Northern Aegean

The islands of the Northern Aegean lie just off the Turkish coast and have kept their own rhythm. A vacation in the Northern Aegean means olive groves on Lesbos, mastic villages on Chios, vineyards on Samos, and long sandy beaches on Limnos – with fewer crowds than in the Cyclades.

Islands and Landscape

Lesbos is Greece's third-largest island, with millions of olive trees, salt pans, and, in the west, a petrified forest that was buried under volcanic ash around 20 million years ago. Chios is covered with mastic trees in the south and is mountainous and rugged in the north. Samos is green and mountainous, with waterfalls and terraced vineyards; Ikaria is wild and known for the longevity of its residents. Limnos in the north is flat and volcanic, with dunes and wheat fields. Lesbos is also a UNESCO Geopark. Smaller islands such as Psara, Agios Efstratios, and the Fourni archipelago between Ikaria and Samos see hardly any tourism.

Sights in the Northern Aegean

On Lesbos, Mytilini, with its fortress and harbor promenade, is the lively center. Mithymna, also called Molyvos, is a stone-house village beneath a Genoese castle; neighboring Petra has a church perched on a rock and a women's cooperative that cooks local cuisine. The Kalloni salt pans are a gathering spot for birdwatchers. In the south of Chios, you'll find the mastic villages such as Pyrgi, with its black-and-white decorated facades, and the walled village of Mesta. The Nea Moni monastery, with 11th-century gold mosaics, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is Pythagoreion on Samos, the birthplace of the mathematician Pythagoras, with the ancient Tunnel of Eupalinos and the Heraion. Kokkari is a popular fishing village on the north coast, and Kampos Marathokampou a quiet beach town in the southwest. On Limnos, Myrina lies beneath a castle, and the sunsets with views of Mount Athos are famous. On Samos, the Archaeological Museum of Vathy displays a kouros statue over five meters tall. On Ikaria, villages celebrate in summer with exuberant panigiria, with music and dancing until morning. On Lesbos, Plomari is worth a visit for its ouzo distilleries, and the poet Sappho was born in Eresos.

Food and Drink

Lesbos is Greece's ouzo capital, especially Plomari; you'll also find anchovies from the Gulf of Kalloni and ladotyri cheese preserved in olive oil. Chios exports mastic, the resin of the mastic shrub, as chewing gum, liqueur, and spice. Samos is famous for its sweet Muscat wine, Limnos for kalathaki cheese. Chios is home to many shipowning families, whose villas stand in the Kampos amid citrus groves. On Ikaria, people drink herbal tea and home-grown wine, which are often linked to the islanders' longevity.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Limnos, and Ikaria have airports with connections to Athens, and charter flights in summer. Ferries link the islands with Piraeus, Kavala, and Thessaloniki, as well as with the Turkish coast. The best time to visit is May to June and September to October. Ferries connect Lesbos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria with one another, though trips often take several hours. On the larger islands, a rental car is recommended.