Lemnos

Lemnos is one of the prettiest Northeast Aegean islands. It’s an off-the-beaten-path destination for nature exploration and relaxing holidays. On Ferryhopper, you can book cheap ferry tickets to Lemnos and find useful travel tips for the best beaches, sights and food on the island.

Myrina, the beautiful capital of Lemnos

Vacation in Lemnos

Lemnos (or Limnos) is a beautiful island with distinct topography. The volcanic past of the island has blessed Lemnos with amazing landscapes, where you can enjoy peaceful holidays in nature. The island is famous for its golden sand beaches, traditional villages, salt lakes, caves, natural reserves, impressive rock formations and sand dunes! If you love hiking, Lemnos is the perfect destination.

Moreover, Lemnos is a lively island with vibrant nightlife. There are many laid-back entertainment options, as well as loud clubs and bars. Myrina, the island capital, is home to most bars, restaurants and clubs in Lemnos, but you can also find beach bars, tavernas and cafés all over the island.

How to get to Lemnos

Lemnos is regularly connected with mainland Greece at the ports of Piraeus and Lavrion in Athens, as well as Kavala in Northern Greece. The best way to reach Lemnos from Athens is from the port of Lavrion. Normally, there are 2 sailings per week and the journey duration is 9.5 hours. If you’re in Northern Greece, you can travel by ferry from Kavala to Lemnos throughout the year. This is the fastest ferry crossing to Lemnos, lasting 3.5 hours on average.

The ruins of the Sanctuary of Kabeiroi in Lemnos

What to do in Lemnos

Lemnos is an exciting destination, where you can combine cultural sightseeing with amazing beaches, impressive sceneries and fun nights! There are remote and popular beaches of exquisite beauty, many archaeological sites of great historical interest, as well as rare natural sites such as the sand dunes close to Gomati beach. Visit natural reserves, mingle with locals at the quaint villages and try delicious local products.

Beaches in Lemnos

You can swim in many amazing beaches along the coast of Lemnos. There are large beaches, secluded coves and remote bays with clear blue waters. Most beaches offer visitor amenities such as sun loungers, umbrellas, water sports centers and beach bars. The beaches of Lemnos are great for families, couples and groups of friends! Here are 9 amazing beaches on the island:

1. Mikro Fanaraki: This small sandy beach has shallow crystal-clear waters and is one of the best in Lemnos. It’s easily accessible by car and there is plenty of parking space, as well as sun loungers, umbrellas and a beach bar. The famous Cave of the Seal is at walking distance from the beach.
2. Plati: It’s one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Lemnos. Plati is a sandy beach with shallow emerald green waters and it’s great for families. There are umbrellas, sun loungers, beach bars, water sports facilities and a kids’ playground.
3. Keros: Keros is the ultimate island beach! The sand dunes and pine tree forest create an amazing scenery. There are umbrellas, sun loungers, beach bars and a beach volley court. You can go camping in the forest or try windsurfing in safety, as the waters are shallow despite the wind.
4. Gomati: It’s a golden sand beach with dreamy crystal-clear waters. There is a taverna, a beach bar, umbrellas and sun loungers. It’s also popular with campers.
5. Kokkina (Fakos): This is one of the most impressive beaches in Lemnos. It’s great if you’re looking for peace and seclusion and you can get there via a dirt road, followed by a short hike. There are red rocks surrounding the coast and the beach is covered with thin white sand and white pebbles. Make sure you bring snacks, water and an umbrella, as there are no visitor amenities.
6. Diapori: Diapori is a large sandy beach of exceptional beauty. There are umbrellas, sun loungers and a traditional Greek restaurant on the east side of the beach. The area is great for hiking on beautiful trails.
7. Thanos: The large sandy beach is one of the most popular in Lemnos. There are umbrellas, sun loungers, tavernas, cafés, a beach volley court and water sports centers.
8. Zematas: It’s a popular white-sand beach with clear shallow waters and some trees for shade. There are plenty of visitor amenities, such as a beach bar, umbrellas, sun loungers, a beach volley court and water sports centers.
9. Neftina: It is considered the best beach in Lemnos. Neftina has thin white sand, heavenly waters and trees. The small stream emptying into the sea creates an amazing scenery. There are some large waves when the wind blows from the north.

The Cave of the Seal by the beach of Mikro Fanaraki

Sightseeing in Lemnos

The island has been inhabited since Prehistory and it’s a paradise of archaeological sites and monuments. At the same time, there are amazing natural sites due to the interesting topography of the island. Here are some of the best attractions in Lemnos:

• The Castle of Myrina
• The Prehistoric settlement of Poliochne dating back to 4,000 BCE
• The stone-built houses at the villages of Lemnos
• The natural reserve and salt lakes of Kontopouli
• The sand dunes on the north part of the island
• The archaeological site and ancient theatre of Ifestia
• The Sanctuary of Kabeiroi
• The chapel of Panagia Kakaviotissa
• The Cave of Philoctetes
• The Cave of the Seal
• The Faraklo Geological Park
• The Archaeological Museum of Lemnos
• The Folklore Museum in Portianos

Tip: You may spot wild deer at the Castle of Myrina!

