Greece: 8+1 reasons to visit Lemnos island

My trip to Lemnos was a last-minute decision, in the middle of the pandemic of 2020. While looking for a place easily accessible, safe, low-budget and small, to save time of my work holidays, that little island of the North East Aegean Sea caught my eye. Although it is a popular destination in Northern Greece for summer holidays, mostly for families due to shallow waters, I wasn’t very impressed by either the photos or the information I had found so far. However, it was exactly what I was looking for under those circumstances, mainly to the easy access by car to the port of Kavala, and then, directly to Myrina by boat, within 3-4 hours. Well, after traveling around almost the whole island from side to side for one week, I realized once again, the importance of promoting a destination through the right information and mostly, the shots!

So Lemnos or Limnos, this little undervalued island, was a real revelation! In addition to the easy access, the affordable accommodation and food prices, and the chilled out atmosphere, I am giving you 9 more reasons to visit it, if you haven’t already:

The sunset over the desert

No, those photos have not been taken during my trip to the Sahara desert. There is a desert in Greece, as well! Isn’t that a reason to visit the only place of the country that will take you imaginary, even for a while, to another part of the planet? It is not vast and you won’t meet camels around, but the small Sahara of Limnos with the golden/orange sand is equally impressive! No one knows how those sand dunes were created in that part of the island, far enough from the neighboring Gomati beach. The access is not easy and can be done by private means of transport only. However, there are signs that guide you before you get to the beach, so you’ll definitely find it. What’s the best time to enjoy this magical place? The sunset, for sure!!!

The endless white of Aliki (the salt lake)

Now I’m taking you to faraway Bolivia and the miniature of the stunning landscape of Salar de Uyuni. Aliki of Limnos or Salar de Limnos, as per a friend, is not the only one salt lake in Greece, and it is much smaller than the one of Mesologgi. But it is definitely worth a visit, as access is easy (by private means) and it needs no more than 10’ to enjoy it.

The alien scenery of Faraklo

That’s the third landscape that reminded me another country’s scenery, specifically, from Arizona. It is impressive that a small Greek island hides many unique spots of different parts of our planet, and most people have no idea about it! Faraklo is a geological park, in which volcanic rocks end up in the sea, creating strange color formations. Although the access is quite difficult, driving on an unmade road (private vehicle only), the alien scenery of the place is really worth it!

Panagia Kakaviotissa church

The one-of-a-kind roofless church in the world is called Panagia Kakaviotissa and it is hidden inside a very impressive rock, in the middle of nowhere. In order to reach the place, you need a private means, once more. You can leave it in the parking area, near the uphill path and walk on stones, for about 20′-30′ up to the church. The route is very pleasant, as you can enjoy unlimited views to the Aegean Sea on one side and steep peaks on the other. Since the path is made of slippery stones, you better opt for closed and comfortable shoes instead of flip flops.

The countless beaches

Not only one or two, but countless beaches with golden sand and warm waters surround the island! You can find everything that covers all tastes, from organized ones or completely isolated, to small bays or long sandy beaches. On the west side of the island, they will offer you beautiful sunsets, but the southern beaches were those that impressed me the most: little Fanaraki, Thanos, Evgaty, Havouli. My favorite one turned to be Gomati, on the north part of the island, maybe because the landscape was dry and unusual, resembling the Red Sea coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Although the waters are shallow in general, sure thing is that no one will complain!

Unique landscapes and archaeological sites

The landscape of Limnos is generally wild, dry and constantly alternating. The inland mountains looks like cut rocks, while the beaches have dark golden sand, due to volcanic rocks. On each side of the island, there is something different to discover: small lakes with flamingos, windmills, fishing villages, and of course, all the above mentioned special places. There are also interesting archaeological sites: Poliochni, the oldest city in Europe, the Sanctuary of Kavira with the cave of Philoctetis, Hephaestia and the Byzantine Castle of Myrina.

The stunning view from the Castle of Myrina

The Castle of Myrina, the main attraction of the island’s capital, is a Byzantine fortress of the 12th century, with unlimited views to the 2 ports and the Aegean Sea. It is built on a rocky peninsula and it is inhabited by free deer and wild goats, which you can meet around, at any time. The ascent is relatively easy, with sole access from the east side of the rock, throughout the day. To me, the best time is just before sunset, as you can enjoy the sun setting behind the peninsula of Athos, while painting the Aegean Sea with gold color! ! During the night, the view to the lit castle from Myrina, is just magical!

Traditional food and delicious wine

The cuisine of Limnos is famous all over the country. Wherever you are, you have countless choices of great food, from traditional pasta, and various kinds of cheese (melichloro saganaki, kalathaki, kaskavali) to fresh fish and seafood, as well as local quality wine. The most popular traditional pasta dish is the “rooster with flomaria“, which I tried in the taverna “Flomari“, with the amazing views to my favorite Gomati beach. In “Ouzeri 11” inside the alleys of Myrina, I ate the best smoked steak, while in “Karagiozis” bar, I enjoyed my drink, overlooking the impressive lit Castle. Besides the very tasty house wine I was drinking every day, the bottled organic ones I bought from the cellar www.limnosorganicwines.gr, were delicious, and I highly recommend them!

*the recommendation of the above companies is based on my own, personal experience and does not constitute promotion.

The remote island of Agios Efstratios

Agios Efstratios or Ai Stratis is a small remote island, inhabited by 270 permanent residents. It had a long history, from antiquity until the later years, which was used as a place of exile. It is located in the southwest of Limnos, easily accessible in 3-4 hours by boat from Myrina. While it is supposed to be an off the beaten path island, I personally, did not find anything worthwhile that justifies this reputation. A small settlement, damaged by the great earthquake of 1968 and the isolated beaches around the island, are the main attractions of this place, which belongs to the protected areas of the Natura 2000 network. Its caves are home to the monachus seals, which occasionally swim up to the small bay of the settlement. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the rest of the island, as there is no public transportation, so I spent 2 laid-back days and nights on the main beach. The highlight of my stay was the magical sunset, one of the most impressive I have enjoyed so far on a Greek island!