Lemnos: Top 10 must-visit attractions

Lemnos, the "undiscovered" island of the Aegean Sea, offers unique holidays. In recent years the island has been booming since more and more Greek and foreign visitors are discovering its beauties. 

Νot without reason since Lemnos is a blessed place that combines incredible landscapes, crystal clear waters, unique sights and quality food. So whether you have a few days or more at your disposal, the only sure thing is that you won't get enough of it. 

In this article, I have gathered the top locations that you should definitely visit when you go to the island and I am sure that they will enchant you as they enchanted me.

Let’s get started!

The sand dunes, which are called by many the only desert in Europe, are truly a special natural landscape reminiscent of the Sahara and worth a visit without a second thought.

Nature alone is responsible for this phenomenon, since it is claimed that they were created by the parallel action of the sea and the winds which moved the sand and created the dunes. 

Covering an area of about 70 acres, the dunes are a stunning landscape in which you can walk, roll down the hills and, if you are the adventurous type, "snowboard" on the sand!

For the explorers, it is worth saying that ideal times to visit the dunes are either early in the morning when the sun hasn't had time to burn the sand or in the afternoon, before the sun sets so you can walk barefoot and also to catch the magnificent sunset.

Lemnos is an island with a rich geological history, since its volcanic soil gives it a rare geological diversity. However, most of these geological formations are concentrated in the Faraklo’s Geological Park in the northern part of the island after the village of Propouli.

The geological formations are said to have been created thousands of years ago when lava from the island's long inactive volcano came into contact with water. These particular rocks are orange-yellow in colour and are like sculptures. They are usually round in shape, which is why the locals call them 'prickly pears'.

This is an impressive sight, a work of art and one of my own favorite spots on the island, created by nature itself and once again generously given to the island.

Aliki is another rare creation of nature. It is a saltwater lagoon of about 6,300 hectares, near the village of Kontopouli. The lake communicates with the sea through a fairly narrow canal, which is why it is relatively shallow. 

In summer the lake dries up, leaving all the salt at the bottom and creating an impressive snow-like, all-white landscape. 

For several years the salt marsh was the main source of salt for the islanders. Besides, there are many families who even today secure the salt for their homes by collecting it from there. 

In Aliki you can walk on the all-white salt bed, take your photos and even collect your own salt. In the area you can also observe hundreds of bird species that use it as a stopover for their long migration journey, and one of the largest flocks of pink flamingos in Greece has been observed in Aliki Lemnos with a population of about 5,000!

 In Myrina, the archoness of Lemnos and capital of the island, located the emblematic Castle. The Castle of Myrina is the largest castle in the Aegean with an area covering 144 acres of land and a total height of about 120 meters. 

The location of the Castle is strategically located as it oversees two bays and the excellent natural harbour of Myrina. Its location was intended to shield the island from all sides and protect it from threats from the sea. 

Today the castle can be visited and is one of the most important sights of the island. It offers a beautiful walking route where you can meet deer and wild goats. Reaching the top, the view will reward you in the best possible way.

The picturesque church of Panagia Kakaviotissa is built on top of the mountain Kakavos (hence the name) in a cave.  It is the only church in the world without a roof and is estimated to have been built there in 1300 by hermit monks.

Around 1830, the last remaining monk decided to leave the mountain and the chapel of Panagia Kakaviotissa to go to Mount Athos. According to legend, one day he entered the sea and his robe became a boat that took him there. However, before leaving, the monk asked a shepherd to go and take the icon from the chapel and every Tuesday after Easter to take it back there to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Since then, the icon of Panagia Kakaviotissa has been in the possession of a family from the next village (Kontia) which has been passed down from generation to generation as a kind of tradition.    

In order to reach the chapel you need to walk a passable path of about 20-30 minutes. Although there is some walking, the landscape is really enchanting since the chapel is located among the imposing rocks of Mount Kakavos.

Ifestia was the oldest and largest town of Lemnos. It was the seat of the ancient Greek religion on the island and its patron was the god Hephaestus, to whom it owes its name.

But what makes Ifestia stand out is the ancient theatre of the Hellenistic period, which ranks among the oldest in the Greek world. Today, the ancient theatre of Ifestia, located in the heart of the archaeological site, has been restored and in recent years has been open to visitors and even hosts theatre festivals, concerts and performances.

Ifestia is located near the village of Kontopouli, opposite the sanctuary of Kaveira and if you want to get there you have to take a smooth dirt road.

The Kabeiri were deities of an ancient Greek mystery cult, which first appeared in Lemnos, Samothrace and Thebes. Concerning the Cabeiri of Lemnos, it is said that Hephaestus and the goddess Kabeiro made Cadmus, who gave birth to the three Cabeiri. The symbol of the three Lemnian Cabeiri was the metalworker's tongs and hammer.

The Cabeiri were considered evil spirits, evil demons, which from the depths of the earth and from the bottom of the sea unleashed fire and shook the earth. Earthquakes and fires were attributed to them. They were short in stature and were supernatural spirits representing underground fire and mining operations.

In their honor, occult religious initiation ceremonies, known as the Cabeiriya Mysteries, were performed in the Cabeiri Shrine. The ceremonies were held at night, once a year, and lasted for nine days.

 The cave of Filoctetes is another unique attraction that you can visit during your holidays in Lemnos. The cave is accessible only from the holy temple of Kaveira where there is a path with stairs leading to it. The entrance to the cave can be done in two ways, either from a small crevice by sneaking into the rock, or from the sea, by swimming in the deep blue waters.

The Cave is named after Philoctetes who, according to mythology, was abandoned there by his fellow citizens during a stopover on their way to Troy to fight in the Trojan War. There, a poisonous snake stung Philoctetes, causing him unbearable pain and a wound with an unbearable stench that lasted for many days, so the Greeks decided to abandon him there.

Philoctetes managed to heal himself with the help of the Limnian Earth and survived for 10 years until finally, through an oracle, he was given the opportunity to reunite with his men, as being in possession of the bow and the poisonous arrows of Hercules, he was called to help in the battle for the fall of Troy, thus ending the 10-year war.

Poliochni is an archaeological gem which, if you are a lover of archaeology, is really worth admiring. It is one of the most important archaeological sites, not only of Lemnos, but of the whole of Greece. It is considered to be the oldest European city and the first commercial port of Europe. 

It was built in the early Neolithic period in the 4th or 5th millennium BC, on the eastern side of the island, just opposite Troy. It is worth noting that among the finds there are numerous dwellings, a palace and the Bouleuterion, one of the oldest elements of democratic functioning in the ancient world. 

In addition, in Poliochni, a treasure trove of gold jewellery was also found, which is an exquisite example of sophisticated goldsmithing and the accumulation of power and wealth on the island.

Near the village of Nea Koutali, behind the plain of the village and among the sown wheat fields, a small island with its chapel emerges. 

The islet is connected to the mainland by a narrow accessible path which you can of course cross and which leads you directly to the chapel. It is a very beautiful experience as the path feels like walking on the sea and is well worth a visit.

Are you yet to discover it?