Getting from Athens to Lemnos

If you are heading to Lemnos from Athens you are going to one of the most rewarding and most overlooked islands in the northern Aegean. Lemnos is large, volcanic and flat, with a landscape of rolling hills, wetlands and dramatic rock formations that looks nothing like the Cyclades. Myrina, the capital, has a Byzantine castle above the harbour, a fine archaeological museum and a waterfront of seafood restaurants that are excellent and almost entirely local. The island produces some of the best Muscat wine in Greece. The beaches on the western and southern coasts are long, sandy and largely uncrowded. Lemnos rewards people who are willing to detour from the standard Greek island circuit.

Take the ferry

There is a ferry from Lavrio to Lemnos running three times a week year-round, taking around 9 hours. A connection from Piraeus also exists but takes considerably longer. The Lavrio service is the more practical ferry option and is worth considering if you want to travel by sea, though the three times weekly frequency means planning carefully around departure days.

Getting there by air

Both Athens and Lemnos have airports. Aegean Airlines and Sky Express both serve the Athens to Lemnos route with daily connections, with the flight taking around 1 hour. This is the fastest and most practical approach by a significant margin.

Your best option

Fly from Athens. The daily flight takes around 1 hour and gets you there without the complexity of the Lavrio ferry schedule. Lemnos Airport is around 22 kilometres from Myrina so factor in a taxi or transfer on arrival.