It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Well, I am back to share my most recent summer trip to beautiful Greece once again. Today we will be exploring Lesvos, in particular Molyvos and the surrounding areas in our two-week summer holiday.

Summer now feels like a distant memory, but I am determined to hold onto summer just that little bit longer by sharing my most recent adventure with you.
In August this year, myself and my family visited the beautiful Island of Lesvos in Greece for our two-week summer holiday. Today I am taking you on this trip, to share my holiday memories, as well as inspiring you to visit this beautiful island.

Let’s get… exploring Lesvos!

A travel vlog at the end of this post highlights the two-week trip. Jump to the video by clicking the button below!

Exploring Lesvos

Lesvos is the third largest Greek island but is probably not an island you would commonly associate with when you think of Greece. Santorini, Mykonos, Zakynthos and Corfu are probably the ones you think of most. Well, I am here to tell you that Lesvos should be up there on your Greece travel list!

Situated in the Aegean, close to the Turkish coast, Lesvos or Mytilene / Mytilini as it is also known is a wonderful island to visit, especially if you would prefer to experience more authentic Greece. Like most Greek islands, tourism is a big part of the island, however, it has not been spoilt by it, which allows for a more traditional Greek feel and experience.

There are so many places to explore and experience around Lesvos, including a petrified forest, hot springs and medieval castles. Not only are there various sightseeing experiences, but there are also beautiful beaches to enjoy and swim in the Aegean Sea…the best of both worlds. For nature enthusiasts, Lesvos is also the home of the most variety of birds and wildflowers, especially in Spring when birds are migrating.

Ouzo

If you know Greece, then you will know that Ouzo is one of the most popular drinks and one of the things Greece is famous for. Well, if you are an Ouzo fan, then visiting Lesvos will take you to Ouzo paradise, as it is the Ouzo capital of Greece. Lesvos is home to many popular brands of Ouzo and is home to 17 Ouzo distilleries. Lesvos accounts for 50% of Ouzo production across Greece, and this is one of the main income sources for the island, alongside agricultural production and tourism.

Exploring Lesvos  – Molyvos / Mithymna

For our trip, we based ourselves on the beautiful town of Molyvos, or Mithymna as it is also named. Molyvos is on the north of the island and is a popular tourist destination, with many accommodation offerings, bars, tavernas, shops, a harbour, a beach and an amazing castle. From Molyvos we were able to explore the surrounding areas of Petra and Anaxos. Next time we visit, I would love to explore a little further and see more of Lesvos Island.

Where we stayed:

Our accommodation choice was just outside of the main part of town with roughly a 15-20 minute walk into the town. Eryphilly Studios was the choice, booked through Jet 2 as a package holiday. I would highly recommend these lovely apartments for a base to stay in. The rooms are beautiful and well equipped, and the family who own it are just wonderful.
On sight is another accommodation named Meraki Time to Smile, which I think is mainly advertised and used by Dutch travel companies. Each accommodation has a pool, and you can use both during the stay which is great, especially if it is rather busy around one pool.
There is also a snack bar that offers food and drink throughout the day, which also includes a traditional offering daily. This is where we tried a local dish, that we haven’t before, named Sfugato, which is very similar to a Spanish tortilla. It uses the traditional cheese of Lesvos Ladotyri, courgettes and eggs…delicious!

Molyvos / Mithymna Town

As stated Molyvos or Mithymna is a traditional town in Lesvos, consisting of cobbled, winding streets; all leading up to a castle on the top of the hill. What I love about this place is, that it is a working village, so unlike other destinations in Greece, a lot of the businesses are open all year round. Some of the more tourist shops do close though. It still gives you that traditional feel to it. The main street or ‘Agora’ is beautiful, especially when the Wisteria that lines the street is in full bloom.

Be warned, if you have issues with walking then Molyvos may be a bit difficult, because of the cobbles as well as the inclines of the streets. However, this just gives you a great excuse to break the journey up by looking through the many shops and sampling tavernas adorning the streets. Just off of these streets, you will stumble across a type of square that is home to some fabulous tavernas. I would highly recommend checking these out for delicious food!

Molyvos also has a working harbour, with the area also having a plethora of tavernas. All serve traditional Greek dishes, with many having seafood specialities from that day’s catch. If you fancy trying lots of dishes, there is a taverna (The Captain’s table) specialising in meze dishes.
Here are a few pictures of Molyvos town to give you a bit of insight into how beautiful this place is. 

