There are three main possible origins of the name “Limnos”; according to the first one, Limnos is a word of the Phoenician language that means white/bright, because when approached by the sea, the island looks very bright. The second option suggests that “Limnos” comes from the ancient Greek word “leion”, which means cultivated field. The island is full of cultivated fields and, in the Ancient Era, all wheat consumed in Athens was produced here. The last scenario suggests that Limnos is composed of the words “liis” that means flock and “milo” that means sheep, implying that the island is full of flocks of sheep, which is also true.
The second and third explanations are adopted by more scientists/archaeological researchers.

Another interesting fact is that Limnos has been given a plethora of secondary names in many ancient texts, including Anemoessa, Vulcania, Aithaleia, Pyroessa, Dipolis, Ambeloessa, Ypsipyllia, Sindiida and Hephaesteia. It is really notable to mention that it is really very uncommon for  islands to have such a plethora of different secondary names.

Limnos has been inhabited since the 4th millennium B.C. and the prehistoric settlement of Poliochni is the oldest fortified settlement in Europe! Poliochni was a very rich and prosperous city for 2000 years, until it was destroyed by an earthquake. The first inhabitants of the island were called Sindians that came from Frygia, followed by the Karians, the Phoenicians, the Minyans and the Pelasgians in the end of the prehistoric era.

In the Ancient Times, Limnos was inhabited by the Tyrrhenians, the Athenians, the Persians, the Spartans and the Macedonians. Although the island was attacked several times in the Ancient years, it had its own coins and a very important culture. Many artists, scientists and philosophers lived in Limnos; among them, the philosopher Andilochos, the writer Apollodoros, the sculptor Glafkos of Chios who invented the art of soldering iron, and the sculptor Alkamenis. Moreover, sports were very important in Limnos and it is widely believed that pentathlon was first established on the island.

In 1207 Limnos became a territory of the Venetians, and was dominated by the Navigajoso family. Filokalos Navigajoso was the first “Great Duke of Limnos”, succeeded by two more dukes and a duchess during the 70 years of Venetian domination.

The Byzantine admiral Likarios attacked Limnos for two consecutive years, until in 1278 the Great Duchess (widow of Pavlos Navigajoso, who died in 1277) decided to leave the island, probably after an agreement. This was the end of the Venetian Era for Limnos.

During the first three centuries A.D. Limnos was prosperous and its culture was renowned in Athens and in Rome. The famous philosophers’ family “Philostratos”, with 4 generations of philosophers and teachers, left many important writings, but very few are saved today.

In the Byzantine Times, Limnos was attacked many times by the Saracens, the Genuats and the Ottomans, but the inhabitants resisted and kept the island.

In 1475, the local heroine Maroula, holding the sword of her dead father, encouraged the inhabitants of Limnos against the Ottomans in the battle of Kotsinas. The Ottomans lost once again and left the island, until Limnos was ceded to them in 1479.

During the Ottoman Era, Limnos was in continuous decline. Many inhabitants left the island, specifically after the unsuccessful attempt of the Russians to conquer it in 1770. Limnos did not officially participate in the Greek Revolution of 1821, but many inhabitants donated boats or participated in person. The island became part of Greece in 1912.

During World War I, Limnos was the base of the English troops with Moudros being the dockyard of the English fleet. In 1918, the War ended with the “Treaty (armistice) of Moudros”. In 1922, the Asia Minor Disaster led many inhabitants of Asia Minor to Limnos. The Germans dominated Limnos during World War II and until October 16th 1944.

The Greek Civil War that followed created more problems to the island, since it was used as a place of exile and this significantly deteriorated the living conditions. As a result, many inhabitants migrated to the USA, Australia, Germany, South Africa and Canada. The Greeks living abroad made important donations to the island and helped reconstruct it.

