Limnos (sometimes also called Lemnos) is a Greek island that is situated in the north eastern Aegean Sea. Limnos is a vulcanic and fertile island. The island has around 16.000 inhabitants and is 477 km2 in size. The coastline measures almost 260 kilometer. On first impression the east part of Limnos looks not very Greek because it is flat and has green fields, cornfields and grazing cattle. There are many different trees, vegetable fields and grape fields on the island because of its (fertile) volcanic origin. Limnos is a center for wine making, and also wheat, grapes, almonds and sesame is grown on the island. Despite this Limnos is quite dry compared to other islands in the Aegean, with little rain and sometimes a strong wind.

The eastern part of Limnos is fertile and green and the western part of the island is more rocky, volcanic and hilly. In this part of the island you also find the majority of the best beaches. In the northwest the mountain Skopia with its 430 meter is the highest mountain of the island. Limnos has many deep bays that have beautiful and protected sand beaches. In the east of the island are two lakes, Limni and Chortarolimni. Since the island is so close to the Turkish coast and has a strategical position close to the Dardanels (the seaway to Istanbul) there is a large military presence on Limnos.

Due to not so regular ferry connections Limnos has escaped the mass tourism. There is no international airport so it can only be reached by domestic flight from Athens or Thessaloniki. The ferries come in from Kavala, Rafina, Piraeus and Thessaloniki on the mainland and from the islands Lesbos, Chios and Samos. Always first check the internet for connections - for more info also check the frequently asked questions for more info on the ferries. Limnos is a destination for people that like it quiet and peaceful, and it is excellent for those who like to make walks or bike rides.

For all hotels, studios, apartments and villas on the island of Limnos in Greece - click here.

The capital and center of island life of the island is situated on the south west side of the island and is called Myrina / Mirina or Kastro. Myrina dates from the 12th / 13th century and is a town with a long history. It is named after the wife of the first king of the island, Thoantas. In 1276 the city was renamed Paliokastro, after that it was named Kastro untill 1955 and finally it was named Myrina again. It is a colourful town and one of the more popular places for tourists to choose an accommodation. Miryna is a traditional village with 5000 inhabitants. It is a working town more than a tourist town and it has interesting small backstreets full of small shops where you can buy the traditional products and the specialities of the island, like the goat cheese, almonds, figs, honey or the wine that is made on Limnos.

The focal point of the small town is the medieval Kastro or castle that stands on a rock in between the two bays of the village. The Kastro of Myrina is build on the site of an ancient acropolis. It is one of the largest castles in the area. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos I started the construction in 1186 AD and the Venetian that ruled the island in between 1207 and 1269 completed it. In 1269 the island of Limnos came into Byzantine hands again and the castle was made even stronger. Large parts of the walls and gates have been restored after much was damaged by the Russians when they besieged the castle in 1770. It is worth to make the climb to the castle and have a look around. Remarkable is that there are a lot of deer walking around free in the large walled premises of the castle. From the castle there are also amazing views. On a clear day you can see the holy mountain Athos (2033 m) on Chalkidiki peninsula.

The northern bay of Myrina has a wide beach (Romeikos Yialos beach, with trees for shade) and the southern bay has a fishing harbour with colourful kaiks (wooden boats) and another sandy beach (Nea Maditos beach). Along the boulevard that leads along the beach you find traditional houses, but also some hotels, kafenions and tavernes. Myrina has an Archeological Museum (open 8.30 - 15.00) which is housed in the former residence of the Turkish governor. There are finds from several periods on display, from pre-historic, Archaïc and Hellenistic times (statues, pottery etc).

The other main tourist destination and settlement of some substance of Limnos is the coastal village of Moudros, which is situated on the east side of the Bay of Moudros, not far from the airport (since so few planes fly to the island of Limnos you don't have to worry about noise!). Moudros is the capital of the Municipality of Moudros and it dates from the 14th century. The bay of Moudros is one of the largest natural harbours in the Aegean. This was the place where the Greek navy moored during the war for independance against the Turks (1912), and during World War I the area was used as a base of the Allied Powers. Just outside outside Moudros the military cemetery for allied soldiers is a reminder for the battles that took place here.

The village of Moudros also has some tourist facilities and accommodations. There are tavernes, bars, clubs, shops, banks, small shops and a post office in Moudros. Inside the village of Moudros itself are also two interestting churches. The largest one is the church of Annunciation which dominates the village and at the end of the market street you can find a church that dated from the Byzantine time.