Molyvos Beach

Molyvos has a thin(ish) stretch of coastline. The beaches are split along, and there are various sections. We tried two of these, one of the beaches based near the old Olive Press. This area has a small strip with sunbeds, as well as an area as part of the Olive Press Hotel which has a swimming pool. You then head down onto the beach to enter the sea.

There is another beach area further along based at the Delfinia Hotel, and I have to admit, I preferred this part of the coastline better as it felt less crowded. The sunbeds are up from the beach, similar to the previous beach, where you then step down to the beach and sea.

What should be noted from both of the beaches we visited is that they are pebbled. Some parts are more so than others with larger bolder types and therefore swim shoes are a necessity if heading to the beach. Not only that but the sea around this area is home to sea urchins, so you have to be careful where you step! Let me just say, that having a swim in the Aegean Sea or any of the seas around Greece is just the perfect tonic!

Molyvos Castle

Molyvos has a Byzantine castle sitting at the top of the village. This is a beautiful castle and looks beautiful lit up at night. There is a café bar (Byzantino) near to the castle, where you can enjoy delicious food and drink while gazing up at the castle. You have to try the best orange pie (Portokalopita) if you do stop for refreshments, it is delicious

We didn’t go inside the castle this time, but I have previously and it is fascinating to see. Plus the views of the village and surrounding area are spectacular. You can see across the town, as well as the nearby coast of Turkey in the distance. Entry is a few euros to have a look around, and if you are lucky, they sometimes have performances here (at least they did 10 years ago) when there are festivals on in Molyvos.

The Ottoman Baths of Mithymna

Hidden away from the main street of Molyvos is the beautifully restored Ottoman Baths of Mithymna. These baths have been lovingly restored and are run by a group of volunteers. You can step back in time and see what the old baths would have once looked like and it is a sight to behold. The baths are not working baths but showcase the engineering of how they worked in the older times. If you are lucky, head up to the roof area where you can see more spectacular views of the town and coast. You can also see the specialist glass used on the domes for retaining the heat in the baths. They are cool to the touch on the outside but get very warm on the inside.

There is no entry fee but a place to provide a donation. The volunteer will also give you a guided tour and information about the history and workings of the bath.

Exploring Lesvos – Petra

Within Molyvos, a local village land train takes you in and around Molyvos, along the coast to Petra and following to the next village of Anaxos. For a day ticket, it will set you back €9 and this allows you unlimited travel throughout the day to hop on and off the land train. That is just what we did!

Petra

Petra is another quaint village, similar to Molyvos, with cobbled streets and old buildings. There is a large beachfront with many sunbeds and beach bars along the way. The beach here is pebbly, however does have a finer pebble than that of Molyvos, with some sand patches too.

Further back into the village, you will find the cobbled streets with one of the main ones lined with shops and other tavernas. Stepping back from the main street you will find the quaint houses that give that traditional vibe of Greece. There is an order stopping traffic from entering the middle of the village, and therefore everything is routed around the village.

Petra is also home to a spectacular attraction and one that is a little bit more unusual. There is a large rock housing a large church at the top. Glykfylousa Panagia to be in fact. There are 114 steps to reach the top, and these are carved into the stone. The views from here are reportedly magical, giving you wonderful views of the surrounding areas as well as along the Turkish coastline. We didn’t make it to the top, looking at the great building from below.
There is also a museum of sorts at the bottom of the rock to showcase the attraction as well as old village life, so perfect if you love a bit of history on your trips.

Exploring Lesvos – Anaxos

Carrying on the journey up the coast from Molyvos and Petra is the quaint village of Annaxos. Now, this felt like the quieter village of the two we visited, but was one with the best beach as it was sandy.
The beachfront has a plethora of sunbed options, as well as various tavernas and beach bars.
We did explore a little in Anaxos, however didn’t discover too much. I guess we went down the wrong road and only came across a little supermarket! Next time we plan on venturing further into the village.

Exploring Lesvos – Summary

So there is a round-up of our trip to the beautiful Greek Island of Lesvos. I would highly recommend visiting this island and exploring further than we did. There is something uniquely special and traditional about the place and I feel you get a proper Greek experience when you are there.
Not only do you get beautiful surroundings, and archaeological sights to visit, but the people are just lovely and welcoming.

I hope you have enjoyed exploring Lesvos with us!

Have you visited Lesvos before, or will you be planning a trip there now? let me know in the comments below!

Exploring Lesvos – Travel Vlog

Here is the video version of this post, to give you more depth to the beautiful Lesvos in video form! Don’t forget to like the video if you have enjoyed it, and why not subscribe to my channel to keep up with all of my creative and crafty antics on YouTube?

Exploring Lesvos – Save it!

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