Hi!
I am programming to spend 15 days in Lesbos during July 2024.
However, I found difficulties how to split my time there and what are the places that I should choose as a base in addition to Plomari.
I am thinking about Agiassos ,Plomari and Skala Eressou,but for the latter , I am not sure if it deserves to stay in for 3 or 4 days or it can be sufficient as a day excursion from Agiassos or from Plomari.
I am not a beach man even if I appreciate to have lunch or dinner over the sea and to swim for time to time and I like to find other things to visit then to spend all the day in the beach.
From the photos, I observed series of cafes and taverns along a beautiful beach. I wonder if that alone is sufficient to keep me occupied for 3 or 4 days .
Any suggestion or advice are welcomed.
Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2185 posts
We love Lesvos — have been there several times. We have visited Agiassos & Plomari but only as day trips.
Our favorite place is Hotel Votsala, just north of Mytilene. It’s a wonderful little hotel along the sea, with many, many repeat visitors. I’d start your trip there, taking a taxi from ferry or airport.
Each day at Votsala starts with a delicious (included) breakfast under the olive trees, with classical music in the background. Then you can take an optional excursion — maybe an archeological hike or a visit to a secret beach. One year we went to Pergamon, in Turkey. There are little tavernas in the port, maybe a five minute stroll, or a thermal bath to visit. You can wander through the ancient olive groves — Lesvos has 14 million olive trees! You can catch a bus on the road outside the hotel & visit the archeological museum in Mytilene. Of course there’s a (rocky) beach with free beach chairs & water toys. Spectacular sunrises. The most charming, helpful staff you’ve ever met.
When you’re ready to move on, a rental car can be delivered to you at Votsala. You can spend a few days in Molyvos, a charming town topped by a fortress.
Then drive to Sigri, visiting the Pervolis monastery along the way. Sigri has a Turkish fort & an abandoned WWII tank & a petrified forest museum. It has an end-of-the-world feeling to it. A day trip is enough for Sigri — continue on to Skala Eressos, and spend a couple of nights there. Do some hiking.
You could stay in Agiassos or Plomari on your way back to Mytilene, where you can drop your car at the airport or ferry. Plomari has an ouzo factory with tours — you may have to arrange in advance.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Hi Charlene !
Thank you very much for your reply. I apologize for the delay.
Would you recommend staying in Skala Eresou rather than Plomari, considering I plan to visit Plomari for just a day?
Do you find the village of Eresos worth visiting?
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2185 posts
I’d do at least 2 nights in Skala Erresos, giving you at least one full day. Not a lot to do there but so pretty. We never visited Eressos, but you could include a visit there during your stay.
We’ve never stayed in Plomari, just did a day trip for lunch & to visit the ouzo factory. It could be a good stopover for one night on your way back to Mytilene.
The roads are good on Lesvos and it’s easy to drive, with lots of beautiful scenery along the way. July gets busy so I’d make hotel reservations soon.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Hi Charlene
Since I am in the process of finalizing my program in Lesbos, I am taking a step back to read the messages and draw inspiration from them. In your penultimate message, you wrote that one year you visited Pergamon in Turkey and there are little tavernas in the port and you spent maybe a five-minute stroll.
Since I programmed to take the ferry from Mitylini to Ayvalik for 2 or 3 nights either in Cunda or in Ayvalik ? I am also programming to rent car in Ayvalik to visit Pergamon.
One traveller on the forum wrote that a couple of times every year he drives up to Canakkale, and he have visited Pergamon a number of times,but he have never been inclined to stay there for a night?
After reading this , I am no longer inclined to spend more that the allowed time for the site and to come back to Ayvalik .
From your personal experience and opinion what do you recommend .
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2185 posts
Romaris — My only experience is that day trip. We took a ferry from Mytilene to Ayvalik, then Yiannis had arranged a tour guide who took us to Pergamon. It was an amazing site and well worth a visit. The amphitheater, which held 10,000 people, is one of the steepest in the world and remarkably preserved. We also visited the nearby Asclepion, a 4th century BC medical center.
We then returned to Ayvalik, where we explored a bit, and then ferried back to Mytilene. So I’m sorry can’t really speak to the decision of where to stay. If you have time — and have never seen Ephesus — it might be worth driving south to Selcuk after a night in Ayvalik.