Today Limnos has about 17,000 inhabitants whose main occupation is livestock, agriculture and fishing. Tourism is still under development and this is one of the reasons why travellers go to Limnos, as it is considered a relatively “virgin” island of the Aegean Sea.

According to the Greek Mythology, after a fight between Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus was thrown by Zeus on Limnos because he took Hera’s side. Ever since, Hephaestus lived on the island and taught Sindies, the first Limnos’ inhabitants, the art of working with iron. It is also said that Sindies welcomed and helped Hephaestus and this is why he decided to teach them how to create various iron objects.

Limnos was offered as a gift to Thoas, who was a general in the army of King Radamanthys of Phaistos. The king of Crete, Minoas, had sent Radamanthys to take over the Aegean Islands. At that time, Limnos was part of Thessaly and was dominated by Minyes; the king of Iolkos (capital of Thessaly) gave his daughter Myrina to Thoas as his wife. The island’s capital was named Myrina, in order to honour her.

During the years that Thoas was king of Limnos, the women neglected worshiping Goddess Aphrodite. So, she punished all women with bad odour. As a result, all men stayed away from women. The women got very upset and during a celebration, when the men were drunk, they managed to kill them all, by throwing them down a hill. The only man who survived was Thoas, who was saved by his daughter Ypsipili (she put him in a pot and threw him in the sea). Ypsipili became the queen of Limnos but the problem of shortage of men still had to be solved.

During the period of men shortage, the Argonauts passed by the island on their way to Kolchida. Initially, the women of Limnos’ did not allow them to get off their ships, thinking they were pirates. However, they agreed to let them disembark with the condition that they would please each and every woman on the island, irrespective of age or looks. So, the Argonauts solved the problem of men shortage and Ypsipili had two sons with Jason. The Argonauts stayed on the island for quite a few years and in that period, Ypsipili organized athletic games in their honour; pentathlon games were held for the first time in that period.

The Argonauts left Limnos only after Hercules intervened, but they made a short stop on the island on their way back from Kolchida.

Limnos has several churches and quite a few chapels. Very often, beaches on the island are named after the homonym chapel situated right above the coast.

Limnos has several churches and quite a few chapels. Very often, beaches on the island are named after the homonym chapel situated right above the coast.

Among the churches worth visiting is the imposing Metropolitan church of the island, devoted to Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) in Myrina, the church of Evangelistria in Moudros, which was built in 1904 and hosts documents dating back to WW I, Saint Sozon in Fysini in a gorgeous landscape, Saint Paraskevi in Thanos, with five magnificent arcs, Saint George in Atsiki with its unique stone-sculptured steeple, and Saint Melitini or Saint Meltina in Kallithea.

Some of the chapels worth visiting are Panagia Kakkaviotissa in Thanous, which is nested in an isolated cave on top of a mountain, Saint Ermolaos next to the homonymous beach, Saint Marinos or Saint Marnos in eastern Limnos (close to the village of Agia Sophia), Saint Barbara in Gomati, Saint Nikolaos in Rosopoulo, Saint John in western Limnos next to Ai Giannis beach and Saint Anargyroi in Fysini. All chapels are extremely graphic with white and light blue being the dominant colours.
Today, there are no monasteries in Limnos although there used to be quite a few.

Limnos long history explains why its most visited museum is the Archaeological Museum situated in Myrina. In this beautiful neoclassical building, visitors will see prehistoric findings, findings from the Roman era, as well as objects of the Hellenistic Era, coming from Poliochni, Hephaesteia and Kaveirio. For more information: Tel.: +30 22540 22990

The Folklore Museum of Limnos is located in Portianou village and represents the everyday life on the island through objects, tools and traditional clothes. In the museum, there is the armchair of Winston Churchill who used Portianou as his base. For more information: Tel.: +30 22540 51785

The Ecclesiastical Museum of Limnos is situated very close to the island’s Metropolitan Church and hosts Orthodox images, documents and ecclesiastical objects. For more information: Tel.: +30 22540 22474