Close to Moudros are three beautiful sandy beaches in a row: Chavouli, Sagrida and Fanaraki. At the last beach you can also find a tavern and a beach bar. These beaches can be found south of Moudros and they are in a landscape with vulcanic rocks. The road leading to the beaches is unpaved and more suitable for a 4-wheel drive car. Near Moudros set high on a hill are the ruins of the Palaiokastro castle which was destroyed by the Venetians in 1656. This is the oldest castle of the island of Limnos. Following the coastline of Moudros in a northern direction along the bay you will pass a small islet (which is connected to Limnos) where a prehistoric settlement was discovered, much like Poliochni. This prehistoric settlement is known as Koukonisi. Excavations that started in 1992 have proved a Minoan presence on the islet (Minoërs were the original inhabitants of Crete and Santorini). Pottery with Minoan motifs have been found here proving that the island of Limnos traded with the Minoan island of Crete. Unfortunately the small islet is not open to the public.

Kaspakas is the name of a village which is situated five to six kilometers north of the capital Myrina. It is situated at the foot of the mountain Agios Anastasios. Its name dates from Byzantine times. It is named after general Katalakos Kaspakas that came to the island in 883 AD to solve a dispute between the monks and the local inhabitants. The village is build in the hills as a protection against pirate raids. In the traditional village of Kaspakas you will find old mansions and many narrow paved streets. Kaspakas is a working village of about 800 people.

Kornos, a village north of the capital Myrina, is build on the slopes of a hill called Skourta. It is set in an amphitheatrical way facing south in a green surrounding. The name Kornos derives from the "Krounos" (which means "tap" or "water tap") in the middle of the village which used to supply the village with water. Kornos was a prosperous and rich village, which is still reflected in the grandeur of some of the large old village houses. Some of the locals refer to it as "Little Paris". Besides the large village houses there are two rows of old windmills in the village of Kornos.

Plati (or: Platy) is a small but picturesque village with white washed houses and red tiled roofs, set on the top of a green hill, a little south of the capital Myrina (2 kilometer). In the village there is a large white church with a bell tower. Down below in the green and fertile plain in front of Plati is one of the prettiest sandy beaches (700 meter long) of Limnos and there is a port with sailing boats and small yachts. This beach is an organized beach with amenities (water sport facilities) and it is one of the more busy beaches of the island. It comes with tavernes, bars, a supermarket and a couple of accommodations. The beach is is popular with both the tourists and the local people and since it is shallow it is also safe for children.

Next to Plati is the village of Thanos which lies in a green area and is surrounded by low hills. Thanos is situated at 4 kilometer distance from the capital Myrina in the southwest of the island. In Thanos there is also a long sandy beach. The waters at the beach are cristal clear and it is surrounded by strangely shaped vulcanic rocks. The actual village of Thanos is situated a bit higher up the hill and overlooks the bay. Thanos is an old and pretty village with white houses with red roofs and with narrow streets. In the village you can find a couple of kafenions, a taverna and some shops. There are some simple accommodations on offer in the village of Thanos.

Kondopouli is a small village in the east of the island, near the two lakes of Limnos. Here is a large square with two churches.

Plaka is a small village with white painted houses and a white church. The village lies entirely in the northeast of the island of Limnos. There is a small fishing port and you can find a path to the beach of Agios Stefanos here.
To see more villages on the island of Limnos click here.

The Archaic city of Poliochni in the south west of the island, 9 kilometer east of Moudros, is the most important archeological site of the island. It dates from 4000 BC and is the oldest settlement in the Aegean. It was a city of merchants (and not of a king) that traded with the island of Crete, islands in the Cyclades and with cities on the coast of Asia Minor (for instance Troy). The sight is open to the public between 9.00 - 15.30 (closed on monday) and there is an entrance fee. There are remains from walls, towers, houses and other buildings. An earthquake in 1300 BC ended the prosperity of the town.

The classical city at Hephaisteia or Ifestia which includes the remains of a temple dedicated to the God Hephaistos (Vulcan, the God of metal and fire). The myth tells that it is build on the spot where Hephaistos landed after Hera threw him from Mount Olympus. The city is situated 9 kilometers north east of Moudros and it was the capital of the island between 1200 and 1000 BC. The remains are spread over the hills and sometimes it is difficult to recognize what they were. There are remains of houses, a cemetary, a theatre and the Hephaistos temple. The city was destroyed by the Persians in 511 BC and later rebuild by the Athenians.

The sanctuary at Kavirio a little north east of Hephaisteia was dedicated to the three sons and three daughters of Hephaistos and Kavirio. These Gods were connected with fertility of the earth and the protection of sailors. Only a part of the columns and a temple have been excavated.

