oilu243 24 Feb 2009
  Empty in late October

  We went to Lemnos in late October, which turned out to be a bad date for holidays in Greece. Of course, we knew that there wasn't going to be many crowds, but we found an almost deserted island. Most taverns and cafes had closed, except a couple in Myrina and Moudros. We also had difficulty in finding a hotel, as most of them had also closed. Roads were crossed just by locals. Beaches were cold and empty. So, there was nothing left to do than trekking and cycling (we rented bikes from a local agent). The island is beautiful and weather was pretty shiny, just a bit windy. The Castle in Myrina was very nice and the church of Agios Nikolaos also gave a nice spot for watching the sea. We also cycled till the lake on the eastern of the island, a place with flamingos that birdwatchers would love. We spend totally 5 relaxing days on Lemnos. Although I expected more noise, I don't regret going. It was a nice and unusual break.
• ChrissyK 24 Nov 2008
  All you are looking for in vacations

  Lemnos is one of the most charming islands in Greece. It has everything anyone is looking for in a vacation spot. It's great for a family vacation because it's clean, quiet, safe, relaxing and there are a lot of activities for kids, the best of which are beautiful beaches offering a variety of water sports for kids and adults. It's also great for groups of friends because it's got a great nightlife with bars, beach bars, cafes and clubs scattered all around the island filled with great music and the energy of people that are on a gorgeous island out to have a good time and enjoy life. In addition, it's a great vacation spot for couples with romantic sunsets, great restaurants, quaint hotels and secluded beaches.
  
  If you enjoy sightseeing, an ancient castle overlooks the city and the port as it gloriously lights up at night, there is an ancient theatre, an abandoned resort town with gorgeous views of the ocean, a saltwater lake, sand dunes and old-fashioned greek churches thoughout the island.
  
  The people on Lemnos are friendly and hospitable so that any hotel, restaurant, bar or club that you go to will be fun. Lemnos is famous for its delicious wines, honey and cheese. There are restaurants in the city, in the villages and on the beach, all of which offer delicious fresh food at affordable prices. If you go into any village cafeteria at around 8:00 in the evening, you'll run into local villagers eating, drinking, and laughing. Finally, one of my favorite aspects of the island is that it has maintained it's simplicity and natural beauty. It has not been tainted with mass tourism that can sometimes damage an island.
  
• madalina_a2001 21 Jul 2008
  For total and enjoyable relaxation

  Last summer I was for the first time in Lemnos and this year I will return. We went with our car and by ferry (about 5h1/2 from Alexandropouli). For me it was like I was performing in "the blue lagoon" (I hope this is its title :)). Silent and wonderfull beaches and water if you want to be alone, nice and friendly if you want to be in the middle of people, very tasty food (it was my first culinary experience with only seafood, cheese, fruits - no meat- and for the first time I returned with the same weight:))and wine (every meal with a different type -it's worth it!). We stayed in PortoMyrina Palace and we want, if it's possible, to stay also there this time - very nice, clean and good meals too. Conclusion: go there, if you really want to relax and forget about daily stress!
• poppop 12 May 2008
  Not enough car rentals

  Lemnos is a quiet island with clean beaches. That is how I describe this place. No exciting nightlife, not amazing archaeological sites, just a lovely area to spend some relaxing days. I learned about Lemnos through the Internet and decided to go because I want to change my holiday destination every year. The local food was excellent, but what caused us some problems was the lack of car rentals. There were't many cars to rent and the offices weren't well-organized. If you go to Lemnos, make sure you rent a car in advance.
• Marie_S 26 Dec 2007
  Limnos is perfect for family holidays

  We are 2 families travelling to Greece every summer since several years, and we change place every year. Limnos is perfect for family holidays: beaches (Romeikos Gialos in Myrina/Plati) and villages are nice, food is fine (we had only one deceiving experience - a restaurant recommended by our guide). Very good restaurant in a little village inside (I don't remember the name but the logo is a rooster). We stayed in Myrina which is a very beautiful town. The island is still preserved and not overcrowded and spoiled whith foreign tourism. But you don't come to Limnos for historical monuments!
• Eva_Kip 26 Oct 2007
  It was an original experience

  I was very satisfied from everything, especially the food & wine. In a few words, very lovely beaches -Plati, Thanos, Mevgatis, Keros, Fanaraki-, picturesque villages -Myrina, Kaspakas, Platis, Thanos, Kontias, Moudros-, lots of historical monuments, many things to do, great people and hospitality. As for nightlife, I recommend Karagiozis (Myrina), Alexandros (Myrina), Mouragio (Kalliopi). The local kitchen is great: Fantastic plates with rooster and local pasta, pork and eggs. Very famous wine (Moschato Limnou). I had to buy all goods before I leave the island: cheese, sweets, pasta, wine, herbs ... etc. It was an original, fantastic experience! However, they have to do something with the boats: very old and slow boats. Also, only one airline is not enough. They have to consider adding Aegean beside Olympic airways. Don’t this experience. You have to visit Lemnos. It’s not only for family vacations. Very good prices and service in all levels.
• p.a.barnes 06 Sep 2007
  Friendly and quiet island

  We went to visit my daughter, who was working at a hotel in Myrina for the summer.
  The island is very quiet with few english tourists. We flew with Thomas Cook - you can book a flight for half the price of Olympic Airlines. There are ferries but we didn't manage to sort them out.
  Island is not picturesque but the friendly atmosphere and feeling of safety at all times compensates.
• ole 09 Jun 2007
  Friendly people, nice beaches and good dishes

  The trip: By plane. The trip was ok.
  Reasons for going to Lemnos: Lemnos is not a known touristy destination of Greece and - hopefully - had not a lot of toursits.
  Idea before arriving: We red a little about it and it looks like it was something for us.
  Expectations and opinions: Yes, it is a lovely place. Nice and quiet. The beaches are fine. There are good and cheap local dishes and wine and most of all friendly people.
  Favorite thing about Lemnos: Few toursits, Good beaches and friendly people.
  Negative opinion: The moscitos.
  Recommendations: Yes, Just visit Lemnos island!!!
  
  We would love to go back there.
• alband 24 Apr 2007
  Lovely island

  I really had great time there. It is an authentic island that I recommend to everyone!
• lc 25 Sep 2005
  No impressed at first sight but then wonderful

  When I first saw the port of Lemnos I didn?t like it. I felt disappointed and I was about to say to my girlfriend to take the first boat to another island.
  
  There wasn?t any boat on that day so we were obliged to stay. We took a bus and went to a village called Kondias, a big and beautiful village, where we found a room at a good price. We wondered around the streets of the village and admired the houses in stone, the ruins of old windmills and the beautiful pine trees which were lining the streets.
  
  Things were turning great and we were starting to really enjoy our day; so we decided to stay and we did good because all the week we stayed we had a wonderful time discovering traditional villages, friendly people, beautiful beaches, peaceful coves, clear waters and superb landscapes. Lucky that we finaly stayed!