How to Get to Lesbos: Flights, Ferries and the Easiest Way In

Mytilene is the island's capital and main port, and it's where the ferries from Piraeus and other islands arrive, about 4 miles (7 km) from the airport. From Athens you can fly, or spend the night on a ferry from Piraeus, which is cheaper, slower and more atmospheric. For a first trip, fly. Take the boat if you have time, a tight budget, or a fondness for sleeping through the Aegean.

How do you get to Lesbos from Athens?

Three routes work. You can fly from Athens International Airport to Mytilene, ride a conventional ferry from the port of Piraeus, or piece together a longer bus-and-ferry trip through northern Greece.

Flying from Athens

This is the one to pick. Aegean Air, Olympic Air and Sky Express run several flights a day to Mytilene International Airport Odysseas Elytis, and the time in the air is roughly an hour. Door to door it stretches to a little over three hours once you add the airport, check-in and the wait for bags.

Walk out of the terminal and look across the water. That's the Turkish mainland, roughly 4 miles (7 km) away, the narrow gap between Europe and Asia.

Taking the ferry from Piraeus

Piraeus is about 9 miles (15 km) south of central Athens and about 28 miles (45 km) from the airport. Plan on a taxi, a transfer or public transport to reach it, and leave generous time. This run is served by conventional ferries, with one or two departures a day, usually overnight. Since you'll spend the night aboard, a cabin is highly recommended.

The roundabout route through Kavala

Take the bus from Athens to Kavala, a ferry to Myrina on Limnos, then a second ferry to Mytilene. It works, and takes about 18 hours with transfers. Kavala also has a direct link to Lesbos, usually at least three sailings a week, taking about 7.5 hours. This route makes sense if your trip already runs through northern Greece.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Lesbos?

• Fly for speed and ease. It suits a first trip, a short vacation, or a family getaway, since Lesbos is a calm destination.
• Take the ferry to save money. It suits budget travelers and anyone with a flexible schedule.

For a family with luggage, flying wins easily. A crossing of 12 hours or more with kids and bags is manageable with a cabin, but it's a long haul. On a tight budget, the ferry is usually cheaper than a flight, especially if you skip the cabin. The catch is comfort, and on busy summer nights, availability.

Whichever you choose, build in slack. Transportation strikes in Greece interrupt public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports, and they're common enough that a spare day before any hard deadline, such as your flight home, is cheap insurance.

How long is the ferry to Lesbos?

From Piraeus, plan on a long night. Crossings run roughly 11.5 to 18 hours depending on the sailing. Most trips take around 13 hours 50 minutes, and the quickest Blue Star Ferries sailings take about 12 hours 15 minutes. The route covers about 186 nautical miles, so it's no quick hop.

From the Turkish coast the trip is far shorter. The fastest crossing to Lesbos is Dikili to Mytilene, at about 45 minutes. In summer, boats also link Mytilene with Ayvalik in about an hour and a half, close enough for a day trip. Check the entry rules for both countries before you plan that crossing.

How do you get to Lesbos from other islands?

Lesbos has direct ferries to Chios, Limnos, Mykonos and Syros, plus a string of smaller ports across the eastern Aegean, including Ikaria, Samos, Patmos, Leros and Psara. In summer, routes grow more frequent, with many daily ferries from other Aegean islands. The island has two ports. Mytilene handles most of the traffic, while Sigri in the west is linked to Piraeus during the summer, when Blue Star Ferries also connects it with Mykonos and Mesta on Chios.

How do you book ferries to Lesbos?

Book ahead, especially for July and August, when Greek ferries can sell out, and do the same for the trip home. Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Ido, Turyol and Jale Turizm all run boats to Lesbos. Online ferry booking engines let you compare their sailings and prices in one search. Schedules shift with the season, so check a current timetable before you commit.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

From the airport

The airport is about 4 miles (7 km) from Mytilene along the Eleftheriou Venizelou road. A taxi or transfer usually takes 10 to 15 minutes outside peak hours, and the KTEL public bus takes about 25. If you've booked a driver, look for your name sign at the arrivals baggage-hall exit. Allow about an hour after landing for immigration and baggage claim.

From the ferry port

Boats dock in Mytilene, right at the edge of town. The Archaeological Museum of Mytilene is just a few dozen meters from the port, so your first stroll can start the moment you step off the ship. Tour companies set up across from the harbor if you'd like a half-day or full-day trip with an English-speaking guide.

Getting around afterward

A hire car is essential on Lesbos. The island is very large, its sights lie far apart, and buses between them are infrequent. Driving between regions takes an hour or more, so most visitors pick one area as a base. You can pick up a car at the airport, and prices drop in the low season. In summer, cars can run short, so reserve ahead.

Americans need a valid U.S. driver's license and an international driver's permit by Greek law, even if the rental desk doesn't ask for it. Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union, and many of the island's roads are narrow and winding, so take them slowly. Talking or texting on a phone while driving is illegal. Thieves are known to break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables, and luggage, so take your belongings with you when you park.

What should Americans know before arriving?

U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days of tourism. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and a passport previously reported lost or stolen will get you turned away at the border. Be ready to show proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket or other evidence of departure if asked. Greece is generally safe, though petty crime is common in popular tourist spots, and demonstrations can break out with little notice.

The day before you go, check your ferry or flight status, look for strike announcements, and keep your passport and a charged phone in your hand luggage.