Getting from Santorini to Lesvos

If you are heading to Lesvos from Santorini you are making a journey that most visitors to Greece never attempt, and that is part of why Lesvos rewards you so well when you get there. It is the third largest island in Greece, sitting close to the Turkish coast in the Northern Aegean, and it has a character entirely its own. The olive groves cover vast stretches of the island and produce some of the finest olive oil in the Mediterranean. The ouzo distilled here, particularly around Plomari, is the benchmark against which all other Greek ouzo is measured. Mytilene is a proper city with a Byzantine castle, a lively harbour front and an intellectual tradition that stretches back to Sappho. The petrified forest in the west of the island is one of the most unusual landscapes in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Lesvos. The connection goes via Piraeus, where Blue Star Ferries runs a route up through the Northern Aegean to Mytilene. The total journey by this route takes well over 12 hours and involves an overnight crossing from Piraeus. It is manageable if you enjoy the ferry experience and have the time, but flying is considerably more practical.

What about flying?

Both Santorini and Lesvos have airports, which makes this a clean connection by air. There are no direct flights between the two islands. The journey goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Mytilene, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours door to door. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly via Athens. It is the only realistic choice for most people and the connection is straightforward. Rent a car when you arrive in Mytilene. Lesvos is large enough that you need one to get between the main towns, the villages of the interior, the beaches on the south coast and the petrified forest in the west. Give yourself at least four or five days. It is not an island that reveals itself quickly.