Lemnos

Besides the usual booking.com and Airbnb, you can try here:

https://www.lemnosrooms.gr/en/

This general website about Lemnos is very comprehensive:

https://www.vialemnia.gr/en/#lemnos-intro

Myrina can be a good base if you want to stay "in town." But it's very far southwest of the island, which is large, and therefore quite far from many interesting places. (Driving from Myrina to the eastern part of the island takes 1.5 hours round trip.) A car is essential.
So it's a matter of preference and what you want to do: In Myrina, enjoy the advantages of a town but be far from the main attractions, or somewhere else with fewer shops and crowds but in a better location to explore the island.

Don't forget that there are flights from Thessaloniki to Lemnos in case the ferry isn't an option.

Some photos from last year

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DimC2XKzJ1qLFJ5y6

Hi TTM
So going off last year's schedules, yes there was 1 ferry per week (Sunday) from Thess with Blue Star. I cannot see that changing for this summer. But I am assuming that the Govt department that approves the ferry schedules have not signed off on this one for mid-May onwards.
This is not unusual for Lemnos. Unfortunately their ferry schedules for the high season are always released quite late. Just keep on monitoring Blue Star website. Otherwise as JL said, you can also fly to the island if you need to lock in your plans.

Thanks for the housing links and perspective, Jo Lui! I have searched booking and not found much - hadn’t yet checked air bnb but I will be going through the listings in these links.

And yes, staying right in town or somewhere a bit less crowded is always a question of balance. As a solo traveler, I don’t worry about physical safety but I do try to consider how I like to have a glass of wine or two at dinner, but then need to drive back to wherever I am staying - in a new car in a new place. It’s also fairly certain that what I am not doing is cooking when I am there. So having a place or two easily accessible for meals is important. I AM a bit covered for new experiences with either choice - at home I have NONE of what Lemnos (or Greece) offers. :)

Bougiebougieson, thanks for ferry info. I was hoping to take a ferry one way, just for the experience, and fly the other - to and from Thessaloniki, where I will spend a few days after Lemnos. And hopefully my luck holds because the current plan has me trying to catch the ferry on a Sunday. I will just keep an eye on Blue Star.

Car or not is also always a question. I will be arriving in Thessaloniki after having had a car for a week, in the area of Kastraki. So I was debating over whether I needed to rent again in Lemnos or take a break from a car. It sounds like I will want one at least part of the time. I haven’t gotten that far in my research…..

Great links JoLui - thanks for sharing.

Another website about Lemnos:

https://www.lemnosgeomonuments.gr/en/

According to openseas.gr, there was only one Blue Star ferry per week on Sundays in 2025 between Thessaloniki and Lemnos (an overnight ferry).

We were planning to travel from France, visit Thessaloniki, and go to Lemnos before ending our trip in Athens. I had also considered the ferry. In my initial research on the best way to get to Lemnos from Thessaloniki, there was also the option of taking a Blue Star or Seajets ferry from Kavala. However, while ferries are more frequent from Kavala, it's 150 km east of Thessaloniki.

Ultimately, it became clear that only a flight would be suitable. In terms of schedules, travel time, and price, it's by far the most efficient and convenient option. Aegean/Olympic operates daily flights from Thessaloniki. The same ATR72 plane continues on to the island of Ikaria, you disembark in Lemnos like getting off a bus at the Lemnos stop

Regarding where to stay, I chose Nea Koutali because 1/ we liked the house, 2/ for logistical reasons, 3/ because the village has a unique and special history. This could ring a bell to refugees coming from TA...LOL

https://www.naegean-modernhistory.gr/en/landmark/limnos-en/%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8E%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CF%83%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B5%CF%82-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BB%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85/

Furthermore, even without self-catering, over four days there are enough bars and restaurants to find a different place to eat every day without needing a car to get back home.

Ippokampos was our evening headquarters.

https://www.ippokamposcafebar.gr/

After Lemnos we took a short flight to Athens

People have different reasons for where to stay not just on Lemnos but any location.

Staying somewhere that has a good selection of shops, markets and tavernas is important and while I can understand wanting to stay in a village that still has a lot of character which I have done on many trips it comes down to do I have to drive to get to a town that provides those locations and then return?

When I go out to eat I like having a glass or two of wine so I really don't want to drive after drinking.

While Myrina may not be centrally located it does offer a huge selection of options for services. These is an Old Town area that appears to be very nice.

