Pristine beaches, unique landscapes and a rich culinary tradition are just some of the reasons its worth visiting Lemnos. The island of Hephaestus harbors countless treasures and invites you to discover them.
Myth and history. Beaches even for the most demanding. Selfless people who consider hospitality their personal mission. Opportunities for relaxation or wild fun. And a landscape unlike any other.
This is Lemnos. Volcanic in its geological origin, it is also metaphorically an unseen volcano that simmers. Beneath its seemingly calm surface, it hides treasures to be discovered only by those who have had their fill of the ostentatious cosmopolitanism of other Aegean islands and are in the mood for exploration.
With flight connections from Athens and Thessaloniki and with easy access from Kavala, in a few hours by ferry you find yourself on the island where Hephaestus found refuge, after the quarrel Zeus had with the jealous Hera. Mysterious, with the shadow of the Cabeiri still cast upon it, prehistoric, with Poliochni, the oldest city in Europe dating from the fifth millennium BC, devout, with the famous sanctuary of Lemnoss great goddess, Hephaistia. Fortified, with some of the most renowned and best-preserved castles of the Mediterranean, such as the Castle of Myrina (the largest in the Aegean), of Moudros and the Kotsinos Fortress.
Beaches for every taste
On Lemnos more than 100 sandy beaches await you, shaded or surrendered to the relentless summer sun, breezy or utterly still. It is impossible, no matter how demanding one may be, not to find the perfect one among them. If you want comfort and cocktails at seaside bars your go-tos are in Myrina, Romeikos Gialos and Richa Nera, Avlona beach and Evgatis.
Volcanic scenery and green waters await at Platy, waterfalls at Agios Ioannis in Kaspakas, sand dunes at Gomati. Keros beach is a magnet for holidaymakers thanks to its sandy, warm sea, while the summer meltemi winds make it ideal for lovers of kite surfing and wind surfing.
If you have your own boat, or want to rent one to circle the island or reach a remote beach you will live an unforgettable experience. And these are only the first choices. Because beyond the sea, the wild allure of Lemnos hides in its interior.
Unique landscapes
Lemnos has no forests. Geological conditions, extensive livestock farming and the winds did not allow the development of woodland in almost any part of the island, after a volcanic eruption, millions of years ago. It does, however, have habitats with a distinctive character that attract travelers from all over the world. In the north of the island at Gomati beach stretch the famous sand dunes or «thick sandy fields» that form an exceptionally rare landscape. The scant vegetation composing the flora of the dunes is mainly fragrant white lilies, chaste trees, thyme and oleanders.
One of the island’s hidden beauties is the «hanging waters», in the Katsaiti stream of the Kaspakas area. A commanding waterfall and small pools at its base offer a refuge to aquatic organisms adapted to a miniature yet self-sufficient habitat.
Alyki, Hortarolimni and Asprolimni, wetlands of unique natural beauty have been included in the Natura 2000 network. They host more than 250 species of rare birds, many of them endangered, and spark the interest of avid bird watching enthusiasts, an activity gaining ground because it combines exploring nature with the joy of discovery.
Gastronomic surprises
Lemnos was known for its famous wines since the time of Homer. Its volcanic soil is ideal for the cultivation of the vine and the varieties Muscat of Alexandria and Kalambaki (Limnio) produce excellent white and red wines respectively. But its fertile lands are not limited only to wine production but also to the production of grains, vegetables and pulses. Pure flower honey, loukoumia and its distinctive cheeses such as kaskavali, kalathaki and the traditional melichloro or melipasto, complete the picture of a feast of aromas and flavors.
Now that the world is rediscovering traditional desserts, Lemnos halva is once again in the spotlight. Wholesome and light, made only from tahini and honey, in vanilla or cocoa flavor with or without nuts. Also try the syrupy sweets (samsades, baklava) spoon sweets, almond confections and the famous «venizelika».
In the island’s tavernas try flomaria (a type of pasta), savor fresh fish and seafood in Moudros and free-range rooster and rabbit in Sardes.
Charming and low-key
Lemnos is one of the least advertised islands of the Northern Aegean. Once this was considered a disadvantage. The truth is, however, that it allowed the place to preserve its identity, its culture and its pristine natural beauty, along with some surprises you would not imagine when you first arrive at its port. But when you walk on the Castle of Myrina at a summer dusk and see across from you, quietly and serenely, one of the area’s red deer roaming free observing you, that is when you will appreciate the gentle tourist character of fragrant, contemplative Lemnos.
