Lesvos is perfect for the classic Greek island holiday without the excesses of the livelier islands. The Lesvos resorts are relaxed and have a great family atmosphere. Lesvos dining is more varied than many Greek islands and there is plenty of great shopping to be enjoyed. Being a large island, Lesvos holidays provide a good opportunity to explore unspoilt traditional villages and beautiful green farmland. Bird watchers and nature lovers flock to this island. Its beaches are idyllic and are wonderful to sunbath of swim from. Lesvos is popular amongst gay women, as many Lesvos resorts like Skala Eressou feature businesses run by gay couples, and offer special women only excursions.
Things to do
This picturesque island offers spectacular landscape turning it into a walker’s paradise. There are many historic trails and marked paths ideal for the gentle stroll to the mountain trek. May and October are the best months for walking when the climate is ideal, and the meadows are in bloom.
For those who don’t like walking, this unspoilt island can be explored by bicycle. There is perfect terrain to be enjoyed around Lesvos. There are lush meadows, orchards and olive groves leading to a host of traditional villages, thermal springs and deserted coves and beaches.
Theremi, Sigri and Vatera are popular watersport locations and there are activities open such as pedalos, canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and water skiing. But if you want to stay on land, there is always beach volleyball…
Shopping
Lesvos is great for shopping with an impressive variety of goods to offer. There are top designer labels and exquisite jewelry to fine antiques and high quality leather goods. Greece is famous for its original jewelry design and competitive prices, so well worth seeking a bargain.
Mytilini is the main place to visit. Like any capital, here you’ll find everything you desire. There’s Ouzo, wine, embroideries, handicrafts, woven goods, folk art and various cheeses. Ermou Street is a very busy street but here you’ll find fascinating gift shops, craft stalls, boutique or jewelers beckoning with the lure of a luminous beach towel, bottle of flavoured ouzo or handmade plates. How can you resist?
Nightlife
Whether you desire a quiet night in a tavern or disco diva the night away, Lesvos can help you. The capital Mytilini rocks on summer weekends by starting with the locals drinking ouzos at the old harbor, moving on to a cocktail bar, and then making tracks for the northeast quay side where you’ll find the high energy clubs which will thump the music out way past bedtime.
Mytilini’s castle morphs into an atmospheric outdoor theatre, hosting everything from regular classical concerts to twirling white skirted Greek dance troupes. Head to Vangelis Bouzouki, Molyvos for a top Greek night, which is an outdoor club cocooned in olive groves on the road to Eftalou. The bouzouki shows will have you dancing like Zorba himself!
Eating out
Many of the Greek islands import their food, but Lesvos produces a great deal of its own supplies. There are vast nets of fish and seafood scooped from the Aegean and homegrown olive oil which are a great start to any main meal.
From red mullet to tuna, mussels and prawns, the menus here read like a list of aquarium attractions. Topping everything are the sardines. The best come from the Gulf of Kalloni and are served in a 101 ways. The big favourite is ‘sardeles pastes’, where they’re salted on the boat, skinned and then seasoned with oil and lemon before hitting a plate to go with your ouzo.
If this wasn’t mouth watering enough, you could go native and try Lesvos specials like ‘sougania’ – onions stuffed with tasty veal, tomato and rice and oven-cooked till they’re indescribably soft – and delicious courgette flowers stuffed with melt-in-the-mouth feta or rice fried in olive oil.
Wherever you eat in Lesvos, you’ll definitely eat like a king!