Lesbos
A green Greek island in the northeastern Aegean, known for olive groves, the Petrified Forest, birdwatching and a long history of poetry.
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Lesbos, also spelled Lesvos, is a Greek island in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island in Greece, after Crete and Euboea, and it lies less than 10 km from the Turkish mainland. Mytilene, on the southeast coast, is the capital and largest city, and it has an international airport. The island is nicknamed the Emerald Island for its greenery and the Island of the Poets after Sappho and Alcaeus. Olive groves cover much of the land.
A trip here suits travelers who want beaches, mountain villages and history that runs from Bronze Age towns through Ottoman and Greek rule. Main sights include the Petrified Forest in the west, the Gulf of Kalloni with its wetlands and birdlife, and the castles at Mytilene and Molyvos. Tourism peaks from April to July, so visit in spring or autumn if you want fewer crowds. Allow several days, since the island is large and the drives between the coast and the interior take time.
Lesbos in five
- Rent a car for the villages and west coastRoad EO36 crosses the island from Mytilene to Kalloni, and EO73 runs along the east coast through Mytilene. The villages and the Petrified Forest in the west are easier to reach with your own car.Getting around
- Leave the wetlands undisturbedThe Gulf of Kalloni and the Dipi marsh at Gera Gulf are protected Natura 2000 sites with monk seals, dolphins and seagrass meadows. Leave the water's edge and the wildlife undisturbed.
- Book your bed and car hire before AprilTourism peaks from April to July, when the island is at its busiest and most crowded. Book your bed and car hire before you arrive for those months.Where to stay
- Download offline maps before you driveA saved offline map helps on rural roads. Set it up before you leave the airport or the ferry port.Phones and eSIM
- Visit Plomari for ouzo and its museumsLesbos is considered the homeland of ouzo, and Plomari on the south coast has several distilleries and museums. The World of Ouzo and the Barbayannis Ouzo Museum are among its ouzo museums.
Things to do in Lesbos
See all attractions in Lesbos
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports under Schengen rules; check yours before you fly
- Emergency
- 112 for all emergencies, 100 police, 166 ambulance, 199 fire
- Tipping
- Small tips or rounding up in tavernas is common, not required
- Time
- UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Quiet, wetJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, wetFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Green, quieterMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, quieter
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Green, warmAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, warm
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, greenMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, busyJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low22°Hot, peak crowdsJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, peak crowds
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low22°Hot, dryAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Warm, quieterSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberClear8 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Rains returnNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains return
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Wet, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
Average daily high and low in Mytilene, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lesbos
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 73%
Lesbos
10:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°17°73%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Tue19°17°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed19°15°35%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Thu15°11°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri13°11°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat14°10°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun14°10°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 08:31 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- KalloniCheck drive time on a mapGulf of Kalloni with its salt pans, wetlands and sardines.
- MolyvosCheck drive time on a mapA coastal resort with the Castle of Molyvos, a good stop on the north coast.
- PlomariCheck drive time on a mapAn ouzo town on the south coast, with distilleries and museums.
- Petrified ForestCheck drive time on a mapFossilised subtropical trees in the west of the island, buried by volcanic ash.
Before you go to Lesbos
Rules for Lesbos, checked
- Greek entry follows EU and Schengen rules, so check your passport's visa-free status before you fly.
- Removing antiquities such as pottery, coins or stones from archaeological sites is illegal in Greece. Leave them where you find them.
- Cover shoulders and knees when you visit monasteries and churches such as the Monastery of Limonas and the Church of Panagia Agiasos.
- The Persian squirrel is protected by presidential decree. Do not feed, chase or handle wildlife on the island, including in the Gulf of Kalloni.
Plan around Lesbos
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Greece trip
Read the guideGetting around GreeceFerries, flights, buses and rental cars compared
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Greece and what to check before flying
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices for a few days on the island
Read the guideWhere to stayMytilene, Molyvos, Plomari and Eresos compared
Read the guideLesbos FAQ
Is Lesbos worth visiting?
Yes, for the villages, the Petrified Forest, the wetlands and the ouzo towns of the south coast. It suits a slower trip with a car.
How many days do you need on Lesbos?
A week covers Mytilene, both coasts, the Petrified Forest and a few villages without rushing. A long weekend is enough for Mytilene and one coast.
How do you get to Lesbos?
Fly into the international airport in Mytilene, or take a ferry to Mytilene from Piraeus. A car is useful once you arrive, so book it in advance for the summer months.
When is the best time to visit Lesbos?
Late spring and early autumn are the best months, with warm weather and fewer visitors than in July. The island has a hot summer, and rain is mostly in winter.
Is Lesbos good for LGBTQ travelers?
Eresos, the birthplace of the poet Sappho, is visited often by LGBTQ tourists, and the English word lesbian derives from her poetry. Most residents are Greek Orthodox Christians.