Mytilini / East Lesvos

Mytilini is the largest city and the main port on the island.  It boasts a bustling market, an active restaurant and nightlife scene, several museums, distinctive 19th century mansions, and the Christofa home!  The town itself is compact and walkable, and it’s especially nice by the harbor, the market, and the old part of town.  You must pay to park at the harbor during the day (M-F 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-3pm) by buying a parking pass from the kiosk in front of the Blue Sea Hotel, scratching the date and hours you want, and placing the pass on your dashboard.  Cards come in 1 hour (1 EUR) or 2 hour (1.50 EUR) increments.  If you want to park more than 2 hours, you will need to return to your car to place a new card on the dashboard.  Evenings and Sundays are free.

SITES

Archeological Museum of Mytilini Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Μυτιλήνης

The archeological museum features ancient artifacts from the island from the Neolithic period through the late Roman Empire.  (€) Official Site

Mytilini Castle Κάστρο Μυτιλήνης 

The castle was built on older fortifications in the 6th C AD, and has been used by Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks since.  Now it’s used to host cultural events including concerts in the summer.

Mytilini Market Ερμού

The center of commerce in Mytilini is still the main market street, Ermou, running one block west of the waterfront.  If the airline loses your luggage like they did for Eric on his first visit (note he was flying through Ukraine, it wasn’t the Greek airline’s fault), then this is where you will go to buy underwear.  There are also shops for fish, oil, cheese, handcrafts, etc.

Panagia Trouloti Παναγία Τρουλωτή

This Byzantine era church is the oldest on the island.  It’s beautifully perched in an olive grove on a hilltop overlooking the sea.

Roman Aqueduct

The remnants of an arched 4th C AD aqueduct stand high over the road near the village of Moria.

Statue of Liberty

Yup, there is one in New York and one in Mytilini.  This replica also greets people arriving at the port.

Theofilos Museum Μουσείο Θεοφίλου

Theofilos Hatzimichail was an eccentric folk painter on the island.  Originally from the village of Varia, he returned to the island in the 1920s and made paintings inspired by Greek culture and history in exchange for food while living in poverty.  His paintings were shown in the Louvre a year after his death from food poisoning in 1934.  Many of his paintings were on the walls of cafes (you can see some of them at the café by the tree house; see "South" page) and bakeries, but a collection his work has been gathered at this museum in his hometown. (€)

Beaches

Haramida Χαραμίδα

Not far from Myitilini, this is the most popular beach among young people close to the town.

Petalidi Πεταλίδι

A nice beach not too far up the road from Mytilini.

Tsamakia (City Beach) Tσαμάκια

This is the main city beach in Mytilini, and it’s the only one on the island with an entrance fee. It also has much more developed facilities.  Not only can you easily walk here from the city center, the beach has nice views of the port and city. (€)

(€)  indicates that there is an entrance fee.