Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) has turned its functions over to the North Aegean Islands Tourism Directorate. Its office is at 6 James Aristarchou, 81100 Mitilini (tel. 22510/42-511; fax 22510/27-601). Primarily an administrative center, the office is not especially set up to provide hands-on help for tourists. It's open daily from 8am to 2:30pm, with extended hours in the high season. The tourist police (tel. 22510/22-276) may also be helpful, but private travel agencies are your best bet for information.

Getting Around

By Bus -- There are two bus stations in Mitilini, one for local and the other for round-the-island routes. The local bus station (tel. 22510/28-725) is near the harbor's north end, by the (closed) Folklife Museum and across from the Commercial Bank (Emporiki Trapeza). Local buses on Lesvos are frequent, running every hour from 6am to 9pm most of the year. The destinations covered are all within 12km (7 1/2 miles) of Mitilini, and include Thermi, Moria, and Pamfilla to the north; and Varia, Ayia Marina, and Loutra to the south. The most expensive local fare is 4€ ($5.20). The posted schedule is hard to read, but ticket-sellers can decipher it. You can catch the round-the-island KTEL buses (tel. 22510/28-873) in Mitilini at the port's south end behind Argo Hotel. There's daily service in summer to Kaloni and Molivos (four times), Mandamados (once), Plomari (four times), and Eressos and Sigri (once).

By Car -- Rental prices in Mitilini tend to be high, so be sure to shop around. A good place to start is Payless Car Rental (automoto@otenet.gr), with offices at the airport (tel. 22510/61-665) and on the port in Mitilini (tel. 22510/43-555), near the local (north) bus station. Summer daily rates start at around 70€ ($91) with 100 free kilometers; each kilometer over 100 is an additional 1€ ($1.30). Assuming an average day's drive is 150km (94 miles), count on paying about 100€ ($136) a day.

By Taxi -- Lesvos is a big island. The one-way taxi fare from Mitilini to Molivos is about 40€ ($52); from Mitilini to Eressos or Sigri, about 60€ ($78). The main taxi stand in Mitilini is on Plateia Kyprion Patrioton, a long block inland from the port's southern end; there's a smaller taxi stand at the port's north end, near the local bus station.

Fast Facts

The area code for Mitilini is 22510, for Molivos (Mithimna) and Eressos 22530, and for Plomari 22520. There are ATMs at several banks on the port, including the Ioniki Trapeza and Agrotiki Trapeza (both south of the local bus station). Vostani Hospital (tel. 22510/43-777) on P. Vostani, southeast of town, will take care of emergencies. Glaros Laundry (tel. 22510/27-065), opposite the tourist police near the ferry pier, is open from 9am to 2pm and 6 to 8pm; the turnaround time is usually 24 hours. The post office and the telephone office (OTE) are on Plateia Kyprion Patrioton, 1 block inland from the town hall at the south end of the port. The principal taxi stand is also on Plateia Kyprion Patrioton. The tourist police (tel. 22510/22-776) are located just east of the ferry quay.