Flights to Lesbos

Arriving at Mytilene

Mytilene International (MJT) sits on the coast about 8 km south of Mytilene town, around 15 minutes by taxi. Lesbos is a big island, so transfers to the resorts take time: Molyvos and Petra on the north coast are about an hour and a quarter away, Skala Eresou in the west around two hours, and Plomari in the south about an hour. A hire car is useful, as buses between villages are limited.

Castles, villages and ouzo

Mytilene's castle, begun by the Byzantines and extended by the Genoese and Ottomans, stands above the harbour, and the town has a lively waterfront and an archaeological museum. Molyvos, also called Mithymna, climbs a hillside of stone houses to another castle. Plomari is the home of ouzo, and several distilleries welcome visitors. Agiasos, on the slopes of Mount Olympus, is known for pottery and woodcarving. Petra, just south of Molyvos, has a church perched on a rock and reached by more than 100 steps.

Nature and beaches

The Kalloni salt pans and wetlands draw birdwatchers in spring, when migrating species stop on the island. In the west, the Petrified Forest near Sigri preserves fossilised tree trunks around 20 million years old, with a museum explaining how volcanic ash buried them. Skala Eresou has a long sandy beach, and the poet Sappho was born in nearby Eresos in the 7th century BC.

When to go

Direct flights from the UK run from late spring to early autumn. Highs reach around 30°C in July and August, while April and May bring wildflowers and birdlife. Lesbos lies just off the coast of Turkey, and ferries cross from Mytilene to Ayvalık and Dikili. Outside the summer, fly via Athens or Thessaloniki. Mytilene stays lively all year, as it is home to the University of the Aegean.

Planning Lesbos with another Greek island? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll compare flights via Athens.