The Museum of Marine Tradition and Sponge established in 2006 in Nea Koutali is a very interesting museum that presents how sponges were taken from the bottom of Limnos’ sea and were turned into useful objects. As in many other Greek islands, there are no longer sponge divers in Limnos. The museum also hosts objects of archaeological interest that were drawn from the sea bottom, as well as pictures and relics from the life of the Nea Koutali inhabitants when they used to live in Asia Minor. Tel.: +30 22540 92383

The Gallery of Contemporary Balkan Art in the village of Kondias is a venue that hosts art exhibitions (painting, photography) and artistic events (concerts, dance shows, book presentations, etc.) especially during spring and summer.

Christodoulideio Megaro in Myrina is a fantastic spacious neoclassical mansion that was turned into a gallery and hosts art exhibitions and interesting events. Information is available by the municipality of Limnos (Tel.: +30 22543 50000)

Apart from the island’s capital, Myrina, which is a charming big village with neoclassical houses, shops, a beautiful port, an impressive castle and  two distinctive suburbs (the Roman and the Ottoman suburb), Limnos has 32 villages. Some of them have very interesting architecture, like Kondias in the southwest with its stone-built houses and its gorgeous wind mills, or Kornos (6 km from Myrina) with its neoclassical houses and its narrow streets. In Romanou in eastern Limnos, visitors will be amazed by the plethora of big jars that are half-buried and are used to store wine and oil.

In Therma, close to Myrina, there are thermal spas where the water temperature is between 39°C and 43°C. Platy is a coastal village turning into a popular holidays resort. Moudros, the second biggest settlement of the island, is a beautiful village with lovely red-roof houses and amazing beaches nearby.

Plaka in the northeast could be called “the white village”, since all houses and the village’s church are white; and Kaspakas is a traditional mountainous village with paved narrow streets and houses with tall windows of typical North Aegean architecture.

Limnos has amazing archaeological sites; Poliochni is not only a remarkable archaeological site of Limnos; it is among the most important archaeological sites of Southern Europe. Here, seven cities were consecutively built one on top of the other between 4000 B.C. and 1500 B.C. Poliochni’s parliament proves that democracy existed in Greece in many areas apart from Athens and this is the oldest parliament discovered so far in the world!

Hephaesteia was the second city of Limnos in the Ancient, Roman and Byzantine Eras (1000 B.C. until 1200 A.D.) and it comprised of houses, a palace, spa sites, and temples. The ancient theatre of Hephaesteia is really impressive and it is used nowadays as the venue of several artistic events.

Very close to Hephaesteia, there is the ancient Sanctuary of Kaviria, where celebrations were organized in honour of Kaviri (deities that were considered to be sons of Hephaestus). Right below the Sanctuary of Kaviria, there is the Cave of Filoktitis, who lived in this cave for 10-12 years after he was bit by a snake when the Greek fleet stopped in Limnos on its way to Troy. Filoktitis left the island and joined the rest of the army in the Trojan War after an oracle suggesting that only the invincible bow of Hercules could help win the Trojan War; and this bow was in the possession of Filoktitis. The Cave is very impressive and it is worth swimming in it!

Finally, in Myrina there is the Ancient Myrina (ruins of the Myrina town in the 3rd and 4th Milleniums B.C.) and the Sanctuary of Artemis in the hotel Porto Myrina Palace.   

Apart from its archaeological sites, Limnos has many other attractions; the Myrina Castle, built in 1186, awaits visitors to explore its administration buildings, its tank complexes and its galleries, as well as to admire more than 100 deer that wander around.

Limnos’ Desert, also called Pahies Ammoudies, is the only dessert in Europe, situated close to Katalakkos, and occupies about 70 acres of land. These dunes are certainly worth a visit!

The island’s Petrified Forest may be small and not well organized, but it is in the area of Moudros which mandatory to visit anyway. Some petrified trees are also exhibited in the Municipality of Limnos.

