Transportation in Lesvos

The towns of Molyvos, Petra, Plomari, and Eressos along the coast attract large numbers of visitors and there are many ways of getting to and around Lesvos. The local sights in each area can be explored by foot. For long distance travel, use a motorbike or hire a car from us. A Jeep will be needed on the hilly tracks. Travel on horseback or, for a change, opt for a donkey for a fun day or evening out locally! You can also rent a motoboat  to explore some of the coastline - depending on the season's weather & availability.

There are many hiking trails on the island that connect the local villages. Pick up a hiking route map from us at Nirvana Travel and you are ready to hit the road!

This Lesvos transportation guide has general information about getting to and around the island. You may also find our Greece Transportation Guide useful when planning your trip, and what better way to get an insight into the local culture than by taking one of our Lesvos tours.

Lesvos Transportation Guide

Getting to Lesvos

By Air

The international airport on Lesvos is located at Mytilini, making it a tourist hub from where all the coastal towns are easily accessible. Lesvos is well connected to major cities of Europe by air. Travelling from America or any other destination, you can fly to Athens, and then take a connecting flight from there to Lesvos.  This is the best way to get to/from the island. There are 6-8 flights a day.

By Ferry

If you have time on your hands and want to add a cruise-like experience to your holiday, then go with the ferry. Daily ferries leave Pireaus (in Athens) in the evening and arrive in Mytilini early the next morning. There is always a fast (8hrs) and slow (12hrs) ferry, so depending on their schedules you can choose an arrival which suits you. Ferries are more regular in the summer. There is also a daily ferry in summer and several a week in the off-season between Mytilini and Avalik, and Dikeli in Turkey.

Getting around Lesvos

Lesvos has a well maintained bus service that you can use to explore the region, and also visit the neighbouring town of each area. Alternatively, you can rent a small car or scooter and find your way around the place.

While the bus and taxi services are always in demand, they require some waiting time. Rented vehicles provide you the freedom to travel at your leisure. You can visit destinations way off from the bus route and also save quite a lot of time, and commuting is a lot easier especially to and from destinations that do not have adequate accommodation facilities.

Cars and Motorbikes

Almost all towns of the island have car and bike rental agencies, from where you can pick a vehicle of your choice for a nominal rental fee. It is, however, recommended that you don't drive unless you have insurance, otherwise you might have to pay a heavy fine in case you get involved in an accident. Please ask us to book you what you need with a reputable company.

Rent a vehicle from us and let is offer you the discounted rates.Book over the internet to receive all thats possible.

Auto Moto is a reputed rental agency on Lesvos from where you can rent vehicles. The agency operates from both the city harbour as well as the airport. Their vehicles are in good condition and the rent is affordable.  When contacting them direct, mention Nirvana Travel, in Petra and you will also receive the best rate at that time.

Taxis

Taxis are available both in and outside the capital of Mytiline. Most of the popular tourist locations and resorts also have taxi stands. Taxis plying within Mytiline can be distinguished by their silver-grey or yellow colour; the vehicles are mostly turbo Opels and are metered. The silver-grey coloured taxis are based outside the capital and usually shuttle between the tourist destinations. They are not metered and charge a fixed rate of 1 Euro for every kilometre. Always ask before you get in how much your ride will cost.

Compared to other European cities, taxi fares are cheap - costing about 70 euros for 100 km. Fares are bound to vary for trips within and outside the city. While travelling to other destinations on the mainland, request for the meter to be switched on. Metered fare is taxable and hence taxi drivers opt for fixed fares in order to avoid taxes. Taxis do tend to drive rather fast and may seem faster than they should be and this may be due to you not being use to the roads and being on the other side of the road.  Ask the driver politely to slow down.

Bus

Buses are not really the main form of public transport on Lesvos as the distances are huge. The transport system is more efficient than other islands, the service being economical, fast and in most cases, on time. The ticket cost is about 8 Euros for a distance of 100 km - one way.

The major towns and cities have their own bus terminals, where tickets can be bought before boarding the bus. While in the villages, you can wait at the bus stop or wave down the bus in or on the outskirts of the village. Get your ticket from the conductor onboard. Most buses have sufficient space to accommodate luggage and are usually used to transport parcels and mails.

Smoking is prohibited on the bus but the driver usually does not seem bound by this rule. It seems that Greek drivers can't drive when not smoking. There are no toilets in the bus.

Bicycle

The hilly terrain can ideally be tackled with the help of a bicycle. The remote regions are free from traffic and usually serve as a practice ground for most professional bikers. There are several off road tracks for mountain bikers and those more adventurous.
There are weekly long treks to different areas available for enthusiasts.