Things to do
Let the beauty of this island touch you
Lesbos
Olive groves
Lesbos is the third largest island of Greece. Born of volcanoes, it rises in several places to almost a thousand metres above the sea.
Eleven million olive trees stand on the island, and it is still deeply shaped by farming. The olive groves are tended with great care, and the island's olive oils are wonderfully mild and fruity.
In Pappados you can visit the Olive Press Museum, where the making of olive oil is explained and demonstrated.
All over the island you will find traditional mountain villages, snug little harbour quarters and picturesque small towns, made for wandering on foot. Mountain villages such as Agiasos and Mantamados are known for their pottery, which you can buy right there. Skala Eresou, Petra and Tavari offer lively beach promenades and lovely beach bars, and picturesque harbour quarters wait for you in Skala Sikaminea and in Molivos.
If you long for colourful, lively small-town charm, visit the capital Mytilini – it even has a medieval castle of its own.
Places worth seeing
Beaches
Simply because of its size, the island offers more beaches than many another Greek island, and the kinds of beach could hardly be more different – sand, stone and pebble, all of them here.
In Petra, Ambelia and Anaxos you will find dreamy sandy beaches and beach bars with free sunbeds. Molivos has pebble beaches, lovely cafés, beach bars and a volleyball court set right in the water. And if you have wheels, you keep stumbling on small lonely beaches where you feel like the end of the world.
On Lesbos lies the Petrified Forest, unique in all the world. The fossilised remains of these trees can be seen today in a lovely valley only a few kilometres from Sigri.
You can also visit numerous monasteries – the largest and most important, Moni Limonos, or the island's oldest, Moni Ypsilou. In Petra, the church of Panagia Glikofilousa stands on a tall lonely rock in the middle of the old town; in the evening it offers a beautiful atmosphere and a wonderful view over the town.
Beside the castle in Molivos you can also visit the old Turkish fortress in Sigri or the castle of Mytilini.
Sights
Molivos
The old town and the castle
One of the most impressive sights of Lesbos is the picturesque town of Molivos, also called Mythimna, with its medieval Byzantine castle.
The castle and the lanes of the old town, with their characteristic stone houses, lie only a few minutes' walk from Miracle Garden. Despite growing tourism, Molivos has kept its original character and invites you above all to stroll and wander.
In Molivos and around it there are beautifully situated taverns and restaurants, serving traditional Greek cuisine and plenty of vegetarian dishes alongside.
Make yourself comfortable on one of the many balconies high above Molivos watching the sunset, in a harbour tavern with a view of the fishing boats, or under the plane trees in the middle of the old lanes. For the sweet-toothed there are wonderful cafés and ice-cream parlours with homemade cakes and ice cream. The Greeks are warm-hearted hosts, and they look forward to spoiling and caring for you.
Taverns and restaurants
Shopping
In the old lanes of Molivos you will find the Traditional Market – a whole little quarter of shops selling mostly regional goods. Here you will find everything from leather goods and clothing to natural cosmetics, jewellery, pottery, keepsakes and souvenirs. The Greeks greet you warmly and are happy to help you find just the right thing.
The lanes around the Traditional Market are covered by a green canopy of leaves, so even in high summer it stays pleasantly shady there.
Cafés and ice cream
Sunsets
The sunsets of Molivos are a spectacle of nature with new facets every day. Experience them from the balconies of the taverns in Molivos or in the beach bars of Petra.
From the castle, which sits a little higher still than Miracle Garden, you have the perfect western view of the sunset and a free, wide outlook.
Activities
Horse riding
In Molivos you can take riding lessons in the riding arena or set out on a ride through the beautiful countryside. We ride there ourselves and are happy to arrange lessons or excursions for you. With great care and patience you are introduced to the art of riding and to the horses – a lovely way to see Molivos from a different perspective.
In Anaxos and Skala Eresou all kinds of water sports are on offer – kayaking, stand-up paddling, water-skiing or tubing, just as the mood takes you. We are happy to help you organise your water sports.
Bicycle, scooter and car
We are happy to help when you would like to rent a bicycle, a scooter or a car. By bicycle you can explore the area around Molivos, and guided e-bike tours are on offer too. For places further away, a scooter takes you there – you may ride one on your car licence, and in summer the cooling breeze makes it great fun.
The south and the west of Lesbos are best explored by car, and we gladly give you tips so you can put together just the right route for your outings.
Hiking
With all its untouched nature and varied landscapes, Lesbos is ideal ground for hiking. Shady pine forests, colourful flower meadows, rugged coasts and romantic mountain villages wait along narrow donkey paths and lovely old trails. Around Mount Olympos, at 968 metres the highest point of the island, well-kept paths invite you to hike along romantic mountain streams and through great olive groves. And in the nearer surroundings of Molivos and Petra, too, you will find beautiful routes with plenty of treasures to discover.