Aliki and Hortarolimni in Eastern Limnos create a wetland of amazing beauty; the former is a salty lagoon, whereas the latter is a brackish marsh. In between them, there is Asprolimni, a smaller lake. Visitors may admire the natural beauty and the 250 species of birds, among which the fabulous pink flamingos.

CLIMATE
The climate of Limnos is Mediterranean. Winters are mild and summers are hot with plenty of sunshine, but not as hot as in the mainland of Greece. The average temperature on the island is slightly below 30°C even in the hottest months (July and August), although the maximum temperature is above 35°C in July and August. The months with the most rain are December, November and January, while it is highly unlikely that there will be any rain in July and August. During these months, the strong northern winds (“meltemia”) make the heat less intense.

Limnos has more than 2,500 hours of sunshine per year! In general, Limnos’ climate is a bit dryer than the climate of other Aegean Islands, with maximum humidity at 78.65 in December and around 60% during the summer.

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 8 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).
The Area Code for Limnos is: +30 22540. If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialling the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver colour), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold colour) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper colour)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

BY AIR
Limnos has an airport which is directly connected on a daily basis with the Athens International Airport and the Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. The flight from Athens and from Thessaloniki lasts about 35 minutes. During the summer months, Limnos is connected with Chios, Samos, Rhodes and Crete 3 times a week.

Limnos Airport Tel.: +30 2254031204

BY BOAT
Limnos is connected to Lavrio, Thessaloniki and Kavala by boat; the respective trip durations are 10.5hrs, 9hrsand 4hrsand 45 minutes.
Moreover, the island is connected by boat, during the summer, with several Aegean Islands, but itineraries vary from year to year.

For information on ports, schedules and fares, visit the following links:
www.nel.gr
www.saos.gr
www.openseas.gr

LOCAL BUSES
Myrina is connected via bus routes with the most important villages, beaches and archaeological sites.
Tel.: +30 2254022464

TAXI SERVICE
Taxis are available in many spots on the island and every area has its own taxi service(s).

WATER TAXI
There are no water taxis on Limnos.

BOAT
Daily excursions are organized to secluded beaches, like Skidi and Neftina, and also to several destinations close to the island. Some of them are scheduled excursions and others are organized by request and travellers should seek information in local travel agencies.
Most boat trips have Myrina as their starting point.

BANKS & ATMS
Several banks have branches and ATMs in Myrina:
ALPHA BANK: OTE Square, Tel.: +30 22540 24849
BANK OF GREECE: Myrinas-Katalakkou Str. (Tax Office building), Tel.: +30 22540 23104
COOPERATION BANK OF LESVOS – LIMNOS: KTEL Square, Tel.: +30 22540 29610
EFG EUROBANK: Ypsipilis Square, Tel.: +30 22540 29140
EMPORIKI BANK - 1st branch: 78 Kyda Str., Tel.: +30 22540 26240
                             2nd branch: Airport, Tel.: +30 22540 92604
GENIKI BANK: Ypsipilis Square, Tel.: +30 22540 25855
NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE Ypsipilis Square, Tel.: +30 22540 22441-20232
PIRAEUS BANK- 1st branch: 1 Garyfalidi Str., Tel.: +30 22540 24839
                          2nd branch: 98 Kyda Str., Tel.: +30 22540 26230

MONEY EXCHANGE
Money can be exchanged in the bank branches listed above.          

POST OFFICE
The Greek post office is called ELTA and you can find the main post offices of the island in Hora where there is also a branch of the Hellenic Post Bank. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. You shouldn’t expect to find such boxes on the island.

REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.
The Post Office in Limnos is located in Myrina (10 Garyfallidi Str.).
Limnos Post Office Tel. no: +30 22540 22462

POLICE STATION
Myrina Police Station: Tel.: +30 22540 22201, +30 22540 22200
Moudros Police Station: Tel.: +30 22540 71201

MUNICIPALITY OF LIMNOS
The Municipality of Limnos is situated in Myrina. It also has a well-organized web page (however, it is only in Greek): www.limnos.gov.gr

Tel.: +30 22543 50015- 50000

• Radio Taxi: +30 22540 23820,  +30 22540 22051
• Syros Port Authority: +30 22540 22225
• Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
• Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174

INTERNATIONAL PRESS                                         
It is almost impossible to find international press on Limnos so mind to have with you any necessary readings.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• Police: 100
• Fire Department: 199
• Ambulance: 166

HEALTH
Limnos Hospital: +30 22543 50400

PHARMACY
There are more about 10 pharmacies in Limnos, located in Myrina, Moudros, Avlonas, Kontopouli, and Nea Koutali.

The Northern Aegean Islands have a special gastronomy as they combine traditional Greek recipes with recipes from Asia Minor. Limnos is no exception.

The rooster is boiled and spiced with tomato sauce (tomato, garlic, onions, oregano, salt and pepper, and laurel); flomaria (the local version of noodles) can either be boiled separately or they can be added during the last 15 minutes in the same pot with the rooster. An alternative way to cook the same dish is in a hull in the oven. The authentic taste of Greek tradition is majestically concentrated in this dish.

This is Limnos’ version of cheese pie; simple ingredients like corn flour, feta cheese, sesame, olive oil and salt, can be turned into the most tasteful snack! Klikia usually have the shape of snails and children just love them.

In Limnos, pumpkin pie is slightly different from the rest of Greece; it has no crust top and instead of feta cheese it is filled with the local “kalathaki” cheese. The remaining ingredients are the same (eggs, onions, spices, pumpkins, etc.), but the taste is truly unique!

This is a Greek version of chocolate fudge with almonds and vanilla icing. It is a traditional wedding treat.   

Some consider it a dessert, other consider it a snack. Katimeria have cheese and honey or syrup. The fact is that they are delicious and they are ideally combined with wine.

Samsades is a tasteful dessert made of crust filled with nuts and sesame. They have the splendid aroma of cinnamon and lemon and they can be preserved for several days in room temperature.

Limnos is famous all over Greece for its dairy products, its honey and its wine. But that’s not all! Visitors will discover many more local products that are worth taking home with them.

Made of local wheat flour, eggs and milk, these noodles are delicious and of high nutritional value.

This hard white cheese with a Protected Designation of Origin, owes its name to the process of its production: made of sheep’s milk, “kalathaki” is left to curdle in a small basket, called “kalathaki” in Greek. This cheese has a unique aroma.

Made of sheep’s milk, this cheese is only produced between May and September because it requires extensive dehydration. It is ideal to be grated (on pasta) and can be preserved in room temperature for months. Seriously consider of taking this cheese home!

“Moschato Alexandrias” is a fine white wine with Controlled Appellation (designation) of Origin. It is easily recognizable in the circles of wine tasters and it has won several prizes in international competitions. What could be better to accompany fresh seafood?

The thyme honey of Limnos is among the most expensive honeys of Greece. Although it can be found in most mainland places, it always feels better to buy a product at the place where it is produced. One jar may not be enough… 

Made of sesame, the Limnos’ “halvas” has an amazing taste and it is a great sweet snack. The whole family will definitely love it!

Limnos has a long tradition in the production of frumenty, which used to be produced in stone mills. Today, production is basically based on modern procedures, but local frumenty is delicious.

Fava is among the legumes that Greeks eat not only as a main meal, but also as an appetizer. The fava of Limnos is called “afkos”, has a very high nutritional value and is very tasteful.

Although not as famous as the ouzo of Lesvos or the one of Chios, the ouzo of Limnos is still produced in the traditional way and has a great aroma. Cheers!

