LIMNOS /LEMNOS/ ISLAND – The Island of the Gods
Limnos /Lemnos/ is the eighth largest island in Greece and is located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Its area is 482 square kilometers, with a population of about 18 thousand people. The coastline is over 260 km, and the highest point is 430 m above sea level. Limnos offers many well-organized wide, sandy beaches with shallow water, and in its northwestern part there are wild beaches for those seeking solitude.
The strong wind on the northeastern beaches makes the island extremely suitable for water sports and it becomes an attraction for fans of windsurfing and kite surfing, especially Keros beach. If you are looking for nightlife, you should head to the north coast. The summer season lasts until October.
Transport to the island of Limnos
Limnos can be reached by ferry from Kavala in 4:30-5 hours. The journey is long, but it is worth to see the landscape to Mount Athos – on one side, and on the other you can see Samothrace island. Ferry lines connect the island of Limnos with the islands of Agios Evstratios, Ikaria, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Samothrace, as well as with the ports of Thessaloniki, Piraeus and the village of Lavrio (Attica).
The island also has an airport, whose main purpose is to be a military base in Greece, due to its proximity to the Dardanelles, but in the summer months it welcomes tourists on charter flights from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and others.
Sightseeing and beaches
There are 36 villages in the island with the administrative center of Myrina – a beautiful port town on the west coast of the island, with about 6 thousand people. The town has the typical narrow streets of the region, filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. There is also a fortress that surrounds the hill above the port. It is quite preserved and there you can see many tunnels and towers, and the walls in places rise to 7-8 meters. Extremely difficult to decipher, the fortress was an excellent facility for the defense of the city in the past.
Near Myrina, there are well-organized resorts with sandy beaches, the most famous of them are: Paralia Plateos and Thanus. The towns of Koutali and Moudros are also interesting to see. Although Moudros has no beach, it is both the island’s second largest seaside resort and the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean. Near Moudros there are well-organized beaches of Mikro Fanaraki, Megalo Fanaraki and Havouli – with beautiful beach bars.
Overall Limnos is a fairly quiet island because it is not as famous as the other large Greek islands – Corfu, Rhodes or Santorini. This becomes his advantage, as it manages to preserve its authentic image and attracts tourists with its unspoilt environment, local Greek cuisine and many interesting archeological sites to visit.
Interesting places to visit on the island of Lemnos:
1) Thе сhurсh оf Pаnаgiа Kаκаviοtissа – the only Christian church in the world without a roof. It is located on top of Mount Kakavos and was built in a cave, as in the past it was the ideal hidden place for hermits. The road is in good condition and visiting the old church is suitable for all ages.
2) The desert in Limnos is a unique landmark, as it is the only desert in Europe and is located on an island! Its area is about 70 acres, and 3 km from it is the beautiful beach Gomati and a tank abandoned by World War II – a great place for photos.
3) The remains of Poliochni are the pride of the island, as it is the oldest Neolithic settlement in Europe (4000 BC). It is located on the east coast and was discovered in 1936. Archaeologists have identified 7 layers of cities built on top of each other.
4) The Byzantine castle Castro – built in 1186, but today has the function of shelter for deer.
5) The Lemnos Stela – a stone tombstone depicting a warrior with a spear and a strange inscription (Exact dating is still being commented on).
6) Lake Hortarolimni is a protected area due to the large number of different species of birds.
7) Archaeological excavations and ancient ruins of the temple of Artemis and Hephaestus, as well as the Agios Sozon Monastery.
8) The Temple of Cavirio and the sea cave of Philoctetes below it.
9) Gomati beach – the water is shallow and much warmer, as it is located far from the streams coming from the Dardanelles. Extremely suitable for children.
10) Windmills – extremely typical mostly in the east, due to the strong winds in the area. There are also luxurious guest rooms in the shape of mills.
Hotels and accommodation on Lemnos Island
Regarding accommodation, in Limnos you can find different kind of offers: there are rooms and studios for rent, as well as villas or luxury hotels. It is good to make a reservation in advance, especially during the summer season.
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