Mytilene, Greece

Mytilene

Closer to its foreign neighbor, Turkey, than it is to mainland Greece, the island of Lesvos is an Aegean landmass quickly becoming a popular destination all its own. The capital of Lesvos, Mytilene, is a quite an abstract center for both the historic and the modern of the region. Home to both a Northern and Southern Port, the capital is a place set to astonish visitors from all over the world. Gorgeous greenery marks several places near and along the waterline, including expansive gardens spread out over roughly one-quarter of the city's peninsula. Though Mytilene's purpose throughout much of its history has a lot to do with trade and general regional travels, the city has, only in recent decades, turned into an unexpectedly strong attraction for visitors from parts of Central and Northern Europe, along with peoples from Asian nations as well as North, Central, and South American countries. There's no denying Mytilene's beauty, after all. If one is tired of the crowdedness Athens shows 24/7/365, it's entirely unsurprising to find boat- and plane-loads of tourists and vacationers flocking anyplace else showing less signs of wear. Roughly 1-and-1/2 centuries old, Mytilene's signature piece, a domed church by the name of Ayios Therapon, is where all travels within the city should begin. Whether you're a practicing Christian or simply enjoy fantastic architecture, there's always something someone enjoys about this structure. Also, from this point on, you'll have convenient access to the largest market in town, the bazaar - getting there takes on a few dozen footsteps from the church grounds. Also, Mytilene's entire waterfront is a delight for those interested in coffee breaks and outdoor lunches coupled with great views of semi-tropical waters.

When to go

Though Mytilene's status as the third-largest island to associate itself with Greece offers it's the odd privilege of claiming several climates throughout its landscape, you'll have a hard time noticing any change, whether you choose to journey Lesvos as a whole or not. The capital sits upon the island's eastern shore, a position likely kept for convenient waterborne travel between itself and Turkey's major port cities. You'll find summers to be intense here, with only rainfall to sooth those burning sensations. Opting for a visit in either shoulder season may offer you a more appealing Mytilene, both in temperature and in crowd volume. Winter, however slow in less traveled parts of the world, is often referred to as the second high season of the year by those on the island.

Getting there and around

The only major airport on the island, Mytilene's flight center is only a mile or two outside of town (to the south), and arrivals get fairly cheap taxi service into town. There are plenty of daily connections to the mainland and fellow solitary Aegean formations. Your best bet for avoiding an extended wait on a stopover is to travel to the nation's capital. There you'll experience an undoubtedly busy atmosphere, but it's the biggest and best in the country for a reason. You may find that traveling by boat from certain sites to be the norm, but if you're not quite content with floating your way about your day, there are plenty of city taxis and buses to keep you moving. Car rentals are available in large quantities around town; it's better to rent a vehicle inside Mytilene rather than inside the airport terminal.

Attractions

A castle, one of the oldest sites upon the entire island, can be found close to the old harbour. Though it doesn't seem to awe folks the same way Mytilene's cathedral/church does, you'll have a lengthier history to delve into.