There are two lakes on the island of Limnos, Limni Aliki and Chortarolimni. The first one is a salt lake from which salt used to be extracted for a long time, and Lake Chortarolimni has completely dried out. This second lake is a small nature reserve. In the winter months it offers refuge to flamingos and other birds and in the summer when the lake is dried up it turns completely white.

Lemnos has got its own Petrified Forest (just like the island of Lesbos). Remnants of this forest can be found around the villages of Varos, Rossopouli, Moudros, Thanos and Kontias. 23 to 18 milion years ago the surface of Lemnos was covered by a dense forests of palms, pine-trees and huge redwood trees, which were buried under the lava.
To see more sights on the island of Limnos click here.

The beach of Agios Ioannis lies on the west side of the island of Limnos, at 6 kilometer distance from Myrina and 1.5 kilometers of Kaspakas. Sometimes it is simply called "Kaspakas Beach" after the nearby village. The beach is surrounded by large vulcanic rocks. Agios Ioannis beach is a long and sandy beach with a few pebbles and the water is very clear here. At the beach there are a taverna and there are a couple of accommodations.

In the first bay north of the capital Myrina you find the sandy beach of Avlonas (1 kilometer distance). This is an organized beach with parasols and sunbeds. There are also accommodations and tavernes at the beach. Opposite the beach are vulcanic islets, making the beach suitable for snorkeling and fishing. Avlonas is more quiet than the beaches in Myrina itself.

Myrina Beach is the beach inside the capital of the island Limnos. It is a long and clean sandy beach with facilities including parasols and sunbeds, watersports possibilities, tavernes and accommodations. You can surf or water-ski here. Romaikos Gialos Beach is an organized beach in Myrina offering facilities as well, just like the popular Riha Nera Beach (meaning "shallow waters")

Plati (or: Platy) is a small but picturesque village with white washed houses and red tiled roofs, set on the top of a green hill, a little south of the capital Myrina (2 kilometer). In the village there is a large white church with a bell tower. Down below in the green and fertile plain in front of Plati is one of the prettiest sandy beaches (700 meter long) of Limnos and there is a port with sailing boats and small yachts. This beach is an organized beach with amenities (water sport facilities) and it is one of the more busy beaches of the island. It comes with tavernes, bars, a supermarket and a couple of accommodations. The beach is is popular with both the tourists and the local people and since it is shallow it is also safe for children.

Next to Plati is the village of Thanos which lies in a green area and is surrounded by low hills. Thanos is situated at 4 kilometer distance from the capital Myrina in the southwest of the island. In Thanos there is also a long sandy beach, where you can have a view of the island of Agios Efstratios. The waters at the beach are cristal clear and it is surrounded by strangely shaped vulcanic rocks. It is an organized beach and parasols and sunbeds are for rent. There are a couple of tavernes and there a some hotels where you can rent a room. The actual village of Thanos is situated a bit higher up the hill and overlooks the bay. Thanos is an old and pretty village with white houses with red roofs and with narrow streets. In the village you can find a couple of kafenions, a taverna and some shops. There are some simple accommodations on offer in the village of Thanos. Thanos beach has a special section for naturists.

Evgatis Beach or Evgati Beach is a beautiful sandy beach that lies in a bay on the south side of the island of Limnos. It is an organized beach with parasols and sun beds for rent. It is the domain of the Evgatis Hotel with its 22 rooms. The beach is 6 kilometer south of the capital Myrina and it is a wide and 4 kilometer long sandy beach. Almost everywhere it is described as one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. To the west are volcanic rocks and a river shares the beach into two parts.

Cape Tigani holds more coves and small bays with sandy beaches.

Aliki or Alyki Beach is one of four large sandy beaches in a row on the east side of the island of Limnos. It is situated east of the saltlake of Aliki. I name it in the category "south east" but actually it is more on the north east side of the island. This is a way to combine a visit to the saltlake with a dip in the sea. The wetland of Aliki is full of (bird)life in winter and spring, but dried out and white in the summer.

Keros Beach is situated in the east of the island in between the two lakes. It is a 4 kilometers long sandy beach situated in a bay 2 kilometres from the village of Kalliopi. The sea waters are clear and the beach is quite shallow. There can be some wind here and the waves on the southern part of the bay are usually quite high while there are almost none on the north side. At the beach of Keros there is a surf club. Keros Beach is concidered one of the safest windsurfing places in Greece because it's in the half moon shaped bay and the wind usually blows towards the beach. Sometimes the waves can be 4 meters high.