After searching various websites for accommodations I decided that Myrina would be my best option including cost.

I found a nice totally updated and modernized old building on Airbnb on a back street in a Greek neighborhood at a budget friendly price.

Easy to walk all over the town and return to a quiet neighborhood.

On Google maps driving from Myrina to the furthest village (Plaka) on east of the island will take around 47 minutes. Obviously a lot less time to other parts of the island so that will work for me.

I've driven much further distances from where I stayed on the Peloponnese so I'm OK with the driving.

The link that JoLui offered is a great option for accommodations all over the island but check out Airbnb.

As far as renting a car I think it would be mandatory even for just part of your stay.

As always JoLui provides a lot of solid information and the websites provided are great.

There is a lot to see on the island and I doubt buses go everywhere or at convenient times.

Everyone should decide on what's best for them.

Thanks for all the extra thoughts! I normally plan well ahead - and didn’t have an additional location (just hitting a return to Kastraki and Thessaloniki, which I missed a few days of last time, plus a couple of nights in between) on the plan. But I thought, if not now, then when? But I do feel I am a bit behind on my research. All of these replies help.

I agree with Tommy, if you need lots of shops within walking distance every day, Myrina is the place for you. It has everything you'd find in a city. There are even pedestrian streets lined exclusively with shops (clothes, jewelry, shoes, kitchenware, souvenirs).
I haven't seen any other place on Lemnos with so many shops.

We had just spent 4 days in Thessaloniki, so we'd had our dose of shops and vibrant city life.

In terms of shops, apart from just 5 or 6 tavernas and bars, Nea Koutali only has two mini-markets, a bakery, a butcher, a natural sponge shop, and a sort of secondhand shop. On the other hand, it has a more intimate local atmosphere, and that's what we like because of the better opportunities to meet people.

It's kind of our way of traveling; by going to the same spot in a village every evening, we've made quite a few friends and had some excellent nights out. In a city, it's less easy to find that close connection with other people, whether they're just passing through or locals.

It could be a plus when traveling solo, but of course it's a matter of personality and needs.

Jo Lui:

I did a comprehensive search of the island to try to find something that has a little bit of everything.

The most important factor for me was budget. While I'm not cheap I am economical and had to balance and/or compromise on what would work for me.

In the end Myrina had the most options for accommodations and a number of them were in my budget plus having more options for services.

I also like to wander around after dinner and Myrina is large enough for lots of wandering around.

I'm not an all nighter for being out at night so I'm usually back at the accommodations early so I won't be bar hopping or carousing.

Those days are long gone.

Also I'm not a beach person even though I love the coast line and coastal villages but laying on a beach or swimming is not a necessity.

Another factor is that I travel off season and I'm assuming the second half of April will be a lot quieter as far as tourists go so hopefully it will be mostly locals out and about.

Tommy, my message was meant for TexasTravelMom; I already know you've chosen to stay in Myrina and I already know why . :)

OK.

Just wanted to also let others my way of finding accommodations

Thanks for all your help

I thought I would do a follow up on what I ended up with.

I had really really wanted to take an overnight ferry one way, leaving from Thessaloniki where I will spend some time after Lemnos. I was even going to be able to make the once a week departure date work. But according to last year’s schedule (this year not out yet), it arrives In Lemnos at 3am. I wasn’t willing to do that. So I am flying round trip and picking up a rental car at the airport when I arrive.

I also opted for an apartment facing the beach in Nea Koutali. I went back to booking.com to find it, having looked earlier and missed it. I spent quite a bit of time looking at a variety of places and this one felt right for this visit. Had I been arriving by ferry, I might have chosen differently.

Even with flying, I arrive way too early to check in, so I will use my first day to do some sightseeing. (I won’t arrive with jet lag.) However arriving early gives me 4 full days, which will be too short but will let me see a different part of Greece.

I did check out menus for places to eat in Nea Koutali. Sometimes it feels good to just settle into the same place for dinner every night and I think this is one of those times. (I will do the same near Meteora earlier but not in Thessaloniki.) If not, I will have a car.

I appreciated all the help with a place that this forum doesn’t have a lot about!

TexasTravelMom,

I think the flight was indeed the best option considering the ferry schedules.

Since we also stayed a few days in Nea Koutali two years ago, if you need any information about the village (besides the Ippokampos bar/restaurant I already mentioned) and about Lemnos in general, feel free to ask. You can send us a private message.