The impressive Myrina Castle by the port

Nightlife in Lemnos

Can you have fun at night in Lemnos? Definitely! There are many options for entertainment on the island. Most cafés, bars, restaurants and clubs are in Myrina, but there are kafeneia and cute bars all over the island. You can enjoy delicious cocktails in a lounge atmosphere, dance till midnight at one of the loud dance clubs and enjoy mouthwatering dishes at one of the family-friendly restaurants.

One of the liveliest areas of the island is Romeikos Gialos beach in Myrina, while Moudros and Plati are great for night walks, food and drinks by the sea.

Food in Lemnos

Lemnos is a food lover’s paradise! Gastronomy tourism is big on the island and you can see for yourself by visiting one of the restaurants and traditional tavernas. Try fresh fish, mouthwatering stews and more local delicacies. There are also wineries and artisanal cheese factories, where you can taste superb-quality products and learn about the local production. Here’s what to try in Lemnos:

• Kouneli stifado: rabbit stew
• Kokoras stifado: rooster stew
• Fresh fish and seafood
• Kalathaki: soft white cheese
• Flomaria: traditional pasta
• Feta cheese
• Thyme honey
• Spoon sweets
• Tarhana
• Barley rusks

Intricate rock formations in Faraklo

Villages in Lemnos

Myrina, the capital of Lemnos, is on the western coast of the island and it’s home to the port. The village of Myrina is a beautiful destination with many visitor amenities and quaint corners. There are many villages on the island, where you can admire the traditional architecture and catch a glimpse of the local island life. Ferryhopper suggests that you visit the following villages in Lemnos:

• Myrina
• Kontopouli
• Plaka
• Romanou
• Kontias
• Atsiki
• Fisini
• Katalakko

“Ammothines”: impressive sand dunes in the inland of Lemnos

Useful information for Lemnos

In Myrina, Moudros and other villages on the island, there are shops, super markets, pharmacies and ATMs. There’s also a hospital in Myrina and many gas stations all over the island. The port of Lemnos is on the western coast, in the village of Myrina. It is a 25-minute drive from the port to the international airport of Lemnos.

Useful phone numbers for your stay in Lemnos

Find some useful phone numbers for your trip to Lemnos below:

• Port Authority of Lemnos: +302254022225
• General Hospital of Lemnos: +302254350400
• Police Station of Myrina: +302254022200
• Public bus service (KTEL) of Lemnos: +302254022464

Transportation in Lemnos

We recommend that you bring your own vehicle or rent one there, to better explore and enjoy the beauties of Lemnos. No worries if you’re not driving though! The public bus network of the island is well-developed, as there are buses from Myrina and the port to all major villages and beaches in Lemnos.

Ports in Lemnos

The port of Lemnos is in Myrina, serving all ferry routes from mainland Greece and other Aegean islands. You can easily walk to the port from the village of Myrina and there are public buses from the most popular villages on the island. The port is well-developed and there are many traveler amenities in the area. You can find hotels, grocery stores, car rentals, restaurants, cafés and a parking lot.

Island hopping from Lemnos

From the beautiful island of Lemnos, you can catch a ferry to more amazing destinations in the Aegean Sea. There are regular ferry routes to the Cyclades and the North Aegean Sea. If you’re thinking of going island hopping in Greece, there are direct sailings from Lemnos to the following islands:

• Agios Efstratios
• Lesbos
• Ikaria
• Mykonos
• Oinousses
• Samos
• Syros
• Fournoi
• Chios

On Ferryhopper’s Map of ferries, you can see all ferry routes and schedules from the port of Lemnos to plan the perfect island-hopping adventure in the Aegean Sea!

Hiking through the beautiful mountainous landscape in Lemnos

Lemnos ferry: schedules and tickets

Lemnos is in the Northeast Aegean Sea, close to the islands of Agios Efstratios, Lesbos, Thassos and Samothraki. There are frequent ferry routes from mainland Greece to Lemnos year-round. Ferries traveling to Lemnos depart from the ports of Piraeus and Lavrion in Athens, as well as Kavala in Northern Greece. 

• Piraeus - Lemnos: The ferry route from Piraeus to Lemnos is available throughout the year. There are sailings once or twice a week and the journey duration is an average of 20 hours depending on the itinerary.
• Lavrion - Lemnos: You can catch the ferry from Lavrion to Lemnos mainly off-season. The route is available twice a week and it’s the fastest ferry route from Athens to Lemnos, with a duration of 9.5 hours on average.
• Kavala - Lemnos: There are year-round ferry routes from Kavala to Lemnos. It’s the easiest way to reach the island from the northern part of Greece. The route is available 4 times a week and the trip duration is approximately 3.5 hours.

Tip: The route from Athens to Lemnos is quite long, so it’s a great idea to book a cabin or a numbered seat and enjoy the crossing in comfort.

Where to book ferry tickets online to Lemnos

Can’t wait to discover the magical natural sites and beaches of Lemnos?  Book cheap ferry tickets on Ferryhopper with no extra fees! Find all the information you need about ferry schedules and vacation in Lemnos, to easily plan your trip.