How do I get to Lesvos by ferry?

Blue Star Ferries runs overnight services from Piraeus (Athens) taking roughly 9–11 hours. There are also connections to Chios and other North Aegean islands.

Which port does Lesvos use?

The main ferry port is at Mytilene (also spelled Mitilini), the island capital on the southeast coast. All scheduled car and passenger ferries from Piraeus use it.

Is Lesvos a long ferry journey?

Yes — Lesvos is in the North Aegean, further from Athens than the Cyclades. The overnight Piraeus crossing takes roughly 9 to 11 hours depending on the sailing and intermediate stops.

Lesvos Ferries

Guide to ferries at Lesvos — the Mytilene port, overnight routes from Piraeus, and connections within the North Aegean.

The port: Mytilene

Lesvos' ferry port is at Mytilene (Mitilini), the island's capital, on the southeast coast of the island where it faces the Turkish coastline. The harbour is an active working port with a broad quay, ticket offices and a terminal building. The town's neoclassical mansions and the imposing Genoese castle above the port make arriving by ferry a particularly scenic entry to the island.

Overnight service from Piraeus

The standard route is the overnight ferry operated by Blue Star Ferries from Piraeus, taking around 9 to 11 hours. The variation in crossing time depends on whether the vessel calls at intermediate ports such as Chios on the way north. You board in the evening and arrive in Mytilene in the morning, making it a practical overnight crossing. The route carries cars and operates year-round.

Lesvos within the North Aegean chain

Lesvos is the largest of the North Aegean islands and sits at the northern end of a chain that also includes Chios and Samos to the south. Ferry connections between the islands exist, though the distances are considerable — the North Aegean is a more spread-out archipelago than the Cyclades. Lesvos also has connections to certain Turkish ports for those crossing between Greece and Turkey.

Exploring the island

Lesvos is Greece's third-largest island and one of the most varied. Mytilene has a lively cultural scene, and the island is famous for its olive groves, ouzo distilleries, and the fossilised forest near Sigri on the west coast. The hill village of Molyvos (Mithymna) in the north is one of the most photographed medieval settlements in the Aegean. A hire car from the port is the best way to cover the distances involved.

Ports & terminals

Lesvos FerriesView on map →

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Lesvos by ferry?: Blue Star Ferries runs overnight services from Piraeus (Athens) taking roughly 9–11 hours. There are also connections to Chios and other North Aegean islands.
Which port does Lesvos use?: The main ferry port is at Mytilene (also spelled Mitilini), the island capital on the southeast coast. All scheduled car and passenger ferries from Piraeus use it.
Is Lesvos a long ferry journey?: Yes — Lesvos is in the North Aegean, further from Athens than the Cyclades. The overnight Piraeus crossing takes roughly 9 to 11 hours depending on the sailing and intermediate stops.