Several interesting events are organized all year long on the island; winter events are usually connected with traditions or religious celebrations, while summer events combine tradition and religion with culture and arts.

Among the most special events held on the island are the horse races that take place every year on Saint George’s day (either April 23rd or the first Tuesday after Easter) in the village Kalliopi. Riders are strictly young village residents and the three faster among them are rewarded.

On December 26, every family in Limnos celebrates by eating fresh pork meat called “aposorti”; this is why this day is called Aposortes and this evening, the whole family has to be united or reunited.

On February 10, on Saint Charalambos’ day, there is a unique tradition in the village of Varos: the village women surround it with a huge thread that is created during Lent. In 1916, the village was attacked by a plague during which many village inhabitants died, until a woman dreamed of Saint Charalambos who told her that in order to save the village, all the women should create a huge thread and surround Varos with it. This is how the remaining inhabitants were saved! This event is called The Thread of Varos.

Every summer, the municipality of Limnos organizes the Limnos Cultural Summer, which is a series of events that include theatrical plays, concerts, book presentations, art exhibitions, traditional dance shows, workshops, storytelling, and athletic games.  (More information is available via the Municipality of Limnos although only in Greek but you can always send an email or even call www.limnos.gov.gr)

Last but not least, there are several religious feasts on the island throughout the year, which are accompanied by food, wine, traditional music and dancing. Among them, the most important are the feasts of:

• Virgin Mary on August 15th in Myrina
• Saint Marina at Livadochori on July 17th
• Saint John on June 22nd at Kaspakas, when they light fires and burn the wreaths that were crafted on May 1st
• Christ Saviour on August 6th at Nea Koutali
• Prophet Elias at Kornos on July 20th

Limnos is a gorgeous Aegean island with more than 200 km. of coastline and many virgin beaches situated at the end of dirt roads or paths. Moreover, the island’s capital is elegant, with neoclassical mansions and the charming atmosphere of another era. Visitors should expect to walk in order to discover the island’s beauties and therefore flat/athletic shoes is a must.

Furthermore, since the nights in the Aegean are chilly, a light jacket is always useful. And of course, there is plenty of sunshine during the day and sun blocks and hats are indispensable.

Finally, Limnos’ very healthy climate, combined with its thermal spas at Therma, creates the necessary conditions for a revitalizing vacation.

Starting from Diapori, there are two fantastic paths leading to Fakos (via a narrow canal between the Moudros Bay and the Diapori Bay) and to Saint Efhimia. Nature here is amazing and visitors will see some petrified trees dating about 20 million years back. Do not miss it!

Limnos is the shelter of several bird species, some of which are rare and amazingly beautiful. Brown ducks that look like geese, kestrels (little falcons) and pink flamingos are among the rare species that live or pass by the island. Therefore, a visit to Hortarolimni or Asprolimni, where bird watching activities are organized regularly, is definitely worth it!

Limnos is a medium-sized island, making it possible for travellers to explore it on a bike. But there are several short itineraries starting from Myrina or itineraries around Moudros that are just right for biking lovers!

The unique morphology of Limnos beaches where sand, pebbles and volcanic rocks coexist, is just a hint of what lies in the sea bottom. Visitors have the opportunity to admire the fantastic colours, fish, plants and sea creatures of this part of the Aegean at Moudros.

While at Limnos, a visit to Agios Efstratios Island is really worthwhile. The island is very picturesque, features fantastic isolated beaches approachable by boat and an amazing wetland.

The majority of shops are located in Myrina, but there are several shops in most villages of the island.

Art objects/Galleries
“Lucy’s gallery”
Here, visitors will find paintings and artistic objects.
Myrina
Tel.: +30 22540 25797

“Krama”
Krama is a gallery in Myrina that hosts various artistic objects.
76 Kyda Str., Myrina
Tel.: +30 6978100770.

“Politis” At Politis, there are paintings, art objects, crafts and jewels.  
47b Kyda Str., Myrina