Makrys Gialos or Makris Gialos Beach is situated in the south east of the island, between the beaches of Louri and Keros and just south of the archeological site of Poliochni. The distance to the village of Moudros is about 7 kilometer. Makrys Gialos is a few kilometers long and it is a sandy beach surrounded by green and sandy hills. There can be quite some wind at the beach and it is considered an excellent place for windsurfing. Makrys Gialos is away from the crowds and it is a very quiet beach.

Louri Beach is a quiet, a bit isolated and unspoiled beach in the south east of Limnos, not far from the village of Skandali. Louri is a beautiful sandy beach with some rocks in the water. There are no facilities at Louri Beach (no tavernes, no accommodations).

Close to Moudros are three beautiful sandy beaches in a row: Chavouli, Sagrida and Fanaraki. At the last beach you can also find a tavern and a beach bar. These beaches can be found south of Moudros and they are in a landscape with vulcanic rocks. The road leading to the beaches is unpaved and more suitable for a 4-wheel drive car. Fanaraki Beach consists of two beaches, Mikro (small) Fanaraki and Megalo (large) Fanaraki. Mikro Fanaraki is situated in a small cove. Both Fanaraki beaches are organized with facilities.

There are more quiet beaches in the area, like for instance the fine sandy beach of Parthenomytos with its green waters. Parthenomytos Beach, like these other beaches, can only be reached over a dirt track. There are some trees on this beach that were planted especially to provide the visitors with some shade. At Parthenomytos there is a small coffee bar where you can get refreshments.

Skidi Beach is situated south of Moudros, underneath the beach of Chavouli and can only be reached by driving over a dirt track. This is an isolated, quiet and sandy beach with some pebbles. The waters are usually calm, without the high waves, and the colour of the water is greenish like in Parthenomytos Beach.
To see more beaches on the island of Limnos click here.

Holiday Car Rental Lemnos is situated in the Port of the capital Myrina. There is a 24 Hour Costumer Service. Holiday Car Rental has a personal service. The car is delivered at a destination chosen by our client. This can be the airport, the port, a hotel, a residence or work place. A company employee will answer to any question the client may have. Finally, the replacement of a car which has presented problems is immediate. No time is wasted
Tel: 0030 2254023280, Fax: 0030 2254024253

Varos Village Hotel accommodation is spread in five different authentic traditional buildings, that have been reconstructed within Varos village itself and therefore are part of real village life. All buildings consist of superior rooms, rebuilt to high standards and equipped with all modern facilities. The most central building, called Paradosiako meaning Traditional, is where the reception, lounge, café, bar and breakfast areas are located, opposite the hotel's own taverna called To Ouzeri mas, both at the main village square. The hotel has its own private beach with sun beds and parasols.

Check availabilities and prices & book the Varos Village Hotel on Limnos click here.

Hotel Katsaraki Sofia enjoys a central location in Myrina. It offers spacious, self-catering accommodation with air conditioning and traditional furnishings. Balconies offer views of Myrina Castle. Each of the guest rooms has wooden furnishings and is complete with a kitchenette, TV and balcony. Katsaraki Sofia has a charming garden and terrace.

Check availabilities and prices & book the Hotel Katsaraki Sofia on Limnos click here.

Close to Myrinas shops and in front of the imposing castle, Archontiko Hotel is a charming, traditional guest house appointed with antique furnishings, just 100m from the beach. Archontiko Hotel offers a variety of well-furnished rooms in the heart of Myrina. Each one combines historic features with a host of modern amenities, including en suite bathroom facilities and air conditioning. Wireless internet is also available here, allowing you to check emails for work or leisure. Start each day with a tasty, complimentary breakfast in Archontikos traditional dining area, complete with stone-clad wall features. Relax in the garden with a cup of coffee and plan your day. Take advantage of Archontiko Hotels central location and enjoy a stroll through the picturesque town centre. Myrinas beautiful beaches are just 100 meter from Archontiko and the port is 300 meter away (this is not written correctly at the booking site).

Check availabilities and prices & book the Archontiko Hotel on Limnos click here.

Hotel Evgatis is a new hotel in Limnos, located on Evgati Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, 4 kilometres long and in distance of 6 kilometres from Myrina and the harbour. The hotel's traditional tavern, enjoying a beach-front location, serves delicious local delicacies, along with the famous ouzo and wines of Limnos. The property also provides a swimming pool and a smaller pool for children. Breakfast is served by the pool, while cocktails are served at the beach bar. Each of the rooms is fully equipped with air condition, fridge, phone and TV and offers great views of the sea from its private balcony.

Check availabilities and prices & book the Hotel Evgatis on Limnos click here.

For all hotels, apartements and studios on Limnos in Greece - click here.