These islands generally are off the coast of Turkey, with the exception of Thassos which
straddles the border of Macedonia and Thrace. Ferries leave in the evening for Chios, Lesvos and Lemnos, arriving the following morning. Less touristy than the Cyclades and Dodekanese, these islands are larger, greener and in many cases more interesting culturally and historically. They also have some of the best beaches.
Chios
The port is a city with traffic and buses. Lots of interesting fortress villages known as Mastichochoria for their historic
manufacturing of Mastika, a gummy sap that had major value in cosmetics and medicine before the use of petroleum and still used for a variety of purposes (including a kind of chewing gum and a liquor). Chios is one of the most beautiful of the Aegean islands and has a capable bus system. Renting a car is the best way to see it though. The tiny island of Psara is
accessible only from Chios. Daily boats from Pireaus take about 8 hours and arrive at 4am. They continue on to Lesvos, Limnos and on some days to Kavala or Thessaloniki. There is also a boat that goes too and from Volos once a week and another to Samos and the
major islands in the Dodecanese.
Lesvos
Also known as Mytilini. City port. Great market. The best food, especially seafood. Famous for ouzo and sardines. The ouzo is actually made by importing ingredients and assembling in the famous factories. Still, next to Brettos, it's the best. Try Mini, Veto and Kefi. (tip: to find the best ouzo check the
alcohol content. The closer to 40%, the better the taste). The sardines come from two big bays, Yeros and Kaloni. Erressos is the birthplace of Sapho. It's also one of the best beaches in the world and a popular family destination. Molyvos is built around a medieval castle. Many foreigners, some visiting some living there. There's a Zen center and other spiritual and cultural forums. Plomari is famous for having the best ouzo, but actually it's only the strongest. Kaloni is the bird-watching capital of Europe and has more wildflowers then anywhere in Greece. The best sardines too. Thermal spas at Skala Thermi, Eftalou and Yeros. The beach at Vatera is about ten miles long. The island is big. Too big for motorbikes. You will need a car if you want to explore but you can be perfectly happy without one. If my
description of Crete has scared you off, come here instead. Ask for me in Vatoussa or Xidera where I hang out. The Olive Press Hotel is a converted factory. It's beautiful and right on the beach. The Sunrise Hotel is Luxury at economy prices. Also the Sea Horse in Molyvos is right in the harbor and is cheap. Lesvos is inexpensive! You can save money by going here and have as much fun or more then you will elsewhere.
Ferries leave Pireaus at dusk and arrive in Mytilini at 7am every day, stopping in Chios. Some continue on to Limnos, Thessaloniki and Kavala. There is also a ferry that connects Lesvos with Samos and the Dodecanessos. There are also connections to Volos, Psara, Samothrace, Alexandropoulis and Syros in the Cyclades. The town of Sigri has a boat to Rafina once a week. The Maritime Company of Lesvos has recently bought a high-speed ferry which will cut the journey in half, making it as easy to get to the island as it is to go to the Cyclades. They are due spring of 2000 and should be running by the time you get there.
There is also an international airport so close to the beach that you can go for a swim if your flight is delayed.
Limnos
Far enough away to have avoided the mass tourism which has infected other islands, Limnos has some of the best beaches in the Aegean. The town of Myrina is famous for its excellent fish restaurants and massive volcanic rocks. There are ferries from Pireaus, Thessloniki and Kavala and excursion boats to the nearby island of Agis
Efstratos.
Ikaria
Therapuetic hot springs at Therma and Therma Lefkada. The Port of Ag. Kyrikos is the main town as well. Arministis is the island's main resort town and is surrounded by forests and fine
beaches. The Hellenic Culture Center may be worth checking out. (Phone 0275-61482) They offer classes in Greek language and other programs as well. Ikaria is known for its apricots and lack of tourists. It was the Ikarians who dredged the Cape Fear river making Wilmington, North Carolina's primary seaport because it was a primary source for pine resin. The Fourni islands , between Ikaria and Samos are a group of small islands with secluded beaches,
accessible by small cacique from Ag. Kyrikos that are well worth a visit if you like to swim and spend your time in small fish
taverns. Connected by ferry and hydrofoil to Samos with a daily boat to and from Pireaus, nine hours away.
Samos
Big and green. Nice beaches. This is the most popular of the Northeast Aegean islands and there are even flights from Northern Europe and
Scandinavia. Of course this translates into tourist resorts and budget-minded package tourists, but if you come in the off season (anytime but July and August) you can explore this beautiful island. A car or bike is essential unless you are the type who just likes to relax on the beach and wait for meals and
nighttime. Industrial city of Karlavassi with deserted warehouses and factories would make a cool set for a movie about the end of the world. The main port is busy but fun with plenty of nightlife and
restaurants. Pythagorio is ancient Samos and the tourist center of the island. There are day trips to Turkey from Vathy where you can visit the ruined city of Ephesus. Daily boats to and from Pireaus take around 12 hours. There are also flying dolphins in the summer to Ikaria and Patmos. Home of the Art School of the Aegean.
Samothraki
This small island between Limnos and Alexandroupolis in Thrace is one to the most beautiful islands and boasts the highest mountain of all the Aegean islands. It is an island of forests and olive groves, springs and waterfalls and has some of the most abundant wildlife in Greece. Though virtually unknown to tourists, many Greeks visit the island during July and especially in August. Daily ferry connections to Alexandropoulis and several a week to Kavala. There is also a boat to Lesvos and in the summer a hydrofoil service to Limnos, Thassos, Kavala, Halkidiki, Porto Lagos and Alexandropoulis.
Thassos
Beautiful island in the Northern Eastern Aegean that used to be popular with Germans because they could drive down easily when there was not all the problems in
Yugoslavia. It's still a beautiful island and even more so with fewer tourists. You have to take the ferry from Kavala which leaves every hour. Great beaches. Ferries every hour to Kavala and six hydrofoils a day.
The
Sporades | Saronic Gulf Islands
| Northeast Aegean Islands | Ionian
Islands
Dodecanese Islands | Big
Islands | The Cyclades
